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trin's review against another edition
3.0
I’d heard good things about Thomas’ [book: The End of Mr. Y], so when I saw [book: PopCo] at the library I thought I’d give it a shot. I’m glad I did, although I found a lot about this book unsatisfactory. The story combines two narratives, the first about Alice, an “idea” person for a British toy company, going to a company-sponsored retreat/brainstorming session, and the second about Alice growing up with her cryptoanalyst grandfather and mathematician grandmother. There’s a lot of stuff about code breaking and making, and coolness with prime numbers, and that’s all a lot of fun. Alice’s attempts to fit in with her peers as a teen and how that relates to her obstinate uncoolness in her adult life are also explored in a really interesting way. But the underlying mystery(ies) of the book—who is sending Alice secret messages at the PopCo retreat, and why? Does it have anything to do with the famous code her grandfather claimed to have cracked but never told anyone the solution to?—have sadly dull conclusions, which also involve rather too much preaching about the virtues of vegetarianism. This was still, for the most part, a really engaging read, but the build-up was better than the follow-through.
ncat999's review against another edition
4.0
A quirky heroine, cryptography, pirates, toy companies, commercialism. I couldn't stop reading it.
louisabooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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
4.0
ganzfeldstate's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first Scarlett Thomas book I've read, having previously only heard of her because she was my friends MA tutor last year (she was based here in Canterbury at UKC). Embarrassingly, I'd had no idea she was famous at all but everyone I know seems to have read her books! I loved this book so much and read it very quickly - although it's put me totally off dairy products. Definitely my kind of book.
alaskalute's review
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
essiewakeman's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book right up until the end. The conclusion (without giving anything away) was unsatisfying in my view, and I also didn't really agree with the philosphy of the characters when it became clear what they were all about! But nevertheless it was worth the read.
jenjenjenmolloy's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't like this book. I thought there was far too much exposition and the central "mystery" was disappointing. I also found it too much of a stretch that an intelligent, independent minded woman would even consider homeopathy, let alone go on about it for pages at a time.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
3.0
This was such a great story, had wonderful buildup, but I felt a little let down with the ending.
abarkmeier's review against another edition
1.0
This is a pretty terrible book, somewhere between the DaVinci Code and a Babysitter's Club Camp Mohawk Super Special. It's not entirely unreadable and in 571 pages has maybe 4 to 5 good lines. Plot lines never line up together, gratuitous dialogue which is only meant to give exposition, and an unhealthy obsession with the amount of fantastic food the heroine can get are wearying. I only finished the book because I've been trying to finish every book I start this year.
The writing is almost unforgivably bad in parts, as if the author didn't have an editor. I would go look up the line but I don't want to, anyhow, there's a portion that says something like "The landscape changed abruptly. And I say abruptly, because the change was abrupt."
The puzzles are unfascinating, the characters dull, the plot line unconvincing, and the overall movement contrived. Easy pass.
The writing is almost unforgivably bad in parts, as if the author didn't have an editor. I would go look up the line but I don't want to, anyhow, there's a portion that says something like "The landscape changed abruptly. And I say abruptly, because the change was abrupt."
The puzzles are unfascinating, the characters dull, the plot line unconvincing, and the overall movement contrived. Easy pass.
pixe1's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0