The City & the City, by China Mieville

[lookfar]

I am in transports of happiness over this book, and have been telling everyone to read it.

The City & the City is a detective novel that takes place in two cities occupying the same space, separated only by social custom and rigorous individual policing of perception. Beszel, the home of the detective Tyador Borlu, is a slightly run-down Eastern

Comments

[timetiger]

Hoo boy! That sounds fascinating. I've been wanting to read that book for years but I've always been a little intimidated by it.

[lookfar]

Don't be! It's an easy read, first-person mystery, with all the cool world building presented painlessly and incidentally.

[hamsterwoman]

This remains the only China Mieville book I've managed to fully read, but I really enjoyed it! The worldbuilding, and the general feel of the place, and how the unique setting plays with the genre of mystery/police procedural. (I'm especially fond of it also because I was reading it during my first visit to Prague, which was a pretty great coincidence.)

[lookfar]

I'll bet you felt you were walking through Beszel every day.

[hamsterwoman]

Rather! :)

[mallorys_camera]

This book has been on my radar for years. Your review makes me think the time has come to read it.

[lookfar]

Do it! And we can discuss.

[celtic_rose]

The book sounds fascinating - I got a Kindle from Martin for my birthday so I just downloaded it!

[lookfar]

Let me know what you think!

[gansje]

What a wonderful review! I think I'll have to read this book. <3

[lookfar]

Keep me posted if you do!