tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post2844013149008613397..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeerBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38318847043722868312016-03-29T06:50:25.371-04:002016-03-29T06:50:25.371-04:00Hi Sarah - Your comment made me smile.
Thanks for...Hi Sarah - Your comment made me smile.<br /><br />Thanks for the links. <br /><br />Based on this series, VanderMeer is such an interesting and creative writer. I really must read more of his books.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-89121148249556535152016-03-28T22:03:04.208-04:002016-03-28T22:03:04.208-04:00Okay, Brian, evidently now you are firmly linked w...Okay, Brian, evidently now you are firmly linked with Jeff VanderMeer in my mind. Did you see he judged at the Tournament of Books this week?<br /><br />http://www.themorningnews.org/tob/2016/the-tsar-of-love-and-techno-v-the-sellout.php<br /><br />And he was the subject of another article here:<br />https://www.inverse.com/article/12631-jeff-vandermeer-writes-hauntings-without-ghosts-asking-the-prophetCitizen Readerhttp://www.citizenreader.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-57436627931504267162016-03-20T10:53:55.013-04:002016-03-20T10:53:55.013-04:00Hi Annabel - I have thought that VanderMeer might ...Hi Annabel - I have thought that VanderMeer might revisit Area X myself. I hope that he does. I will be sure to read any books that come about.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1810661152967197152016-03-20T04:39:52.318-04:002016-03-20T04:39:52.318-04:00I agree totally with you Brian. I was left with so...I agree totally with you Brian. I was left with so many questions too. But the saving grace of the third book is the great characters. I'll bet he returns to Area X some time in the future.Annabelhttp://annabookbel.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-37049468702304011892016-03-15T20:14:38.076-04:002016-03-15T20:14:38.076-04:00Hi Caroline - I thought that the first book was th...Hi Caroline - I thought that the first book was the best. <br /><br /><br />I can only guess that all the open mysteries here were meant t relate to the book's theme. <br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-9445568901128952982016-03-15T20:12:44.875-04:002016-03-15T20:12:44.875-04:00Hi Lee - Ann - I am very happy that you are back. ...Hi Lee - Ann - I am very happy that you are back. <br /><br />Thanks for the good word. I look forward to your future posts. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-39875131075129848832016-03-14T03:57:02.231-04:002016-03-14T03:57:02.231-04:00I find it a bit disappointing that he left so much...I find it a bit disappointing that he left so much open. I wonder why. <br />Sometimes it makes sense but I'm not entirely sure it does here. <br />It seems that the first is the one you liked best.Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-17292082352245055402016-03-12T12:58:06.143-05:002016-03-12T12:58:06.143-05:00Hello Brian, I have missed checking in with my fav...Hello Brian, I have missed checking in with my favourite book blogs, and glad to see that you are still sharing your reading adventures. I look forward to catching up with your commentary, and do plan to get back on the writing wagon very soon. Take care, Lee-AnneLee-Annehttp://www.lilyoakbooks.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10866006232847938652016-03-10T21:47:40.878-05:002016-03-10T21:47:40.878-05:00Hi Hila - I have read a lot of books with open end...Hi Hila - I have read a lot of books with open endings. This one was the only one that disappointed me. <br /><br />I would love to know what you thought if you read this.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-46341661818323322582016-03-10T18:04:46.459-05:002016-03-10T18:04:46.459-05:00That's a difficult decision to make - what loo...That's a difficult decision to make - what loose ends to tie up vs. what to leave unresolved for the readers. I never know how I will respond to it, either in novels or in films: sometimes I enjoy open-ended endings, other times I think they're a copout. I still want to read this trilogy, for the issues you've discussed and because the characters sound interesting.HKatzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17653570160517335758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-76238943256754549022016-03-08T21:06:03.421-05:002016-03-08T21:06:03.421-05:00Hi Susan - Your husband's reaction was interes...Hi Susan - Your husband's reaction was interesting. So much of the book was psychological. I can see how it might be considered slow.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-56541592068019525532016-03-08T21:04:29.333-05:002016-03-08T21:04:29.333-05:00Hi Stefanie - VanderMeer did publish these with ve...Hi Stefanie - VanderMeer did publish these with very short breaks between.<br /><br />If you gave these a try, I would love to know what you thought,Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15942271033932075492016-03-08T21:02:50.163-05:002016-03-08T21:02:50.163-05:00Thanks Maria. There were some disturbing things go...Thanks Maria. There were some disturbing things going on in these books. If you did give the firt book a try I would love to hear what you think. <br /><br />I agree that strong characters are essential.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-13522699914364162232016-03-08T18:24:15.794-05:002016-03-08T18:24:15.794-05:00I had my husband read Annihilation but unfortunate...I had my husband read Annihilation but unfortunately he didn't like it. He said it was slow and took much time for anything to happen. But I'm glad you liked the series. You seemed to get a lot out of it. Different strokes, for different folks. thecuecardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08870323589682197091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-50152681305772976262016-03-08T14:19:27.323-05:002016-03-08T14:19:27.323-05:00It's kind of fun to have the whole trilogy on ...It's kind of fun to have the whole trilogy on hand to read one after the other instead of waiting years in between. Didn't he publish them all within months of each other? Glad you enjoyed them. I will definitely get around to reading them!Stefaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943596258182968212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-59317906637597870802016-03-08T12:19:20.836-05:002016-03-08T12:19:20.836-05:00Brilliant review as always, Brian!
You make this ...Brilliant review as always, Brian!<br /><br />You make this whole series sound so compelling, despite the element of psychological horror that pervades it! I do like to read strange and enigmatic stories, and I do love SF. Who knows? I might give at least the first book a try. However, I would have to borrow it from the library. I don't think I would want to own the book! Lol.<br /><br />I love the fact that this author has well-drawn characters. Nothing is less appealing to me in a novel than weak or sketchy characters! Also, his writing style is certainly excellent. <br /><br />So I'll give this some thought. Thanks for featuring these books, and thus expanding my SF horizons!! :)Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-80512337176314376262016-03-08T11:26:10.384-05:002016-03-08T11:26:10.384-05:00That seems a bit frustrating, knowing the author c...That seems a bit frustrating, knowing the author could have solved more of the mysteries, yet he chose not to. I don't mind a mystery or two left unsolved but not too many if their answers could make the story stronger. Still, from your description, this seems like a worthwhile trilogy.Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-86177825202895439602016-03-07T21:14:44.926-05:002016-03-07T21:14:44.926-05:00Hi Harvee - Strong characters are indeed important...Hi Harvee - Strong characters are indeed important. Though odd, the characters here were very well crafted. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34679860850287790332016-03-07T21:13:39.148-05:002016-03-07T21:13:39.148-05:00Hi Tracy - Alas, the lack of answers was a flaw. ...Hi Tracy - Alas, the lack of answers was a flaw. In the end it was only one flaw among many voters. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-30404460834835373082016-03-07T12:23:57.328-05:002016-03-07T12:23:57.328-05:00A book cannot survive well without good characters...A book cannot survive well without good characters. Glad this one had its share!Harveehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490108303790217277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-56554978052286082012016-03-07T12:05:01.243-05:002016-03-07T12:05:01.243-05:00A great cover AND Psychological horror, quirky hum...A great cover AND Psychological horror, quirky humour, deep psychological character study - how wonderful. It's just a shame that some degree of a sense of closure was missing for you.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71210314658387764722016-03-07T07:07:45.801-05:002016-03-07T07:07:45.801-05:00Hi Suko - Indeed, in my opinion a a few more answ...Hi Suko - Indeed, in my opinion a a few more answers here would have made a stronger Trilogy. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-53947948956968009972016-03-06T23:45:08.496-05:002016-03-06T23:45:08.496-05:00Brian Joseph, this does sound like a fascinating b...Brian Joseph, this does sound like a fascinating book and trilogy. I've enjoyed reading your reviews and learning a few things about the ideas presented in this series. It seems that you would have appreciated a bit more closure in some ways in the author's work. Sukohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893742747135555499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-89929590823074228342016-03-06T17:34:52.182-05:002016-03-06T17:34:52.182-05:00Thanks for the good word James. I think that you w...Thanks for the good word James. I think that you would like these. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-57811007359290388782016-03-06T17:34:18.989-05:002016-03-06T17:34:18.989-05:00Hi Deepika - I usually defend open ended book endi...Hi Deepika - I usually defend open ended book endings. I agree that they can add emotional impact as well as reflect reality. With that, I think that here, VanderMeer needed to explain numerous things scenarios and mysteries that he set up here. The open worked less here then say Andrey Platonov's open ended novels. <br /><br />I have not read Murakami's works yet but I really want to.<br /><br />I would love to know what you thought if you read these books. <br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com