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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First book I haven't been able to put down in a long time! i loved every page of this big read. I didn't think the author could match the awesomeness of The Girl With All the Gifts, but I may have liked this a wee bit more? Either way, M.C. Carey has earned a lifelong reader in me.
This was an odd book. It's labelled as horror and I guess it kind of is? More than anything it reminds me of [b:Tokyo by Hayder, Mo (2007) Mass Market Paperback|141788004|Tokyo by Hayder, Mo (2007) Mass Market Paperback|Mo Hayder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1697030277l/141788004._SY75_.jpg|356797]. The narrative is strong and the supernatural elements are surreal and interesting, I was engaged with the book throughout, it got weirder towards the end.
It was hard towards the end to keep reading because the protagonist makes a lot of understandable but bad decisions and it's that dissonance that really shakes me off as a reader. Then again, I have met people like the protagonist who are emotionally like a bike held together by cellotape. It's just a bit uncomfortable and I'm a bit on the fence about how one of the supernatural elements worked. That said, I was entertained throughout and these are nitpicks.
It was hard towards the end to keep reading because the protagonist makes a lot of understandable but bad decisions and it's that dissonance that really shakes me off as a reader. Then again, I have met people like the protagonist who are emotionally like a bike held together by cellotape. It's just a bit uncomfortable and I'm a bit on the fence about how one of the supernatural elements worked. That said, I was entertained throughout and these are nitpicks.
Despite the good things I've heard, it got kind of hard to pick this book up after around 30% of the way through. The plot moved too slowly for me and it just was not what I was expecting.
This book focused a lot more on the corrupt prison environment and the interactions (at least as far as I got) than the murder-turned-supernatural plotline advertised as the main focus by the back cover and online synopses. Just not for me.
This book focused a lot more on the corrupt prison environment and the interactions (at least as far as I got) than the murder-turned-supernatural plotline advertised as the main focus by the back cover and online synopses. Just not for me.
I enjoyed this; even thought it was bleak at times and overall, quite heartbreaking, it was hopeful. I quite liked the character of Jess. It had an excellent ending.
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
The brutality and originality of the plot in 'The Girl with all the Gifts' encouraged me to keep an eye out for M. R. Carey's other works. 'Fellside' is one such example. Straight off the bat I can say that I did not enjoy this novel half as much as its predecessor. It was, in my opinion, difficult to sympathise with any of the characters (and not for lack of trying) because they felt two-dimensional and 'under-baked'. The abrupt switching of perspectives did not help. The transition between the Other Place and Fellside was handled clumsily and left me reeling every time scenes jumped between the two. Furthermore, the Other Place was not explored as fully as it could have been. It was obviously a supernatural abyss somewhere in limbo, but was it supposed to represent the afterlife, or Heaven, or a bizarre dream-world purgatory? The plot, too, lacked the slap-kick-gasp nature of 'The Girl with all the Gifts' and I found myself trawling through sections of the book with nothing but a dogged determination to reach the end driving me forward. If I could sum up this book, I would call it an Orange-is-the-New-Black parody that trips over its own feet into a dizzying, undefined (but beautifully rendered) realm. To be fair, however, there are positives to this novel also. The writing was superb. Setting and pace (in most places) were engaging. Most importantly, Carey has a talent for summing up metaphysical concepts in straightforward prose. This, primarily, is the reason I gave 'Fellside' two stars. It is not my kind of read, but I think it could be someone else's.
This took me by surprise - it was not what I expected it to be! Basically, it's a supernatural thriller set inside a women's prison.
I did find that it peaked a little too early for me and the last few chapters felt kind of "meh" but on the run up to it I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I did find that it peaked a little too early for me and the last few chapters felt kind of "meh" but on the run up to it I thoroughly enjoyed it.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My goodness, what a book. I was drawn in right away, then it had a few slow parts where I felt like it was overexplained a bit and then it exploded. Just went places I never expected, none of them. Thrilling, introspective, a little shocking but also quite redemptive. Just fabulous. The cover is right - I didn't want to put it down.
Also be aware - the narrator for the audiobook is the same voice as Angelina Ballerina. It's a little weird sometimes to hear. 😄
Also be aware - the narrator for the audiobook is the same voice as Angelina Ballerina. It's a little weird sometimes to hear. 😄