Reviews tagging 'Pandemic/Epidemic'

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

40 reviews

angorarabbit's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Clarketech:  A working Schrodinger’s Cat Box. 

 

Bloophole:  Where was the money coming from, and why was it always barely enough? 

 

TLDR: A good thriller for those who are not thriller readers, but not much substance. 

 

The plot was interesting and the story well written. Jason was an fully rounded character. Other characters not so much. Female characters in particular seem to only follow the male character’s wishes. I was mostly satisfied with the ending, though Amanda seemed to get short shrift. 

 

The rest of this review is skirting spoiler territory and nerd ranting. 

 

The many worlds interpretation (MWI) is essential for the plot. However the book seems to theorise that the point that a world becomes real is when a human makes a choice This interpretation makes for exciting reading, but no logical sense. 

 

MWI states that ALL possible outcomes of quantum measurements are physically realised in some world. So there would be endless worlds where Janson, Daniela, Charlie, their apartment, Chicago, etc. are all exactly the same. Assuming that a Schrodinger’s Cat Box could be made, and that human desires could direct it Jason should have popped out in endless realities where everything he knew and loved was exactly the same. How would he know which Daniela and Charlie were his? 

 

This kept niggling at my brain the whole time, so rather disrupted my enjoyment of a story of a man desperately regaining what he loved and of another man’s attempt to change the consequences of his choices. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Drug use, Confinement, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death, Murder, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Cursing and Abortion

There is on page IV drug injections.

relliepi's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book. From start to finish it was a page turner. The writing style was easy to read. Sometimes I don't care for books written in the first person, but it didn't bother me at all for this book. I really felt for the main character, and I was deeply invested in his him reaching his goal of getting his life back.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Death, Kidnapping, and Murder

Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic

ldpaige's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• 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

3.5

This book had me bingeing 150 pages in one setting. I think this reminded me how much I love a good action book from Blake Crouch. The thesis of the whole work landed well for me and the book was just good. It took you on a ride and that's the kind of book I like! The ideas of

the multi-world moment had me thinking and was something fresh and different from what I normally read.

There were elements that did have me rolling my eyes and somehow, the story got tied in a nice little bow. I actually would have liked a darker ending. That's just me though.

Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed Dark Matter and would suggest it to someone who wants a book that they cannot put down!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Murder

Moderate: Stalking, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Violence

perpetualpity's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Pandemic/Epidemic, Abandonment, Body horror, Violence, Gun violence, Medical content, Death, Confinement, and Blood

princess_marie's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical content, Violence, Confinement, Pandemic/Epidemic, Drug use, and Murder

_david_'s review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Oof to me, every part of this book missed its mark. In general I found everything in the book a bit over the top. 

First of all, Jason is supposed to be a genius. Yet it takes him ages to even think of the theory which can be figured out as a reader very quickly. If you've figured it out before Jason, there's not much joy in reading the story until he has figured it out too. You're just waiting and turning the pages until he does and you can finally continue. The way he acts is so hard to relate to. It's very hard to imagine the situations he encounters so it's hard to emphasize with his choices. However, at least after it all goes wrong once you'd think he change his behaviour right? 

Secondly, I'd like to discuss the science behind it. To me, it's very noticable that what we're reading has been written by an author who wanted to tell a story and then looked up the physic theories which would fit it best. The logic is not consistent and some of it almost works like magic. Yet the characters in the book use big words and existing theories to clarify the science behind it all. This is a very personal ick, I've barely ever encountered a piece of media that manages to do this well. The only ways I have seen this be pulled off, is to make up your own very clear very consitent rules or just pretend it's magic and do not explain it beyond what is necessary. 

My favourite part of the book beyond the very first chapter, in which Jason only talks about his family night and life choices, are the final few chapters. Yet I wish they pushed a little further. Let Jason be a little more selfish or a little more existential. I've read another review which points out a major flaw related to the inconsistent physics which did ruin these last chapters for me as well. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Blood, Physical abuse, Gore, Violence, Murder, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Grief, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Abortion, Car accident, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Alcohol, Animal death, Drug use, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Self harm, Drug abuse, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts

melaschnie's review against another edition

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Death, Drug use, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Stalking, Suicide, Grief, Medical content, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Vomit, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Child death, Toxic friendship, and Torture

anni_swanilda's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Stalking, and Violence

Moderate: Medical content and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Child death and Sexual content

jodie_mathers's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, and Gun violence

sierrabowers's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was a great science fiction story that is extremely relatable to the average reader. Have you ever wanted to change one decision that you have made and wonder what your life would be like if you had chosen differently? This book realistically answers that question through quantum mechanics and the theory of the multiverse. It sounds insane and it really is, but it also makes you think about your morals and what you would do if you were in the situation that Jason is in. If you’re a science lover and can comprehend complex situations, such as multiple versions of the same character in the same room, then go ahead and read this. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Cursing, Death of parent, Child death, Gaslighting, Gore, Abandonment, Abortion, Violence, Gun violence, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content