Negatively Positive?

I've said before that a part of me almost likes negative reviews of my books more than positive. Yet the truly fascinating reviews are the ones which show that something I've written engages a reader even if it doesn't enthrall them.

One such reviewer of my first novel A Subtle Armageddon explained: 

The book follows a man who's in an almost dreamlike state, navigating the world, and finding enlightenment. It has thoughtful themes and unexpected twists. Despite its slow pacing, it is pretty interesting in some parts. It can be a challenging read, but it does leave an impression.

A challenging read which leaves an impression. I like that. Though the fellow only gave me three out of five stars in the Amazon rating system, I'm encouraged. It's an honest assessment, and not really negative. I like that he thought enough of it to remark on the book. 

Part of my goal is to get people thinking about the big questions: Why are we here? How are we supposed to live? What is right, really right for its own sake, and what is really wrong and why we should avoid it. I simply cannot accept the argument that we're just here, to no purpose. And that purpose must be true and valuable in itself, knowable through the natural world, existing regardless of our own thoughts and, ugh, feelings.

A Subtle Armageddon is available here if I've piqued your interest.