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tishywishy's review
4.0
What a very interesting book. I admit to having read this a few weeks ago and I don't recall all the elements but I do remember that it covers a wonderful array of top and issues. It's a thrilling read.
kpfeifle's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maxierosalee's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bwluvs2read's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
jenamatic's review
1.0
Actually DNF’d but I don’t like having unfinished books on my shelves. I could not get past the first couple of chapters. There are several main characters but you don’t sit with any one character long enough to feel connected or like them. The only feelings I had were about Jackson and Lisa and I didn’t like them, but I got the feeling you were supposed to at least like Jackson. It was also confusing on who was speaking a lot of the time. There was a conversation between Jackson and Derek where they were discussing opposing views on a topic and every time I thought I had it figured out who stood on what side, it became muddled again and I realized I didn’t have a clue what was happening.
rtrroy's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ztaylor4's review
4.0
This was a solid story with a strong execution, and excellent as a debut novel. I enjoyed the exploration of what the lesson would be, although I wouldn't have minded a few more characters reflecting upon their own lessons. I also appreciate Cadwell Turnbull's restraint in not giving us every detail of the alien society--an all-too-common flaw in sci-fi and fantasy.
While this was a good story, it wasn't perfect. The writing and style were effective, but a few of the characters felt a little bit flat to me (e.g. Patrice), and as a result I didn't think all of the storylines were carrying their own weight. This problem was relatively minor, and a few of the characters really did get a chance to shine (especially Mera).
All in all, The Lesson was a refreshing story, and I'd recommend it. I'll also look to see what Cadwell Turnbull does next.
While this was a good story, it wasn't perfect. The writing and style were effective, but a few of the characters felt a little bit flat to me (e.g. Patrice), and as a result I didn't think all of the storylines were carrying their own weight. This problem was relatively minor, and a few of the characters really did get a chance to shine (especially Mera).
All in all, The Lesson was a refreshing story, and I'd recommend it. I'll also look to see what Cadwell Turnbull does next.
cptskyheart's review
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
erinflight's review
3.0
The ideas in this book were terrific, but for some reason the narrative just didn't grab me.
I feel like this book sort of dances between being two things:
1. The stories of mundane people and how their lives are shaken and twisted by the arrival of aliens
2. An experimental sci-fi/horror story about aliens who don't think like we do, and the harm they're willing to incidentally cause
I think it might be possible for a book to be both of these things, but I don't think 'The Lesson' manages it. Instead, it feels like attempts at each weaken the other.
The attempts to tell mundane stories are weakened by a need to connect the main characters directly to the 'big events'. So the main characters don't get much time to tell their own stories, and instead feel like they spend most of their time orbiting the main alien character.
On the other hand, despite the characters up-close involvement with the aliens, the speculative elements don't feel very compelling. I think this might simply be a matter of info-dumping. The reader knows next to nothing, and doesn't have a lot to wonder about, and then they pretty much know everything. The narrative doesn't spend a lot of time showing us the horror or inhumanity or mystery of the aliens, outside of one or two (well done) scenes.
I think its possible a longer book could have fit both more easily, but I'm not sure my interest would have held if this was a 500 page novel instead of a 300 page novel.
Overall, there are some good ideas here, and some solid writing, but the whole thing just didn't quite gel for me.
I feel like this book sort of dances between being two things:
1. The stories of mundane people and how their lives are shaken and twisted by the arrival of aliens
2. An experimental sci-fi/horror story about aliens who don't think like we do, and the harm they're willing to incidentally cause
I think it might be possible for a book to be both of these things, but I don't think 'The Lesson' manages it. Instead, it feels like attempts at each weaken the other.
The attempts to tell mundane stories are weakened by a need to connect the main characters directly to the 'big events'. So the main characters don't get much time to tell their own stories, and instead feel like they spend most of their time orbiting the main alien character.
On the other hand, despite the characters up-close involvement with the aliens, the speculative elements don't feel very compelling. I think this might simply be a matter of info-dumping. The reader knows next to nothing, and doesn't have a lot to wonder about, and then they pretty much know everything. The narrative doesn't spend a lot of time showing us the horror or inhumanity or mystery of the aliens, outside of one or two (well done) scenes.
I think its possible a longer book could have fit both more easily, but I'm not sure my interest would have held if this was a 500 page novel instead of a 300 page novel.
Overall, there are some good ideas here, and some solid writing, but the whole thing just didn't quite gel for me.