I found reading a dialogue-driven book without quotation marks was a lot like driving a column shift for the first time, after having been used to floor shift. First it had been jarring to have reflected gear positions (this analogy completely falls apart for international readers if column shifts outside New Zealand are different, but it's still relevant with a little imagination), but once my brain had realigned itself to the new dynamic of how the van worked, driving it became a refreshingly enjoyable activity. The novelty of the experience was invigorating.

Similarly, I enjoyed reading this novel for its own sake, even separate from its story. I'd never seen such narration style before; it was an intriguing new experience that took a surprisingly short time to adjust to, until it felt completely normal. Fortunately for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the story too, so this book was a double pleasure.

And, perhaps because I'm an impatient person, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the stylistic lack of quotation marks made it faster to read, too. That appeals to the pragmatist in me.