The Book Eaters
Ratings118
Average rating3.6
Beautifully written, fascinating concept, just not sure it's for me. Maybe I'll give it another go someday.
What would you do to save the one you love. How far can love carry you and your actions.
Interesting book. I felt it dragged on, and was a bit long. Maybe because I just never got really into it. I felt the ideas were interesting. I couldn't help to draw some parallels to recent world events and the subcultures presented in multiethnic environments. I don't think it was the authors intentions to do so, but I felt in some ways that the way an entirely different “species of humans” lived off-grid within our society was a commentary on the worlds status.
All in all, a good book. I felt it in my bones at times, and the things our main character(s) must do to survive left me provoked and uncertain about how far I would go myself.
This was a pretty good book. I was irked by some parts since I was listening on audiobook but for the most part really liked this one and would recommend it.
I really liked this book.
The first chapter sets up the atmosphere that this book brings.
It's a slower paced book for the majority of the book. Because of that the end felt a bit rushed but I enjoyed the time I spent with the book so this wasn't a big deal for me. Also, about 75% of the story is told in back and forth timelines that I think worked well but also slowed down the progression of the plot.
I thought the world was very interesting - from the extreme patriarchal society to the “magic” system. The whole idea of book eating is fascinating (and the limitations that brings).
Also, writing was solid. There were several lines that I underlined.
As far as character - for me this felt more plot than character but I did enjoy the characters (except for the ones you are supposed to dislike). It may be that the length of the novel reduced the amount of time that could be spent on character development.
Note, not all of the storylines are tied up in the end but this is a stand alone novel. Keep that in mind if this is something that bothers you.
Apresenta-se como uma fantasia sombria, mas é na sua essência um tratado sobre o que uma mãe é capaz de fazer por um filho e como quebrar ciclos de violência intergeracional e opressão religiosa.
La historia cuenta sobre una raza de seres sobrenaturales que viven entre nosotros, pero que sólo comen libros. Es una historia muy atrapante sobre princesas que deciden rescatarse a ellas mismas. El worldbuilding es muy copado, los personajes tienen un muy buen desarrollo y la trama va saltando del pasado al presente, dando a conocer el trasfondo paulatinamente. Muy recomendado 😄
I was so close to DNF this one but decided to speed through the last 25% and just be done with it. It was extremely boring and annoying. The first 2 chapters were so interesting and then everything went downhill.
1000000 stars ✨ easily became my all time favorite read ever!!! I loved every single page of this book. I will be rereading this for the rest of my life
This book was disappointing, I thought it would be cool. Some thoughts (maybe very light spoilers in these thoughts, so beware)
The whole premise - eating books - is weirdly not important. It literally never matters to the plot that they eat books. They could be vampires, or any other supernatural being or literally just a cult and it would have the same or more impact on the plot.
The “mind-eater” concept is essential to the plot....but book eater concept isn't? It should just be about a weird old cult-like human family who occasionally gives birth to a monster (the mind-eaters) and that would be more interesting.
The whole “collector” thing gets mentioned like 3 times and never revisited?
It's like The Handmaids Tale with random fantasy ethics concepts thrown in.
Some of the modern references felt really jammed in and didn't make sense to the plot. I.e.: 1) the asexuality scene seemed out of place, in the way it wa a handled by the characters...because it doesn't make sense that that would matter so much, in a society where people don't get to choose their partners anyway. 2) there is so much talk about Super Mario but then she says she got “killed by a mushroom”? I'm sorry, but has the author never played Super Mario? 3) Somehow these people can't cross borders because they don't have ID....despite being incredibly wealthy...like, teenagers acquire fake IDs every day, this is not logical. 4) idk man there were so many plot holes and awkward illogical moments I can't even remember. 5) when it was useful for the character to know information it was like “oh chill no worries she read about this” but when it was better for the plot for her not to know then she magically had never heard of normal concepts that she definitely would have come across in books... 6) human food is disgusting except...wine and ketchup?
The one thing I really did enjoy was how all the characters were basically the bad guy. Except the journalist.
Ultimately the plot was just really predictable and I didn't care about any of the characters, except her son a little bit.
2.5 stars. Started strong but devolved steadily into a so-so fantastical tale.
3.5 ⭐️
I started this book not knowing anything about it and not expecting much.
And I was pleasantly surprised by my unexpected enjoyment of it.
The story starts with the standard - woman wronged by patriarchy, which I find myself kind of fed up with, being that I see it in every other book. It was original for a while, but I can certainly feel the over saturation of this trope.
However, I did like the spin the author put on it, as well as the fact that she was not afraid to make the characters grey and not cookie cutter good or bad (in the general case).
What I liked the most here was the writing style - very subtle and easy to go through, while still beautiful.
I liked the suspense and rhythm of the story as well. The ending sequence especially was very satisfying and kept me on the edge of my seat.
The book is not perfect, but it was quite an enjoyable read. And I sincerely hope we will get a continuation of the story (the ending certainly makes that possible).
Pros: brilliant world-building, interesting characters, fast paced
Cons:
Raised as a princess in one of the 6 remaining book eater houses in England, Devon Fairweather learns at her first marriage, that being pampered is not the same as being free. Now, she’s trying to escape the families along with her mind eater son.
The book alternates between scenes in the present with Devon on the run and scenes from the past that explain how she got to this point. The pacing is great and there is a mix of highly tense moments an downtime where you really get to know the main characters.
The world-building here is great. The book eaters are unique, and the mind eaters terrifying. The author does a great job of blending their curious and often antiquated style of living, with the modern day world. I also loved how she worked in knights and dragons.
Devon is a complicated woman. She loves her son, enough to get him humans to feed on, while also being scared of that need to feed. In some ways she’s suffered greatly, in others she’s still weirdly naive. I didn’t quite agree with some of her principles, but despite her crimes she still comes off as sympathetic and you still want to see her succeed.
It’s a strange book, telling about a strange people, and is wildly entertaining if you like darker urban fantasy.
Originally posted at scififanletter.blogspot.com.
One more heart wrenching and a bit frustrating book this year.
I have a lot of questions, but still the book managed to grip me and made me think about some things related to motherhood.
But all the things that were bad! All the injustice and complete lack of good options! At some points this book was very difficult to read. And it has a bit of sour aftertaste.
Dang! I didn't get it finished before the library took it back. It's definitely different!
Even though it was clearly inspired by vampire stories, it was probably the most unique story I've read in 2022.
Disturbing and creepy. I enjoyed it a lot. A perfect Fall read.
Sinds ik over dit boek hoorde, stond ik te popelen om het te kunnen verslinden. Een verhaal over mensen die letterlijk boeken moeten eten om te overleven, wat een leuk en buitengewoon fascinerend idee!
Jammer genoeg weet ik niet of mijn verwachtingen gewoon te hoog waren, maar het overheersende gevoel na uitlezen blijft teleurstelling.
Daar is vast en zeker de marketing heel hard de schuld van. De manier waarop dit boek werd gepromoot, doet echt verwachten dat het verhaal zich zal verdiepen in de fascinerende wereld en het ontstaan van de boekeneters. Helaas blijven deze gedurende het hele verhaal grotendeels onontgonnen. Heel oppervlakkige hints of terloopse informatie wordt wel gedeeld, maar alles blijft heel oppervlakkig. Achteraf gezien blijkt ook dat die boeketers eigenlijk totaal niet hoefden te bestaan voor de auteur om haar verhaal te kunnen vertellen. Vervang hen gewoon door gelijk welk andere strenge hiërarchische sekte, en niets in het verhaal zou opgeofferd moeten worden.
Dus ja, ik ben echt gefrustreerd dat zo'n cool idee gewoon verspild werd.
Het uiteindelijke verhaal was wel ok, maar niet echt origineel als je vergat dat het over boeketers ging, wat niet moeilijk was om te doen, gezien ze weinig impact hadden op het verhaal.
Ik kon de aangesneden thema's en hun verkenning wel waarderen, ook al vond ik ze nogal oppervlakkig en een beetje over gebruikt.
De belangrijkste thema's die ik uit het verhaal haalde, waren hoe het moederschap iemands perspectief kan veranderen en hoe je je eigen persoon kunt worden, ondanks wat de mensen om je heen van je verwachten. En vecht tegen het patriarchaat. Dat was duidelijk ook een thema, lol.
Al met al, hoewel ik er toch enigszins van heb genoten, blijft het een feit dat dit niet het verhaal was dat mij was beloofd en teleurstelling is het enige dat ik kan voelen als ik naar dit boek in mijn boekenkast kijk, ondanks mijn fantastisch mooie editie.
The writing and pacing have momentum but the content is thwarting. The mythology is preposterously systemless and does not stretch imaginative potential to not be a mirror world full of patriarchy. Intimate moments and observations are equally inconsistent regarding character relationships, and all conflict is resolved with violence.
This book was one big giant yes.
I'd had my eye on this book for several months before it came out and was lucky to get a copy through work. And, to bring back a tired turn of phrase in relation to this book, well, I ate it up. I loved the characters, I loved the tangle of motivations going on throughout the book, and I loved the Gene Wolfe inspired asides and insights.
She could tell them about the relief that alcohol brought as the months had dragged on; about the guilt-ridden dreams, and the compass with Salem's picture that weighed heavier than chains. About all those nights standing over her son's sleeping form as she thought about smothering him, then stopping herself. About the discarded victims she'd carried, one by one by one to a slew of homeless shelters over the months.
But if Devon talked about any of that, then she'd have to talk about how you really could get used to anything, with enough time and motivation; how her crimes swiftly dwindled from horrific and extraordinary to a facet of her everyday reality.
She had worked out at some point that this was how the Easterbrooks conducted their trafficking without breaking a sweat; how the patriarchs overlooked the suffering and servitude of the mother-brides they destroyed; how humans could continue to exist in an infrastructure of misery. Trauma became routine, and cruelty mundane. Just life, innit.
The Families were not on her side. This realization struck Devon like a bellringer with a gong mallet, shaking her all the way through even as her lungs burned and her feet pounded the underbrush, nose full of the scent of evergreens and fresh snow. The Families were her blood relations, people she loved and had been loved by; her entire world. They were now her Great Enemy.
In fact, they always had been. However loving her childhood, her flesh was still theirs, her goods for the selling. Like pigs or chickens raised for the slaughter, she had developed affection for her keepers, and they for her. But that did not stop her from being consumed; pig farmers still chewed their bacon with enjoyment. Affection only made cruelty rueful.
This could have been a 5 star book, but it was missing...something.
The universe in this book was unique. I loved the world building and the idea that these folks live among us just undetected.
That said, it felt like there was space for depth and allegory that just got missed. I wanted more emotional investiture. There were moments that made me feel deeply moved, but those were because of my own life experiences rather than the writing.
A good book, but definitely a snack when it could have been a nutritious meal.
I reviewed this book for the Hugo-winning blog Nerds of a Feather:
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2022/09/review-book-eaters-by-sunyi-dean.html