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moeeyc's review against another edition
2.0
I don't get all the 4 and 5 star reviews for this one. Another reviewer commented quite well on the obvious use of stereotypes. I thought the premise was cool, but I wouldn't have bothered had the ratings not been so high. I found the narrative style to be overly simplistic, as was the plot. Perhaps the author will develop further with time.
cheriebearie's review against another edition
2.0
The story felt long winded and the dialogue was overly polite paraphrasing. There is no back and forth with the dialogue. One character makes a statement that includes a polite recap as to what has happened, followed by a suggestion or a series of questions. The other character confirms the recap, excusing and forgiving any malice behavior, answers the questions, then summarizes how wonderful it will all be in the end. By the end of the book I just wanted someone to raise their voice, say a curt sentence, cut the other off, something that resembled normal human behavior.
And aside from the inane droning of these single dimension characters, the author spends long passages describing the day to day routine that leads the reader no where. We follow characters from room to room as the make lists or prepare for a trip. There is no purpose for this information. It does not allow you any passage into the characters mental state. It is just casual observances that miss the mark.
This book was highly rated on several different sites. I don't understand why. The concept was there, but the execution was overly juvenile. Perhaps, I just don't get it.
And aside from the inane droning of these single dimension characters, the author spends long passages describing the day to day routine that leads the reader no where. We follow characters from room to room as the make lists or prepare for a trip. There is no purpose for this information. It does not allow you any passage into the characters mental state. It is just casual observances that miss the mark.
This book was highly rated on several different sites. I don't understand why. The concept was there, but the execution was overly juvenile. Perhaps, I just don't get it.
karleekatiemilloy's review against another edition
2.0
I really did not enjoy this book. It seemed that the people in this book were so engrossed with their own issues and were all looking for easy solutions to their weak character. I was glad when the book ended- the ending was as weak as the characters.
ogranny's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into the narration style. It was like seeing the story from a distance, which is a nice device for an introduction to a book, but it is difficult to empathize with characters who continue to be one dimensional throughout the entire book.
jaemac's review against another edition
2.0
with so many good reviews I was surprised to find myself non plussed. I thought the story just want on and on and was too shallow for me.
travvyt's review against another edition
2.0
The plot of the book was very good but the dialog kept taking me out of the story... The characters would go on these long monologues where they over-explained and over-shared. It detracted from what could've been a much better read.
wildcatvet2000's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting premise. Suspenseful, however it fizzled out at the end.
mjanach's review against another edition
1.0
I thought at first that this will be very interesting story....but I found it horribly written, repetitive and with lots of unnecessary descriptions. I skipped lots of pages to find nothing remotely interesting is happening after all, so I finally gave up. Life is too short to waste on such "books".
celeryradishpun's review
1.0
(Read for Words & Pitchers) No. I don't understand why this book has so many good reviews--it was the most painful read I've put myself through in years. On the surface, it's an interesting idea: Man invents drugs he thinks will cure humanity of its greed, its violence, etc. And he's administering them to unknowing hotel guests . . .
The characters are flat (Maria is the most beautiful woman in the world and she's married to Jeffrey, the most brilliant man in the world! Gasp!) and aggravating beyond belief. I think every sentence within the book is repeated at least three other times throughout. The dialogue is either like:
a. A series of long, one-sided texts
b. Like Harman wrote it in another language and then put it through Google translate
I wish I could say it was comedically bad, but it mostly just pissed me off. Some of the more notable idiotic moments (in case I feel bad for being so harsh when reading this review at a later date):
"Maria, I was called 'Crazy Boy' when I was growing up." (that must have been SO traumatic)
"Wet wool" (one page later) "wet wool" (one sentence later) "wet wool".
"He was certain Maria wouldn't know how to release the safety on the gun before he grabbed it away from her. Jeffrey had forgotten that he had previously released the safety on the gun." (!!!)
Just, please don't.
The characters are flat (Maria is the most beautiful woman in the world and she's married to Jeffrey, the most brilliant man in the world! Gasp!) and aggravating beyond belief. I think every sentence within the book is repeated at least three other times throughout. The dialogue is either like:
a. A series of long, one-sided texts
b. Like Harman wrote it in another language and then put it through Google translate
I wish I could say it was comedically bad, but it mostly just pissed me off. Some of the more notable idiotic moments (in case I feel bad for being so harsh when reading this review at a later date):
"Maria, I was called 'Crazy Boy' when I was growing up." (that must have been SO traumatic)
"Wet wool" (one page later) "wet wool" (one sentence later) "wet wool".
"He was certain Maria wouldn't know how to release the safety on the gun before he grabbed it away from her. Jeffrey had forgotten that he had previously released the safety on the gun." (!!!)
Just, please don't.