I used first person narrative by unreliable narratives in many of my non-M novels. But nowhere did I do it as experimentally and loquaciously as in 'A Song of Stone'.

The anti-hero here is a prissy, amoral, over-entitled minor nobleman. He causes a personal Armageddon against the backdrop of an unspecified conflict in an unnamed country.

'A Song of Stone' is about numerous things - class, snobbery, the folly of war, and the superficiality of almost everything in the context of war, deprivation, and displacement.

However, it is at its most brutal and cynically effective when it is a sustained attack on the protagonist's swaggering yet fragile masculinity. I wanted to explore how such a character could be brought to the forefront and have his flaws and weaknesses exposed in the harshest of lights. Through this exploration, I hoped to shed light on the complex nature of human behavior and the consequences of one's actions in a war-torn and chaotic world.

This was a truly strange book.

At the beginning, it seemed quite good, and the writing style was indeed great. The author had a certain flair for putting words together that made it engaging to read.

However, when it came to the story itself, it left a lot to be desired. The protagonist was rather difficult to like. Maybe that was the intended point, but it made it hard for the reader to really connect with the character.

Moreover, I had the distinct impression that the story didn't seem to know what kind of story it wanted to be. Was it supposed to be a commentary on war, highlighting the horrors and consequences? Or was it meant to depict the differences between the classes, showing the inequalities and struggles?

Perhaps it was about general morals, teaching us some valuable lessons about right and wrong. Or maybe it was delving into the complex nature of human beings, exploring our virtues and vices.

The truth is, I really don't know. Even after finishing the book, I'm still not sure what message it was trying to get across. It left me with more questions than answers, and that's both frustrating and somewhat intriguing.

Only for Completists

Completists are those individuals who have an unwavering dedication to achieving absolute completeness in a particular area or task. They are not satisfied with anything less than the full picture or the entire collection.

For completists, the pursuit of completeness is not just a hobby but a way of life. It drives them to go the extra mile, to search for that one missing piece, or to master every detail of a subject.

Whether it's collecting stamps, completing a video game 100%, or learning every aspect of a new language, completists approach their endeavors with passion and determination. They are willing to invest大量的 time and effort into their pursuits, often sacrificing other aspects of their lives in the process.

While some may view completists as obsessive or perfectionistic, they see themselves as simply following their passion and striving for excellence. And in the end, it is their unwavering commitment to completeness that sets them apart and allows them to achieve things that others may not even attempt.

I had been given this book many Christmas' ago,

and it had simply sat on the shelf, gathering dust.

However, a holiday in a charming stone cottage in Normandy presented me with the perfect opportunity to finally pick it up and read.

I didn't know a great deal about this particular book, but being an avid Banks reader and having devoured most of his previous works, I was understandably looking forward to it.

I discovered that the book was very easy to read.

Banks' usual highly descriptive style flowed seamlessly with the story, enhancing rather than detracting from it.

The book is set during a time of war, perhaps a civil war, but it was certainly a confused and chaotic period that had me speculating that it might have been influenced by the Balkan wars.

It charts the tale of an aristocratic couple who live in their grand castle as events unfold around them.

Nonetheless, there wasn't an enormous amount to this story.

I found some of the characters and the plot to be a little predictable.

That being said, it was only towards the end of the book that some of the elements came together to shed light on earlier passages.

I was left feeling a little unsatisfied with the ending, and yet I found myself rooting for characters that I perhaps hadn't initially realized I would empathize with.

Abel is the narrator, and he is slightly unreliable, arrogant, and fairly untrustworthy.

Nonetheless, he simply wasn't interesting enough for me to closely follow his story.

Banks has indeed crafted a well-written novel. However, I was never truly enthralled. In fact, I lost interest before the denouement and resorted to skimming to the end.

The plot and the setting held more intrigue for me than the clever deceptions that Abel was spouting.

Although I still have an appreciation for Bank's writing (after all, THE WASP FACTORY is a minor classic), I would not recommend this particular novel.

Next, I plan to give his Science Fiction a try.

I'm hoping that his foray into that genre will capture my attention more fully and provide a more engaging reading experience.

Perhaps the unique concepts and settings in Science Fiction will allow Banks to shine even brighter and offer a story that I won't be able to put down.

Only time will tell if his Science Fiction will live up to my expectations.

What if a European nation were to collapse into the kind of chaos we typically observe in failed states?

This is a fascinating and thought-provoking question. In Iain Banks' wonderful prose, he might have explored this scenario in great detail.

We could envision the breakdown of social order, with lawlessness prevailing on the streets. The economy would likely crumble, leading to widespread poverty and unemployment. Basic services such as healthcare, education, and sanitation would become scarce or non-existent.

The political system would be in disarray, with competing factions vying for power and control. International relations would be severely affected, as the collapsed nation would no longer be able to fulfill its obligations or participate effectively in global affairs.

Such a collapse would have far-reaching consequences, not only for the people of the nation itself but also for the surrounding countries and the international community as a whole. It would force us to confront the fragility of our modern societies and the importance of maintaining stability and order.

Through Iain Banks' masterful storytelling, we could gain a deeper understanding of the potential implications of such a collapse and perhaps be inspired to take steps to prevent it from happening in the first place.

This is a book that delves into the deepest recesses of darkness and nihilism.

I cannot feign that it was a pleasant read. Its dark themes and philosophical wanderings make it a laborious task to get through.

The book explores some truly unpalatable topics, with the breakdown of society serving as the central theme. Whether it is a gradual erosion of morality or a sudden upheaval in the midst of war, the book forces us to question our understanding of the structures that hold society together.

The central character is an unreliable narrator, someone whom we come to despise as the story progresses. In the beginning, we are introduced to a character who seems to be the villain, but as the narrative unfolds, this character gradually reveals more humanity and compassion than all the other characters put together.

It is a complex and thought-provoking work that challenges our preconceived notions and forces us to confront the darker side of human nature.

I could not engage with this book at all.

The story begins with the chief character leaving his home, a castle that had provided safety during a war. However, he is soon captured by a militia and is taken back to the very castle he had left.

He becomes upset when they trash his former home, even though he had already decided to leave it.

The plot then takes a strange turn as he gets put in a well and somehow manages to get out.

By the end of the book, when the characters find out their fate, I really didn't care what happened to them.

The story seemed disjointed and lacked a clear narrative arc. The characters were not well-developed, and I found it difficult to empathize with them.

Overall, this book was a disappointment, and I would not recommend it to others.

An ambitious, but ultimately unsuccessful, effort. This statement implies a venture that was launched with great aspiration and high hopes. The individuals or group behind it had set their sights on achieving something significant. They likely dedicated a considerable amount of time, energy, and resources to this endeavor.

However, despite their best efforts, things did not work out as planned. There could have been numerous factors contributing to the lack of success. Maybe there were unforeseen obstacles or challenges that emerged along the way. Or perhaps the initial strategy was not as sound as they thought, or they faced fierce competition from others.

Nevertheless, even though this particular effort was unsuccessful, it doesn't mean that it was a complete waste. There are always valuable lessons to be learned from such experiences. These lessons can serve as a foundation for future endeavors and help the individuals or group to make better decisions and avoid similar mistakes in the future. So, while the outcome may not have been what was desired, the journey itself was not without its merits.

I finally managed to finish the book, even though I was extremely annoyed by the author's overly descriptive writing style. Seriously, how many adjectives can one person cram into a single sentence? You might think about reading this book to find out, but actually, don't. It was so bad that I wouldn't even consider picking up any of his other books without a really strong recommendation.

I found myself constantly skimming through the pages, trying to get to the point. The excessive use of adjectives made the story feel bogged down and tedious. It was as if the author was more concerned with showing off his vocabulary than telling a good story.

I can't help but wonder if the author had received proper editing. Maybe a more experienced editor could have reined in his tendency to over-describe and helped him focus on the essential elements of the plot.

In conclusion, I would not recommend this book to anyone. Save your time and money and pick up something else to read.

I have never read a book quite like this one.

As you’ll see peppered throughout other reviews, there are no likeable main characters whatsoever. The story starts incredibly bleakly and only gets worse from there.

This is pitch-dark. It lingers on some of humanity’s worst behaviours, both in terms of the soldiers and in the past and present actions of Abel and his family and lover.

The language is poetic, mesmerising in places, and the lieutenant is a superb antagonist.

This book will stay with me. I want to just say I enjoyed it, but it’s more complicated than that. It’s not a book that you can simply enjoy in the traditional sense. It forces you to confront the darker side of human nature and the atrocities that we are capable of.

Despite its darkness, there is also a certain beauty to the writing. The author has a way of painting vivid pictures in your mind and making you feel as if you are right there in the midst of the action.

Overall, this is a thought-provoking and powerful book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.

This is an extremely powerful book. However, it is not an easy or particularly enjoyable one.

The way the story is told is truly remarkable. The first person point of view (POV) endows the story with a vitality that could not have been attained in any other manner.

The absence of specific time and location implies that this story can be extracted and transplanted to any place and any time (at least within the scope of my lifetime).

The casual brutality within the story is unforgiving and unrelenting. It shocks and disturbs the reader, yet at the same time, it compels one to keep reading, eager to discover what will happen next.

Despite its flaws, this book has left a lasting impression on me, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and challenging read.