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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
*3.5 stars*
“We are all anthologies. We are each thousands of pages long, filled with fairy tales and poetry, mysteries and tragedy, forgotten stories in the back no one will ever read.”
The second half of this book was amazing. I was super intrigued to know what happens next, finishing it in two days. The first half of this book was confusing and slightly boring. It was a tad drawn out and there was a lot of extra writing that didn’t add to the story, it just confused me more with the random bits. I’m settling with 3.5 stars because it’s more of an average read for me, but still had its flaws.
“We are all anthologies. We are each thousands of pages long, filled with fairy tales and poetry, mysteries and tragedy, forgotten stories in the back no one will ever read.”
The second half of this book was amazing. I was super intrigued to know what happens next, finishing it in two days. The first half of this book was confusing and slightly boring. It was a tad drawn out and there was a lot of extra writing that didn’t add to the story, it just confused me more with the random bits. I’m settling with 3.5 stars because it’s more of an average read for me, but still had its flaws.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
Rating is 4.5 stars.
I didn't really know what to expect reading this book; I got this book on a whim & barely read the synopsis not really. expecting much. Wow did this book surprise me. I didn't really know that this book was going to be one of those repetitive "re-living" stories. If I had known this, I don't know if I would've picked up this book. Seemingly, this is why I believe this book's ratings are all over the place. I think plots that revolve around the idea of re-living a series of events/life are not everyone's cup of tea - you either love that premise or hate the repetitiveness of it, there's no in between. Personally, I haven't read any books concerning this type of premise & therefore found out that I actually like it. This book had so much going on, theme after theme, in the best way possible. Every each covered. I don't want to say too much without giving anything away, but this book always keeps you engaged in the best possible way.
I didn't really know what to expect reading this book; I got this book on a whim & barely read the synopsis not really. expecting much. Wow did this book surprise me. I didn't really know that this book was going to be one of those repetitive "re-living" stories. If I had known this, I don't know if I would've picked up this book. Seemingly, this is why I believe this book's ratings are all over the place. I think plots that revolve around the idea of re-living a series of events/life are not everyone's cup of tea - you either love that premise or hate the repetitiveness of it, there's no in between. Personally, I haven't read any books concerning this type of premise & therefore found out that I actually like it. This book had so much going on, theme after theme, in the best way possible. Every each covered. I don't want to say too much without giving anything away, but this book always keeps you engaged in the best possible way.
Let me start by acknowledging that it'd be difficult for any book to follow up something like 'Night Film' with something as spectacular. My expectations were sky high because I know what Pessl is capable of and... she didn't quite deliver with this.
'Neverworld Wake' is unlike anything I've ever read and much like other work I've read from Pessl, it twists and turns in the most unexpected places. This isn't a bad book, it's just one that falls a little short of being good. The main cast of characters, while interesting, are not given enough time to develop. Honestly, I would love to read a book following around anyone of them instead of the main character. The most interesting parts of her are all hidden away from the reader or happen offscreen. It's a shame. This book has a killer concept, but not quite the right execution.
'Neverworld Wake' is unlike anything I've ever read and much like other work I've read from Pessl, it twists and turns in the most unexpected places. This isn't a bad book, it's just one that falls a little short of being good. The main cast of characters, while interesting, are not given enough time to develop. Honestly, I would love to read a book following around anyone of them instead of the main character. The most interesting parts of her are all hidden away from the reader or happen offscreen. It's a shame. This book has a killer concept, but not quite the right execution.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fantastic YA mystery/sci-fi!! Like a mix of Ruth Ware with a Wrinkle in Time. Five college students who attended a private boarding school in Rhode Island together are thrown into a weird time loop following a catastrophic car accident. They need to vote unanimously for one of them to live, the others will die. Until they vote unanimously, they keep reliving the same day endlessly, but they can spend those hours however they choose. The mystery of their classmate Jim’s death a year earlier consumes them, driving their actions toward discovering what really happened that night.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love time travel/time loop stories, and this one did not disappoint! This is hard to talk about without giving anything away, but a group of friends gets stuck in a Neverworld Wake, a sliver of time between life and death where everyone has to vote unanimously about the one person who can live. This covered topics like the stages of grief really well, even though most of the characters can be insufferable brats at times.
- Interesting concepts
- Liked how Pessl handled a YA book, felt like the world and its story was designed better than the vast majority of YA I’ve read
- Wasn’t a fan of the ending (not the actual closing, more the climax and reveals)
- Liked how Pessl handled a YA book, felt like the world and its story was designed better than the vast majority of YA I’ve read
- Wasn’t a fan of the ending (not the actual closing, more the climax and reveals)
A lot of running in circles (both in plot and writing), cringy dialogues and one of the most unlikable (not in a good way) characters I have ever read. I couldn't stand or care for them. At all! They made this reading experience a chore. I could feel my eyes rolling to another dimension everytime they made a cheesy refrence of obscure 70's and 80's movies or music. These characters did not seemed like real people. At one point I thought: "The main character loves to talk a lot." Of course she does! She narrates the story! That's how much I disliked her voice. I just wanted her to shut up. Two stars because the mystery was okay.