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lee_hillshire's review against another edition
I was very bored 6 pages in. And it didn't get better from there.
Normally I can look at a book I didn't enjoy, even an objectively bad one, and recognize at least something I can learn from it in terms of story or craft. Here... not so much.
There's a lot of "could haves" with the book and what it was about. Or I suppose, what it tried to be about, because ultimately I don't actually know what this book was about or what it was trying to do. And I don't know what else to say about it.
Normally I can look at a book I didn't enjoy, even an objectively bad one, and recognize at least something I can learn from it in terms of story or craft. Here... not so much.
There's a lot of "could haves" with the book and what it was about. Or I suppose, what it tried to be about, because ultimately I don't actually know what this book was about or what it was trying to do. And I don't know what else to say about it.
jansbookcorner's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn’t put this book down until I finished it. Told from different POV’s and in a way that keeps you unsure about the truth. It’s not because of unreliable narrators, it is the story told from different perspectives. The characters were well developed and each of their views fit. Add to all that, the ending was perfect.
It’s been 9 years since I read Defending Jacob and that story has stayed with me. This one will too.
It’s been 9 years since I read Defending Jacob and that story has stayed with me. This one will too.
authorjuliankennedy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
antigoni002's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dennyhb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.0
graciesmom's review against another edition
4.0
The book was broken up into 3 points of view in long "books". I disliked the format, and the missing quotation marks. That said, I enjoyed this legal thriller.
edgarstarr's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars
Wow...that got messy. I've only watched the tv adaptation of "Defending Jacob" so I knew nothing of Landay's style and voice as a writer but having loved the twist and turns of the show, I was excited to see he released something new. Let me just say that it is a compelling enough story. I stuck through it and wanted to see what ended up happening to Jane. I feel like we didn't need the perspectives of the writer (I forgot his name there were too many characters in this book) or the fictional depiction from Jane written by Miranda, oh who by the way is called Mimi at random times and for more than half of the book I thought they were two different characters. I was really more interested in the children's point of views and we only get Jeff's. I would be much more interested in Miranda's conflicting feelings about her father's guilt rather than a fictionalized version she wrote. In the end, it really was a waste of a book because we as readers are never given confirmations that her details were correct.
Also this is just a gripe with the audiobook I'm sure but because of how this book is formatted i.e. no quotation marks, no details on how or who says what this, it was really frustrating. I had to rewind multiple times to figure out who was even in the scene. Even with the physical couple this would be annoying.
My emotions are leaning towards 1.5 stars but I can't deny that I pulled through to the end and really was invested for most of it, but also confused too.
Wow...that got messy. I've only watched the tv adaptation of "Defending Jacob" so I knew nothing of Landay's style and voice as a writer but having loved the twist and turns of the show, I was excited to see he released something new. Let me just say that it is a compelling enough story. I stuck through it and wanted to see what ended up happening to Jane. I feel like we didn't need the perspectives of the writer (I forgot his name there were too many characters in this book) or the fictional depiction from Jane written by Miranda, oh who by the way is called Mimi at random times and for more than half of the book I thought they were two different characters. I was really more interested in the children's point of views and we only get Jeff's. I would be much more interested in Miranda's conflicting feelings about her father's guilt rather than a fictionalized version she wrote. In the end, it really was a waste of a book because we as readers are never given confirmations that her details were correct.
Also this is just a gripe with the audiobook I'm sure but because of how this book is formatted i.e. no quotation marks, no details on how or who says what this, it was really frustrating. I had to rewind multiple times to figure out who was even in the scene. Even with the physical couple this would be annoying.
My emotions are leaning towards 1.5 stars but I can't deny that I pulled through to the end and really was invested for most of it, but also confused too.
beth_morton's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25