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ganzfeldstate's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first Scarlett Thomas book I've read, having previously only heard of her because she was my friends MA tutor last year (she was based here in Canterbury at UKC). Embarrassingly, I'd had no idea she was famous at all but everyone I know seems to have read her books! I loved this book so much and read it very quickly - although it's put me totally off dairy products. Definitely my kind of book.
alaskalute's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
essiewakeman's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book right up until the end. The conclusion (without giving anything away) was unsatisfying in my view, and I also didn't really agree with the philosphy of the characters when it became clear what they were all about! But nevertheless it was worth the read.
jenjenjenmolloy's review
1.0
I didn't like this book. I thought there was far too much exposition and the central "mystery" was disappointing. I also found it too much of a stretch that an intelligent, independent minded woman would even consider homeopathy, let alone go on about it for pages at a time.
thestoryowl's review against another edition
3.0
This was such a great story, had wonderful buildup, but I felt a little let down with the ending.
abarkmeier's review against another edition
1.0
This is a pretty terrible book, somewhere between the DaVinci Code and a Babysitter's Club Camp Mohawk Super Special. It's not entirely unreadable and in 571 pages has maybe 4 to 5 good lines. Plot lines never line up together, gratuitous dialogue which is only meant to give exposition, and an unhealthy obsession with the amount of fantastic food the heroine can get are wearying. I only finished the book because I've been trying to finish every book I start this year.
The writing is almost unforgivably bad in parts, as if the author didn't have an editor. I would go look up the line but I don't want to, anyhow, there's a portion that says something like "The landscape changed abruptly. And I say abruptly, because the change was abrupt."
The puzzles are unfascinating, the characters dull, the plot line unconvincing, and the overall movement contrived. Easy pass.
The writing is almost unforgivably bad in parts, as if the author didn't have an editor. I would go look up the line but I don't want to, anyhow, there's a portion that says something like "The landscape changed abruptly. And I say abruptly, because the change was abrupt."
The puzzles are unfascinating, the characters dull, the plot line unconvincing, and the overall movement contrived. Easy pass.
pixe1's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lilyisreadingsomething's review against another edition
4.0
Let's call this smart chick lit. The ending's a little too neat but it's a fun read. I think the puzzles and ciphers elevate it above typical chick lit; if nothing else we've got a female lead with math skills.
soniasoares's review against another edition
Ugh, I tried. Managed to properly read it till half, tried to skim the rest. But even that was just too much. Almost 400 page in, I gave up.
Everything is horrible. The writing, the plot, the characters, what they’re saying, doing, remembering, the concept dumping, the pseudo intellectuality, the crappy homeopathic propaganda. But the worst part is that there's no focus. It's all over the place and nowhere at the same time.
Everything is horrible. The writing, the plot, the characters, what they’re saying, doing, remembering, the concept dumping, the pseudo intellectuality, the crappy homeopathic propaganda. But the worst part is that there's no focus. It's all over the place and nowhere at the same time.
snickies's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. 4 stars for the parts about her childhood, cryptography, and the treasure. 2-3 stars for the heavy-handed preaching. It got to be a bit much fairly early into the story and by the end I was rolling my eyes at NoCo, even if I do generally agree with the evilness of multi-national corporations, big business, etc. It was the other aspects of the story that kept me reading. I also really liked that this is a book with a female protagonist who is complex, flawed, geeky, and likeable.