Susan May's Reviews > Seveneves
Seveneves
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So after 650 pages of 850, Seveneves & I are going our separate ways. I've decided he's a bore. He just dwells too much on technical minutiae & I like to focus on people & characters & enjoy the adventure in books. I'm sure there are thousands who will love him for who he is.
He did try & change for me, bless him. He put on a silly hat, got me some flowers, but it wasn't enough to entice me to continue with him until the end. I'm sorry, Seveneves, I told you going in, either show me a good time or I will move on. I'm now out with Michael Robotham's Close Your Eyes & already I'm having more fun. No hard feelings Seveneves, you just gotta lighten up. It wasn't you, it was me!
Here is my parting photo for those who have enjoyed the journey on this thread, which included photos of Seveneves as he shared my life for a short time.
The Review
It was long, over-technical, and I couldn't finish it. At 650 pages with still 200 odd to go, I'd been skimming for about 200 previous pages, I gave up. There are too many great books waiting for me. I just felt the whole thing got away from the author. Shame, because it could have been great. The publisher should have broken it into 3 separate novels and really focused on getting each one tight with some pace and heart. The characters are flat.
But lots of people seem to have loved it, so obviously it comes down to personal taste. I would just rather be inside the heads of characters instead of being told about things. And I love technical stuff. I'm a science fiction nerd, but make the technical stuff interesting while you tell the story. Don't sprout it like a brain dump.
The thread for this review has been more fun than reading the book. I'm an author, so I don't like being critical of other authors. This book wasn't for me, but it might be for those who like loads of technical science stuff and aren't so much into characters and action. I just figure when you're in space and you're destroying planet Earth, why not go for it. So don't be put off by my thoughts. However, if you agree with a lot of my reviews then this won't be the book for you I don't think.
So after 650 pages of 850, Seveneves & I are going our separate ways. I've decided he's a bore. He just dwells too much on technical minutiae & I like to focus on people & characters & enjoy the adventure in books. I'm sure there are thousands who will love him for who he is.
He did try & change for me, bless him. He put on a silly hat, got me some flowers, but it wasn't enough to entice me to continue with him until the end. I'm sorry, Seveneves, I told you going in, either show me a good time or I will move on. I'm now out with Michael Robotham's Close Your Eyes & already I'm having more fun. No hard feelings Seveneves, you just gotta lighten up. It wasn't you, it was me!
Here is my parting photo for those who have enjoyed the journey on this thread, which included photos of Seveneves as he shared my life for a short time.
The Review
It was long, over-technical, and I couldn't finish it. At 650 pages with still 200 odd to go, I'd been skimming for about 200 previous pages, I gave up. There are too many great books waiting for me. I just felt the whole thing got away from the author. Shame, because it could have been great. The publisher should have broken it into 3 separate novels and really focused on getting each one tight with some pace and heart. The characters are flat.
But lots of people seem to have loved it, so obviously it comes down to personal taste. I would just rather be inside the heads of characters instead of being told about things. And I love technical stuff. I'm a science fiction nerd, but make the technical stuff interesting while you tell the story. Don't sprout it like a brain dump.
The thread for this review has been more fun than reading the book. I'm an author, so I don't like being critical of other authors. This book wasn't for me, but it might be for those who like loads of technical science stuff and aren't so much into characters and action. I just figure when you're in space and you're destroying planet Earth, why not go for it. So don't be put off by my thoughts. However, if you agree with a lot of my reviews then this won't be the book for you I don't think.
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Reading Progress
August 16, 2015
–
Started Reading
August 16, 2015
– Shelved
August 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
2015
August 18, 2015
–
8.0%
"I'm liking this so far. I love books that deal with the end of the world. Off to a good start."
August 23, 2015
–
19.5%
"I'm liking this book. Some bits are very detailed, but still a good story. Man, when the world finally ends in this, it's being built up to be exciting."
page
170
August 28, 2015
–
22.94%
"Now, I've arrived at the technical gobbledygook stage. I don't like gobbledygook. so I can feel skimming coming along for poor Eves."
page
200
August 28, 2015
–
28.67%
"4.50am & I huv a cauld & my noz is all sttuff'd up & I can't sleep. So mus' be readiin' toime."
page
250
August 30, 2015
–
51.61%
"This book is really getting bogged down in detail. I'm skipping pages. I hate skipping pages, but I can't read all this detailed stuff."
page
450
September 3, 2015
–
60.78%
"I'm feeling lost in space. Now we have politics. Talking, talking. We are in space people. Space should be exciting."
page
530
September 9, 2015
–
74.54%
"I can't finish this book. It's too dull and long winded and nothing seems to happen. Will write a mini review. So officially announcing a break up between me and Seveneves. We won't be hanging together anymore. There will be a final photo for those who have been following his travels. We've decided to remain friends. Although, I've told him he's too detail-orientated for this to have every worked out."
page
650
September 10, 2015
–
Finished Reading
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Dustin
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16 août 2015 22:47
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You're funny!
You're funny!"
Yes I just read Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson, which was kind of big and dawdling. A generational spaceship. So why I'm embarking on another so soon is beyond me. I can barely hold the thing. lol
It is bigger I think than King's 11/22/63! Small printing. Thicker than a brick. It has mixed reviews, so I'm starting it very sheepishly wondering if I will enjoy. I'm giving it 100 pages. If I'm not sucked in, it's gone. A publisher gave it to me. Many trees died to make this one, so I hope it sells and the don't pulp too many returns. lol
I guess if it's not so good there could be other uses for it to make up for the poor trees. Maybe a door stop?
i can't be the only one to laugh in enjoyment of this for more than one reason
(view spoiler)
i can't be the only one to laugh in enjoyment of this for more than one reason
[spoilers removed]"
Yes, we are multi-tasking the books so the trees have not died in vain. I shall take a picture and put it up here. Even my son picked it up when he saw it by my bedside and said, "What are you going to do with that? How can your possibly read it, you can't even hold it?" lol.
you're killin' me, susan
"what are you going to do with that?"
maybe it's thought the reception is more likely to be positive if the ARC weighs 14 pounds and requires a baby bjorn to transport to and from one's bedside table?
You're funny!"
Yes I just read Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson, which was kind of big and dawdling. A generational spaceship. So why I'm..."
I just checked out Aurora. Sounds interesting. Three stars isn't too bad, eh?:) I guess you're in a science-fiction kick right now.
Good point. E-books are ideal for hugs books like these!
He's asked that he be known not as the artist formally know as Seveneves but now simply Eves. He would like to be judged on his abilities and not his appearance, so I'm not allowed to refer to his size or mention Baby Bjorns in relationship to him. He keeps saying something about 'Good stories come in big packages sometimes.' Will report back later with photo.
i wish i could read that book for the first time also. you're in for a helluva ride.
i wish i could read that book for the first time also. you're in for a helluva ride."
Have you read it already Julio?
lol...
totes magotes. about a month ago or sommat. still gathering my thoughts, but I went on a Twitter rampage about the first arc of the story. I'll link you to a storify of it when you've hit the same part so I don't spoil you or anything—you'll know when you've gotten to it, trust me.
totes magotes. about a month ago or sommat. still gathering my thoughts, but I went on a Twitter rampage about the first arc of the story. I'll link ..."
Okay, I will keep updating where I am, so you can tell me. Sadly no pictures of Eves today. He just wouldn't sit properly at the cinema tonight and I was too busy today with these edits for my book. Tomorrow, though...
i'd rather you be reading it than negotiating a publicity campaign anyway
i do love picture-time, after all
But I didn't think you liked the book. Did you like it?
I couldn't stop reading it for three days straight, and halfway through I realized I'd been weeping continuously for hours, and then I wrote a thing about it, and then I finished it, and was just sorta stunned for a while, and then I read something else.
I'm not sure what goes on inside that big head of his. I'm too scared to look. Apparently most of the things he sprouts are pure fiction.
lol... this is great.
You're welcome. But don't let Eves take ALL the credit.:)