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S.

S. 3

by Doug Dorst and J.J. Abrams
Hardback
Publication Date: 29/10/2013
4/5 Rating 3 Reviews

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One book. Two readers. A world of mystery, menace and desire.

A young woman picks up a book left behind by a stranger. Inside it are his margin notes, which reveal a reader entranced by the story and by its mysterious author. She responds with notes of her own, leaving the book for the stranger, and so begins an unlikely conversation that plunges them both into the unknown.

THE BOOK: Ship of Theseus, the final novel by a prolific but enigmatic writer named V. M. Straka, in which a man with no past is shanghaied onto a strange ship with a monstrous crew and launched on a disorienting and perilous journey.

THE WRITER: Straka, the incendiary and secretive subject of one of the world's greatest mysteries, a revolutionary about whom the world knows nothing apart from the words he wrote and the rumours that swirl around him.

THE READERS: Jennifer and Eric, a college senior and a disgraced grad student, both facing crucial decisions about who they are, who they might become, and how much they're willing to trust another person with their passions, hurts and fears.

S., conceived by filmmaker J.J. Abrams and written by award-winning novelist Doug Dorst, is the chronicle of two readers finding each other in the margins of a book and enmeshing themselves in a deadly struggle between forces they don't understand. It is also Abrams and Dorst's love letter to the written word.
ISBN:
9780857864772
9780857864772
Category:
Contemporary fiction
Format:
Hardback
Publication Date:
29-10-2013
Publisher:
Canongate Books
Country of origin:
United Kingdom
Pages:
472
Dimensions (mm):
247x165x43mm
Weight:
1.07kg
 

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Reviews

4.25

Based on 3 reviews

5 Star
(2)
4 Star
(1)
3 Star
(1)
2 Star
(0)
1 Star
(0)

3 Reviews

I'm going to go ahead and say upfront that this is one of the most engrossing and enjoyable books I've read. I love just about everything about this book, and it's my sincere hope that you will too.

"S." is a book steeped in mystery. It's nothing like those mystery books where everything falls neatly into place in the final pages. It takes work to uncover the mystery of V.M. Straka, and of his enigmatic final book. It's also a love story, as most great books are.

Throughout the book the reader will find a bunch of paraphernalia. Newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, photocopies of documents, letters, postcards; these all sit in various places throughout the book, and make for a very engrossing read. These fragments are, aside from being interesting, beautifully made. They range from thick postcards, to letters written on delicate crepe paper, to a hand-drawn map on an actual napkin.

I read somewhere that in conceiving the book with Abrams, Dorst knew that the central book—SHIP OF THESEUS—had to stand on its own, apart from the other levels of the story. I think he achieved this magnificently. It's a strange and somewhat dream-like tale, one that has continued its hold on me weeks after finishing it.

One of the best things about "S." is that it encourages extended rumination. There's no way that even the most intelligent and careful reader will figure everything out on the first go. Too often I find myself rushing through books to start the next one, missing out on the benefits of really pondering a book. To truly experience and appreciate this book, you'll need to be with it for a while.

"S." was described by Abrams as a "huge gimmick"—and it is, but it is one that has unforgettable payoffs. I didn't expect a book like this to be so emotionally compelling, and yet here I am thinking fondly of the story and it's strange and wonderful cast of characters, and of the mysteries contained within and between its pages. "S." has definitely earned a permanent place on my bookshelf.

(My suggestion for reading this book is to avoid the annotations at first, concentrating on the main storyline. Then, go back and read the annotations and footnotes.)

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This review may seem jumbled, however this book is quite difficult to review due to its structure. I am reviewing this book more as a helpful hand for other readers as I didn't know where to start when i received it.

As a consistent reader, this book was an absolute must-have from the get go. Why? Because it was a total mystery. Upon receiving this book I had no idea what to expect. And what did I receive? A crazy whirlwind story within a story, and a wonderful reading experience.

When you first remove this book from its slip case you are greeted with what looks like an old library book, when you open it, you see that there are annotations all within the margins of the main story, and as you continue to read, you find objects such as documents that compliment both stories (the annotations and the main text) and create background to the plots.

The main story - "Ship of Theseus" - is stated by the annotations to be an overlooked masterpiece. Here the main character "S." boards a ship and sails off onto many adventures through time and space, which I found engaging to sat the least, however as you read the complimentary annotations the conversation between the writers, Eric and Jennifer, seems to override the main plot of the old book... i won't give much away in regards to plot however, the mystery is part of the fun :)

So how do you read it? Well that answer is simple... twice over, once with the main story (ignoring annotations) and once reading the annotations. I did this chapter by chapter and it worked quite well.

Long story short, I found this book is an adventure based on the readers experience of reading it rather than the plot points involved. I enjoyed it immensely.

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This book is a visual feast! I didn't want to break the seal which held the book in its DVD like sheath. Once opening the book you are greeted with all the extra bits of notes, postcards and napkins! Such a great concept and I look forward to reading it over again.

Speedy delivery too!

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