I really quite enjoyed this book. It was quite a fast, easy read, while at the same time being quite intelligent with some interesting ideas.
The opening scene, with our hero waking up with absolutely no idea of who or where he is, is really gripping and an exciting concept. There are so many questions, so many possibilities as to where the story could go from here. Are the notes actually from his former self and can he be trusted? Does the doctor really have his best interests at heart or is there something sinister going on? Is Ian a spy? The book doesn't quite manage to maintain that momentum throughout but as we move away from the initial set up and introduce new characters and learn more about Eric's past, there is always enough going on, enough unanswered questions to hold your attention.
I quite like the use of typography in the book. At first I questioned how much it actually contributed to the story, but the further you get through, the more it makes sense for it to be included. The way that language and writing is used in the storyline is quite clever and also rather brave; a book about words and their power is something that I imagine a lot of people would find a dull idea. Indeed, it could easily have got that way if the author hadn't managed to take these ideas and incorporate them into what is essentially a good action-romance yarn.
Unfortunately, as is so often the case, the ending is the bit that let the book down the most. Without giving too many spoilers, we've just experienced an epic, disastrous grand finale, only to be fobbed off with something that was, in equal parts; the requisite happily ever after, open ended "interpret it how you will" and that laziest of lazies; the "it was all just a dream".
Despite this, I still thought this was a cracking read; it's the first book in a few months that I've really raced through, staying up to finish rather than just pottering through a few chapters at bedtime.
A perfect holiday book; read it on a beach in Santorini!
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