Reviews of The System of the World (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 3) by Neal Stephenson (ISBN:0060750863) | weRead
 
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What are readers saying about The System of the World (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 3)?
Colin posted a review at 2009-10-20 20:56:34. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 Triumphant finish to the often difficult Baroque Cycle series.
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Tomás posted a review at 2009-09-13 06:17:18. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 Neal Stephenson is the f*cking Mozart of writing xD
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Stephen posted a review at 2009-09-08 20:49:08. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 somehow, in this trilogy, Neal Stephenson managed to make probably hundreds of characters come to live and spring from the pages in ways that television, movies, and many books can't. Because there are so many characters, I actually wanted more - more - more! I could have stood to read a couple hundred more pages about Jack Shaftoe, Eliza, Bob Shaftoe, Isaac Newton, Princess Caroline, Johan von Hackleheber, Daniel Warterhouse, Saturn, Leibniz, Dappa, Van Hoek, etc...

Daniel Waterhouse seemed more of an observer in Quicksilver, and delegated to the sidelines in Odalisque/The Juncto, really surprised me. I was initially apprehensive when he was taking more and more of center stage (as I wanted to hear more about Jack and Eliza, to be quite frank), but in this book, he surprised me quite pleasantly, and I am glad that Neal gave us the glimpses of Daniel in the past so that we could appreciate him in this book.

Spoiler:
The story was amazing, and if I had one complaint, it was that there was not enough Eliza in this book! After all the time that we are following Jack in his quest and knowing his love for her, I wanted to see her and Jack reunite and know, from her point of view, what she really thought of him after all this time (as it was a bit less obvious). Yet, after she was so prominent in King of the Vagabonds, Odalisque, and Juncto, we don't even get anything from her point of view in this book - all of her appearances are from Johan, Caroline's, or Daniels point of view. And this is a book that is highly centered around finance, which was her favorite game. It would have been great if we could have seen her in action a bit more.

But that is a minor complaint, as this is an excellent read either way.
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Gene posted a review at 2009-08-22 14:05:31. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 An amazing conclusion to a startling, complex, riotous romp through late 18th century England and France. A must read for all historical novel fans!
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Jorge posted a review at 2009-08-19 22:50:56. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 Just finished the 3000 pages of Stephenson's masterpiece. After 9 books (in english they are published in 3 volumes, in spanish each one is split in 3 more) I can only say that The System of The World is clever, funny, brilliant, amazing. If you try it, buy them all at first since it's really frustrating having to wait because book #6 is no longer published!!!
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A reader posted a review at 2009-06-07 12:58:43. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 Stephenson demands a lot of his readers, but well worth the effort.
I would start reading this trilogy with the first book and the chapter "King of the Vagabonds."
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Alexandre posted a review at 2009-06-04 13:54:31. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 The best volume of the Baroque Cycle.
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Gaby Isabelle posted a review at 2009-05-25 21:51:00. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 I'm glad this is over.
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A reader posted a review at 2009-05-15 00:16:24. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 Good finish to a Loonnng series
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Sarah posted a review at 2009-04-27 17:20:09. (Language: English)
didn't like itit was okliked itloved itit was amazing
 This series was fabulous. It took me almost two years to get through all four books (that first one stumped me for almost a year!), but was well worth it in the end. Stephenson's got another 1000-pager out now, can you say "summer reading?"
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