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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
That was a torture. The story is interesting, new, but it's too long to keep the reader (me) interested. It was a struggle to finish this book.
Another winner by Claire North! A fun exploration into potential negatives of social media while delving into what life might be like if you were perfectly forgettable
On the surface this is a book about heists, social media, and a girl no one can remember.
Below the surface it is a book about identity, loneliness, purpose and worthiness.
I highly recommend this book, it's so good. It's interesting and exciting, well written. The characters are done well and the story it tells is important.
Below the surface it is a book about identity, loneliness, purpose and worthiness.
I highly recommend this book, it's so good. It's interesting and exciting, well written. The characters are done well and the story it tells is important.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My experience reading The Sudden of Appearance of Hope was entirely unenjoyable, and memorable only for its extraordinary “what if” concept (Claire North is REALLY good with her far-out what-ifs).
If this concept – the idea of a person who is completely forgettable, remembered by nobody after ten seconds of turning away – had been dwelt on more, and all the other fluff cut out or more refined, I could have enjoyed the book.
As it stands, The Sudden Appearance of Hope reads like the skeleton of a novel – the drafts, the planning, before starting. Half-sentences, un-sentences, and abstract ideas without foundation abound; and while these may be good devices in poetry or short stories, in a novel they become annoying.
The book is full of “I am my feet I am my breath” sentences when Hope is trying to center herself, and it is obsessive about definitions! Every few pages has a word randomly being defined, but this is never brought back to Hope: the obsession with definitions is never defined within the constructs of her character. It honestly seems more like a way to reach a word-count than to develop the plot or the character.
North attempts to ask hard-hitting questions about perfection, social media, and relationships; but she never really hits hard enough. Ultimately, her questions derail her plot and character more than adding to them.
The author’s powers of observation are beyond compare, and I do love her manner of describing people and events – just another reason I think she should branch into short stories (if she has not already). The thing is simply that short stories and novels are not merely longer or shorter versions of the other. This narrative style belonged in a short.
If this concept – the idea of a person who is completely forgettable, remembered by nobody after ten seconds of turning away – had been dwelt on more, and all the other fluff cut out or more refined, I could have enjoyed the book.
As it stands, The Sudden Appearance of Hope reads like the skeleton of a novel – the drafts, the planning, before starting. Half-sentences, un-sentences, and abstract ideas without foundation abound; and while these may be good devices in poetry or short stories, in a novel they become annoying.
The book is full of “I am my feet I am my breath” sentences when Hope is trying to center herself, and it is obsessive about definitions! Every few pages has a word randomly being defined, but this is never brought back to Hope: the obsession with definitions is never defined within the constructs of her character. It honestly seems more like a way to reach a word-count than to develop the plot or the character.
North attempts to ask hard-hitting questions about perfection, social media, and relationships; but she never really hits hard enough. Ultimately, her questions derail her plot and character more than adding to them.
The author’s powers of observation are beyond compare, and I do love her manner of describing people and events – just another reason I think she should branch into short stories (if she has not already). The thing is simply that short stories and novels are not merely longer or shorter versions of the other. This narrative style belonged in a short.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
it was slow to get into. It is long, longity, long-long. It is hard to wade through the oddball author choices for Hope’s endless reflections and navel gazing.
But I also think this book is brilliant. I kept finding myself relating Hope’s invisible-ness with how I often feel in my life. And I really wanted Byron to have the answers for Hope. I did. Byron’s story conclusion was necessary but I didn’t want it for her.
Hope’s narrative is so, so sad … and yet, I kept reading and felt hopeful. I finished the book feeling better about things. Felt satisfied and content.
This is now the second Claire North novel that has moved me beyond my imaginings. Absolutely recommend!
But I also think this book is brilliant. I kept finding myself relating Hope’s invisible-ness with how I often feel in my life. And I really wanted Byron to have the answers for Hope. I did. Byron’s story conclusion was necessary but I didn’t want it for her.
Hope’s narrative is so, so sad … and yet, I kept reading and felt hopeful. I finished the book feeling better about things. Felt satisfied and content.
This is now the second Claire North novel that has moved me beyond my imaginings. Absolutely recommend!
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced