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scmilligan89's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
olliebell's review against another edition
DNF'd @ 46%. It doesn't have me hooked and based on the reviews I'm seeing it's not really going in a direction that'll change that.
clel's review against another edition
3.75
This was a good book. I'm still not exactly sure what I would rate it, somewhere between a 3 and 4, maybe like 3.75, 3.8? It wasn't bad by any means and I read it fairly fast for my standards but the more I think about it, the more I feel like there was just that little something, and I'm not sure what it is, that's missing from this book.
It definitely gets you thinking about your own life and how you would handle getting a string that tells you when you die. As someone who spends lots and lots of my thinking time (lol) thinking about my future, I think, <i>I think</i>, I would look at my string. I just think the suspense and curiosity would kill me. Then once I know I would live my life accordingly and not necessarily let it consume me like some of the characters in this story grapple with.
It's also very clear that the story in general is a big metaphor for how society very easily marginalizes people that aren't or don't present as the norm. Strong-stringers in this story being the "discriminated". Definitely an interesting concept but the book doesn't necessarily dive too deep into that probably because we're supposed to pick up on it. Maybe that's what it was missing, examining more deeply what humanity, or lack thereof, does to people and how easily we are to judge and outcast.
After reading two John Marrs books that follow several characters/POVs where you learn how they're all connected throughout the story a la Love, Actually, New Year's Eve, and Valentine's Day, I like that set up. It lends to a more interesting way of telling the story and moves the plot along I think. We don't have to dwell on one person too long, or for an entire book, about how only they think about this giant thing that is effecting everyone.
Also, I've never really read a book with an epistolary element in the story but after reading Ben and Amy's part of this book, I think I like it. I've heard of entire books that take place almost entirely through letters and I've never known how I would feel about that but I think I would enjoy it. (I know I enjoy it because the book I read right after this, Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez also has a big epistolary part in it and I loved it!)
I'm glad we got to see how everyone's story ended. Though most of them were kinda sad as we were following majority short-stringers, I thought most of them had decent endings.Did not see Amy dying the same time as Ben! Literally at the same time, they were in a car accident so her string was the exact same length as Ben's.
It definitely gets you thinking about your own life and how you would handle getting a string that tells you when you die. As someone who spends lots and lots of my thinking time (lol) thinking about my future, I think, <i>I think</i>, I would look at my string. I just think the suspense and curiosity would kill me. Then once I know I would live my life accordingly and not necessarily let it consume me like some of the characters in this story grapple with.
It's also very clear that the story in general is a big metaphor for how society very easily marginalizes people that aren't or don't present as the norm. Strong-stringers in this story being the "discriminated". Definitely an interesting concept but the book doesn't necessarily dive too deep into that probably because we're supposed to pick up on it. Maybe that's what it was missing, examining more deeply what humanity, or lack thereof, does to people and how easily we are to judge and outcast.
After reading two John Marrs books that follow several characters/POVs where you learn how they're all connected throughout the story a la Love, Actually, New Year's Eve, and Valentine's Day, I like that set up. It lends to a more interesting way of telling the story and moves the plot along I think. We don't have to dwell on one person too long, or for an entire book, about how only they think about this giant thing that is effecting everyone.
Also, I've never really read a book with an epistolary element in the story but after reading Ben and Amy's part of this book, I think I like it. I've heard of entire books that take place almost entirely through letters and I've never known how I would feel about that but I think I would enjoy it. (I know I enjoy it because the book I read right after this, Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez also has a big epistolary part in it and I loved it!)
I'm glad we got to see how everyone's story ended. Though most of them were kinda sad as we were following majority short-stringers, I thought most of them had decent endings.
chandlerjordan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
yemilhead's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
2.0
whimsicaljune's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
gigilovescats's review against another edition
5.0
I read roughly 100 books a year. I've read so, so many books so far at this point in my life. And this book may be one of my favorite books I've ever read.
Yeah. I just said that.
I received a copy of this book from my English teacher a few months ago to borrow, and at first glance I thought, "Looks cool, I don't know how I'm gonna feel about it though." Then a few days ago, I was trying to choose my next read. I was very hesitant to pick this up, but after the first few pages I was immediately sucked in. I couldn't stop reading. By page 64, I was texting everyone I know, saying "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!" and that, dear reader, is what I'm trying to convey to you. If you are looking through book recs to find your next read, READ IT. If you are unsure on whether to pick it up, READ IT. Trust me.
This book is...so much. It's heavy. It's thought provoking. It's political. It's interesting. It's heartwarming. It's heart shattering. I wish I read this in a book club because it's a book meant to be discussed. You'll find yourself questioning what you would do if the strings showed up in our world today. What would I do? I still don't know. My opinion kept changing throughout the book.
This book makes you face your mortality. It will activate your mind, heart, and tear-ducts. This book should make you question how society views death, and our tendency to "other" our peers.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book, one that I maybe want to get tattooed on my body. "We can't go back. But at least we can go anywhere else."
Yeah. I just said that.
I received a copy of this book from my English teacher a few months ago to borrow, and at first glance I thought, "Looks cool, I don't know how I'm gonna feel about it though." Then a few days ago, I was trying to choose my next read. I was very hesitant to pick this up, but after the first few pages I was immediately sucked in. I couldn't stop reading. By page 64, I was texting everyone I know, saying "YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!" and that, dear reader, is what I'm trying to convey to you. If you are looking through book recs to find your next read, READ IT. If you are unsure on whether to pick it up, READ IT. Trust me.
This book is...so much. It's heavy. It's thought provoking. It's political. It's interesting. It's heartwarming. It's heart shattering. I wish I read this in a book club because it's a book meant to be discussed. You'll find yourself questioning what you would do if the strings showed up in our world today. What would I do? I still don't know. My opinion kept changing throughout the book.
This book makes you face your mortality. It will activate your mind, heart, and tear-ducts. This book should make you question how society views death, and our tendency to "other" our peers.
I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book, one that I maybe want to get tattooed on my body. "We can't go back. But at least we can go anywhere else."
triptisoni's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mel_marie19's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75