That Which Shiri is Reading: City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett
I used to be anti-first-person-present novel voice (apparently, the more one reads, the more one finds exceptions to one’s nonsensical and foolish self-imposed rules and the less of such nonsensical and foolish self-imposed rules one has). Read my books? No? That’s okay, I forgive you. Spoiler: the first two are written in first person present.
City of Stairs is crafted in third person present, which is a courageous choice. At the moment, I find myself startling each time I move from dialogue to narrative passage; the mental version of that dream you have when you’re just falling asleep, the one wherein you fall off a cliff and then wake yourself up with a full body spasm right before you hit the ground. I have a suspicion that the dichotomy is intentional and related to a specific plot point I won’t go in to detail about quite yet. If it is, bravo, sir, bravo. If not, I’ll have to reevaluate and possibly retract one or both bravos. Part of the issue may be the fact I’ve only had short blocks of time to wade in… City of Stairs may be better consumed in fewer, longer installments rather than during the shuttle rides from employee parking to the office.
Characters are intriguing, the glimpses of the backstory compelling and I definitely plan to proceed (as of mage 44). I’m intrigued to see if it goes in the direction the blurb suggests in a literal fashion or more of a figurative one. Either way, I’m hoping for a good ride.
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