I recently read Sleeping Giants by Silvain Neuvel.
I wasn't a fan of the interview-style narrative all throughout. I liked the first interview in the book, mostly because I didn't realize at that point that the whole thing was going to be like that. It seemed to me, initially, to be an interesting way to set up the past events and include some exposition. But then the next section was an interview also. And the next. And the entire book was either interviews or transcriptions of recorded phone calls or something like that. I think that the author was trying to really drive home the point that if (spoiler) alien technology was ever found on earth,(end spoiler) every aspect of finding it and researching it would be completely taken over by the government. And it would. But the plot could have made that point without making the whole book a series of interviews. It was an interesting concept to try but I think this was the wrong story for it. I'm reminded of World War Z, which was also presented in the format of a series of interviews, but in the case of WWZ, the interviews were being conducted by a journalist character rather than a government official, and that impacted the tone of the narrative and the way that the interviewed characters related their stories in a meaningful way. It's also worth noting that World War Z was presented as an alternate future society's history book. Sleeping Giants didn't have that vibe, I had the impression it was meant to be read as if it was currently or very recently occurring as a story, and in that case the interview format was a mistake in that it completely removed any sense of urgency or immediacy from the story. There was a single scene, which was presented as a transcription of a recorded telephone conversation, that had any sense of currently-unfolding stakes within the narration. Even in that scene the format dulled the impact of the events unfolding in the story.
I loved the characters. Neuvel does a good job of creating a rich cast of characters whose distinct personalities are apparent even in the interview format. Character development was present and good, which again I feel was all the more impressive for the style of this book. I wish that I could have felt a deeper emotional connection to them through the narration.
The plot of the book was interesting, the events of the story were well-conceived. I liked the twist, and I'm curious about the mysteries. The ending was really good. It left me wanting to know more about what was going on.
It would have been such a good book if not for that interview format. I would have given it four or possibly even five stars rather than three. If further books in the series abandon that choice, I will absolutely read them all. If, however, Neuvel continues to present these stories in this way, I'll pass.
I guess I half-recommend this book, read it for the characters and the interesting plot presented if you can get past a lack of engagement caused by the feeling of separation created by the interview style.
Find the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Giants-Themis-Files-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZNE44FK/ref=sr_1_2?crid=MEDAZ9IC1620&keywords=sleeping+giants+sylvain+neuvel&qid=1584368714&sprefix=sleeping+giants+sylvain%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-2
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sleeping-giants-sylvain-neuvel/1122089821?ean=9781101886717
My abbreviated review on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3200655732