4 out of 4 stars
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Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise by John K. Danenbarger can be best summarized with exactly what it says on the tin. A complex work of literary fiction that maintains a direct focus on its characters and their relationships with the past, present, and future of one another. As a work of literary fiction, its primary goal perhaps isn't focused so much on widespread readability (in fact, many casual fiction readers unfamiliar with the scholarly types of language and jargon used in essay work and research dissertations, for example, would find themselves rather bereft of proper comprehension whilst reading), but more in the pursuit of crafting a deeply scientific and 'realistic' world of fiction. Danenbarger's dialect demands credibility, if nothing else—his deliciously descriptive prose and form weaving together a tale so painstakingly detailed that it's difficult not to imagine it nonfictional. Never once are we left pondering whether or not a certain plot device or action makes sense, because Danenbarger reassures us that if he hasn't already explained it all with enough authority to prove he knows what he's talking about, then it was never supposed to make sense in the first place.
This means, of course, that Entanglement can run the risk of being a bit too wordy for some readers. It is not a book written for leisure reading, but instead to provoke profound thinking and leave the characters' stories and actions dancing about in your mind for hours after putting the text aside. Fictitious though they may be, Danenbarger's characters feel incredibly real and important as one reads about them, the level of thought through which they're written and developed striking enough empathy to feel as though you are going through the events yourself. I often found myself closing the text entirely for a night or two as I read, too emotionally taken up by the story to physically go on until I'd collected myself. Their losses feel like your losses, their victories your victories, their pains your pains. Sometimes it's simply too much to bear—and that's what's so delightful about it.
Truly a delight to read, though it does require a bit of faith in the beginning as you're first getting to know the author's somewhat exhaustive writing style and the characters outlined within it. Upon taking the leap, however, readers will find themselves utterly entranced by the painstaking way each plot event is outlined—there are no holes left to fill, and Danenbarger makes sure to keep you on the edge of your seat with each dizzying twist added to the generational mystery. It clearly took a lot of effort and brilliance to outline the plot, let alone flush its details out to such perfection. For this reason, I rate Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise by John K. Danenbarger four out of four stars. Though be warned, it isn't for everyone.
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Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
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