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millie1985's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookishgoblin's review against another edition
3.0
FINALLY! This book took me forever to read, mostly because it was pretty damn terrifying, but also because of the ridiculous amount of science the author decided to throw in (I feel much smarter coming out the end of this though) It would have been four stars if not for an unnecessary rape that I really didn't want to read. Other than that harrowing experience, it was actually a damn good story with some terrifying visions of the future that have messed me up beyond belief. Nearly cried today because I used a plastic bag...
david_agranoff's review against another edition
4.0
Great ecological horror masterpiece. full review coming.
gildius's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was a fine book. It’s a pacy, prescient story with an important 'message' and lots of irresistible post-apocalyptic chaos and shooting down of climate change deniers.
However, many of the characters are Hollywood-style clichés, the women leave a lot to be desired (oh my god, they are ALWAYS serving drinks), and it too easily slips into a simplified good–evil dichotomy.
Read my full review on my blog:
http://www.50ayear.com/2017/06/10/22-last-gasp-trevor-hoyle/
Read Trevor Hoyle's response here:
http://www.50ayear.com/2018/07/24/trevor-hoyle-responded-to-my-review/
However, many of the characters are Hollywood-style clichés, the women leave a lot to be desired (oh my god, they are ALWAYS serving drinks), and it too easily slips into a simplified good–evil dichotomy.
Read my full review on my blog:
http://www.50ayear.com/2017/06/10/22-last-gasp-trevor-hoyle/
Read Trevor Hoyle's response here:
http://www.50ayear.com/2018/07/24/trevor-hoyle-responded-to-my-review/
wordsofclover's review against another edition
3.0
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest feedback.
2.75 Stars (I couldn't decide between 2.5 and 3 stars so I'm compromising)
The Last Gasp tells the tale of a slowly-dying planet earth and its human occupants ignoring the obvious signs of illness. An eco-disaster is growing and become irreversible and as environmentalists crying out for the world to change, and for people to take notice, they're killed off by a corrupt government. Slowly, the air becomes poisonous, the sun grows hotter and people and animals start to mutate.
This book was a tough read and there were several times I thought I wouldn't make it through. At almost 800 pages, it's not only long with a very small font, but it's dense too and not just in scientific facts. At first I was like 'oh, no' when I began to read and I realised this wasn't going to be the thrilling survivalist novel I was expecting but I did find myself getting into the story and I did want to know the end conclusion. I can't say I loved the book though. I didn't find myself wanting to pick it up when I wasn't reading it. The science in the book isn' too hard to grasp and it's quite easily explained in most parts so the damage done to the world and the effect it's having is actually understandable - and scarily, very realistic.
There are some triggers in this for sexual assault, specifically rape. There are a few scenes in which rape is mentioned, threatened or implied, and the book fell into the trope/trap of the world falling to pieces and the menfolk thinking that meant they had a free pass to rape any women they came across. I hate that trope in such books.
I did like the end, mainly because right up to it I was despairing for the characters and I had no idea how they were going to get out of it. I really enjoyed seeing you know who come back and save the day as I had wondered where he had gotten to.
Overall, I can't say I enjoyed this book...but it was interesting.
2.75 Stars (I couldn't decide between 2.5 and 3 stars so I'm compromising)
The Last Gasp tells the tale of a slowly-dying planet earth and its human occupants ignoring the obvious signs of illness. An eco-disaster is growing and become irreversible and as environmentalists crying out for the world to change, and for people to take notice, they're killed off by a corrupt government. Slowly, the air becomes poisonous, the sun grows hotter and people and animals start to mutate.
This book was a tough read and there were several times I thought I wouldn't make it through. At almost 800 pages, it's not only long with a very small font, but it's dense too and not just in scientific facts. At first I was like 'oh, no' when I began to read and I realised this wasn't going to be the thrilling survivalist novel I was expecting but I did find myself getting into the story and I did want to know the end conclusion. I can't say I loved the book though. I didn't find myself wanting to pick it up when I wasn't reading it. The science in the book isn' too hard to grasp and it's quite easily explained in most parts so the damage done to the world and the effect it's having is actually understandable - and scarily, very realistic.
There are some triggers in this for sexual assault, specifically rape. There are a few scenes in which rape is mentioned, threatened or implied, and the book fell into the trope/trap of the world falling to pieces and the menfolk thinking that meant they had a free pass to rape any women they came across. I hate that trope in such books.
I did like the end, mainly because right up to it I was despairing for the characters and I had no idea how they were going to get out of it. I really enjoyed seeing you know who come back and save the day as I had wondered where he had gotten to.
Overall, I can't say I enjoyed this book...but it was interesting.
northeastbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
A very dark and troubling novel of ecological disaster and what happens to earth and humanity. The ending is not what you would expect.
sunsoar25's review against another edition
3.0
A coworker was talking about this 1983 near apocalyptic read and it really caught my attention. It's now set in a (mostly) past future between the years 1990 and 2028. For the most part I enjoyed this sci-fi environmental disaster story, but I started to loose interest with it because it's quite slow paced and it's pretty heavy on the science. My eyes might have started to glaze over a time or two.
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