Review by BearReads -- Seven at Two Past Five by Tara Basi
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Review by BearReads -- Seven at Two Past Five by Tara Basi
[Following is a volunteer review of "Seven at Two Past Five" by Tara Basi.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Let me state in all sincerity, with no implied hyperbole, that Tara Basi’s Seven at Two Past Five is a masterful absurdist work of literature that I feel richer for having journeyed through. The truth is that Basi has created an experience for a reader to delve into fully. The narrative skillfully moves forward in a linear fashion without ever becoming too predictable. In its best moments, Seven at Two Past Five is a controlled tailspin of attention demanding confusion that never fails to captivate or intrigue. Hold no illusions – this story, and the style in which it is presented, will challenge you. Basi has crafted a world with its own rules that you must attempt to comprehend, but ultimately answers will escape you – just as they do the tale’s protagonist: Abi. The book will likely frustrate a less patient reader, or anyone without a taste for the fantastic. I was gently reminded of Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange; you will be rewarded for accepting the challenge with something unique, yet familiar.
Seven at Two Past Five seats you alongside Abi as she is taken on a trip that she has no desire to partake in. Abi is a humble button maker who has known no other life than waking, working, and then returning to the Terrors that claim her when she sleeps. Abi guided by and content with her routine. She takes comfort in her schedule and the predictable rhythm of her day. This rhythm is thrown offbeat when she awakes refreshed one day having not experienced the usual Terrors that take her each night. Little is she aware that her role in the universe is nowhere near as inconsequential as she believes it to be. You will discover the mysteries of the universe right along with our hero. You will share in her victories, her failures, her hope, and her despair. You will laugh with her. You will rage with her. You will question the sanity of her world right alongside her. I will not lie to you. At times, just like our humble protagonist, you may wish to declare that you have had enough. However, I implore of you – head further down the rabbit hole.
For the casual reader, there is plenty to digest. For the learned reader, there is a treasure trove of literary references. Even as I write this review, I find myself compelled to read the work again to discover what I may have missed during my first voyage into the unknown depths of Abi’s universe. I am even fascinated by the procedural legal drama that serves as a foundation to the sheer insanity of Tara Basi’s fantastical work. Not to give anything away, but I imagine anyone with a decent working knowledge of the Bible as a literary work will find their hands full with the world the author has crafted.
No work of art is flawless. For everything that Seven at Two Past Five does well, it also can get bogged down in its own details. The plot’s progression isn’t as fluid of an endeavor as it could be. While this story is an enjoyable read, it is not one that can be done haphazardly. I found myself taking breaks from the tale in order to better appreciate that intricate, yet foreign, universe that I found myself residing in. I couldn’t read this during my lunch break at my day job – Seven at Two Past Five requires focus. It would be far too easy to get lost in the author’s prose and miss the intent behind the scene being portrayed. There are layers here and you can easily become lost in the folds and creases.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It’s a perfect read for anyone interested in the absurd, the occult, and especially anyone with a twisted tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. If you enjoy stories set in worlds unlike our own, this is for you. If you enjoy examples of the resilience of the human spirit, this is for you. If you enjoy art that forces you to see life through different lenses, this is for you. You will be challenged. You will pause and you will think about what you reading. You will theorize and second guess your theories. If you figure out the twist ahead of the conclusion, you still won’t believe it. You will not enjoy the trip, but you’re not meant to. Once you stumble down the rabbit hole, you have no choice to push forward until you find the light again.
******
Seven at Two Past Five
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
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Let me state in all sincerity, with no implied hyperbole, that Tara Basi’s Seven at Two Past Five is a masterful absurdist work of literature that I feel richer for having journeyed through. The truth is that Basi has created an experience for a reader to delve into fully. The narrative skillfully moves forward in a linear fashion without ever becoming too predictable. In its best moments, Seven at Two Past Five is a controlled tailspin of attention demanding confusion that never fails to captivate or intrigue. Hold no illusions – this story, and the style in which it is presented, will challenge you. Basi has crafted a world with its own rules that you must attempt to comprehend, but ultimately answers will escape you – just as they do the tale’s protagonist: Abi. The book will likely frustrate a less patient reader, or anyone without a taste for the fantastic. I was gently reminded of Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange; you will be rewarded for accepting the challenge with something unique, yet familiar.
Seven at Two Past Five seats you alongside Abi as she is taken on a trip that she has no desire to partake in. Abi is a humble button maker who has known no other life than waking, working, and then returning to the Terrors that claim her when she sleeps. Abi guided by and content with her routine. She takes comfort in her schedule and the predictable rhythm of her day. This rhythm is thrown offbeat when she awakes refreshed one day having not experienced the usual Terrors that take her each night. Little is she aware that her role in the universe is nowhere near as inconsequential as she believes it to be. You will discover the mysteries of the universe right along with our hero. You will share in her victories, her failures, her hope, and her despair. You will laugh with her. You will rage with her. You will question the sanity of her world right alongside her. I will not lie to you. At times, just like our humble protagonist, you may wish to declare that you have had enough. However, I implore of you – head further down the rabbit hole.
For the casual reader, there is plenty to digest. For the learned reader, there is a treasure trove of literary references. Even as I write this review, I find myself compelled to read the work again to discover what I may have missed during my first voyage into the unknown depths of Abi’s universe. I am even fascinated by the procedural legal drama that serves as a foundation to the sheer insanity of Tara Basi’s fantastical work. Not to give anything away, but I imagine anyone with a decent working knowledge of the Bible as a literary work will find their hands full with the world the author has crafted.
No work of art is flawless. For everything that Seven at Two Past Five does well, it also can get bogged down in its own details. The plot’s progression isn’t as fluid of an endeavor as it could be. While this story is an enjoyable read, it is not one that can be done haphazardly. I found myself taking breaks from the tale in order to better appreciate that intricate, yet foreign, universe that I found myself residing in. I couldn’t read this during my lunch break at my day job – Seven at Two Past Five requires focus. It would be far too easy to get lost in the author’s prose and miss the intent behind the scene being portrayed. There are layers here and you can easily become lost in the folds and creases.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It’s a perfect read for anyone interested in the absurd, the occult, and especially anyone with a twisted tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. If you enjoy stories set in worlds unlike our own, this is for you. If you enjoy examples of the resilience of the human spirit, this is for you. If you enjoy art that forces you to see life through different lenses, this is for you. You will be challenged. You will pause and you will think about what you reading. You will theorize and second guess your theories. If you figure out the twist ahead of the conclusion, you still won’t believe it. You will not enjoy the trip, but you’re not meant to. Once you stumble down the rabbit hole, you have no choice to push forward until you find the light again.
******
Seven at Two Past Five
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Latest Review: The Crystilleries of Echoland by Dew Pellucid
