Daniel

Maybe the first half of this book proved to be a bit difficult to go through, since it wasn't very clear where the story was heading to. But that other half? A mistery fiercely begging to be solved and a precious, moving story that ehem brought me to tears as only one other book ever did.

Un Paulo Coelho a la francesa. Aunque al contrario que este, a ratos deja de ser embarazosamente aleccionador y roza momentos de lucidez que lo salvan.

3.5 actually.

I guess in a way it wasn't what I expected. It took me a while to get used to the writer's style - or maybe just the style of this story - which was a bit embellished in a way that felt contrived at times, and at others reminded me of Twitter users' stylistic display of alternating sentence structure. It was distracting at times. At other times I disliked it. In any case, it's a story whose non-linear development helps a lot to digest it, and offers a unique and intimate perspective on the romance between two boys that makes it a recommended read if you're in the mood for something tender and relatable - even if slightly “crammed with words” at times.

ES-EN

Me entristece pensar que de alguna manera las historias de Diana Wynne Jones no parecen haber tenido un éxito que haya trascendido en el tiempo más allá de la conocida El castillo ambulante, que además solo lo ha hecho en una versión adulterada de la mano de Studio Ghibli. Y por éxito no me refiero a que fuera o dejara de ser un fenómeno de masas, pero a que tenga un firme hueco en las listas de libros fantásticos de aquí y de allá o que su figura sea vista como elemental entre los amantes de la narrativa fantástica.

La historia que nos ocupa está narrada con una naturalidad encantadora, con personajes peculiares (y a menudo divertidamente irritantes) y con una capacidad que demuestra el buen hacer de la escritora como narradora. Resaltando el tema de la naturalidad, me ha gustado mucho cómo va dando detalles que se revelan más adelante en la historia, no de un modo expositivo, sino de manera orgánica, mostrándolo; lo cuál tiene aún más valor cuando la historia no parece usar modelos en los que apoyarse y tiene sus propios códigos. No obstante, Diana es capaz de hilar dichos códigos y hace que la lectura sea todo un placer y un constante descubrimiento. La autora no se para explicar el porqué, si no el cómo, y tampoco le importa demasiado dotar de innecesario realismo a la historia y se centra en darle lo que necesita para que avance, dentro de su propia lógica, invitando al lector a tomarle la mano en ese paseo sinuoso, desvergonzado y mágico. Al fin y al cabo, la magia está en los ojos del que mira.

///

It saddens me to think that somehow Diana Wynne Jones' stories don't seem to have had a success that has transcended beyond the well-known Howl's Moving Castle, which has only done so in an adulterated version from the hands of Studio Ghibli. And by success I don't mean that it was or wasn't a mass phenomenon, but that it has a firm place in the lists of fantastic books here and there or that its figure is seen as elemental among lovers of fantastic narrative.

The story at hand is told with a charming naturalness, with quirky (and often amusingly irritating) characters, and with an ability that demonstrates the writer's skill as a storyteller. Highlighting the theme of naturalness, I really liked the way she gives details that are revealed later in the story, not in an expository way, but in an organic way, showing it; which is all the more valuable when the story doesn't seem to use models to rely on and has its own codes. However, Diana is able to weave those codes together and makes the reading a pleasure and a constant discovery. The author doesn't bother to explain why, but how, and she doesn't care too much about giving the story unnecessary realism and focuses on giving it what it needs to move forward, within its own logic, inviting the reader to take her hand in this winding, shameless and magical ride. After all, magic is in the eye of the beholder.

Una lectura muy ligera y sencilla, que te hace reír a ratos y que resulta amena en toda su extensión; aunque a veces peque de intentar hacerte reír demasiado.

No soy un fan en particular de Stephen King. Sé lo mismo de él que la mayoría: que es un escritor prolífico con historias icónicas de adaptación fácil y mediática a la gran pantalla (y pequeña). Pero leer este libro es lo más cerca de estar con el escritor en cuestión sentado en una mesa y teniendo una charla reveladora y relajada sobre su vida y el oficio (estrechamente entrelazadas, aunque, supongo, que el propósito del libro te ofrece una perspectiva sesgada al respecto). Su talento es tal que leerlo es casi como estar leyendo ficción, y lo recomendaría incluso a aquellos lectores que normalmente no se acercarían a este tipo de libros. Muy disfrutable. De algún modo, consigue que sus palabras vayan más allá de lo que significa ser escritor y hablen, un poquito, de lo que significa (en especial para él) ser feliz y también, en segundo lugar pero en mayor medida, del amor.

Fun, light and a little bit of “being a gay millennial 101”, but, well, that's also where the lightness comes in. If you're looking for a quick, easy read, I'd totally recommend this one.

Can I give this a 10 out of 5? Please.

It's one of those writers that when you read them you feel you're seeing the world crystal clear. The writing is so smart, the development is so good, it doesn't get boring, it skillfully jumps back, forward and within without never losing grip of the main storyline and it's so damn powerful and beautiful at its core.
It really made me scream, laugh, burn in rage and impotence and cry.
It is, truly, a wonderful reading that I really hope that anyone who reads it finds it as staggering as I did.

This is what I was missing on my shelf (and in my life) a post apocalyptic story where two boys find each other. While not the most heart-warming story, it's funny and thrilling (I couldn't put it down several times) and sweet. It has some genuine moments and even halfway through it I was already wishing for a sequel. I find that post apocalyptic stories have so much to offer, in my humble opinion. They take out the regular daily distractions and leave just the basics which, sometimes, people tend to forget that is enough. Care for each other, never forget that.

Now that I am just starting my awakening into literary romances between boys lately, I surprised myself when it occurred to me that I'd never thought to look for a story set at Christmas time, as much as I love it. So I did a more or less exhaustive search and came across this book that sounded like just what I was looking for. And just as I was starting to run into some clichés and thinking that the book, while satisfying, wasn't going to offer me any more, I found myself surprised again. As for the way it is written, it is a pleasure to read, the dialogues flow, the characters almost draw themselves and the text has some parts worth memorizing and integrating into one's own experience.
It also doesn't feel like events are rushed towards the end, and it doesn't make you wait until the last ten pages to see the romance culminate (thank you). It offers you sweetness, warmth -lots of warmth- and a little, but important, room for reflection.

No doubt Timothy Janovsky has a new fan among his followers.

It has some good ideas here and there, but they're never really developed because that's not what the story is about. The key moments seem to be a compendium of pre-cooked moments. I never really get to care about the mystery, the romance or the people in town. I was looking for a Christmas-set romance, I found it with an extra on thriller, and this book certainly delivered but, unfortunately, it was also a bit far for from satisfying.

3.5

Este libro de 145 páginas es inmenso. La manera en que entrelaza el amor, el racismo y los miedos con una prosa casi poética es maravillosa.

Lovely (and very imaginative) stories. Some of them already read like old classics.

ES/EN

Un libro refrescante, divertido y con espacio para sentirte identificado entre todas las situaciones. La autora tiene una habilidad sorprendente para revelar la mente afilada y rápida que hay detrás de cada línea. También para mostrarme la cantidad de vocabulario que desconozco. Con sus más y sus menos (que son pocos, pero son), ha sido muy disfrutable.

A refreshing, funny book with room to feel identified among all the situations. The author has an amazing ability to reveal the sharp and quick mind behind every line. Also to show me how much vocabulary I don't know. With its pluses and minuses (which are few, but they exist), it was very enjoyable.

This was... unexpected. Very unexpected. But it was a fun read, for the most part, the writing was good (meaning, it painted the story clear enough, beautiful enough, but not excelling, tho, for my taste, and I also got a bit lost, confused at times about what was going on), I wasn't feeling the love story, it felt sudden, undercooked, but maybe it was just me who am not feeling it at this moment; on the zombie-adventure part the story was interesting and I'd say the part that sustained everything else. And as I've never read a story like this one before, I'll give it an extra thumbs up for originality. Looking forward to read the continuation.

I was just looking for a fun, entertaining, superficial, light read. But this was C.R.I.N.G.Y and toxic as f*ck.

Un libro cálido con personajes entrañables (Theodore y Chauncey arriba en el podio, si me permitís) y un mensaje esencial que, aunque manido, está envuelto con tanto encanto que se siente casi como si uno lo leyera por primera vez.

The intricacy of this work is mesmerising, only slightly tainted by its extensive religious universe leaded by the Fremen (the most tedious parts to go through, with all the ridiculously numerous rituals).

I loved it. As a very sensitive person who has also gone through depression, I felt related to the characters and felt that the story was honest, kind and warm.
The rest I'm gonna keep for myself, but it's definitely a reading recommendation for all the people who are looking for a place where they don't need to hide and where they'll be seen.

Creo que nunca antes había detestado un libro, hasta hoy. Situaciones absurdas, giros de trama apoyados en clichés manidos (si cabe), personajes flojos,... Uno hasta puede sentir que la escritura de este libro quiere intentar ser algo que no es.
Claramente, no lo recomiendo ni como lectura ligera. Hasta se me han quitado las ganas de ver la película, para ver tanta tontería...

Este libro me ha ganado por doble partida: se ha llevado mi voto electoral y mi apoyo a la Corona.

I wasn't expecting any of this. I liked the idea of the book, a book about the power of stories. But there was much more to unfold and every turn was a new discovery. The writing was funny at times, I felt like there were some metaphors and allegories that were a bit over the top, and some descriptions that felt unnecessary or, better said, random. But after a while I got used to it (even though it was never really bothering). In any case, I couldn't put it down, it was absorbing and the world, the characters, were so interesting to me, I wish it would have lasted a bit more. This doesn't happen often.

Una lectura entretenida, con ideas interesantes, a ratos lúgubre y a ratos viciada -aunque esto es, con casi toda probabilidad, un contraste de eras-, que revela tanto la progresión narrativa entre épocas como el devenir de las distintas sensibilidades y estilos de vida, sintiéndose claramente más actuales los últimos relatos.

Such an uplifting, oddly heartwarming, occasionally confusing read. As per usual.