I took a break about a third of the way through this one. Not because it wasn't good, not at all. I was burned out when I started reading this and fell into a reading slump. Without reading, I'm not myself. I had to get out of the slump to get out of the burn out to get back to myself again. So there came a point that I put this book aside and picked up something that at the time was easier for me to focus on and indulge in. But I knew I'd love this once I had the headspace again.
I've been out of the reading slump for a while again now and decided it was time to delve back into Appleseed.
And I'm so glad I did. Sometimes you're just not ready for a particular book at a particular moment in time, but I found myself ready for this one now.
The structure reminds me of both Cloud Atlas and my recent read The Sea of Tranquility. A structure I have come to really appreciate. I like skipping around in time and trying to figure out the connection between the characters before it all comes together at the end. So I enjoyed that aspect of this novel. As well as its environmental themes. A novel very much of this time, and a dystopic glance at the future. I feel that the novel managed to encompass so much. From colonialism and the American ideal of manifest destiny to post humanism. All while wrapped in myth and legend. All done in an original and unexpected way.
Really interesting read, that just felt slightly too long winded at times. I would say that that is probably the only negative I have to bring to the table. Other than that I fully enjoyed this sprawling genre-encompassing novel.
The first thick book I've read in a while and it has given me the hope and confidence I needed to pick up 300+ page books again. A true work of art that also felt well researched. Brilliant! I look forward to more by Matt Bell. Have his book on writing ready, so maybe that's the next non-fiction book I will pick up. Seen as my writing hand has slowly started fizzling with its magic again too!