Second read. I really wanted to like it. Banks himself was meh about it. So am I. Damn it. ( )

my least favourite of his books... but still a good read ( )

Due to her fear of flying, famous Japanese cellist Hisako Onoda opted to travel to Europe by ship for her European debut tour. However, at a stop in Panama, the ship is held up and caught in the middle of a civil war. At first it seems that the delay will be no more than an inconvenience, possibly necessitating the rescheduling of a few concert dates. But the situation rapidly declines, going from bad to worse...
The story is interspersed with surreal and ominous dream sequences, and flashbacks that explore Hisako's (rather unhappy) life, revealing some unexpected dark secrets...

Beautiful language, explicit violence, and philosophical exploration of situations and motivations are all hallmarks of Banks' writing. Nice, subtle use of foreshadowing, too.

Stylistically (& topically) it reminded me quite a bit of J.G. Ballard.
It seems a lot of people (Banks fans) don't really have this as one of their favorites - I'm not sure why. I did think it was a really excellent book.
Banks is one of my favorite current authors (I like both his sf & 'mainstream' fiction), and again, this book did not disappoint. ( )

I have a tough time reading Iain Banks. Prose doesn't flow, so I have to focus very hard. Moves slowly. Never clear what is important and what isn't. Slog through swampy ankle-sucking underbrush.
That said, this was a good book. Unexpected action story. Kind of a cool concept. Maybe it would be easier to digest as a movie.

I liked this book.
Hard to tell exactly why, what it was that kept me reading, but I guess it is just that melting pot of suspense (hijack), politics, love, relations that did the trick.
The tension was almost tangible at times, a nice book. ( )