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3.12 AVERAGE
3.12 AVERAGE
This novel is in a similar vein as Donna Tartt's The Secret History. Black Chalk centers around a group of six students at University who play a game of chance with consequences designed by the group for each player if they don't play well. I had a hard time getting into the book as it was hard to figure out who was narrating the story and the game itself is never really explained. Mostly it felt like reading about a group of college kids doing a lot of drinking while sitting around their dorm rooms and then messing with each others heads as they thought up the consequences for losing players of the game. I never really connected with any of the characters which made it hard to care about the game and its consequences.
4 chapters in and the plot is still being set up. I have no clue what the Game Soc is about, and also do not care. I can’t stand any of these characters and lately I’ve simply read too many books (like Tara French’s ‘Witch Elm’), featuring characters that I simply do not wish to spend time with. Next!
Really 3.5 stars, but I rounded up because it allowed me to enjoy a lovely rainy Saturday afternoon. Reading and drinking tea for hours!
CRAZY!!!!!!
I literally felt like I was going insane along with the narrator. There were definitely moments where I had to double back and re-read and there were more than a few plot holes by the end, but oh man was this fun to fall into. Dark academia, the stupidity of youth, and a teeny tiny bit of evil in everyone. What’s not to love??
I literally felt like I was going insane along with the narrator. There were definitely moments where I had to double back and re-read and there were more than a few plot holes by the end, but oh man was this fun to fall into. Dark academia, the stupidity of youth, and a teeny tiny bit of evil in everyone. What’s not to love??
Ondanks dat het boek naar mijn mening onduidelijk en vaag was, heb ik het toch redelijk vlot uit kunnen lezen. De plottwists tegen het einde van het boek aan maakten het een stuk interessanter en toch de moeite waard.
Great premise, although the ending wasn't quite as good as the rest of the book. Still, I really enjoyed it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
Dark, twisted, compelling - and very nicely written - quite The Secret History meets Lord of the Flies. I'm slightly embarrassed by my appetite for mysteries and thrillers, but this is a good one!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated