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meginsanity's review against another edition
3.0
It’s really difficult to write about this book and I know why. It’s because it’s 700 pages long and it contains at least three full novels in there. There’s at least two hundred characters, if not more, who are given names and personalities and occupations – this is a book that requires you to flip back constantly to keep track of people, particularly when some people have first, and last, and nicknames.
Basically Justin Cronin took his Bestseller Blender and he threw in vampires, zombies, and post-apocalyptic conventions, and out came a 700-page book with a Stephen King blurb on the back. Now, I love post-apocalyptic stuff, and I love zombies, and I even still love vampires who don’t sparkle or smile. So this book kept me reading, certainly. There’s a lot of action in it, and the characters are sympathetic, most of them ringing true to life* with flaws and authentic thought processes. There are definitely a few scenes that drew me in – I just had to know what happened next – and the villains (both human and monster) were perfectly creepy.
But ultimately this book falters under the weight of itself. It’s too long, for one, containing bloated scenes, unnecessary, repetitive dialogue, and some unsatisfying, meandering storylines. Our intrepid heroes encounter a lot of very convenient plot twists, and I grew very tired of the “end the scene so you think the character is dead – then have them show up like everything’s normal a few pages later” trope, which is used several times in the book. And the ending – ugh. I don’t want to talk about the ending; it’s too raw.
I really don’t get why this book had to have so much crammed into it. Some trimming and it could have been a really tight, well-honed novel or two or three. Since it’s supposed to be a trilogy, it could have turned into an interesting series.
* Except Amy. Anytime she was on the scene I just knew Justin Cronin wants to cast Summer Glau in the movie.
Basically Justin Cronin took his Bestseller Blender and he threw in vampires, zombies, and post-apocalyptic conventions, and out came a 700-page book with a Stephen King blurb on the back. Now, I love post-apocalyptic stuff, and I love zombies, and I even still love vampires who don’t sparkle or smile. So this book kept me reading, certainly. There’s a lot of action in it, and the characters are sympathetic, most of them ringing true to life* with flaws and authentic thought processes. There are definitely a few scenes that drew me in – I just had to know what happened next – and the villains (both human and monster) were perfectly creepy.
But ultimately this book falters under the weight of itself. It’s too long, for one, containing bloated scenes, unnecessary, repetitive dialogue, and some unsatisfying, meandering storylines. Our intrepid heroes encounter a lot of very convenient plot twists, and I grew very tired of the “end the scene so you think the character is dead – then have them show up like everything’s normal a few pages later” trope, which is used several times in the book. And the ending – ugh. I don’t want to talk about the ending; it’s too raw.
I really don’t get why this book had to have so much crammed into it. Some trimming and it could have been a really tight, well-honed novel or two or three. Since it’s supposed to be a trilogy, it could have turned into an interesting series.
* Except Amy. Anytime she was on the scene I just knew Justin Cronin wants to cast Summer Glau in the movie.
claire_dobson's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 *s
It has a bit of a Stephen King's The Stand vibe about it.
Can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
It has a bit of a Stephen King's The Stand vibe about it.
Can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
hauntedpostalworker's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hadeanstars's review against another edition
1.0
Abysmal.
In fairness, the first few chapters were readable, and felt like old school Stephen King, but that only served to hoodwink me into persevering long past the point where it was worth the investment.
About a third of the way through, the story changed entirely. We zoom ahead many years and find ourselves among a whole new cast of characters.
But I use the term characters very loosely, because they had none. There are an awful lot of them, and they become really difficult to distinguish, because they have no personality. The only way you can tell them apart is by name. There are no quirks or idiosyncrasies, no expression of feeling, they just seem to be cardboard cutouts, like the cast of an action movie. And that would be fine, if there were any action.
Nothing happens. I didn’t care about any of the two dimensional nobodies, the horror was pedestrian, the apocalypse had no explanation or meaning, the writing was bland and mediocre, and I was bored out of my mind. Just terrible. Two thirds of the way through, I gave up. I almost never give up.
The only sense of intrigue about this so called novel is how it managed to garner so many five star reviews, and how anyone managed to finish it, never mind two equally overlong sequels.
A complete waste of time and money.
In fairness, the first few chapters were readable, and felt like old school Stephen King, but that only served to hoodwink me into persevering long past the point where it was worth the investment.
About a third of the way through, the story changed entirely. We zoom ahead many years and find ourselves among a whole new cast of characters.
But I use the term characters very loosely, because they had none. There are an awful lot of them, and they become really difficult to distinguish, because they have no personality. The only way you can tell them apart is by name. There are no quirks or idiosyncrasies, no expression of feeling, they just seem to be cardboard cutouts, like the cast of an action movie. And that would be fine, if there were any action.
Nothing happens. I didn’t care about any of the two dimensional nobodies, the horror was pedestrian, the apocalypse had no explanation or meaning, the writing was bland and mediocre, and I was bored out of my mind. Just terrible. Two thirds of the way through, I gave up. I almost never give up.
The only sense of intrigue about this so called novel is how it managed to garner so many five star reviews, and how anyone managed to finish it, never mind two equally overlong sequels.
A complete waste of time and money.
lisabeejenkins's review against another edition
4.0
No wonder Stephen King raved about this book...it is VERY Stephen King: subject matter, style, macabre-level. Liked it very much but recommend with reservations. Leaves off on a cliffhanger-y note - I would have been more annoyed if it wasn't so damned LONG, I was definitely ready to leave that world - and will definitely pick up the next.
erickibler4's review against another edition
2.0
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
Hey Cronin. Stephen King much?
Seriously, you could read this book aloud at a party and make a drinking game of calling out all the Stephen King parallels. Super-virus leading to apocalypse? Check. Metaphysical struggle between good and evil? Check. Legion of vampires led by older vampire named Barlow? (Sorry, Babcock in this book). Check. 100 year old black woman who acts as a spirit guide? Check. (Well, actually, there are TWO such "Mother Abigails" in this book). Shadowy government program that lets an awful cat out of the bag? Check.
There's even a sequence near the end where the heroes hide out in an empty, snowed-in Colorado hotel. The description leaves no doubt that we're supposed to be reminded of the Overlook Hotel from "The Shining". That's an obvious homage to King, but after ripping off the entire chunks of his oeuvre, it doesn't seem too kind.
For a little vacation from Stephen King-isms, there's a detour into Richard Adams-land, as the heroes arrive at a community of overly happy folks that are being used as a human-breeding farm for the vamps. You know, like the similar scenario used in "Watership Down".
Cronin has written a restless novel. He never spends enough time in one locale or with one character to get the reader locked in. So much is thrown at the wall that nothing sticks. Characters are given extensive back-stories and then seemingly thrown way. It's a mess, to be honest. Maybe an editor with a strong hand could have made this book stronger.
I hope I find this review in a couple years and reread it before deciding to read the next book in the series.. I may want to save myself the trouble.
Hey Cronin. Stephen King much?
Seriously, you could read this book aloud at a party and make a drinking game of calling out all the Stephen King parallels. Super-virus leading to apocalypse? Check. Metaphysical struggle between good and evil? Check. Legion of vampires led by older vampire named Barlow? (Sorry, Babcock in this book). Check. 100 year old black woman who acts as a spirit guide? Check. (Well, actually, there are TWO such "Mother Abigails" in this book). Shadowy government program that lets an awful cat out of the bag? Check.
There's even a sequence near the end where the heroes hide out in an empty, snowed-in Colorado hotel. The description leaves no doubt that we're supposed to be reminded of the Overlook Hotel from "The Shining". That's an obvious homage to King, but after ripping off the entire chunks of his oeuvre, it doesn't seem too kind.
For a little vacation from Stephen King-isms, there's a detour into Richard Adams-land, as the heroes arrive at a community of overly happy folks that are being used as a human-breeding farm for the vamps. You know, like the similar scenario used in "Watership Down".
Cronin has written a restless novel. He never spends enough time in one locale or with one character to get the reader locked in. So much is thrown at the wall that nothing sticks. Characters are given extensive back-stories and then seemingly thrown way. It's a mess, to be honest. Maybe an editor with a strong hand could have made this book stronger.
I hope I find this review in a couple years and reread it before deciding to read the next book in the series.. I may want to save myself the trouble.
ljripple's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
larissawy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75