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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Eh. It had good moments but overall incredibly underwhelming.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Had to knock it for 2 graphic animal death scenes that just don't sit well with me but I loved this.
This book took 2 weeks to finish because it was very tough for me to get through. Not only did it make me gag from disgust at the incredibly vivid imagery, but it also scared me into swearing off any potential trips to isolated islands. Perhaps Im more sensitive to tragedies befalling children, or perhaps Nick Cutter wrote about a troop of teenage boys that were so realistic that we can all say “Yes I knew an Ephraim… I once met a Kent… I was a Newton at one point.”
First off, I want to begin by saying the contrast between the boys story and the news reports were a huge contribution to lending the book a strong feeling of hopelessness and devastation. Moreover, at times the concept made me squirm in my seat and twist my face in literal pain. Needless to say, I was unable to read this book during my lunch.
Cutter did an amazing job at making me question how I would behave in a survivalist situation as this, or if I would even survive. Scoutmaster Tim was the first tipping point for the boys and helped create a Lord of the Flies situation. Though by his tragic end, the boys have learned to come together. This story is superior to lord of the flies because instead of a story of boys becoming monsters to survive, it is a story of boys fighting against becoming a monster. Though they try to fight against their own habits of violence and bullying for the sake of survival, it was pointless. “Survival of the Fittest,” was not typical in this situation. The worms killed off the strongest first, and the second strongest sank into a wormhole of madness and self destruction. A part of the novel that had me gripping its pages.
I began this novel with Ephraim as my favorite character. He was too similar to so many young boys in our country and his fight to better himself was noble, so I couldn’t help but root for him. How fitting is it that he had the most gruesome, pitiful ending.
At the end of it all, I was shedding tears because the finale of Newton and Max was too much to bear. A glimmer of hope for them both, but Newtons final stand became his downfall. I like to think he did this on purpose so he could go down in dignity. He probably correctly assumed that he would not be granted amnesty otherwise.
Would I recommend this book? Not exactly. It’s an excellent read, but not for the faint of heart. It won’t be my top recommendation only because not many people I know would be able to handle this gruesome story.
Would I reread it? Well, I own it now so I probably will when I get frustrated at children.
First off, I want to begin by saying the contrast between the boys story and the news reports were a huge contribution to lending the book a strong feeling of hopelessness and devastation. Moreover, at times the concept made me squirm in my seat and twist my face in literal pain. Needless to say, I was unable to read this book during my lunch.
Cutter did an amazing job at making me question how I would behave in a survivalist situation as this, or if I would even survive. Scoutmaster Tim was the first tipping point for the boys and helped create a Lord of the Flies situation. Though by his tragic end, the boys have learned to come together. This story is superior to lord of the flies because instead of a story of boys becoming monsters to survive, it is a story of boys fighting against becoming a monster. Though they try to fight against their own habits of violence and bullying for the sake of survival, it was pointless. “Survival of the Fittest,” was not typical in this situation. The worms killed off the strongest first, and the second strongest sank into a wormhole of madness and self destruction. A part of the novel that had me gripping its pages.
I began this novel with Ephraim as my favorite character. He was too similar to so many young boys in our country and his fight to better himself was noble, so I couldn’t help but root for him. How fitting is it that he had the most gruesome, pitiful ending.
At the end of it all, I was shedding tears because the finale of Newton and Max was too much to bear. A glimmer of hope for them both, but Newtons final stand became his downfall. I like to think he did this on purpose so he could go down in dignity. He probably correctly assumed that he would not be granted amnesty otherwise.
Would I recommend this book? Not exactly. It’s an excellent read, but not for the faint of heart. It won’t be my top recommendation only because not many people I know would be able to handle this gruesome story.
Would I reread it? Well, I own it now so I probably will when I get frustrated at children.
Tw: extreme body horror, animal abuse, death/decay
This was absolutely horrifying, disgusting, and riveting.
This was absolutely horrifying, disgusting, and riveting.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
While this book is very creepy and the descriptions of events unsettling, the ending and a few unnecessarily uncomfortable moments in the book are the reasons why I can't rate this book 5 stars. Some scenes were just gross and unnecessary. It reminded me of scenes from the book It (and I hated that book). The ending...I won't say what happens, but it made me regret even reading it in the first place. I read the book a month ago and I still feel that way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Really really didn’t know if I should give a 4 or 3. The writing was so good and I was genuinely horrified and uncomfortable at turns, but….. I just couldn’t get with the premise which seemed preposterous to me.