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A big helping of “Raw Shark”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I hate it when I hear a massive buzz about some book I really want to read, but I can’t get to it in time to read before I have to blog about it. That’s the case with “The Raw Shark Texts,” a debut novel by Steven Hall, which has readers going cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. Like Tim over at the Babygotbooks blog, which I enjoy. Wow, that’s fandom.
Publisher’s Weekly called it “a cerebral page-turner that pits corporeal man against metaphysical sharks that devour memory and essence, not flesh and blood.” I’ve also heard “Moby Dick meets The Matrix,” which certainly makes one pay a little attention. The novel won the 2007 Borders Original Voices Award, and is short listed for the Arthur C. Clarke Award.
I’ve had the paperback at my bedside for a month, but I just haven’t cracked it yet. And now Hall is coming, to Wordsmiths Books on Decatur Square at 8 p.m. Thursday, for a reading, signing and fan love-in, with music by Blue Screen Love Scene. So it’s time to blog it, spread the word, and I will dig in to “Raw Shark” maybe over the summer. Tim, this better rock my world, or I’m coming for ya!
By the way, that cool photo of Hall is from the New York Times.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Books
Comments
By Jeff
April 22, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Phil:
I’ve never heard of this one, so I’ll throw one at you and see if you’ve heard of it:
The Atlantis Prophecy by Thomas Greanias
I got it last week from the author, and it was pretty astounding. A sort of National Treasure meets The DaVinci Code, but FAR better than both! (To rip off a line from the Underworld series!)
By Diane Dorce
April 22, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
It would be nice if Atlanta showed some love for it’s local authors and their books. My first novel “Devil in the Mist”, definitely defines the Atlanta innercity. There is also a featured story in the short story collection “Bloggers’ Delight - Stories on Love and Redemption” -stories written by various bloggers. My story is called “Smoke”. I hope you will check it out!
By Maria
April 22, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Ah, how timely! My husband and I are reading The Raw Shark Texts right now. It’s a real trip. We picked it up when we were traveling in California last week. It reminds him of the movie Memento; it reminds me a lot of Haruki Murakami’s novels. Alas, I don’t think either of us will finish it before Hall’s talk on Thursday. Do I dare go and possibly have the ending spoiled for me? I’ll think on this one…