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pam2375's review against another edition
3.0
This was a little different from what I usually go after. It is the story of the Mayan Calendar prediction of the end of times on 12.21.2012. The story begins around the 11th of December, 2012 in Los Angeles, California and we end up in the jungles of Guatamala. I found myself while reading this story asking "Could this really happen?" "Does that REALLY make sense?" etc...
The book seemed to have been researched well, although, since I know absolutely nothing about the Mayan culture or their calendar, I have no idea. There is also a lot of medical stuff that seems to be accurate, but again, I did not go to medical school, so I'm not sure. It read well.
If you have any interest in or thought that the world could come to an end this year than you may want to read this book. This book did make me think about 12-21-2012 in a different way and the possibility...
Thanks to Net Galley and Random House, Inc for this advanced readers copy.
The book seemed to have been researched well, although, since I know absolutely nothing about the Mayan culture or their calendar, I have no idea. There is also a lot of medical stuff that seems to be accurate, but again, I did not go to medical school, so I'm not sure. It read well.
If you have any interest in or thought that the world could come to an end this year than you may want to read this book. This book did make me think about 12-21-2012 in a different way and the possibility...
Thanks to Net Galley and Random House, Inc for this advanced readers copy.
lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
Reading this in the middle of a pandemic gave this book a whole different slant.
Definitely there are many interesting ideas in this story - pandemic, prion disease, end of the world predictions, archeology and ancient languages.
Although there seemed to be a lot of research and background knowledge in to the sciences in this book at certain times the plots seemed to overtake some of the feasability of some of the events/actions. would it really be possible using a microscope and flash light to properly make samples of and correctly identify element plants from teeth scrapings?
Overall I enjoyed this book and the questions and thoughts even if at times it left me in place of disbelief.
Definitely there are many interesting ideas in this story - pandemic, prion disease, end of the world predictions, archeology and ancient languages.
Although there seemed to be a lot of research and background knowledge in to the sciences in this book at certain times the plots seemed to overtake some of the feasability of some of the events/actions. would it really be possible using a microscope and flash light to properly make samples of and correctly identify element plants from teeth scrapings?
Overall I enjoyed this book and the questions and thoughts even if at times it left me in place of disbelief.
booklovinalicia's review against another edition
5.0
A very engaging mystery. Beautifully written with great detail on Mayan history and medical knowledge. It was entertaining through the very end.
carriethis's review against another edition
3.0
A prime example of how listening to a novel as an audiobook can force me to actually finish. This was a formulaic medico-apocalypto-thrillo, as is probably obvious. I will say that I've quit on worse books like this, and I'm surprised I kept listening to this one despite the most bland narrator ever. So that's saying something. I don't think I ever expected that a novel could make me feel like it's the end of the world as we know it, and I...am bored.
audreychamaine's review against another edition
3.0
With the countdown to 12/21/12 in full effect, it seems like perfect timing for 12.21. I think most people know that nothing is going to happen when we reach the (questionable) end of the Mayan long count calendar, but there's still an inkling in the backs of our minds of "what if!?", kind of like when Y2K happened. 12.21 takes that uneasiness about the impending date of doom and creates a potential pandemic scenario that involves both airborne madcow related prions and a mysterious Mayan codex that spells out the downfall of a kingdom. This book combines biblio- and medical-thrillers into one large end-times threat.
12.21 races along, moving the plot forward at a quick pace. While this can be good, I felt at times like the tempo of the story served to cover up holes in the plot. This was one of those books that I think could have stood to have taken its time a little more, to make more connections between ideas and plot points, and to meander a little longer with characters in order to flesh them out. There were a few times when I had to think about whether I'd somehow skipped some pages, because the flow of the story just didn't feel like it was entirely there. Along the same lines, the ending felt rushed and abrupt, and I'd have liked to have had more of an explanation for the resolution.
What I did enjoy about 12.21 was the medical description. I'm a sucker for a good disease that makes people go crazy, so a prion disease with no cure that makes people into psychotic insomniacs was a lot of fun to read about. My final verdict: there's enough fun medical and apocalyptic thriller in this novel to keep you entertained if you're into that stuff, so it's worth overlooking some of the flaws in writing and storytelling to read it.
12.21 races along, moving the plot forward at a quick pace. While this can be good, I felt at times like the tempo of the story served to cover up holes in the plot. This was one of those books that I think could have stood to have taken its time a little more, to make more connections between ideas and plot points, and to meander a little longer with characters in order to flesh them out. There were a few times when I had to think about whether I'd somehow skipped some pages, because the flow of the story just didn't feel like it was entirely there. Along the same lines, the ending felt rushed and abrupt, and I'd have liked to have had more of an explanation for the resolution.
What I did enjoy about 12.21 was the medical description. I'm a sucker for a good disease that makes people go crazy, so a prion disease with no cure that makes people into psychotic insomniacs was a lot of fun to read about. My final verdict: there's enough fun medical and apocalyptic thriller in this novel to keep you entertained if you're into that stuff, so it's worth overlooking some of the flaws in writing and storytelling to read it.
jenniepicky's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting take on the end of the Mayan calendar and a disease that may bring about the prophetic end of the world.
Mostly, I became afraid of prions and glad that, unlike in the book, they haven't really found a way to become transmitted through casual contact. They are terrifying.
Mostly, I became afraid of prions and glad that, unlike in the book, they haven't really found a way to become transmitted through casual contact. They are terrifying.
bmg20's review against another edition
5.0
12.21: A Novel was kindly provided to me by Edelweiss for Random House Publishing Group.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
This is actually the first '2012' type story I've ever read and it truly blew me away. Look up the definition of 'page-turner' and you should see a picture of this book. It was thrilling, addicting, and I couldn't put it down. One of those that I was more than willing to sacrifice sleep so I could keep reading. 12.21 tells the story of an infection that once it starts spreading it cannot be stopped and how it could very well be the reason the Maya civilization originally disappeared.
I wouldn't consider myself a 2012 fanatic but I have seen my fair share of Mayan prophecy shows on the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. I've never considered the fact that the world is truly going to end on December 21, 2012, but I think it's a fair assumption that something may very well indeed happen that changes the world we live in. Or it could be like every other normal day, who knows. I guess we'll just have to wait a few short months and find out firsthand. But the storyline in 12.21 of one possible outcome was terrifyingly realistic and incredibly convincing.
I loved how this wasn't just an end of world tale and how it was actually linked to the very reason the Maya civilization disappeared so very long ago. Based on the Authors Note, 'there is no evidence that the Maya suffered from a transmissible prion disease', but regardless this was a riveting concept. Dustin Thomason created an amazing yet lifelike end of days story that is hands down my favorite read of 2012.
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
This is actually the first '2012' type story I've ever read and it truly blew me away. Look up the definition of 'page-turner' and you should see a picture of this book. It was thrilling, addicting, and I couldn't put it down. One of those that I was more than willing to sacrifice sleep so I could keep reading. 12.21 tells the story of an infection that once it starts spreading it cannot be stopped and how it could very well be the reason the Maya civilization originally disappeared.
I wouldn't consider myself a 2012 fanatic but I have seen my fair share of Mayan prophecy shows on the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. I've never considered the fact that the world is truly going to end on December 21, 2012, but I think it's a fair assumption that something may very well indeed happen that changes the world we live in. Or it could be like every other normal day, who knows. I guess we'll just have to wait a few short months and find out firsthand. But the storyline in 12.21 of one possible outcome was terrifyingly realistic and incredibly convincing.
I loved how this wasn't just an end of world tale and how it was actually linked to the very reason the Maya civilization disappeared so very long ago. Based on the Authors Note, 'there is no evidence that the Maya suffered from a transmissible prion disease', but regardless this was a riveting concept. Dustin Thomason created an amazing yet lifelike end of days story that is hands down my favorite read of 2012.
rkerwin's review against another edition
2.0
Pretty disappointing... I was looking forward to some sort of Armageddon theory involving some astronomical event. Instead, it was a poorly written book about mad cow disease.