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starlitdreamzz's review
5.0
Absolutely loved this book. I’m still thinking about the ending a day after reading lol.
ugh1ife's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
danaj77's review
5.0
It's hard for me to believe that someone could actually hate this book. I absolutely LOVE this one! I have to say it's one of my favorites. The main character is very believable and I like the drama and uncertain ending. I have already recommended this book to a few friends. It's something different than the norm and definitely worth a read.
epistolary_lesbian_sister's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
merryvote's review
4.0
Liked this book a whole bunch more than I figured I would. I like the first chapter, but it took me a while after the first chapter to really get into it. I like that it took place in Wisconsin, being from there and all. It had twists and turns that were predictable, but happened in a way that was unexpected. Bick does a good job of building the relationships and keeping them interesting until the book reached the critical points fairly close to the end. While this book is not the happiest thing i have ever read, I feel like Jenna had a optimistic voice. This book was a really good read.
heykellyjensen's review
Wow.
Just.
Wow.
This is a story about very, very broken people in very, very terrible situations and the drastic, desperate attempts they make to help themselves (and one another). Jenna's voice is knock out, and it's exactly what you'd expect it to be for someone who has dealt with the immense amounts of pain she's dealt with. I'm not sure if this is worth putting a spoiler up on, since I won't in a longer review, but just in case: Spoiler there's an illicit relationship between a girl and her teacher, and it's one that you question not only as a reader because you know it's wrong, but you question it right as Jenna questions it, too. Is it real? Is it authentic? Or is she being toyed with? She comes up with the answer, but even after finishing the book I'm wondering .
All I wanted was for someone to reach out a hand to this poor girl. Spoiler Which I guess happens in the end, literally but making me feel that much for a character is impressive.
I'm a bit enamored and horrified by the setting, too. Because it's done so well and since I know these places, I can picture them too well, too. And there's the whole bit about how people here (in Wisconsin, in the midwest) are different than those in other places -- that's said by Mitch -- and it's so, so spot on and relevant to everything else that happens in the story. Bick really infuses the story with a local angle that I appreciate greatly, but it's not at the expense of making any readers who don't "get" it feel like they're missing anything.
I found myself tearing up a couple times while reading, too. I really have a heart for broken people, I think, but moreso Spoiler when all I want for them is to be loved and to love themselves which...that stuff tears at me .
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/02/drowning-instinct-by-ilsa-j-bick.html
Just.
Wow.
This is a story about very, very broken people in very, very terrible situations and the drastic, desperate attempts they make to help themselves (and one another). Jenna's voice is knock out, and it's exactly what you'd expect it to be for someone who has dealt with the immense amounts of pain she's dealt with. I'm not sure if this is worth putting a spoiler up on, since I won't in a longer review, but just in case: Spoiler there's an illicit relationship between a girl and her teacher, and it's one that you question not only as a reader because you know it's wrong, but you question it right as Jenna questions it, too. Is it real? Is it authentic? Or is she being toyed with? She comes up with the answer, but even after finishing the book I'm wondering .
All I wanted was for someone to reach out a hand to this poor girl. Spoiler Which I guess happens in the end, literally but making me feel that much for a character is impressive.
I'm a bit enamored and horrified by the setting, too. Because it's done so well and since I know these places, I can picture them too well, too. And there's the whole bit about how people here (in Wisconsin, in the midwest) are different than those in other places -- that's said by Mitch -- and it's so, so spot on and relevant to everything else that happens in the story. Bick really infuses the story with a local angle that I appreciate greatly, but it's not at the expense of making any readers who don't "get" it feel like they're missing anything.
I found myself tearing up a couple times while reading, too. I really have a heart for broken people, I think, but moreso Spoiler when all I want for them is to be loved and to love themselves which...that stuff tears at me .
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/02/drowning-instinct-by-ilsa-j-bick.html
averywindyday's review
5.0
I received Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick via a giveaway that Goodreads hosted so thank you Goodreads and Ilsa J. Bick for the opportunity to read and review this book. Drowning Instinct opens in the ER where Detective Bob Pendleton gives Jenna Lord a recorder because he “need[s] the story…need[s] the truth” (3). Jenna, already demonstrating the fact that she will be an unreliable narrator, replies to this by stating: “Like the two are the same thing” (3[ Jenna’s unreliability as a narrator is further cemented with such lines as: “Another thing therapy teaches you, Bob, is how to read between the lines and then feed people and then feed people answers they’ll accept. It’s like makeup, Bob; there’s an art to smoothing on enough truth so those ugly zits don’t show. Or scars, for that matter” {276}]). Thus, the format of the rest of the novel is Jenna speaking to Detective Pendleton through the recorder. This structure is wonderful for the novel because it creates an opportunity where the reader is constantly in contact with Jenna’s unique voice and simultaneously wondering how much what she is stating is truth or fabricated falsehood. Throughout Drowning Instinct, the reader is constantly analyzing Jenna, the other characters of the novel, and the events of Jenna’s past. While some of the answers of the mysteries of the plot one can guess pretty early on (i.e. Jenna’s brother and Mr. Anderson’s character and lies), overall the novel is a page turner that makes the reader want to seek answers; answers that might or might not be answered.
rangerinblack's review
2.0
What an unbelievably shocking waste of time. I cannot understand why this has such high ratings and reviews.