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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I remember reading The Dry a couple of years ago for book club, and I had loved it because 1) it was such a great representation of the Australian outback and 2) the atmospheric build-up had been intense and hooked me from the start.
I had big expectations for Force of Nature-- I thought this time I would be immersed in the dangers of Australian bushland but the depth wasn't there. While the author touched on the odd unique wildlife and how easy it was to get lost in the bushes, there was nothing more to distinguish this setting from any other bushland in the world.
When it came to the characters, I generally found them one dimensional. It was difficult to differentiate between female hikers at the beginning because they had no distinguishing traits. After we're given more information, I found it hard to be sympathetic towards any of them because they were all straight-up awful to each other. Alice was a complete bitch the entire time, and that negated any sympathy I was supposed to feel towards her regarding.
We learn more about Falk and his relationship with his father, but it's all through and thought the author could have delved deeper into this.
I was really anticipating what would happen with BaileyTennants and the Kovacs because it was built up so much throughout the book. I felt like these two threads were tied up very quickly and very loosely because and the sense of danger that was built up just fizzled out. The truth of the murder didn't live up to expectations.
As for the sex scandal subplot, I think it came in too late. At that point, I was tired of Alice and anything to do with her. Margot was a bitch like her mother and I had no sympathy for her either. Maybe that was how the author intended them to be, but there was so much contrived and unnecessary drama that I just sighed and kept on flipping. I felt nothing for Lauren and Rebecca either. They weren't as awful as Alice and Margot, but they were pretty forgettable.
This book was super dragged out-- there are a lot scenes where information is repeated over and over again. I'm sure the author intended to show us how annoying it was to the characters (e.g. Bree's hangover and the higher-ups in the AFP telling Falk and Carmen to get the contract) but honestly, twice was enough and the reader is smart enough to figure out how annoyed the characters actually are.
The one part I liked was when Carmen asked Falk if he needed a lift to Ikea because of his lack of furniture. I remember sitting in bed and having a bit of a chuckle over that because I enjoy a good one-liner. I was wavering on whether or not I'd read The Lost Man, but I think I'll give it a shot as it's got a higher rating and seems to hold up stronger.
I had big expectations for Force of Nature-- I thought this time I would be immersed in the dangers of Australian bushland but the depth wasn't there. While the author touched on the odd unique wildlife and how easy it was to get lost in the bushes, there was nothing more to distinguish this setting from any other bushland in the world.
When it came to the characters, I generally found them one dimensional. It was difficult to differentiate between female hikers at the beginning because they had no distinguishing traits. After we're given more information, I found it hard to be sympathetic towards any of them because they were all straight-up awful to each other. Alice was a complete bitch the entire time, and that negated any sympathy I was supposed to feel towards her regarding
Spoiler
her status as a snitch, her daughter's sex scandal or her deathWe learn more about Falk and his relationship with his father, but it's all through
Spoiler
Falk's discovery of his father's annotated maps in an old backpack. I didn't feel like I learned much about their relationship because it was reliant on Falk's memory of pushing his father away, and a lot of telling the reader that of course his father knew Falk loved him which was a bit too easy. I just didn't get a strong sense of their connection through the annotated mapsI was really anticipating what would happen with BaileyTennants and the Kovacs because it was built up so much throughout the book.
Spoiler
I was disappointed that they were only red herrings, because they were so much more interesting than Alice hitting her head and dying.Spoiler
we never see Alice in direct danger because of BaileyTennants and the Kovacs were never involved with the female hikersAs for the sex scandal subplot, I think it came in too late. At that point, I was tired of Alice and anything to do with her. Margot was a bitch like her mother and I had no sympathy for her either. Maybe that was how the author intended them to be, but there was so much contrived and unnecessary drama that I just sighed and kept on flipping. I felt nothing for Lauren and Rebecca either. They weren't as awful as Alice and Margot, but they were pretty forgettable.
This book was super dragged out-- there are a lot scenes where information is repeated over and over again. I'm sure the author intended to show us how annoying it was to the characters (e.g. Bree's hangover and the higher-ups in the AFP telling Falk and Carmen to get the contract) but honestly, twice was enough and the reader is smart enough to figure out how annoyed the characters actually are.
The one part I liked was when Carmen asked Falk if he needed a lift to Ikea because of his lack of furniture. I remember sitting in bed and having a bit of a chuckle over that because I enjoy a good one-liner. I was wavering on whether or not I'd read The Lost Man, but I think I'll give it a shot as it's got a higher rating and seems to hold up stronger.
A 2018 staff favorite recommended by Jean (5 stars), Cindy (4.5 stars) and Becky (4 stars).
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sforce%20of%20nature%20harper__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sforce%20of%20nature%20harper__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
I enjoyed this one very much! Jane Harper continues Aaron Falk’s story with a gripping story about a woman who vanishes while on a team-building weekend hike with her coworkers. Details are slowly revealed about her connection to Aaron’s money laundering investigation, and the circumstances around her disappearance.
The writing was strong and kept me interested throughout. I’m looking forward to the next installment!
The writing was strong and kept me interested throughout. I’m looking forward to the next installment!
Anyone who has ever been on a corporate team-building exercise will relate to this book. Five men and five women executives embark on a multi-day hike in the Giralang Ranges, a rugged area three hours outside of Melbourne, Australia. The men took one route and the women another. They were to meet at a pickup point three days later. All five of the men finished the course, but only three of the women. And each of the women had a different story about what happened on the trail and what happened to their colleague.
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hard to put down. Really is a page turner.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes