Scan barcode
alexjarvis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I liked the writing itself fine (most of the time) but found it very irritating that it usually took a while to figure out whose perspective each chapter was from. It also felt like there were time-skips but I was never sure about it, which distracted me from the actual story.
I also didn't like how the author kept referring to the characters as 'the boy' etc. It felt impersonal and distant, even though this book was mostly about these characters and their experiences.
Overall it was very slow for a thriller. There was too much from the father's and son's perspectives, in my opinion. It felt like the kidnapped girl and the mother were side characters - at times I forgot about the mother completely.
I also didn't like how the author kept referring to the characters as 'the boy' etc. It felt impersonal and distant, even though this book was mostly about these characters and their experiences.
Overall it was very slow for a thriller. There was too much from the father's and son's perspectives, in my opinion. It felt like the kidnapped girl and the mother were side characters - at times I forgot about the mother completely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Body horror
hannahdrake42's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, and Animal death
tienno22's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
7 years ago, I absolutely hated this book. I decided to try rereading it to see if maybe I was just too young for it.
Today, I have a different appreciation for the writing. My opinion on it hasn't drastically; I still don't love it. I acknowledge the ideas and concepts that Johnston tries to explore. Johnston explores grief -- in the eyes of a mother, a father, a blamed brother, and in an old, disappointed father. He explores pain (physical, psychological, emotional) to the utmost degree. He explores the human tolerance for evil and, simultaneously, the desire to do good. He explores the intensity of the will to do both good and evil. Johnston explores a dark, cruel world with just the slightest glimmer of hope and goodness. And at the root of it all is fate's magnifying role and utter dumb luck.
While Johnston explores big themes, the story itself is difficult to be interested in. It is slow throughout until it reaches the last 100 pages. Page 30-120 can probably be removed without seeing any difference in the plot or important themes. Afterward, we see all these characters on "side-quests" to help Johnston explore different themes and ideas, but ultimately not an important aspect of the overarching mystery. Sean's side-quests are typically the most interesting. Angela has a great exploration of grief and insanity in her side quest. Overall, while most of these side-quests have a great main theme it explores, the execution is a little sloppy. It is repetitive. Constantly. Unnecessary overkill. The writing style itself doesn't keep me hooked. I've skipped and skimmed through whole chapters that don't change a scene's overall story or perception.
Good ideas, but not an amazing execution quite yet.
Today, I have a different appreciation for the writing. My opinion on it hasn't drastically; I still don't love it. I acknowledge the ideas and concepts that Johnston tries to explore. Johnston explores grief -- in the eyes of a mother, a father, a blamed brother, and in an old, disappointed father. He explores pain (physical, psychological, emotional) to the utmost degree. He explores the human tolerance for evil and, simultaneously, the desire to do good. He explores the intensity of the will to do both good and evil. Johnston explores a dark, cruel world with just the slightest glimmer of hope and goodness. And at the root of it all is fate's magnifying role and utter dumb luck.
While Johnston explores big themes, the story itself is difficult to be interested in. It is slow throughout until it reaches the last 100 pages. Page 30-120 can probably be removed without seeing any difference in the plot or important themes. Afterward, we see all these characters on "side-quests" to help Johnston explore different themes and ideas, but ultimately not an important aspect of the overarching mystery. Sean's side-quests are typically the most interesting. Angela has a great exploration of grief and insanity in her side quest. Overall, while most of these side-quests have a great main theme it explores, the execution is a little sloppy. It is repetitive. Constantly. Unnecessary overkill. The writing style itself doesn't keep me hooked. I've skipped and skimmed through whole chapters that don't change a scene's overall story or perception.
Good ideas, but not an amazing execution quite yet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Sexual assault
Moderate: Rape
More...