The Book High

I'm hesitant to write this, as so many others have such glowing things to say about this book. I just really didn't like it.

I think to make this easier I'm going to start with the things that either didn't work for me or confused me, and then I'll end with the things I did like.

What didn't work for me
Maybe I'm giving in to my silly inner-romantic too much here, but finding out you have a theoretically impossible metaphysical bond with your lover that lets you feel what he's feeling and find him anywhere he's at? Why does everyone instantly jump on the "this is a Bad Thing" bandwagon? Yes, I know that Clown-Hair said it might kill Darwin, but they've faced the word "might" before without batting an eye. Now suddenly they're willing to try to destroy this unique and special thing that bonds them together without even asking any questions? Blech. Made me angry. And frustrated.

On a similar note... if this bond between Darwin and Peter is rare enough that it's never been seen before, why would there be a handy machine specially designed to break it right there in the lab?

The whole lab scene after the revelation of that one machine just came across as ridiculous to me. Where would the funding for all of these machines come from? Why would someone build these machines to deal with situations that are believed impossible?

Anyway, that's a lesser frustration. Second only to them agreeing to sever their bond without really ever giving it a second thought is my frustration over how Raithe is treated. Raithe saved both Darwin's and Peter's lives in this book--in Darwin's case more than once. He's the only one either of them had sex with in this book. And we don't even get to see him on-page or find out how he's doing after the whole lab scene. It just seemed that after everything he'd done for them, he deserved better than to be totally ignored at the end.

What I liked
I liked how real Darwin's anguish was at the beginning when he still thought Peter was dead. I thought that was very well written. As was his excitement when he could suddenly feel Peter again.

I also liked finally getting to see Peter post-transformation. Darwin's awe was perfectly-pitched and just what Peter needed to hear.

Okay, so overall, I didn't totally hate it. I'm just sad that this is how it had to end. There are so many questions that weren't answered (and new ones that got raised after what happened in the lab!). And in spite of the epilogue-ish bit at the end with Peter and Darwin finally together in peace and both happy, I still felt cheated by not getting to know Raithe was okay too.

Only one favorite quote:

Raithe glanced down at me, his silver eyes dark. I would have said he looked scared, but it wasn't a big enough word. I needed something which said he was scared for me, scared for Pete, and scared for himself.