Book: The Rook

I was describing this book to Paul and Rob, and the three of us together came up with this: that it’s like The Bourne Identity (in which someone wakes up and has to figure out who he/she is, and also why he/she seems to be well-equipped with cash and skillz) + Men in Black (in which someone is recruited into a secret government organization that fights the weird/supernatural/alien) + X-Men (in which there is a world where certain people are born with interesting abilities). I felt so pleased with us for summing it up so clearly and evocatively. Then I was looking at reviews, and basically everyone was saying the same thing. So. Well, it means there’s CONSENSUS.

(image from Amazon.com)

(image from Amazon.com)

The Rook, by Daniel O’Malley.

I found the book extremely enjoyable, and kept wanting to go back to it. The writing was a little rough in places, and I have never liked the exposition-via-letters gimmick (NO ONE would EVER go into SO MUCH DETAIL in a letter, NO MATTER WHAT the situation was); but the former felt like first-book issues, and the latter was easy enough to go along with in this case where it seemed justified.

I love it when a character is put into a situation that would be hugely tense and upsetting for almost anyone—but then turns out to be able to handle it.

11 thoughts on “Book: The Rook

  1. RA

    I feel THE SAME WAY about letters in books! If a book is written entirely in letters (or a journal or, heaven help us, EMAILS), it is almost a dealbreaker for me. WHEN has anyone EVER written out PAGES of dialogue in a letter?! NONE TIMES. Just stop, authors. Stop.

    Reply
  2. patricia

    The sequel just came out! It’s called Stiletto. I had the same small issues you did with the first one, so I’m going to get it from the library rather than buy it, but I definitely want to read it.

    Reply
  3. Celeste

    I loved this book! Enough to forgive the letter issue. :) Cool world building and mythology and I’m a huge sucker for “timid girl discovers she is a badass / gets over her issues” story line.

    I’m so delighted to hear the sequel is out-I somehow thought it was coming out in September. **claps hands with glee and heads over to audible**

    Reply
  4. Jenny

    I’m so glad to see you enjoyed this! I thought it was a complete hoot. Watching Myfanwy handle her stressful situation is as satisfying as the makeover/ shopping scenes in movies, I think. Ideal transformation with none of the real-life budgeting and sacrifices and bad selection and puckery clothes!

    Reply
  5. Melissa h

    Just put in my library request! Thanks! I finished mr splitfoot last week and didn’t love it but liked it. Btw have you read graceling by cashore? Part of your description of this book reminds me of that book. There are three books by cashore in that world though not exactly a series. I enjoyed them all!

    Reply
  6. Ruby

    I also recently read a book in which a character wakes up with no memory of who she is (“Before I Go to Sleep” by SJ Watson), and a lot of the book was told in the form of journal entries that were written in excruciating detail. Like, I don’t even know how someone could possibly remember that much information about their day, let alone have the time or patience to write it all down like that. (There was a very good reason why so much of the story was told via journal entries, and the level of detail was necessary to keep the plot moving forward, but still.)

    Other than that I liked the book, though. Based on your description I’d say it’s a very different genre than The Rook, but I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys the kind of books where you have to piece together the backstory little by little.

    Reply
  7. Natalie

    I love these movies (Bourne are some of my faves) but I could NOT get into the books. Hated. Wondering if I would like this.
    Also, the character’s name is Myfanwy? Not sure I can get past that.

    Reply
  8. april

    You know, I’m crazy behind in my blog reading and I love that I can start reading one of your posts from my feed and even without glancing up to see who wrote it, I know exactly that it is you. You have such a specific voice. :)

    I’ll check the book out, it sounds like a fun read!

    Reply

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