Anathem by Stephenson

[fabrisse]

I keep feeling like I've read this book before. I haven't. I finally picked up the paperback last month and just got around to starting it this week. I refused to read my friends reviews when the book first came out because Stephenson is someone I need to read fresh.

I'm on page 300-mumble and I finally realize what book it reminds me of -- a bad book by Dianna Wynne Jones (not that she has many, but most authors have a couple) called A Sudden Wild Magic.

How odd.

Comments

[eanja]

I haven't read Anathem, but I also felt that A Sudden Wild Magic was one of DWJ's weakest. Have I pointed you at her essay about why, after that one, she will never again write a book for adults? Short version, she kept being told to dumb things down because they were too confusing. So she'll now keep writing for children, who apparently are still assumed to be able to read and think at the same time.

(I think there is some truth to this- I've run across several adults who were utterly baffled by Hexwood, but no kids.)

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

I haven't read Hexwood, so I don't know if I'm one of them.

The idea that adults need things explained makes perfect sense to me. Too many of us never let our imaginations off their chains.

I got your card! My first of the season.