Sumner Carnahan

This was an entirely unexpected book, in every way. It came to me out of the blue, loaned to me by my grandfather as an interesting book to get me out of my reading rut (see: most of the books I've been reading this year, and the frustrations/irritations I describe in my reviews...)

Well, the style was great, and original; I love novels written as diaries/journals, and this was a creative continuation of that genre, more original than anything I've read - as it is the diaries of two different characters, and they each have different types of journals and diaries and notebooks, which are compiled into this novel.

Furthermore, the scope of this novel was impressive. There is science, and language, and linguistics (lots of Spanish and Spanishisms in English, as well as notes on names, and some Latin, though mainly through science - specifically, botany). And then it evolves into almost a mystery novel.

Anyway, this is one of the better books I've read this year, easily. Furthermore, it made me really, really sad. I'm always impressed when a book can have so strong an effect on me. Something about this book really affected me.… (more)