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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Haven't read anything quite like it. I'd definitely recommend. The blurb makes it sound like the hunger games but it so isn't. Sure, it's teenagers risking their lives, but not much more than any of us would, for a huge prize...
Read it. Please. x
Read it. Please. x
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book has a very interesting plot line. I enjoyed the concept of the game the seniors played throughout the duration of the book. However, I struggled to connect to the characters and really get into the book. This aspect of my reading experience was not very good at all. Iām not to sure if I would recommend this book to many people.
3.5 stars http://lariberi.blogspot.ch/2014/04/panic-lauren-oliver.html
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Gun violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
took me a while to get through because of college work but I really liked this book
Like a good few, I picked this novel up after watching the Prime Video series. It's quite clear that the series underwent a lot of major re-writing (Oliver actually helped to write the show) in comparison to the novel. Most of the side characters were far more bare-boned compared to their Prime series counterparts, with only a select few characters really being developed (Heather and Dodge, as they are the sole POV characters, Bishop, and somewhat Nat).
Overall, I found the novel to be a fun read, having enjoyed the Prime series myself. It's not as detailed as the TV series, but I still found that it was enticing enough to finish.
Overall, I found the novel to be a fun read, having enjoyed the Prime series myself. It's not as detailed as the TV series, but I still found that it was enticing enough to finish.
Don't panic.
This is my first book by Lauren Oliver, although her other works have been on my radar for quite some time. My first impression is that I like the writing style, particularly her metaphors, and her characters are certainly interesting, flawed and unique, and overall the story was gripping and entertaining. In this instance, however, although I enjoyed the story, I almost want to mark it down a star just to show my staunch disapproval of it. I'm just not sure it's a good idea to fictionalise something so dangerous, or to imply it somehow made Heather realise her potential, or made her a better, braver person for the rest of her life. When what it really was was reckless, stupid and pointless.
What am I talking about? Well "PANIC" is the name of a game that seniors in the town of Carp begin each year the day after graduation. It starts with players announcing their intent to participate by jumping of a cliff into freezing water. Thereafter, each remaining player is challenged to further, more dangerous tests, and the goal is to not panic, to hide your fear, to be the fastest, the bravest (the deadest), until only two remain who then participate in Joust (playing chicken in cars - AWESOME! *Double thumbs up*).
At first, the tests didn't seem too bad - walking across a plank between two water towers. Although still dangerous and with the potential of falling to your death, it was at least a "test" of your fear of heights, etc. Later, though, the challenges became less of a test, and more pot luck - Russian Roulette with a loaded weapon to the temple... I mean, what?
I think I best move on now because although I clearly found lots to get annoyed about with PANIC, there was a lot to enjoy as well. And that was mostly all down to the characterisation. The book is told in alternating third person between Heather and Dodge. The other two main characters in their little foursome, Nat and Bishop, didn't narrate, which I thought was odd, actually, since Heather and Dodge were not each other's romantic interest. What they both were, however, were complex, somewhat troubled individuals, each with a fascinating story to tell. Heather's home life was hectic and unhealthy, and she had self esteem issues surrounding her height - feeling big and bulky around all the tiny, dainty girls. Dodge, on the other hand, was a rather messed up young man with nothing but revenge on his mind.
You might be wondering about the romance, then, since I said Heather and Dodge were not each other's boo? Well, in many respects, I think it would be truthful to say there was no romance in panic. There was a love interest for each narrator, sure, but no romance scenes in the way I'm used to reading them. No time was dedicated to pursuing that line of inquiry - It all went on in the periphery.
I think it's safe to conclude that I'm conflicted in my overall feelings about PANIC. Some of it was great reading, and other parts of it, although still entertaining, made me stark raving mad. Which is how I've ended up settling on a rather wish-washy, largely unhelpful rating of 3.5 stars. I would say, though, that if you're already a fan of this author's style, you will probably enjoy it because I could see that shining through even the murky, icky stuff I didn't like, and it only made me more curious about her other books.
3 Stars ā ā ā 1/2
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by Lauren Oliver, although her other works have been on my radar for quite some time. My first impression is that I like the writing style, particularly her metaphors, and her characters are certainly interesting, flawed and unique, and overall the story was gripping and entertaining. In this instance, however, although I enjoyed the story, I almost want to mark it down a star just to show my staunch disapproval of it. I'm just not sure it's a good idea to fictionalise something so dangerous, or to imply it somehow made Heather realise her potential, or made her a better, braver person for the rest of her life. When what it really was was reckless, stupid and pointless.
What am I talking about? Well "PANIC" is the name of a game that seniors in the town of Carp begin each year the day after graduation. It starts with players announcing their intent to participate by jumping of a cliff into freezing water. Thereafter, each remaining player is challenged to further, more dangerous tests, and the goal is to not panic, to hide your fear, to be the fastest, the bravest (the deadest), until only two remain who then participate in Joust (playing chicken in cars - AWESOME! *Double thumbs up*).
At first, the tests didn't seem too bad - walking across a plank between two water towers. Although still dangerous and with the potential of falling to your death, it was at least a "test" of your fear of heights, etc. Later, though, the challenges became less of a test, and more pot luck - Russian Roulette with a loaded weapon to the temple... I mean, what?
I think I best move on now because although I clearly found lots to get annoyed about with PANIC, there was a lot to enjoy as well. And that was mostly all down to the characterisation. The book is told in alternating third person between Heather and Dodge. The other two main characters in their little foursome, Nat and Bishop, didn't narrate, which I thought was odd, actually, since Heather and Dodge were not each other's romantic interest. What they both were, however, were complex, somewhat troubled individuals, each with a fascinating story to tell. Heather's home life was hectic and unhealthy, and she had self esteem issues surrounding her height - feeling big and bulky around all the tiny, dainty girls. Dodge, on the other hand, was a rather messed up young man with nothing but revenge on his mind.
You might be wondering about the romance, then, since I said Heather and Dodge were not each other's boo? Well, in many respects, I think it would be truthful to say there was no romance in panic. There was a love interest for each narrator, sure, but no romance scenes in the way I'm used to reading them. No time was dedicated to pursuing that line of inquiry - It all went on in the periphery.
I think it's safe to conclude that I'm conflicted in my overall feelings about PANIC. Some of it was great reading, and other parts of it, although still entertaining, made me stark raving mad. Which is how I've ended up settling on a rather wish-washy, largely unhelpful rating of 3.5 stars. I would say, though, that if you're already a fan of this author's style, you will probably enjoy it because I could see that shining through even the murky, icky stuff I didn't like, and it only made me more curious about her other books.
3 Stars ā ā ā 1/2
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.