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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
I’m a simple woman - I see the word Bowie in the synopsis, I read the entire book.
This book. How do I describe this book?
Confusing. I found myself wandering around pages and constantly re-reading to try and understand what was going on. Now, I'm not saying that it's bad for a book to be a challenging read, but this was almost ridiculously bewildering. The thing with his back is never fully explained by Noah, so that whole plot point just made me more confused about him as a character.
The excerpts from Noah's favorite author felt unnecessary to me. Because both the novel and those excerpts were actually written by the same author, the writing styles were very similar and they didn't stand out when they should have.
Also, the fact *spoiler* that it's all a hallucination and nothing that happened for like 75% of the book was real was, I'm sorry, so dumb. The literal embodiment of the 'it was all a dream' trope. Because of this, none of the characters ever really canonically developed and they all sort of felt flat to me (well except his little sister, she was a gem and the main reason I kept reading). I couldn't understand anyone's motivations and much of the conversation dragged on with no real purpose. All the long drawn-out conversations between Noah and his two friends about like peach gummies and the meaning of the universe?? Those conversations do happen between real teenagers, but they have a more significant lead-up, and the writer has to earn them, not just throw them in every 3 pages.
So yeah, this book really disappointed me. The concept is interesting but it wasn't used particularly well in my opinion.
Confusing. I found myself wandering around pages and constantly re-reading to try and understand what was going on. Now, I'm not saying that it's bad for a book to be a challenging read, but this was almost ridiculously bewildering. The thing with his back is never fully explained by Noah, so that whole plot point just made me more confused about him as a character.
The excerpts from Noah's favorite author felt unnecessary to me. Because both the novel and those excerpts were actually written by the same author, the writing styles were very similar and they didn't stand out when they should have.
Also, the fact *spoiler* that it's all a hallucination and nothing that happened for like 75% of the book was real was, I'm sorry, so dumb. The literal embodiment of the 'it was all a dream' trope. Because of this, none of the characters ever really canonically developed and they all sort of felt flat to me (well except his little sister, she was a gem and the main reason I kept reading). I couldn't understand anyone's motivations and much of the conversation dragged on with no real purpose. All the long drawn-out conversations between Noah and his two friends about like peach gummies and the meaning of the universe?? Those conversations do happen between real teenagers, but they have a more significant lead-up, and the writer has to earn them, not just throw them in every 3 pages.
So yeah, this book really disappointed me. The concept is interesting but it wasn't used particularly well in my opinion.
Am I missing something here? All of the reviews for this book seem so positive, but I spent the majority of the novel confused about the point of it. I kept asking myself "What am I reading...?" Maybe I don't like realistic fiction or coming-of-age stories (or Bowie??) enough to appreciate this one.
Noah has been lying to everyone. He's been drawing out a back injury, so he doesn't have to go back to the swim team, something he's very good at, but not into anymore. But one night, after a party, the local homeschooled kid brings him to his house and hypnotizes him. Afterwards, he starts noticing small differences. The neighbor had a Collie when Noah went into the house, but now it's a Labrador. And that scar on his mom's cheek? Wasn't there before. So, Noah begins to try to piece together what exactly is going on.
I enjoyed parts of this. I liked the actual characters, even though they bore no resemblance to actual teens. Though the frequent Gilmore Girls references had me thinking that was probably a choice. But the actual plot, I didn't care for. The endless dives into Noah's pretentious mind? Not so much. And the surprise...the plot device near the end? It's rarely done well enough that I enjoy it. And I didn't enjoy it here. Though this did prompt me to listen to Bowie while I read it, so it's not all bad.
I enjoyed parts of this. I liked the actual characters, even though they bore no resemblance to actual teens. Though the frequent Gilmore Girls references had me thinking that was probably a choice. But the actual plot, I didn't care for. The endless dives into Noah's pretentious mind? Not so much. And the surprise...the plot device near the end? It's rarely done well enough that I enjoy it. And I didn't enjoy it here. Though this did prompt me to listen to Bowie while I read it, so it's not all bad.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes