The Book of Elsewhere: Review

Welp, let’s try this out.
What’s your favorite story with an immortal/godlike protagonist deigning to walk among men?
Mine’s Superman when he takes his time to sit with people and tell them they matter.
That Spider-Man cowboy bebop comic comes to mind too.
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If you feel like picking up Book of Elsewhere, here's a link. You can check it out through the amazon-affiliation thing which gives me a small percentage if you buy it or don't. Whatever you want. I'd mainly suggest you read a sample before purchase if you purchase. Libraries are free.
amzn.to/3YY7Wan
Check out your library or local bookstore.
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So weird jumping to a new platform when I literally know nothing about it. But, hey, no reason not to be a dumb book person on this corner of the internet too.
Here I take comfort in x2 speed and being played on another tab. I am, however, terrified of the no-limit commenting system.
As someone who’s read a lot of scifi and fantasy, but also just reads a lot in general, my time/energy investment is higher than a casual readers. So for books like this the question is: is it a gimmick or actually good?
Yeah. Whether or not you should buy it will depend on your mileage as a reader but I’d say this is pretty “don’t read that often” friendly. Read the samples, though. Always. They’re free. Also, get a library card.
If Keanu Reevess’ name was not attached, this would still be a good piece of fiction. This book also has China Miéville’s name on it, who is not as well known, but is obviously a great and established writer. He was more telling for what quality I expected going in. I am eager to dig up an interview on their writing process to see if there are certain “bits” that belonged to one and not the other. To whoever wrote the prologue: I said what I said.
I should clarify that there IS some action in this book, but that’s not the priority. When you get to it, it’s pretty late game and very reminiscent of any third act of a mystery investigative novel you’ve read. Like I said, this was neat but also has a fairly familiar structure as its backbone. That’s not a bad thing, just setting expectations.
#thebookofelsewhere #keanureeves #chinamiéville #speculativefiction #scifibooks #bookreview #bookbreakdown #fashionablecrow #booktok #delraypublishing #delray #breathtaking #chinamieville #brzrkr #boomcomics
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[@professionaldaydreamer]

Love the 'vibe recommendations' you give, that's really useful and helped me make sense of what the book is actually about.

[@FashionableCrow]

Thanks. It’s usually my style to do that for that reason. Comp titles are pretty useful in my opinion 😅

[@Thechoosenone41]

Currently reading it, and i will say it has some confusing parts, however still enjoyable 😊

[@ThisLateHistoricalHour]

Love the format for this review, keep up the great stuff (please)

[@FashionableCrow]

@@ThisLateHistoricalHour thanks for the sweet support 😁

[@saharashiq]

the artists asked him if they can make him to look like him and he said YES!

[@FashionableCrow]

@@saharashiq I’m going to be spiraling with that info now 😂

[@Rich-Oh]

Could it be that either Keanu or China or whoever owns the right to the novel and or anime are looking toward the possibility of movie rights? It would be making a seamless fit for Keanu to be casted as B guaranteeing at least the fan base to adopt the flick as a cult favorite and thus perpetuating endless residuals? Self-manifesting as an "Immortal Killer" at the box office and spin-off merch?

[@DaxBruce-kv4vf]

@@Rich-OhI think there’s a Netflix anime deal in the works

[@yahuahlove9447]

Great insights on the book of elsewhere, beautifully done!

[@FashionableCrow]

@@yahuahlove9447 thank you. Glad it was useful 😁

[@williamneal9076]

We read and enjoyed the book. Your video too. Very well done. Thorough. Good suggestions. Lucky you to have the book so cheap. Almost thought you were going to do a play with Better Help as a Sponsor of this video. Keep Going!

[@FashionableCrow]

@@williamneal9076 thank you! I’m glad it was worthwhile 😁. Especially when spending your own money, I hope I offered a decent picture of what experience you’d be paying for.

[@dumbsocrates]

Love the review style. No filler, all killer.

[@TheColephelps]

i felt the exact same about the prologue. was so excited for the book but that prologue really destroyed my momentum and i havent progressed passed it yet, i had to re read every other line to make sure i was follwing along correctly and i was worried i just was not vibing with the writing style but good to know the rest of the book is not writen like that

[@triptip00]

i am so confused the prologue. especially that english is not my native language so i had to read it a couple of times and just decided to get pass it and so far doesn't seem to matter yet (just fyi i am only on like the 1st chapter yet).

[@FashionableCrow]

@@TheColephelps I would say that the prologue is the most frustrating part of the book, that even upon re-read, it was better to skim. All you need to know is on a mission, Ulfson hurt a lot of people trying to kill off B. That’s it. Muscle through to the end signs of life (context for that chapter is only given at the end so read required kind of) and THEN I think that’s a good-ish spot to determine if the book catches your interest. Sorry if you already bought it, but thank goodness all of that is available in the sample as well

[@FashionableCrow]

@@triptip00 it’s very much an incident that can be summed up as “betrayal gone wrong” it’s confusing even to a native speaker, so, I’m sorry you had to struggle

[@triptip00]

@FashionableCrow i am laughing right now. I soooo missed the point of that prologue. I'll try to read it again with that lense. I appreciate your insight on this! :)

[@triptip00]

@FashionableCrow i was looking for books of China as I've heard he really had good world building books and saw Keanu on the author so i bought it and the plot seems in my interest. Its just that prologue. Lol. Haha

[@TheddunTOSS]

Very good and well informed review!

[@liquidbeagle5341]

The stowaway chapter was a mix of so many things I love. An orphan answering the call to adventure. The high seas (I count the cargo hold). Weighing the fear of an unseen horror against the brutality of men waiting in the light above. A silent protector made of brooms scratching lullabies on boxes. And, in the end, it ripped my heart out. Perfect.

[@FashionableCrow]

@@liquidbeagle5341 the payoff of the kids inability to read rocked me. Once you KNOW I really enjoyed jumping back and rereading it with context. I live for little moments in writing like that.

[@liquidbeagle5341]

@@FashionableCrow How polite he was nodding along to his protector as if he understood its messages. I think many sections of this book will age well for rereads, not just that clunky prologue.

[@superspiffychef1923]

Honestly, the only recommendation I needed for this book was 'China Miéville and Keanu Reeves wrote a book', teehee. But thank you for the excellent and thoughtful review! I like the longer form format, and the vibe recommendations at the end were perfectly on point 👌

[@FashionableCrow]

@@superspiffychef1923 thank you. Glad you like the longer presentation

[@natasharedmane]

The Claire sound bit gave me such a good laugh

[@irenecooney7066]

Yous talk like hes 70 years old my god my grandfather lived to 100 and was handsome and very active so Mr Reeves you have a long way to go be greatful and humble.😮

[@fifguy]

Some of the points you make are worthy of some pause, but all audio downtime is cut, so kinda feels like I'm throwing more chips in my mouth before I'm done chewing. But I really liked how thoughtful your comments were, and how much familiar knowledge you tied in.

[@FashionableCrow]

@@fifguy I’ll try to keep it in mind in editing next time. Thank you for the feedback 😊

[@macintoshimann9892]

I have never had so much fun with a book review. Very concise articulation, yet im still curious what the books about. Thank you for saving me from the read I think Ill watch Hancock next lol. Or maybe Trigun :)

[@FashionableCrow]

@@macintoshimann9892 vibes mainly. A guy pops up with features of immortality, everyone wonders why and waits around for B (their known immortal) to just tell them because he knows he’s just a quiet gruff guy. Then a villain Knives style shows up. Boom. Plot

[@macintoshimann9892]

@@FashionableCrow i feel like you really did save me the read thank you. You are very good at reviews. Love the way you break down the content

[@applejuice3562]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video

[@FashionableCrow]

@@applejuice3562 thanks 😁

[@tiakushniruk7744]

loved this video - thanks!

[@FashionableCrow]

@@tiakushniruk7744 thanks for watching 😅

[@NCanadezo]

I got this book for "free 99"

[@barrrie]

First time here. Really enjoyed this review. I also enjoyed the book. Also, also cant stop thinking about the stow away chapter!

[@FashionableCrow]

@@barrrie yes!!! It was like a mini horror exposure where the monster is a broom and I was like “no this is wholesome” and the fact that he can’t readddddd 😭😭😭

[@kayomartinez8671]

I thought it was me not understanding this book but Iam glad others are having a difficult time understanding what’s going on as well lol I am only 50 pgs in and had to watch reviews to double check lol I shall keep on pushing

[@FashionableCrow]

@@kayomartinez8671 for me it was a significant hurdle and I’m used to reading obscure stuff. Signs of Life required a reread from me to orient myself. I definitely think being able to read one volume of BRZRKR helped significantly get my feet under me. And the event in the prologue is referenced but the specifics are not necessary to understand. Mission gone wrong. Ulfson betrayed them. Done.

[@younghan3573]

You're beautiful and smart

[@JohnFRambo]

How dare you spoil a master piece? You got no sense of appreciation. Thats why girls should not review action/ adventure novels! .Your attitude is despicable.