I may have been a bit stingy with the stars on this one. I guess it could be bumped up a bit, but there are some real problems with the book. The story is good. The secrets/mystery are good. The story is nicely resolved at the end. BUT I honestly think the author chose the wrong character to narrate with. Nick is, by his nature, an emotionless character who has a limited ability with and no love of words. Although the story is about him, it would have had far more depth. warmth and feeling if Alan had told it. I was glad to see that the sequel is told from the POV of Mae (a secondary character in the first book) who has a lot more vibrancy than Nick. 

I am coming to grips with the fact that books for teens and young adults don't have the same depth and layers of meaning as those designed for adults. Maybe judging this from my usual experience with books is unfair. Maybe we aren't supposed to see and understand intricately drawn characters. But if so I think YA and teen readers are missing out, because isn't that why most of us read, to understand and experience the lives of others? 

I'm almost ready to call another bingo though.

What a fun read. Interesting ideas, good use of fantasy, characters I cared for, worried about a bit and wanted to come out OK. A fairly romance-heavy speculative book (I really wouldn't call it sci-fi, but I'm no master at these things. Seemed like sci-fi lite, at most.) Romance is not my normal fare, but I wanted this dyad to work. I'm usually not in favor of the romance working, so that says something actually.

I saw the main "twist" coming long before it did, but I didn't know how things would turn out after that, so I was all aboard for the ride.

Some interesting things about the lexicon and yet another novel this year that deals with the theme of words meaning far more than the sounds they make or the direct message. It reminded me a bit of micro-expression analysis, only with words -- which is cool. Especially if you could do both, but tragically, I doubt either of them are truly reliable. This is why speculative fiction, sci-fi, fantasy are so good.

It did seem like after the big reveal, the plot got muddier, but it was not a mess by a long shot. It was an easy treat, done in one night and off the library stack that's due soon. I liked this one!

Lexicon is a book about words, about using them to manipulate and control the world around you.  About power, balances, and relationships.

In some ways Lexicon is a light thriller with a unique premise.  In other ways it is a very complex and multilayered story.  Part of my reason for picking it as a book club read was that I knew I would be able to read this quickly, something I generally need in July, and it delivered.

My discussion questions are limited, but ones that are tied deeply to the narrative itself, and questions that are not necessarily insubstantial on their own.

Discussion Fodder

• What issues does Lexicon bring up in regards to privacy and personal data?  "But what bothers me is how HARD they're all working for that data, how much money they're spending, and how they never admit that's what they want."
• Words have power, what are the different ways this story explores it?  What ways do they have power in your life and the world at large?
• How do words shape our conceptions and understanding?
• Is there a hero of the story?

 Find out a bit about the world Andreas and Theron live in.