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I'm a sucker for Big Shark stories...and this is one big shark...
[b:Meg|105744|Meg (MEG, #1)|Steve Alten|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1407870638s/105744.jpg|411660] is exactly the kind of bio-adventure novel I love to hate. "Could it happen?" is the kind of question that truly excites me, but when it's so ridiculous I think I can't stand it? Lord help me, I still have to see it through. If you watched even the first Sharknado on SyFy, you know *exactly* what I'm talking about.
Supposedly this book has been used by school teachers to inspire interest in science, but honestly, I can't see it. Sure, the theoretical science was carefully (and repetitively) laid out, but all in all the story and the cheese -- OMG SO MUCH CHEESE -- drown out any hopes of this novel impacting someone seriously. It's so far-fetched, swashbuckling and dramatic, it begs you to laugh, not learn, along with it. If you didn't look away in horror -- in a 'how did someone even write this' kind of way -- while our hero, Jonas, was using a fossilized meg tooth to cut his way through the innards of a live meg, you must have already turned your cheese filter up to 11.
Will I go on to book two? Nah. There is so much quality bio-adventure out there, I don't think I can respect myself in the morning if I go back for more of this testosterone-poisoned nonsense. [a:Michael C. Grumley|7141003|Michael C. Grumley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1377571506p2/7141003.jpg] writes some seriously plausible bio-adventures that don't have me dizzy from rolling my eyes, and I know there are plenty more authors out there trying to keep the bio-adventure cheese-free for me.
Supposedly this book has been used by school teachers to inspire interest in science, but honestly, I can't see it. Sure, the theoretical science was carefully (and repetitively) laid out, but all in all the story and the cheese -- OMG SO MUCH CHEESE -- drown out any hopes of this novel impacting someone seriously. It's so far-fetched, swashbuckling and dramatic, it begs you to laugh, not learn, along with it. If you didn't look away in horror -- in a 'how did someone even write this' kind of way -- while our hero, Jonas, was using a fossilized meg tooth to cut his way through the innards of a live meg, you must have already turned your cheese filter up to 11.
Will I go on to book two? Nah. There is so much quality bio-adventure out there, I don't think I can respect myself in the morning if I go back for more of this testosterone-poisoned nonsense. [a:Michael C. Grumley|7141003|Michael C. Grumley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1377571506p2/7141003.jpg] writes some seriously plausible bio-adventures that don't have me dizzy from rolling my eyes, and I know there are plenty more authors out there trying to keep the bio-adventure cheese-free for me.
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was really kind of awesome, and way better than I expected it to be. It's right up there with Jaws, Jurrasic Park, and Raptor Red.
This is by no means a serious work of fiction meant to provoke intellectual discourse. It's junk food for your brain. It's pure guilty-pleasure, ridiculous, over-the-top insanity. But it's perfect for those of us who watch Shark Week on The Discovery Channel for the shark attacks; it's ideal of those of us who simply adore SyFy's Monster-of-the-Week movies (Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, anyone?); and it's a classic in terms of "so bad, it's awesome."
Don't take this book seriously. Read it because it's enjoyably silly.
This is by no means a serious work of fiction meant to provoke intellectual discourse. It's junk food for your brain. It's pure guilty-pleasure, ridiculous, over-the-top insanity. But it's perfect for those of us who watch Shark Week on The Discovery Channel for the shark attacks; it's ideal of those of us who simply adore SyFy's Monster-of-the-Week movies (Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, anyone?); and it's a classic in terms of "so bad, it's awesome."
Don't take this book seriously. Read it because it's enjoyably silly.
This is such a fun and tense and action packed filled ride (that the film does absolutely no justice to imo), Jonas is such a likeable person and the fact that most of the people who use and abuse him and his trauma get their comeuppance I so *chef's kiss* (fuck you Maggie, get digested).
I read the whole thing in two six hour sittings, it was such an addictive read and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I read the whole thing in two six hour sittings, it was such an addictive read and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Good, but had character issues
The story was easy to read despite some scientific and military terminology being used. The context clues were enough. It was thrilling and quick to read. However, the female characters in this book were definitely written by a male author. I found myself often wondering if the author has only ever met dramatic, over-the-top, emotionally unstable women. He might as well as had just written "and she was nuts" every time a woman character made an appearance. The pacing of the book was also strange and there was a lot of repetition.
The story was easy to read despite some scientific and military terminology being used. The context clues were enough. It was thrilling and quick to read. However, the female characters in this book were definitely written by a male author. I found myself often wondering if the author has only ever met dramatic, over-the-top, emotionally unstable women. He might as well as had just written "and she was nuts" every time a woman character made an appearance. The pacing of the book was also strange and there was a lot of repetition.
This book is very "she breasted boobily down the stairs" and I find that uncomfortable.
Junky fun, and I think this is exactly what I needed to get out of this "not reading books" rut. Perfect accompaniment for a busy workout. And I was surprised how different this is from the first film, although not completely blindsided by it. Here's hoping the 2nd film will tap into some more of this absolute lunacy. Solid audiobook narration as well.
This audio version appends a brief prequel "Meg: Origins" to the end of the main book. It's generally fun but it doesn't add anything essential to the proceedings. However, it does feature characters referencing a film - "The Perfect Storm" - that was released three years *after* the book to which it ostensibly serves as a prequel. I don't know why this annoys me so much, but it really does.
This audio version appends a brief prequel "Meg: Origins" to the end of the main book. It's generally fun but it doesn't add anything essential to the proceedings. However, it does feature characters referencing a film - "The Perfect Storm" - that was released three years *after* the book to which it ostensibly serves as a prequel. I don't know why this annoys me so much, but it really does.
I would not say this book was high literature. But, it was a roller coaster ride of adventure that kept me turning the page wanting to find out what happens next.