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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
One of those rare times where the visual medium really is better than the book. Feels like an excellent premise wasted on something so flat, but I’m grateful that it brought us a great TV show.
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Couldn't get into it at all. Ended up abandoning it about 100 pages from the end 'cause I ended up dreading listening to it. I hate that too, 'cause I normally love Tom Perrotta.
I know this book has mixed reviews, especially the ending, but I enjoyed it. Not the best book I've read this year, but better than most.
This is a thoughtful and rather quiet book that is much more interested in addressing the stories of those left behind the rapture-like event than the story of what actually happened to those who left (so, yeah, the title).
The main characters come mostly from the same family, with the exception of Nora, whose story is more tragic than most. They are all trying to cope with the first loss--the uncontrollable loss. But as the story progresses, the losses the characters face are caused by choice, and it begs the question, what's worse: to be left by someone who didn't control their leaving or by someone who chose to walk away?
The narrator, Dennis Boutsikaris, does a great job reading this. He doesn't act in any way and he barely changes his voice as he moves from male to female, teenaged girl to middle-aged father.
And a final note on the likeness of the book to the new HBO mini-series (the second episode airs tonight [Jul. 6, 2014]): the show seems to have sucked out all of the good black humor and quotidian mourning and replaced it with super serious actors doing super serious things, like rioting, shooting packs of dogs, and storming into the GR compound to retrieve a spouse. None of this takes place in the book, and thank goodness for that.
The main characters come mostly from the same family, with the exception of Nora, whose story is more tragic than most. They are all trying to cope with the first loss--the uncontrollable loss. But as the story progresses, the losses the characters face are caused by choice, and it begs the question, what's worse: to be left by someone who didn't control their leaving or by someone who chose to walk away?
The narrator, Dennis Boutsikaris, does a great job reading this. He doesn't act in any way and he barely changes his voice as he moves from male to female, teenaged girl to middle-aged father.
And a final note on the likeness of the book to the new HBO mini-series (the second episode airs tonight [Jul. 6, 2014]): the show seems to have sucked out all of the good black humor and quotidian mourning and replaced it with super serious actors doing super serious things, like rioting, shooting packs of dogs, and storming into the GR compound to retrieve a spouse. None of this takes place in the book, and thank goodness for that.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I can see how the popularity of this book is partially based on intentional false premise - that it's "the best Twilight Zone episode you never saw". So if you expect the sense of wonder or mystery that typically followed those series then better get ready for huge disappointment - it never comes (shame on you, Mr. King).
The plot turns out to be mainly simple description of neighborhood life after Departure. But it's written really well so if you change your mind setting toward this book asap then you have chance to be satisfied.
But I can totally understand low ranking of this book for the reasons mentioned.
The plot turns out to be mainly simple description of neighborhood life after Departure. But it's written really well so if you change your mind setting toward this book asap then you have chance to be satisfied.
But I can totally understand low ranking of this book for the reasons mentioned.
This book was great in theory, but poorly executed. It started out building a lot of back story, which I thought would establish an interesting narrative, but I was wrong. Instead, I ended up asking myself, "Is something going to happen?" And no. Nothing happens. Three hundred and fifty-five pages of nothingness.
Then, very much like the the people that disappeared in the novel, the ending vanished; "the Rapture" swooped in and took the end of what could have been a really good story.
Had I known you could write a novel that was essentially "a day in the life of Average Joe", I would chronicle my life and publish the hell out of it just to say I could.
Then, very much like the the people that disappeared in the novel, the ending vanished; "the Rapture" swooped in and took the end of what could have been a really good story.
Had I known you could write a novel that was essentially "a day in the life of Average Joe", I would chronicle my life and publish the hell out of it just to say I could.
I heard this was being made into a TV show starring Justin Theroux, who I like. The concept sounded good, and I enjoyed the movie Little Children and had always wanted to read that book.
Really, I should have read Little Children.
This book was okay, basically after the rapture, a lot of cults form and people feel more lost and without purpose than normal. Plus there's a lot of grief for those who are gone.
That's kind of it. I hoped more would happen, it didn't. I hoped I'd care about the characters more but didn't really. I came to like the watcher who worked with Meg best but I can't even remember her name right now, and I finished the book less than an hour ago. That's not a good sign.
It was a lite distraction, I feel I'll like the show more.
Really, I should have read Little Children.
This book was okay, basically after the rapture, a lot of cults form and people feel more lost and without purpose than normal. Plus there's a lot of grief for those who are gone.
That's kind of it. I hoped more would happen, it didn't. I hoped I'd care about the characters more but didn't really. I came to like the watcher who worked with Meg best but I can't even remember her name right now, and I finished the book less than an hour ago. That's not a good sign.
It was a lite distraction, I feel I'll like the show more.