- Hardcover: 261 pages
- Publisher: Harper Teen; 1 edition (23 Nov 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 006123978X
- ISBN-13: 978-0061239786
- Product Dimensions: 21.7 x 14.6 x 3.1 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,687,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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6 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Three 1/2 stars
27 Mar 2011
Format:Hardcover
I unfortunately wasn't able to read The Explosionist first. I dislike starting with a sequel, but sometimes it's fun to see how well the book works when you don't start familiar with the world. INVISIBLE THINGS did manage the set-up well. I liked that it was set in Denmark and other places that aren't often seen in English literature. Plus, the places were new to Sophie, who came to Denmark by way of a school in Scotland, so new readers wouldn't be lost there. The details of the steampunk world took awhile to unfold, but one paragraph in particular played catch-up nicely:
When would the dynamiteur Alfred Nobel send word that he was ready to see Sophie? . . . When Nobel did finally reach out to her, would the message be brought by her old chemistry teacher, Mikael's older brother, Arne? Would Mikael - but Sophie could hardly stand to thing about it, the idea so thoroughly and confusingly excited and shamed her - ever want to kiss her? (ARC, p. 20)
The rhetorical questions felt like someone testing out different scenarios in their mind. It also brought in things that had happened while still focusing on future action, which prevented drag.
Unfortunately, drag did occur elsewhere. Due to my current focus on my thesis, I read INVISIBLE THINGS in bits and pieces, spare moments snatched during bus commutes and waiting for water to boil. Thus, I may not be doing full justice to the book. At the same time, I just never felt compelled to sit with it longer. I'm behind on a term paper outline because I picked up Jim Butcher's Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7) and didn't put it down for 200 pages. Jenny Davidson never managed to make me forget other responsibilities waiting.
Davidson's writing, mechanically, was lovely. The prelude to the story is atmospheric while managing to pack in some action. But it seems like the action parts got lost sometimes. Part of this is due to Sophie's intelligence, which sometimes translates as pretentiousness. She tends to think about things in ways that can be lovely, but don't create forward momentum.
I enjoyed INVISIBLE THINGS, but I somehow though a novel that revealed dark secrects, featured an eve-of-war setting, and began with an assassination would be more of a page-turner
When would the dynamiteur Alfred Nobel send word that he was ready to see Sophie? . . . When Nobel did finally reach out to her, would the message be brought by her old chemistry teacher, Mikael's older brother, Arne? Would Mikael - but Sophie could hardly stand to thing about it, the idea so thoroughly and confusingly excited and shamed her - ever want to kiss her? (ARC, p. 20)
The rhetorical questions felt like someone testing out different scenarios in their mind. It also brought in things that had happened while still focusing on future action, which prevented drag.
Unfortunately, drag did occur elsewhere. Due to my current focus on my thesis, I read INVISIBLE THINGS in bits and pieces, spare moments snatched during bus commutes and waiting for water to boil. Thus, I may not be doing full justice to the book. At the same time, I just never felt compelled to sit with it longer. I'm behind on a term paper outline because I picked up Jim Butcher's Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7) and didn't put it down for 200 pages. Jenny Davidson never managed to make me forget other responsibilities waiting.
Davidson's writing, mechanically, was lovely. The prelude to the story is atmospheric while managing to pack in some action. But it seems like the action parts got lost sometimes. Part of this is due to Sophie's intelligence, which sometimes translates as pretentiousness. She tends to think about things in ways that can be lovely, but don't create forward momentum.
I enjoyed INVISIBLE THINGS, but I somehow though a novel that revealed dark secrects, featured an eve-of-war setting, and began with an assassination would be more of a page-turner
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Just as amazing as the last...
28 Nov 2010
Format:Hardcover
I really enjoyed Davidson's previous book, The Explosionist. It was full of mystery and intrigue. Invisible Things started right where the last book ended. A lot that was a mystery in the first book is revealed, along with several other secrets. Sophie was just as clever and thoughtful in the first book. I love Mikael. He was lovely and I found him really interesting. I love the alternative history that Davidson creates. It is so rich and full of people that were actually in our world. I found parts of the plot to drag on and a bit was unrealistic. Even with that I found such a unique and stunning book that catches your attention from the beginning. I highly suggest that you should read this book, it will capture your attention and bring you to a new world.
Review from The Book Monsters
3 Aug 2011
Format:Hardcover
Invisible Things is one of those novels that you want to love. I mean REALLY love, but somewhere along the way from the beginning to the ending... you find that something is just missing. And this leaves you not too sure exactly what you feel about the novel as a whole.
The plot starts off promising enough. Sophie's parents die when she is quite young. Under circumstances that just do not seem right in her mind. In order to come to terms with her past, Sophie embarks on an adventure that will lead her down a path that is as remarkable as it is, at times, painful.
The mystery aspect of the novel quite compelling. It is a full-bodied mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat trying to stay one step ahead of Sophie and her thinking. Now while I did enjoy this aspect of the novel, I must admit that it took over a vast majority of the focus of the novel. It seemed like every time I thought Davidson was going to focus on some other element, here came the mystery again. It seemed like if Sophie was not thinking about how to solve the mystery then she was collecting evidence... and more evidence.
As a whole, Invisible Things was not exactly what I was expecting. But it had plenty of redeeming qualities. A fascinating lead female who will stop at nothing in her hunt for the truth. A setting that I would love to lose myself in. And a mystery that is too far fetched to be true, but you love it anyways.
The plot starts off promising enough. Sophie's parents die when she is quite young. Under circumstances that just do not seem right in her mind. In order to come to terms with her past, Sophie embarks on an adventure that will lead her down a path that is as remarkable as it is, at times, painful.
The mystery aspect of the novel quite compelling. It is a full-bodied mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat trying to stay one step ahead of Sophie and her thinking. Now while I did enjoy this aspect of the novel, I must admit that it took over a vast majority of the focus of the novel. It seemed like every time I thought Davidson was going to focus on some other element, here came the mystery again. It seemed like if Sophie was not thinking about how to solve the mystery then she was collecting evidence... and more evidence.
As a whole, Invisible Things was not exactly what I was expecting. But it had plenty of redeeming qualities. A fascinating lead female who will stop at nothing in her hunt for the truth. A setting that I would love to lose myself in. And a mystery that is too far fetched to be true, but you love it anyways.
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