Scan barcode
jross97's review against another edition
3.0
The last couple chapters of this book really saved the book for me! I found the main character Lily to be pretty unbearable. Moving to the Jungle and then crying when a tarantula falls on her and being a vegetarian when her boyfriend of two months is a hunter? I found her quite annoying! I also did not have a chance to feel any connection to Omar throughout. I did love the descriptions of the jungle and learning about different species I had never heard of. The last few chapters definitely amped up the adventure and thrill and by the epilogue I appreciated Lily. I did find much of it unbelievable but it is fiction and so I will suspend my disbelief. Overall, the book was 3 stars. If Lily had been less annoying and Omar had more of a role I think I would have liked it more. Beya was awesome :)
gracengammill's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
veganheathen's review against another edition
5.0
This is another one of those books I got from a brown paper bag of books at the library, not knowing what books would be inside. I don't know if I would have picked it up on my own, but I'm so glad it was in my bag. I absolutely loved this book. It's so beautifully written, but not overly flowery. Ferencik is excellent at making you feel like you're in the jungle with the characters, seeing and smelling the same things as they are. I was hooked until the very last page.
frogggyyyyy's review
2.0
only 2 stars for the solid jungle descriptions that i was craving (even if they were embellished/extra at times). not a thriller. somewhat icky/offensive of a premise with the white savior/shaman and village descriptions by a white author.
maur_damar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, and Body horror
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Medical content
Minor: Gore
connie575's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
doritobabe's review
3.0
Solid 3/5
Into the Jungle is a random library pick that I was attracted to because I love reading books about the Amazon, jungles in general, and living with indigenous groups of people.
This book started out very strongly and I was very attracted to it. Ferencik convinced me that her novel would be a poignant literary fiction-type of read that would leave me agonizing over beautifully constructed phrases and underlining the text in the public library's book so that future readers could agonize with me over the poetic lyricism that is the writing. At the first, Ferencik introduces us to Lily, a wayward, headstrong 19 year old girl who is impulsive and makes wrong decisions. She ran away from her obligations (and one would argue opportunities, too) in Boston to Cochabamba in Central Bolivia where, after a few months, she meets the "love of her life", Omar. After only a few months together, Lily's impulsiveness once again wins over and she follows him deep into the jungle, to his home village.
Lily is naive and impetuous and, as a character, has much potential to capitalize on these character traits making the book very interesting. However, after several chapters I felt as though Ferencik lost her literary/poetic verve and began introducing plot points into the story that didn't end up going anywhere.. All of these ideas are very cool ... if they were done correctly. To me this means not combining various plots/events into one story, but focusing on one and the affects it has on the main character and her relationship with her surroundings and her identity. (Lily attempting to discover who she really is is a major theme in the book.)
I will hand it to the author though that she is very good at planting elements of foreshadowing throughout the novel, is decent with pace, and atmospheric descriptions.
In the end - this is a fluff read attempting to be something more. I would also like to say that the accolades on the back of the book are misleading, so if you pick up this book expecting a thriller, you won't get one.
Into the Jungle is a random library pick that I was attracted to because I love reading books about the Amazon, jungles in general, and living with indigenous groups of people.
This book started out very strongly and I was very attracted to it. Ferencik convinced me that her novel would be a poignant literary fiction-type of read that would leave me agonizing over beautifully constructed phrases and underlining the text in the public library's book so that future readers could agonize with me over the poetic lyricism that is the writing. At the first, Ferencik introduces us to Lily, a wayward, headstrong 19 year old girl who is impulsive and makes wrong decisions. She ran away from her obligations (and one would argue opportunities, too) in Boston to Cochabamba in Central Bolivia where, after a few months, she meets the "love of her life", Omar. After only a few months together, Lily's impulsiveness once again wins over and she follows him deep into the jungle, to his home village.
Lily is naive and impetuous and, as a character, has much potential to capitalize on these character traits making the book very interesting. However, after several chapters I felt as though Ferencik lost her literary/poetic verve and began introducing plot points into the story that didn't end up going anywhere.
Spoiler
See: Lily being a "shaman"/having shamanistic powers; battle against the poachers; being ravaged by diseaseI will hand it to the author though that she is very good at planting elements of foreshadowing throughout the novel, is decent with pace, and atmospheric descriptions.
In the end - this is a fluff read attempting to be something more. I would also like to say that the accolades on the back of the book are misleading, so if you pick up this book expecting a thriller, you won't get one.
jackie_shimkus's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0