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eveningreverie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Drug use, Gore, Blood, and Stalking
Minor: Forced institutionalization
rebeltheflow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I’m struggling if this is 3 or 4 stars leaning. Maybe 3.75.
The concept and plot is excellent: 5 stars. The writing style and execution is okay: 3 stars. The characters are ver poorly written: 1 star.
Plot: There’s a lot of twists but some were predictable (at least from the standpoint that I as a reader figured it all out before the protagonist did (and he’s supposed to be a genius scientist)). I really like the themes, questions and philosophy this sci-fi proposes. What defines you? Regret and doubt and the path not taken. The first 100 pages are a bit slow but the next 240 pages are fast! Like really really fast in both plot and writing style.
Writing Style: Everything is short and punchy which successfully makes a fast page turner. Each sentence is like 5-10 words. Each paragraph is only 1 - 3 sentences. Some paragraphs only 5 words…..and I really liked that for the narrated part of the book. It reads like a movie. I liked that a lot of the details were up to me to decide & I think this writing approach allows readers to feel immersed in the action without being interrupted by over descriptive scenery or adverbs. But the dialogue is written in the same style which makes the characters appear really boring, flat, and uncompelling. Which takes me to my next point.
Characters: Everyone is so one directional. Characters come and go without proper send-offs which created to many unfinished subplots in my opinion. Each character talks in only 3 word replies, reading it honestly felt like trying to flirt with a really dry texter. My biggest issue is that this book is supposed to be a romance between a genius scientist & his artistic wife, but there was no love for each other except for their horniness.
Spoilers:
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Gun violence and Rape
abbiechron's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Abortion, and Pregnancy
hollaylonn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer
samgyupsal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Abortion
xeroxi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Stalking and Death of parent
tabea1409's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
cloud_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
daniel_n_huss's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Drug use, Gun violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Stalking, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Abortion
_chrstnlvly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A brilliant physicist named Jason Dessen is living in Chicago with his wife, Daniela, and son, Charlie. He is a true genius, and while there was a point in his late twenties when his research could have made him a star in his field, he instead chose a family-focused life. One night, while walking home, he's abducted by a mysterious masked man and injected with a drug. When he next awakes, his world has completely changed. He's no longer married, doesn't have a son, and has achieved professional success beyond his wildest dreams. This sets him on a thrilling, mysterious, and at times terrifying journey to learn what has happened to him, and to find his way home to the people and the life he loves. -Blake Crouch when asked about the premise of Dark Matter
Dark Matter unexpectedly brought me to tears. It made me reflect on life and the choices we make. It made me stop and reread certain parts because they resonated deeply.
The book explores the concept of "What If?" and emphasizes that what's meant for us will always find its way to us. It also reminded me that we are ultimately responsible for our paths in life, as our past choices shape our present circumstances.
I believe Dark Matter came into my life at exactly the right moment and it really made a significant impression on me.
This was the first book I've read by Blake Crouch, and it impacted me in such a powerful way that I rated it five stars, despite other readers' opinions that his other books are better.
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug use, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Torture and Stalking