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ramsfan1963's review against another edition
I didn't like any of the characters, and the story just wasn't holding my attention. I was actively looking for other things to read than this book.
sam_vimes_75's review against another edition
3.0
Despite not being a fan of zombies, World War Z is one of my favorite books. Years later, it still haunts me and begs an occasional reread. I eagerly picked up Devolution to see if Brooks could do for Sasquatch what he did for zombies. By comparison, it’s a bit disappointing. It’s a more personal book than WWZ, focusing primarily on just one character. My major gripe is that we get to know her and some of the other characters far longer than necessary before the conflict begins.
It’s a looooong flat line and almost halfway through the novel before the tension ratchets up. It took me several days to push myself to keep reading the first half. I finished the second half in an afternoon. Then the book becomes arguably too graphically violent, apparently to make up for lost time. The ending offers several options for the audience to choose from. Choose the tidy ending that satisfies us. It’s almost too tidy, right down to the campfire storyteller’s last line.
Brooks’ prose and structure are as riveting as ever. I appreciate the obvious research and world building he puts into his books. I’d be happy to read a sequel, or whatever else he writes. This one, however, is probably a single read whose tension and characters won’t linger with me past next week.
It’s a looooong flat line and almost halfway through the novel before the tension ratchets up. It took me several days to push myself to keep reading the first half. I finished the second half in an afternoon. Then the book becomes arguably too graphically violent, apparently to make up for lost time. The ending offers several options for the audience to choose from. Choose the tidy ending that satisfies us. It’s almost too tidy, right down to the campfire storyteller’s last line.
Brooks’ prose and structure are as riveting as ever. I appreciate the obvious research and world building he puts into his books. I’d be happy to read a sequel, or whatever else he writes. This one, however, is probably a single read whose tension and characters won’t linger with me past next week.
pip_tries_her_best's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mrsclicquot's review against another edition
4.0
SUPER intense book. Very quick read but I HAD to put it down a lot due to the graphic language and the tachycardia induced by the feelings of helplessness for the poor characters.
Never thought I’d enjoy a book about Sasquatches, so that was cool. Also really enjoy reading anything that takes place in the Pacific Northwest — it’s absolutely stunning. Liked the references to LA (another favorite place) and how they poke fun at LA culture.
Definitely NOT for everyone, but I thought it was well written and didn’t fall short on social satire.
Someone please pass me a Xanax and a “nicer” book.
Never thought I’d enjoy a book about Sasquatches, so that was cool. Also really enjoy reading anything that takes place in the Pacific Northwest — it’s absolutely stunning. Liked the references to LA (another favorite place) and how they poke fun at LA culture.
Definitely NOT for everyone, but I thought it was well written and didn’t fall short on social satire.
Someone please pass me a Xanax and a “nicer” book.
rwakebook's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
emrodav's review against another edition
1.0
DNF @ less than 50%
Sigh. I’ve been on a good streak of finishing books but I got so bored with this one!
I think it’s for two reasons: Katie and the format.
The main character, Katie, just isn’t that interesting. She’s bland and boring and not fleshed out much. All we know about her is that her marriage is on the rocks and she has a therapist because she has anxiety (though this is mostly just told to us over and over). She just wasn’t that compelling of a narrator.
Also, the format of a journal didn’t really work for this type of story. Now, I LOVE epistolary books. I loved WORLD WAR Z. But DEVOLUTION just didn’t work with this format. There’s no real tension when you know Katie (at least) makes it through to write the journal entry you’re reading.
So I ended up skimming the rest of the book. It ended how I thought it would. I just wasn’t willing to slog through a book I wasn’t really enjoying to get there.
Sigh. I’ve been on a good streak of finishing books but I got so bored with this one!
I think it’s for two reasons: Katie and the format.
The main character, Katie, just isn’t that interesting. She’s bland and boring and not fleshed out much. All we know about her is that her marriage is on the rocks and she has a therapist because she has anxiety (though this is mostly just told to us over and over). She just wasn’t that compelling of a narrator.
Also, the format of a journal didn’t really work for this type of story. Now, I LOVE epistolary books. I loved WORLD WAR Z. But DEVOLUTION just didn’t work with this format. There’s no real tension when you know Katie (at least) makes it through to write the journal entry you’re reading.
So I ended up skimming the rest of the book. It ended how I thought it would. I just wasn’t willing to slog through a book I wasn’t really enjoying to get there.
swatry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
About a group of people who get cut off by Mt Rainer erupting and are preyed on by big foots. Very well written and interesting, as real facts were interspersed throughout. Written in diary format
jenhurst's review against another edition
2.0
this was compelling enough to read all the way through but it really was disappointing. I'm also not a fan of bigfoot
chrisb'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
bobbiejowoo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
I loved the epistolary format of this one. I listened to the Audio and there was a full cast and they even made the interview sequences sound as if they were recorded differently than the journal entries. The audio production was a 10/10. The story however was soooo much a slow burn that for a good part of the book I forgot I was even reading a Sasquatch story. I was fully invested and immersed in the story in the beginning, but as it dragged on I found myself losing interest quickly. By the time all the action finally started happening (right at the very end... yawn) it was too little too late for me. Though, I will admit that it *was* brutal, action filled and intense when it finally did happen. I just really wish there had been more Sasquatch happenings.