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straylight's review against another edition
3.0
"A social experiment gone terribly wrong..." this book started out just a bit slow for me. However, it does pick up and lead to a relatively satisfactory ending. I would have loved to hear a bit more of the background of the various characters, and from where the whole experiment developed, but the overall story is good none the less. I have heard some concern about how the main characters' personalities seem to change abruptly, but given the path of the story, I could see how this might be reasonable, to some degree, at least.
harmonj3's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I nearly set this book down because the first 130+ pages did not grip me. The prose is a little odd and it really just wasn’t what I had expected. That said, the second act of this book is worth it. I really love that we get a very small glimpse into had everything came to be through the flashbacks and I was really impressed with the 180 this book pulled on me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, and Murder
cheshiretrick's review against another edition
3.75
it’s fine! got a lot less into it as the story progressed and as more reveals happened. doesn’t help that the synopsis is quite a bit of a spoiler tbh
schmoobles's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Forced institutionalization, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement
penguingin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
meatotommy's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
stopthesun's review
2.0
I found this book to be extremely underwhelming.
If you're to take the quote above to heart (which I believe is a pretty good idea), then you won't take everything I say and accept it. You might read some more reviews or even read it yourself to determine your feelings, but I'm just here to share mine.
And ultimately my feelings are a bland sort of disappointment.
Things I Felt Good About:
1) The writing.
2) I enjoyed the exploration of morality by Warren Bratt. I like books that make me think.
Things I Felt 'Meh' About:
1) The naming system. I understand why each of the kids were named after letters, but I pretty much hated it. I kept confusing who was who and which friends were known for which things. The result of this was a lack of differentiation and visualization of characters. When a bunch of the boys were talking to each other, it appeared in my mind as a ring of mostly-clones with blurry faces.
Suggestion: Name the kids basic names each starting with a different letter. For example, Adam, Billy, Chris, Dan, ect.
Things I Felt Bad About:
1a) This book is categorized as a thriller. But it wasn't very thrilling. I was waiting for something interesting to happen for so long that when they did, I wasn't surprised or impressed. All I could think was "That's it?" and hope that the next thing would be more exciting. It never was.
Specifically, there was so much discussion about the Corner. What is it? Where is it? What happens there? Why do people go there? What is that "sound" it emits?
I kept trying to imagine what it was going to be. I kept thinking, "Okay, that's going to be the thrilling twist I'm waiting for." And when we find out, almost at the very end of the book, it wasn't exciting. Like yeah, it was terrible, but not surprising. And after all the characters figured out by that point, I can't believe they were sincerely thrown off.
2) M.O.M. and D.A.D. had this whole point to their experiment. Something along the lines of attraction distracts people from reaching their full potential.
I expected the book to prove they were wrong (because they're crazy and controlling, right?) but instead it kind of proved them right?
They become so obsessed with each other that K uses those feelings to fight back. (J just falls apart and lets himself be dragged to the Corner.) So what's the lesson here? That thirteen-year-old (girls) experiencing the opposite sex doesn't distract them; it motivates them to fight their oppressive parents? That doesn't seem like a lesson I'm supposed to learn.
So... yeah. I was underwhelmed. And I'm not sure what I'm supposed to have taken away from this book. But I didn't hate it; I liked some of it. Although, I've said before: If all I can say is that I didn't hate it, then it probably wasn't that great anyway.
"And the only thing worse than receiving your information from one source is believing it entirely."
If you're to take the quote above to heart (which I believe is a pretty good idea), then you won't take everything I say and accept it. You might read some more reviews or even read it yourself to determine your feelings, but I'm just here to share mine.
And ultimately my feelings are a bland sort of disappointment.
Things I Felt Good About:
1) The writing.
2) I enjoyed the exploration of morality by Warren Bratt. I like books that make me think.
Things I Felt 'Meh' About:
1) The naming system. I understand why each of the kids were named after letters, but I pretty much hated it. I kept confusing who was who and which friends were known for which things. The result of this was a lack of differentiation and visualization of characters. When a bunch of the boys were talking to each other, it appeared in my mind as a ring of mostly-clones with blurry faces.
Suggestion: Name the kids basic names each starting with a different letter. For example, Adam, Billy, Chris, Dan, ect.
Things I Felt Bad About:
1a) This book is categorized as a thriller. But it wasn't very thrilling. I was waiting for something interesting to happen for so long that when they did, I wasn't surprised or impressed. All I could think was "That's it?" and hope that the next thing would be more exciting. It never was.
Specifically, there was so much discussion about the Corner. What is it? Where is it? What happens there? Why do people go there? What is that "sound" it emits?
I kept trying to imagine what it was going to be. I kept thinking, "Okay, that's going to be the thrilling twist I'm waiting for." And when we find out, almost at the very end of the book, it wasn't exciting. Like yeah, it was terrible, but not surprising. And after all the characters figured out by that point, I can't believe they were sincerely thrown off.
2) M.O.M. and D.A.D. had this whole point to their experiment. Something along the lines of attraction distracts people from reaching their full potential.
I expected the book to prove they were wrong (because they're crazy and controlling, right?) but instead it kind of proved them right?
Spoiler
After J and K meet, all they can think about is each other. Not like, "wow they kept this from us" but "oooh I have so many new feelings."Then J was being dragged, naked, yelling, from the Check-Up room, dragged down the hall, as doors opened, as his brothers looked, as visions of K weaved about his body and mind, unable to protect him. He and K were still side by side, in his bed, discussing their stolen lives. As he passed F's confused face, J thought of K's lips upon his own, her body in his hands, and how smart she had been for figuring it all out first.
They become so obsessed with each other that K uses those feelings to fight back. (J just falls apart and lets himself be dragged to the Corner.) So what's the lesson here? That thirteen-year-old (girls) experiencing the opposite sex doesn't distract them; it motivates them to fight their oppressive parents?
So... yeah. I was underwhelmed. And I'm not sure what I'm supposed to have taken away from this book. But I didn't hate it; I liked some of it. Although, I've said before: If all I can say is that I didn't hate it, then it probably wasn't that great anyway.
sandygx260's review against another edition
2.0
After reading the awful Unbury Carol then this overlong drivel, I wonder if Malerman is releasing his previous unpublished works as he hastens to write Bird Box 2. He might be a one trick pony.
lipigloss13's review against another edition
2.0
The concept of this book was intriguing but the execution was not. It dragged on all the way to the end, and then the ending felt extremely rushed. The writing just wasn't captivating and left me confused honestly. I really enjoyed bird box so I was disappointing overall with this novel. However, I believe the game of boats, and the subtle addition of details to the game throughout the novel was great. You start by learning a part of this game, and see what it really is, and it serves as a great symbol for the whole book. Secondly, I thought the ending was well done. It was savage, but fitting when thinking about the situation of the children. I appreciate that Malerman didn't try to tie it up with a ribbon and made all of the children suddenly well-actualized.
booklovinalicia's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved the premise of this book. It was interesting, to say the least. This will be a very brief review, as there is not a lot I can say about this without spoiling it. I loved the way the children were named by simple alphabet letters, showing how the adults/scientists truly stayed detached from their experimental subjects. This was a truly one of a kind type of story.
The ending was terrific! Bravo!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for allowing me an e-ARC to read and give my honest review.
To read my complete review on this and other books please visit my blog at www.booklovinalicia.blogspot.com
The ending was terrific! Bravo!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for allowing me an e-ARC to read and give my honest review.
To read my complete review on this and other books please visit my blog at www.booklovinalicia.blogspot.com