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utahmomreads's review
4.0
Read my review here : http://utahmomslife.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-returned-book-review.html
katykelly's review
4.0
What if... Your dead loved ones suddenly came back to life.
No, not as zombies. Back as they were in life.
In The Returned, all over the world, this is what happens. 'Why' is never explained. Nor is 'how'.
The main story is of Harold and Lucille, a couple in their 80s, and their son Jacob, drowned 50 years since. Is he really their son? Can they love him? Why is this happening?
It's a chilling story at times - a murdered family return, teenage first-loves to people happily married, a famous artist unappreciated when he was alive. Between the chapters of Harold and Lucille, dozens of Returned tell their stories.
It's also, inevitably a story about how we react to this occurrence - what is the government response? Camps, gulags, atrocities all make an appearance.
It's a 'quiet' book with only a little in the way of action, and lots in the way of contemplation and reflection. It makes you think about your own dead loved ones - would you WANT them to come back? How would they fit into your changed life?
Very interesting concept, slow build up but well worth a read.
No, not as zombies. Back as they were in life.
In The Returned, all over the world, this is what happens. 'Why' is never explained. Nor is 'how'.
The main story is of Harold and Lucille, a couple in their 80s, and their son Jacob, drowned 50 years since. Is he really their son? Can they love him? Why is this happening?
It's a chilling story at times - a murdered family return, teenage first-loves to people happily married, a famous artist unappreciated when he was alive. Between the chapters of Harold and Lucille, dozens of Returned tell their stories.
It's also, inevitably a story about how we react to this occurrence - what is the government response? Camps, gulags, atrocities all make an appearance.
It's a 'quiet' book with only a little in the way of action, and lots in the way of contemplation and reflection. It makes you think about your own dead loved ones - would you WANT them to come back? How would they fit into your changed life?
Very interesting concept, slow build up but well worth a read.
timna_wyckoff's review
2.0
Book club read. Such a cool premise, but really disappointing! I most enjoyed the short interludes that weren't directly related to the story. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually have higher hopes for the TV versions!
geekwayne's review
3.0
'The Returned' by Jason Mott is a story about what happens when the dead come back to life. Only, in this story, we kind of want them to.
Harold and Lucille lost their son Jacob when he was eight. That was many years ago, and now they are older. Imagine their surprise when Jacob turns up alive, but he's still the same age. It's part of a global phenomenom where the dead wake up in a different location (for Jacob, it was in China). They are confused and disoriented, as are their still living families. This confusion leads some to fear, and before you know it the government has stepped in to assess the problem. Harold finds himself stuck in the middle of it with a sympathetic government agent on one side and some angry townspeople who want these ex-dead people out of their town.
Even though it's a global event, it's a pretty small scope. The family of three and their small town are the focus. By the end of the book, there are questions left unanswered, and some of the characters seem to lack anything but the broadest sort of movie stereotypes. Harold is the exception, and his emotions are intense and complex. The reader can understand why he feels the way he does. I liked it, but I wanted a deeper reading experience when it was all said and done.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Harlequin and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Harold and Lucille lost their son Jacob when he was eight. That was many years ago, and now they are older. Imagine their surprise when Jacob turns up alive, but he's still the same age. It's part of a global phenomenom where the dead wake up in a different location (for Jacob, it was in China). They are confused and disoriented, as are their still living families. This confusion leads some to fear, and before you know it the government has stepped in to assess the problem. Harold finds himself stuck in the middle of it with a sympathetic government agent on one side and some angry townspeople who want these ex-dead people out of their town.
Even though it's a global event, it's a pretty small scope. The family of three and their small town are the focus. By the end of the book, there are questions left unanswered, and some of the characters seem to lack anything but the broadest sort of movie stereotypes. Harold is the exception, and his emotions are intense and complex. The reader can understand why he feels the way he does. I liked it, but I wanted a deeper reading experience when it was all said and done.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Harlequin and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
super_doxie15's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lsparrow's review
4.0
I chose this book after watching a show which was loosely based on this novel. I enjoyed this book there was something about the writing that I liked. It felt like the characters lead the plot along. also I felt that I loved the themes of loss, grief, relationship, what it means to be human, what is death, what is the right thing, what is love.
ptothelo's review
3.0
It reminds me of Tom Perrotta's book where people were raptured. I kept waiting for it to be more something...