M Is For Awesome reviewed The Pox party by M. T. Anderson (The astonishing life of Octavian Nothing, traitor to the nation -- v. 1)
Review of 'The Pox party' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This is not a young adult novel. Readers old and young will love it but this is not young adult. Full of dark mysteries, beautiful horrors, and foetid piles of human despair, I am happy a young adult styling kept it from being any more brutal.
This was an absolutely engaging book, both an examination of human self deception and of history presented in a charming period voice with diversions into alternate voices as necessary. I am drawn to authors who make use of the flawed narrator in first person narrative and Aderson delivers. The time period covered is fresh when seen through Octavian's eyes, and I am reminded of the Benjamin January novels, meets Gormenghast.
Some unspoilery warnings however: this book is at times grotesque regarding the treatment of humans and animals, and may at times be too cruel for a sensitive reader. Particularly because they are true to …
This is not a young adult novel. Readers old and young will love it but this is not young adult. Full of dark mysteries, beautiful horrors, and foetid piles of human despair, I am happy a young adult styling kept it from being any more brutal.
This was an absolutely engaging book, both an examination of human self deception and of history presented in a charming period voice with diversions into alternate voices as necessary. I am drawn to authors who make use of the flawed narrator in first person narrative and Aderson delivers. The time period covered is fresh when seen through Octavian's eyes, and I am reminded of the Benjamin January novels, meets Gormenghast.
Some unspoilery warnings however: this book is at times grotesque regarding the treatment of humans and animals, and may at times be too cruel for a sensitive reader. Particularly because they are true to history and human nature.
