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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
i recently finished the HBO show adaptation of this book and loved it, so i really wanted to love the book too. unfortunately, i thought the writing was weak and the characters weren’t compelling. many of their motivations and struggles are directly told to the reader in a way that flattens the characterization. the book really could’ve benefited from the show’s ethos and “let the mystery be.”
i also wasn’t convinced by the female characters, perhaps because every single male POV in the book hypersexualizes teen girls.
i also wasn’t convinced by the female characters, perhaps because every single male POV in the book hypersexualizes teen girls.
Life-changing events aren't always as life-changing as we expect
a book club selection that was just not for me. I kept reading only in hopes of the book going somewhere, but, even though there was so much promise, it went nowhere... interesting concept that just fell flat. I wanted to explore a few aspects that were on the outskirts but instead the book gave me not enough of any plot line that intrigued me.
fyi: I added a star because it brought out a really great book club discussion!
fyi: I added a star because it brought out a really great book club discussion!
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mostly meh. I keep thinking that I love literary fiction with genre pretensions (or is it the other way around?), and I keep getting disappointed.
Competent enough, but nothing special. Trying to tell too many stories but managing none of them well. Not angry-making, but a big old bucket of blah.
Competent enough, but nothing special. Trying to tell too many stories but managing none of them well. Not angry-making, but a big old bucket of blah.
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
The tv show was infinitely better. The book did not set the tone for the psychological impact the disappearances could have on society. It has some great fundamental ideas, but stops flat, failing to evolve them both intellectually and psychologically. This was probably partially due to the authors horniness getting in the way (and often for underage girls).
This is a book for a capital B Bro who likes to believe himself interesting. Watch the tv show instead if you’re interested in a deeper psycho/spiritual exploration of what society could look like after such an event.
This is a book for a capital B Bro who likes to believe himself interesting. Watch the tv show instead if you’re interested in a deeper psycho/spiritual exploration of what society could look like after such an event.
Much better than I expected (I read The Abstinence Teacher for my book group and thought it was just okay.) This was compelling and I thought the characters felt fleshed out - no small task, considering how many there were. I almost didn't want this novel to end.