Scan barcode
irenesuamar's review against another edition
4.0
Quick and engaging. The book is structured in alternative chapters from the past and the present and I quite like that!
It is an good story about kidnapping and what family means, so why I am only give 3 stars? because none of the characters really grabbed me, they were all pictured a bit too superficially. In fact, if I could, I would give 3.5*.
It is an good story about kidnapping and what family means, so why I am only give 3 stars? because none of the characters really grabbed me, they were all pictured a bit too superficially. In fact, if I could, I would give 3.5*.
lunaseline's review against another edition
4.0
Först blir jag lite sur. Här ska jag läsa en Aussie-bok (nummer 3 i år), och så sätter White sin huvudkaraktär på planet till USA.
Men eftersom det handlar om konstiga kristna, att rycka upp sina rötter och känna sig alienerad så fungerar det. (Eftersom australiska kvinnomagasin är min guilty pleasure vet jag att landet down under har sina egna galna sekter - men det är mycket enklare att tänka på amerikaner som bat crazy orm-tjusare med bibeln som manual :-) )
Och i övrigt är jag glatt överraskad. Det här är ju knappast den första psykologiska thrillern med ett barn i centrum, som utspelar sig över olika tidsplan och med ett helt gäng misstänkta karaktärer - men det är ett riktigt bra exempel på typen.
Nu-och-då vävs ihop snyggt i alternerande kapitel och historien har hela tiden ett driv, trots att man i princip från start får huvudpoängen serverad: vem som är The Nowhere Child. Att fokusera på "hur" istället för "vem" brukar inte vara min te-kopp, men här måste jag erkänna att det är ett bra val, som leder in storyn på mer intressanta spår. Karaktärernas uppenbara brister, tillsammans med ett slut som också vågar värja från det perfekt lyckliga, gör mig också nöjd (till och med den oundvikliga, alltid något töntiga, mot-slutet-av-thriller-scenen där huvudkaraktären är i knipa är föredömligt kort). Exakt hur pusslet hänger ihop förstår jag själv först kapitlet innan det avslöjas, vilket får sägas vara riktigt välspelat av White.
Eventuellt spelar fortfarande "aussie-bok"-preferensen in, men jag tror faktiskt att betyget främst speglar hur välgjort underhållande boken är.
Men eftersom det handlar om konstiga kristna, att rycka upp sina rötter och känna sig alienerad så fungerar det. (Eftersom australiska kvinnomagasin är min guilty pleasure vet jag att landet down under har sina egna galna sekter - men det är mycket enklare att tänka på amerikaner som bat crazy orm-tjusare med bibeln som manual :-) )
Och i övrigt är jag glatt överraskad. Det här är ju knappast den första psykologiska thrillern med ett barn i centrum, som utspelar sig över olika tidsplan och med ett helt gäng misstänkta karaktärer - men det är ett riktigt bra exempel på typen.
Nu-och-då vävs ihop snyggt i alternerande kapitel och historien har hela tiden ett driv, trots att man i princip från start får huvudpoängen serverad: vem som är The Nowhere Child. Att fokusera på "hur" istället för "vem" brukar inte vara min te-kopp, men här måste jag erkänna att det är ett bra val, som leder in storyn på mer intressanta spår. Karaktärernas uppenbara brister, tillsammans med ett slut som också vågar värja från det perfekt lyckliga, gör mig också nöjd (till och med den oundvikliga, alltid något töntiga, mot-slutet-av-thriller-scenen där huvudkaraktären är i knipa är föredömligt kort). Exakt hur pusslet hänger ihop förstår jag själv först kapitlet innan det avslöjas, vilket får sägas vara riktigt välspelat av White.
Eventuellt spelar fortfarande "aussie-bok"-preferensen in, men jag tror faktiskt att betyget främst speglar hur välgjort underhållande boken är.
bridgetfrances_'s review against another edition
3.0
3⭐️
while i enjoyed this book, i found it a quick read that i didn’t really think twice about. the premise was fantastic and the writing relatively good. i’m a new thriller reader (usually sticking to fantasy) but white’s books were recommended to me by a friend who’s taste i trust.
we find out kim is sammy went from the beginning - there’s never much doubt about it. even though i would have known it was her the whole time i would have liked another woman brought into it to spice it up a bit. the entire plot twist felt like it was based around dean being the kidnapper not carol leamy.
i didn’t enjoy particularly how the racism, homophobia and religious trauma was portrayed. i really appreciated the representation and am glad it appeared as it was (and still can be) a very prevalent issue in the States, especially in the South. i felt the approach was tacky and played exactly into the stereotypes. a troubled married man who used to be in love with his childhood best friend having a torrid affair with a troubled man who he ends up marrying? i think jack went could have had so much more character development. molly was a typical fundamentalist church goer and i think there was a lot more to her than was described.
i enjoyed the ‘then’ and ‘now’ descriptors, and how each chapter left us wondering what would happen when we returned to that timeline. still also think a little more could have been done about that.
for a debut novel i think it was good. i’ve read white’s ‘the wife and the widow’ and LOVED it and am intending on reading ‘wild place’. i think he’s an excellent writer and am hoping there’s more big things in the pipeline.
while i enjoyed this book, i found it a quick read that i didn’t really think twice about. the premise was fantastic and the writing relatively good. i’m a new thriller reader (usually sticking to fantasy) but white’s books were recommended to me by a friend who’s taste i trust.
we find out kim is sammy went from the beginning - there’s never much doubt about it. even though i would have known it was her the whole time i would have liked another woman brought into it to spice it up a bit. the entire plot twist felt like it was based around dean being the kidnapper not carol leamy.
i didn’t enjoy particularly how the racism, homophobia and religious trauma was portrayed. i really appreciated the representation and am glad it appeared as it was (and still can be) a very prevalent issue in the States, especially in the South. i felt the approach was tacky and played exactly into the stereotypes. a troubled married man who used to be in love with his childhood best friend having a torrid affair with a troubled man who he ends up marrying? i think jack went could have had so much more character development. molly was a typical fundamentalist church goer and i think there was a lot more to her than was described.
i enjoyed the ‘then’ and ‘now’ descriptors, and how each chapter left us wondering what would happen when we returned to that timeline. still also think a little more could have been done about that.
for a debut novel i think it was good. i’ve read white’s ‘the wife and the widow’ and LOVED it and am intending on reading ‘wild place’. i think he’s an excellent writer and am hoping there’s more big things in the pipeline.
lara_alicia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
izwiggo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
caitlynmu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cords's review against another edition
1.0
I get the ick when presumably straight white men write books with unnecessary racism and homophobia
I felt the pacing was off, dialogue incredibly unrealistic, and the whole thing just not it. I did finish the book tho so i guess theres that? More out of spite than anything
I felt the pacing was off, dialogue incredibly unrealistic, and the whole thing just not it. I did finish the book tho so i guess theres that? More out of spite than anything
bookshelfbychels's review against another edition
2.0
A slow burn. I ended up skimming through this book and skipping some chapters and then reading some. Naturally the story had some plot holes to me but overall I think it was an interesting read.
karlis_library's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
eleanor_shaw's review against another edition
dark
sad
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
2.5