I have finished this one a while ago now and I honestly still think about it often. Definitely is something that has stuck with me.
Synopsis: Zachary Rawlins, a graduate student, finds a mysterious book hidden in the stacks at the library. A book filled with enchanting magical stories and oddly enough, a story from his own childhood. Confused and curious Zachary goes on a journey to find out the meaning behind his inclusion and comes across a door to an ancient hidden library beneath the surface of the Earth. A library where he learns a lot about himself and this fascinating place on his voyage to the Starless Sea.
Plot: Now, this plot is quite confusing. It is confusing but not frustrating and completely worth it to fight through that confusion until the end. The best part of this would have to be the gorgeous writing. It is incredibly imaginative and beautifully written and the entire story has such a magical and mysterious feel. Definitely an atmospheric read. I also love that Morgenstern doesn't spell things out for you, there is a lot of guessing and figuring things out for yourself, which is a change from some of the more simplistic things I've been reading. There are little stories of the Starless Sea and its inhabitants mixed in between chapters and some were interesting while others felt a little out of left field. Despite my enjoyment, I can absolutely understand why people don't like this. There is a LOT going on and it is a tad bit too long. The first half was also much more clear than the jumbled second half, where I started losing a little bit of interest. There were some good twists along the way but overall the ending wasn't satisfying after spending all that time reading.
Characters: Similarly to the plot, there is a lot going on character-wise, leaving me to forget who a lot of the people are. Because there are so many of them, some feel underdeveloped and a little random. The romance between two characters was also something that I could have lived without. There was already so much happening and these characters were so great on their own, I didn't see the need to bring them together. Other than that, the characters were some of the most interesting people I've read about in a long time and I enjoyed unraveling who they were along with the story.
Overall a very beautiful book and storyline.
A love letter to literature, storytelling and books.
3.5/5 stars.
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