It has been far too long since I read Chime by Franny Billingsley to give it a proper review, but I wrote what I like to call the Chime Timeline on my GoodReads review and quite a few people have agreed with me, so I thought I’d repost it here. Chime is challenging everything I believe to be true about books! If I hadn’t had you guys telling me to just keep reading, I easily would have put Chime down after the first 50 pages and possibly even the first 100. Makes me wonder what other books I shouldn’t have given up on!
In other news, can we talk about the covers? I really thought the hardcover was the worst I’d seen, until the paperback. It’s not good, folks. Why, why, why are they trying to keep people from reading this fabulous book by having such terrible covers? I know that we shouldn’t judge books by their covers but we do. That’s why covers are pretty in the first place. To entice you! Now, the hardcover has, honestly, grown on me. But this book is so brilliantly creative, it would have been nice to see a cover that reflected that.
Anyway, rant over. Here is the Chime Timeline: An entirely emotional, non-professional review of Chime by Franny Billingsley
Pages 1-50: While I am a little bit intrigued, I’m really not feeling this. But Ana loved it. And Liz loved it. And so many other people loved it. They don’t usually steer me wrong. I guess I’ll keep reading.
50-100: I am still unsure. I’m not really connecting to Briony, though I’m interested in the dialect and the strange reality of the novel. I’ll keep reading.
101-200: WHAT is going on?! Now I have to keep reading just to try and figure it out. I’m still reading rather slowly and I wish the plot was moving a little bit faster.
201-250: Well, this is exciting! I’m glad I kept reading. It’s still not my favorite book, I mean, 200 pages is a lot to get through to find the exciting part.
251-325: OHHHHHH MY GOD THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVERRRRRRR. I LOVE IT TO PIECES, I’M SORRY I SAID ANYTHING BAD ABOUT IT. TRUE LOVE. LOVE. Love. LOVE!
Um, so yes. That last bit was a little incoherent. But it would be wrong to tell you what I loved so much, because I would like you to have the same exciting reading experience I did. Just listen to me when I say: this book doesn’t pass my personal 50-100 pages rule, but I’m so glad I kept reading. It was, without a doubt, worth it.