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Incarceron -- a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology -- a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber -- chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here. In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison -- a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device -- a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn's escape is born ...Not sure exactly what made me stop here's a couple of things, I can put into words -
First, as it was not exactly slow but as Enna of Squeaky Books put it in a comment to me it's almost swampy - which is exactly how I might describe it...swampy. Sorta loaded down. I was totally unable to really sink my teeth in, and enjoy it. The little “nuances” that draw me into a great novel, I just did not “get” in this book.
It's set in the 1600's - though, they have gadgets from the future, so that part, I was just like - huh? It did not make sense, and at least from what I read, I did not get any real understanding of a reason, why they could have gadgets from the future and be set in the past. As a person who hardly reads historical fiction, this twist also had me feeling lost.
Also, the characters both Finn and Claudia left me cold, I honestly could not find one reason to like either of them, I just did not know enough about them to care. It's a longer book, so I though character development would be good, but sadly for me it was lacking.
In all honesty, I felt like nearly 100% of what I was reading I was not "getting" or soaking in - aside from what I got from reading the cover - the rest, of the book's little nuances, I just never got. Honestly the "little pieces" that make a good book great, I just did not understand at all.
I tried, I honestly, REALLY tried - I kept going...but, it was not a book that I could "get."
I can see why all the great reviews though, the writing is really amazing - and if you can broaden your horizons enough to get "into" the world that is Incarceron, I think it would be an amazingly beautiful book, full of tons of imagination lots of secrets, as well as interesting plot twists.
I just felt like you might feel, trudging a swamp...it felt like parts were sticking to my feet, while most of it fell away until I just could not do it anymore. I give it 2 mushrooms.
Incarceron
Author: Catherine Fisher
464 Pages
Published: 2010
Publisher: Dial
Giveaway – I would love to give my copy of Incarceron to someone who might really enjoy the story, though I did not, I know via the reviews LOTS of people love it...so if you would like to read it, leave a comment and make sure your profile has a working email address and I will pick a winner next Sat. and send it to you! BTW contest is international, if you girls who are international would help with shipping LOL...sorry!
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