Review: S by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst

One book. Two readers. A world of mystery, menace and desire.

A young woman picks up a book left behind by a stranger. Its margins are filled with his notes, annotating every bit of this book, called Ship of Theseus. The author of this book is known only as V.M. Straka, and that seems to be all the world knows about him. The Stranger in the margins has devoted his life to finding out who this Straka really is. She responds to his comments in the margins, and the two begin a conversation unlike any other.
The book: Ship of Theseus. A man finds himself washed up on shore with no recollection of who he is, or where he is. It is written by V.M. Straka, a man whom the world knows next to nothing about.
The readers: Jennifer and Eric develop a relationship in the margins of Theseus, as they set out to help each other find out as much as possible about Straka.

S is the most unique concept for a book that I have ever come across. As JJ Abrams' "love letter to the written word", this book will make any book lover enormously excited when they see how truly in depth Abrams and Dorst went into creating this literary monument. The book is designed to look like an old library book-complete with the dewy decimal number, old, faded looking pages, and somehow, even the old book smell. In addition to that, the margins are filled with the two character's writing, in varying colors of ink (to represent the different times they read the book) that look like actual handwriting! Oh but wait, there's more. The pages of the book are filled with different add-ons to the story, like letters, postcards, newspaper clippings, a map drawn on a napkin, photographs, and more.This book is a creative masterpiece. The detail and effort put into this book is evident with the turn of every page. This is really two books in one. Two intriguing mysteries coming together into this beautiful gem of a novel. I really can't give this book enough praise. It's like nothing I've ever seen or read before, unique in every way! 5 out of five noodles!!!!!