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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
This book surprised me in more than one way. When I started reading, pretty much until the point the four strangers made their way into the cabin, I had some ideas about how their dynamic with Andrew and Eric would be, and even about how the dynamic between them would develop.
Well, no. I was completely mistaken.
Since the moment Andrew, Eric and Wen were put in front of that impossible choice for the first time the book took a turn I didn't predict, and I was left absolutely dumbfounded and desperate to know how the story would have gone. I literally couldn't stop listening and I think I've finished the last 2 hours or so of the book in one sitting. It was great! And also heartbreaking. Like, seriously, what the hell? I couldn't help but feel like the story was not supposed to go that way, but it did, and I think it's pretty amazing.
It still broke me.
The ending, too, was unexpected. I was so ready to suffer the final blow that I'm still processing how it actually went. Don't get me wrong, the ending is tragic and leaves you full of doubts and questions that will never be answered, but I like to think that it ended with hope, too.
Overall, a very good read! I also really enjoyed the way it was written - with shifting povs that brought me into most of the characters' heads and made me way more attached to them than I would have become otherwise. It guides you through their thought process, making you understand how they get to do what they do even when what they do doesn't seem like the best idea.
Unfortunately, I can't really recommend the audiobook. It wasn't terrible, but the way the characters spoke sounded, at times, almost robotic. It wasn't the worst but I honestly cannot understand that choice.
Well, no. I was completely mistaken.
Since the moment Andrew, Eric and Wen were put in front of that impossible choice for the first time the book took a turn I didn't predict, and I was left absolutely dumbfounded and desperate to know how the story would have gone. I literally couldn't stop listening and I think I've finished the last 2 hours or so of the book in one sitting. It was great! And also heartbreaking. Like, seriously, what the hell? I couldn't help but feel like the story was not supposed to go that way, but it did, and I think it's pretty amazing.
It still broke me.
The ending, too, was unexpected. I was so ready to suffer the final blow that I'm still processing how it actually went. Don't get me wrong, the ending is tragic and leaves you full of doubts and questions that will never be answered, but I like to think that it ended with hope, too.
Overall, a very good read! I also really enjoyed the way it was written - with shifting povs that brought me into most of the characters' heads and made me way more attached to them than I would have become otherwise. It guides you through their thought process, making you understand how they get to do what they do even when what they do doesn't seem like the best idea.
Unfortunately, I can't really recommend the audiobook. It wasn't terrible, but the way the characters spoke sounded, at times, almost robotic. It wasn't the worst but I honestly cannot understand that choice.
What a colossal waste of time
Most of the book is just treading water and it is not interesting enough a character study to warrant all that navel gazing
Andrew and Eric's love for each other is sweet though
Most of the book is just treading water and it is not interesting enough a character study to warrant all that navel gazing
Andrew and Eric's love for each other is sweet though
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
so incredibly boring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The story was very slow until about the last 75 pages. The authors writing style was hard to follow and the characters did not have much depth. The mystery of what was actually driving the whole plot was never answered. However, I did enjoy the concept and found myself wanting to read more.
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm glad I read this book, but there were some parts I just completely zoned out for.
Spoiler
I really appreciated the ending - with about 1 hour left in the audiobook I was so nervous that Eric would kill Andrew and the book would end with no resolution. I was very satisfied with them walking away together, and leaving whether the apocalypse was real or not up for the reader to decide. I like to lean toward it not being real, but I like that the book makes me think about the kind of person who believes in it versus the person who doesn't.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
I am really disappointed that I did not enjoy this book much. I found much of it to be tedious, I think the author rushed to build up to the climax and then kept the reader there too long. I did like the characters Wen and Leonard (!) quite a bit, but this was not the horror masterpiece I expected it to be, and that it could have been with a little more refinement. Great beginning, great ending, way too much in the middle. Maybe I am being too demanding since there was some symbolism I picked up on and likely more that I missed, and making decisions about the end of the world is probably time-consuming, but still a let-down in my opinion.