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First of all, it bothers me that writers who don't use appropriate punctuation and rules of correct writing are lauded as geniuses and rebels. Punctuation doesn't convey the message of the book. Punctuation makes sure I can understand what I read. Quotation marks aren't negotiable. That's the main thing that irked me about this book.
Yes, I like the premise. The personification of death was done in an almost humorous way. I have to say, however, I think I liked the second part of the book that revolved around the cellist better than I liked the first part. I found the writing a bit pretentious, which is only supported by the author's blatant disregard for grammatical etiquette. While I do respect what is being said about the importance of death in our world (i.e. - If you think the absence of death a good thing, you are severely deluded) and the insightful way the political, civic and economic ramifications of its absence were woven into the story, I just didn't find myself enjoying this very much. I have noticed the older I get, the less I care about how scholarly and inventive something is and I just want a good story. This wasn't one of those good stories that holds my attention. I finished it, but only because I refuse to give up reading anything.
Yes, I like the premise. The personification of death was done in an almost humorous way. I have to say, however, I think I liked the second part of the book that revolved around the cellist better than I liked the first part. I found the writing a bit pretentious, which is only supported by the author's blatant disregard for grammatical etiquette. While I do respect what is being said about the importance of death in our world (i.e. - If you think the absence of death a good thing, you are severely deluded) and the insightful way the political, civic and economic ramifications of its absence were woven into the story, I just didn't find myself enjoying this very much. I have noticed the older I get, the less I care about how scholarly and inventive something is and I just want a good story. This wasn't one of those good stories that holds my attention. I finished it, but only because I refuse to give up reading anything.