About Books #22: More Than This

It’s taken me over a month to actually get around to writing this review. Not because I didn’t like this book – because I did. It was more a way of getting my head around how I actually felt about it. Let me tell you: More than This had me going in circles!

Story

So as per the usual, let’s go to Goodreads for the storyline:

A boy drowns, desperate and alone in his final moments. He dies.
Then he wakes, naked and bruised and thirsty, but alive.
How can this be? And what is this strange deserted place?
As he struggles to understand what is happening, the boy dares to hope. Might this not be the end? Might there be more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?

There’s a certain Matrix-feel to this one, as well as something very philosophical. Now as a whole, I really loved that, and yet I was left with a distinctly unsatisfied feeling. I think I finally figured out what that was about, but that’s a matter for the “narration” section 🙂

Characters

The main character Seth, is the boy who dies at the beginning of the book, and that’s about all I can say about him without giving too much of the plot away. Yes, this is that kind of a book. What I will let you know, however, is that if you feel as if his character is quite guilt-ridden, you would be right.

When he wakes up from dying, Seth does encounter two other characters that help him to figure out what exactly is going on, and they do need their own introduction. Problem is, again, if I tell you too much about them, I’m giving away too much of the plot. Suffice it to say: Regine and Tomasz? You’re probably gonna like them.

Narration

This might just be the best thing about the book, and I don’t say that lightly, because it’s also the thing that kind of, almost made me dislike this book a bit. This story is drenched in philosophy – I’ve seen people mention existentialism, and that’s certainly in there, but I think good old Descartes would have had a blast with this one as well.

The combination of something that feels almost like a classic post-apocalyptic world with a boy who honestly doesn’t know which way is up or down anymore? It works.

Now, I mentioned before that there was one thing I liked slightly less, and to be honest, it’s really my own fault. With some of the clues and a lot of classics-reading (because you can be sure of it: this book knows where it literary history lays!) I figured out one of the bigger plot points approximately 100 pages in. With 300+ pages still to go, that left the rest of the book feeling just a little lust-lacker.

Again, that was basically my own fault, and if you decide to read this one and have a certain “idea” pop into your head about any of the characters, feel free to talk to me about it. I need someone to vent to about how good this book was anyways.

Overall: 5/5

I’ve mentioned before that I try and keep my 5-star ratings for the books that truly changed my outlook on life. Let me assure you: More than This certainly warrants that description.

It may leave you like Seth, not entirely sure anymore which way is up or down. It may have you questioning everything you thought and new. I know I did, when I turned over the final page. But more than anything, More than This is just an amazing story, narrated masterfully that I cannot recommend to you enough!

Want to have a go at this one as well? You can get it on Amazon here! (affiliate link)

-Saar