The Gone-Away World

by Nick Harkaway

hardcover, 512 pages

Published Aug. 5, 2008 by William Heinemann Ltd.

ISBN:: 978-0-434-01842-0

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(21 reviews)

2 editions

Nikita reviewed The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway

Review of 'The Gone-Away World' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I really wanted to like this book. The synopsis sounds great, I love post apocalyptic novels. Sadly, I'm 70% of the way in and only two chapters really had anything about the Gone Away World. The rest is a sort of biography of the main character and then later on it's a his wife cheats on him with his best friend so he joins a circus??? WTF story.

The only reason I stuck it out this far is I liked the humour. The author definitely has some funny commentary on everything. But when it goes on for 3 pages before getting back to the point, it starts to drag after a while. I started skimming just so I could get back to the main plot, which I'm still not sure if there really is one.

I've made it this far so I feel I should finish it, but it's becoming painful to keep going so I don't know if it's worth it.

Ok, tried some more and I'm officially done. I can't read anymore of this book. At about the halfway point, I was starting to wonder if the book would end up all being a dream. It doesn't, but then what just got revealed and just the icing on the cake for me deciding to quit he's actually Gonzo's imaginary friend!! is worse, so that's it. I never really figured out what the plot was, so I'm not really too concerned in making it to the end to find out how everything resolves.

Matt K reviewed The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway

Review of 'The Gone-Away World' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Wonderful characters, mental twist. The characters feel so cartoony that it is distracting sometimes. However, the twist was good enough to gloss over some of these issues. Very nicely done.

Mark Anderson reviewed The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway

Review of 'The Gone-Away World' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It seems like it is all too rare that I come across a book where the author is drunk with the joy of language. The language in this book is cheeky, it is insouciant, it is fun and vibrant and alive. The plot? Pretty enjoyable. Not terribly deep, but not shallow either. As a first novel, this makes me eager to see what more Harkaway has got to share.

moving to outside.ofa.dog reviewed The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway

Review of 'The Gone-Away World' on 'LibraryThing'

5 stars

This is one of the most extraordinary and inventive books I have ever read. The author just lays on layer after layer of strange, and manages to make it work by the sheer audacity of keeping going.

I'm deliberately saying nothing about content because much of the pleasure of this book comes from discovering the world it creates, so I don't think I can say anything descriptive without taking something away from that. Just read it!