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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Doppelgangers? Seriously? No, I mean, SERIOUSLY?
I'm actually quite sad because I had high expectations for this one, I guess it just wasn't for me.
I'm actually quite sad because I had high expectations for this one, I guess it just wasn't for me.
I usually don't like horror, but this one is so good. Really reads like a novel version of "Alien" the movie.
A wonderful novel! Philosophical, exciting, fun and a tribute to this genre. Lots of references with a nice afterword with goodie suggestions (at least in the swedish edition)
I don't know how to review this book. It blew my freakin' mind.
*1.5 stars*
Wow so I was really disappointed in this. Basically all I got out of it was an attempt at a cheap thrill / "crazy plot twist" at the end, but I wasn't even impressed by that. Usually when I don't like a book I try and give it the whole "oh maybe it's just me" deal, but I just don't think this was a well crafted novel.
Plot- Essentially, nothing happens in this book until the last 50ish pages. Obviously I'm exaggerating, but what I really mean is nothing of importance happens. I feel like all the author cared about was the end, so he wrote that, then realized, oh yeah I have to actually get them to the moon somehow, I guess I'll write that, and throw in a little bit of "foreshadowing." If you really want to know what the twist ending is, you could honestly just pick up the book and read only the last 100 pages, and you probably wouldn't even be confused, because the pages before didn't set up anything important except for the reason the kids are up there, and the names of the characters- both of which are in the synopsis so you could just read that and be covered. As a result of this, I was so incredibly bored throughout this entire book, even the end. I'll admit, I only kept reading because I wanted to know what this "crazy ending" everyone talks about was, and I even thought that was lame. Yeah, yeah the ending was sort of creepy, but it wasn't nearly as scary or mind-blowing as I was expecting, and I predicted it long before it actually happened. I can see that the idea of the twist was original (which is basically the only reason I'm giving it an extra half star), but I don't think it was executed well at all, and I really was not impressed.
Writing- I don't know if the author is a bad writer, or if the translation was just bad, but this writing really just wasn't good. The dialogue didn't sound natural, the descriptions lacked "oomph," and the writing just felt very bland and juvenile.
Characters- Wow, look at that, the characters were terribly underdeveloped and not written well, just like the rest of this book! Sorry, too much? I just didn't find myself enjoying any aspect of this book. The characters were so incredibly flat, and most of the time I couldn't tell the two girl main characters apart. They had no development what so ever, and I feel like they were just placeholders, and it didn't matter who the characters of the story were, as long as they were affected by "the twist." I know I'm being really harsh but these were seriously some of the worst characters I've read about in a long time. The writer did attempt to give them some background as to why they wanted to go to the moon, but it didn't feel real, and it wasn't written into the story well either, it was just handed to us like, "here's some character information I'm obligated to give to you!"
Overall- I don't think there was one thing I enjoyed about this book, honestly. Okay, I think the only thing I liked was one particular scene, just because it was the first hint of creepiness in the book and it gave me hope, but I truly think that's the only thing. I thought this was a very poorly done "horror" novel that was so dependent on its twist at the end that everything else in the novel was just put on the sidelines, including what was happening in the plot up to the twist. Even with that being said, this still could have been a 2 star book if the twist and ending was done well, but it wasn't, so I can't afford it any more stars than the one I am giving it.
Recommend?- Not at all.
Wow so I was really disappointed in this. Basically all I got out of it was an attempt at a cheap thrill / "crazy plot twist" at the end, but I wasn't even impressed by that. Usually when I don't like a book I try and give it the whole "oh maybe it's just me" deal, but I just don't think this was a well crafted novel.
Plot- Essentially, nothing happens in this book until the last 50ish pages. Obviously I'm exaggerating, but what I really mean is nothing of importance happens. I feel like all the author cared about was the end, so he wrote that, then realized, oh yeah I have to actually get them to the moon somehow, I guess I'll write that, and throw in a little bit of "foreshadowing." If you really want to know what the twist ending is, you could honestly just pick up the book and read only the last 100 pages, and you probably wouldn't even be confused, because the pages before didn't set up anything important except for the reason the kids are up there, and the names of the characters- both of which are in the synopsis so you could just read that and be covered. As a result of this, I was so incredibly bored throughout this entire book, even the end. I'll admit, I only kept reading because I wanted to know what this "crazy ending" everyone talks about was, and I even thought that was lame. Yeah, yeah the ending was sort of creepy, but it wasn't nearly as scary or mind-blowing as I was expecting, and I predicted it long before it actually happened. I can see that the idea of the twist was original (which is basically the only reason I'm giving it an extra half star), but I don't think it was executed well at all, and I really was not impressed.
Writing- I don't know if the author is a bad writer, or if the translation was just bad, but this writing really just wasn't good. The dialogue didn't sound natural, the descriptions lacked "oomph," and the writing just felt very bland and juvenile.
Characters- Wow, look at that, the characters were terribly underdeveloped and not written well, just like the rest of this book! Sorry, too much? I just didn't find myself enjoying any aspect of this book. The characters were so incredibly flat, and most of the time I couldn't tell the two girl main characters apart. They had no development what so ever, and I feel like they were just placeholders, and it didn't matter who the characters of the story were, as long as they were affected by "the twist." I know I'm being really harsh but these were seriously some of the worst characters I've read about in a long time. The writer did attempt to give them some background as to why they wanted to go to the moon, but it didn't feel real, and it wasn't written into the story well either, it was just handed to us like, "here's some character information I'm obligated to give to you!"
Overall- I don't think there was one thing I enjoyed about this book, honestly. Okay, I think the only thing I liked was one particular scene, just because it was the first hint of creepiness in the book and it gave me hope, but I truly think that's the only thing. I thought this was a very poorly done "horror" novel that was so dependent on its twist at the end that everything else in the novel was just put on the sidelines, including what was happening in the plot up to the twist. Even with that being said, this still could have been a 2 star book if the twist and ending was done well, but it wasn't, so I can't afford it any more stars than the one I am giving it.
Recommend?- Not at all.
So, I heard a lot about 172 Hours on the Moon before it came out. And I was intrigued. Teenagers on the moon? Secret government base? Sign me up.
At the end of the day, 172 Hours has pros and cons (as all books do) and I almost liked it in theory better than in practice. This book had one important thing going for it: I couldn't put it down. I read it on the train, on the bus, at work, at home, and I blazed through it, because I very badly wanted to know the crazy plot twist at the end.
As many people have said, 172 Hours is more of a horror story than straight up science fiction. The problem is that after a lot of buildup, and some interesting plot devices, the ending seemed sort of hurried. After they get to the moon, everything happens very quickly. I feel that it would have been better, even possibly scarier, if the second half had been drawn out a bit more, with some more suspense.
Another issue is that the characters didn't seem very fleshed out to me. While I enjoyed them, and liked what glimpses I got into personalities, I wanted to get to know them better. It would have been fascinating to hear about the kids' time in training, and their interactions with the adult astronauts, etc.
The biggest problem is that when I finished the book I was confused. I like it when a story ties up loose ends, and I like having questions answered. But at the ending, there was a part which didn't seem right, and I kept re-reading to see if maybe I missed something. Unfortunately, I hadn't, which bothered me quite a bit.
The last thing I will say is that I also appreciate the fact that it is a foreign book translated. Americans don't generally get the opportunities to read books from elsewhere in the world (especially if they have to be translated into English) and so I really liked that aspect of it as well, even if it didn't have that much bearing on the plot.
Like I said, I couldn't put this book down. The plot was fun and quick and not similar to other science fiction type books I've read in the past. As a whole though, I wouldn't say that I liked this book, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to most people, but if you like scary, you will most likely enjoy the experience.
At the end of the day, 172 Hours has pros and cons (as all books do) and I almost liked it in theory better than in practice. This book had one important thing going for it: I couldn't put it down. I read it on the train, on the bus, at work, at home, and I blazed through it, because I very badly wanted to know the crazy plot twist at the end.
As many people have said, 172 Hours is more of a horror story than straight up science fiction. The problem is that after a lot of buildup, and some interesting plot devices, the ending seemed sort of hurried. After they get to the moon, everything happens very quickly. I feel that it would have been better, even possibly scarier, if the second half had been drawn out a bit more, with some more suspense.
Another issue is that the characters didn't seem very fleshed out to me. While I enjoyed them, and liked what glimpses I got into personalities, I wanted to get to know them better. It would have been fascinating to hear about the kids' time in training, and their interactions with the adult astronauts, etc.
The biggest problem is that when I finished the book I was confused. I like it when a story ties up loose ends, and I like having questions answered. But at the ending, there was a part which didn't seem right, and I kept re-reading to see if maybe I missed something. Unfortunately, I hadn't, which bothered me quite a bit.
The last thing I will say is that I also appreciate the fact that it is a foreign book translated. Americans don't generally get the opportunities to read books from elsewhere in the world (especially if they have to be translated into English) and so I really liked that aspect of it as well, even if it didn't have that much bearing on the plot.
Like I said, I couldn't put this book down. The plot was fun and quick and not similar to other science fiction type books I've read in the past. As a whole though, I wouldn't say that I liked this book, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to most people, but if you like scary, you will most likely enjoy the experience.
Goodness me, I was curious about this book i think since 2014 and god it's so fucking bored. Nothing makes sense, nothing!
Young people not interesed in space, the NASA without funds, the NASA trying to send unprepared teenagers to the space after what happened with the Challenger, even worse those teenagers being foreings (whose arent seem of their supposed nationality) and risking a diplomatic incident? and i can go and on.
The one star is for the end, not cause is good, but if i say why will be spoiler.
Don't lose your money and time, read anything else.
Young people not interesed in space, the NASA without funds, the NASA trying to send unprepared teenagers to the space after what happened with the Challenger, even worse those teenagers being foreings (whose arent seem of their supposed nationality) and risking a diplomatic incident? and i can go and on.
The one star is for the end, not cause is good, but if i say why will be spoiler.
Don't lose your money and time, read anything else.
Todo es súper metido a la fuerza, quede tipo tf, pero no de la buena manera, no me gustó