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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I don't like stories that have events alternating in time periods, and this threw me off when beginning the book. Eventually, the story took enough shape that I wasn't so distracted by keeping track of what year we were in. The plot is excellent and the subject matter so real to be uncomfortable at times. Great writing, I look forward to reading her next book.
While a lot of elements are expected, the pacing in this book is well done and the conclusion satisfying without wrapping it up too neatly.
I did find several things somewhat unbelievable, yet they were paired with things that were just believable enough for it to be rather chilling.
I did find several things somewhat unbelievable, yet they were paired with things that were just believable enough for it to be rather chilling.
I wouldn't call it a GREAT read, but I was drawn in the more I read. The suspense of the last few pages did the trick.
Spoiler
An hour away from the ending. If Stuart dies, I'll throw my computer.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ok, ok.
Have you seen Julia Roberts in Sleeping with the Enemy?
Well, this is pretty much that story, levelled on younger characters, but overall not introducing me to anything new or not cliche about scenario. In fact, it was almost creepy how much, in trying to show us the charming side of abuser, author used the same language and plot devices new adult romances use: like, mysterious job, secrecy, tendency to get into fights and jealousy, perpetual hard on and his looks. Like: look, it's no wonder she fell for him, she got back to him, he is sooo dangerously sexy. It kind of read more like heroine being shallow. His looks bothered me so fucking much- she gave such an importance to this that even her friends, who by all means are composed and experienced ladies has only to say: "he is so good looking, lucky you; he is gorgeous, why are you so ungrateful?" It's not showing the manipulative side of abusive men: this is simplifying/stupefying women to the point of... simpletons. This is not a clever writing, just stretching the truth beyond to make your story more shocking. Wow, a woman will overlook any troubling thing if the guy is good looking. I don't think this should be the point of abusive behaviour and why some men get away with it: it's a vicious circle of self-guilt and belittling which allows even the ugliest, terribly stupid cowards of men to get away with shit like this. It bothered me how much importance was put on his looks with Cathy's friends.
Have you seen Julia Roberts in Sleeping with the Enemy?
Well, this is pretty much that story, levelled on younger characters, but overall not introducing me to anything new or not cliche about scenario. In fact, it was almost creepy how much, in trying to show us the charming side of abuser, author used the same language and plot devices new adult romances use: like, mysterious job, secrecy, tendency to get into fights and jealousy, perpetual hard on and his looks. Like: look, it's no wonder she fell for him, she got back to him, he is sooo dangerously sexy. It kind of read more like heroine being shallow. His looks bothered me so fucking much- she gave such an importance to this that even her friends, who by all means are composed and experienced ladies has only to say: "he is so good looking, lucky you; he is gorgeous, why are you so ungrateful?" It's not showing the manipulative side of abusive men: this is simplifying/stupefying women to the point of... simpletons. This is not a clever writing, just stretching the truth beyond to make your story more shocking. Wow, a woman will overlook any troubling thing if the guy is good looking. I don't think this should be the point of abusive behaviour and why some men get away with it: it's a vicious circle of self-guilt and belittling which allows even the ugliest, terribly stupid cowards of men to get away with shit like this. It bothered me how much importance was put on his looks with Cathy's friends.
Excellent book--very upsetting, with its brutal physical and psychological abuse scenes, but also realistic and mesmerizing. I had to read to the end just so I could stop dwelling on it.
Although the storyline is no secret - we know the drill (we've read the synopsis) and we know the genre (Sleeping with the Enemy off the top of my head)- I enjoyed this one. I think the author's use of alternating chapters works well and adds to the story. The first perspective being from present-day Cathy, a shell of a character who suffers from an extreme case of OCD and the second perspective is Cathy from the past, when she was her confident, party-animal self. The journey is seeing how Cathy develops from her past personality to how we see her now and the author manages to put a lot of tension and suspense into both parts of the story. Definitely worth a read.
Dnf. This book wasn’t terribly written but I just was not excited to pick it up 50 pages in.