has anyone else read this?

[neddy_s]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Divided-Kingdom-Rupert-Thomson/dp/0747578923/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282839036&sr=8-1

I'm nearly finished and can't make head nor tail of it.

Comments

[mlknchz]

It looks interesting, anyway

[neddy_s]

Well I don't recommend it--I just finished it and it made no fucking sense whatever. I was just wondering if anyone else was aware of some deeper meaning that managed to completely elude me.

[mlknchz]

I've requested it from the library. I'll let you know what I think

[neddy_s]

Excellent.

[trachea]

I've read this as well but unfortunately I have very little to contribute. I ended up with it because a couple of years ago I requested searchable in my public library's catalog under "dystopia."

It's not a bad book, per say, it just appears to have no purpose or direction or point. I'm completely flummoxed by the review comparing it to Huxley and Ballard. I can't imagine what the commentary of Divided Kingdom is-- "Humans shouldn't oversimplify their self-indentification by believing everything written in their Daily Horoscopes," maybe?

Have you read any of Rupert Thomson's novels? Are they worth a go? I kind of forgot he existed after reading Divided Kingdom.

[neddy_s]

"Humans shouldn't oversimplify their self-indentification by believing everything written in their Daily Horoscopes," maybe?

Hah well we need four hundred pages to be told that, I guess. No, I haven't read any of his other stuff, and I have to say I'm not at all interested after reading this--though I notice the reviews seem divided along 'this is his best book'/'this is his worst book'.

I actually ended up with it by expressing an opinion somewhere that I found it odd that the humours aren't more often used in decorative art--I mean, you see the four seasons, the three graces, the seven virtues, etc. etc. but I think I've only seen images of 'the four humours' twice.