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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Dang, this was kind of crazy. Parts of it felt under developed, but if you are looking for a quick, page-turning thriller, this is the book for you.
Watch my full review: https://youtu.be/F92YFNMATIc
Watch my full review: https://youtu.be/F92YFNMATIc
OMG! Five stars for the way this book gripped me and would not let me go until I finished it. I read it in one long sitting--seriously compulsive reading! If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, I implore you to pick up this book.
The writing in Forty Acres is comparable to a lot of popular thrillers, but the plot and the ideas and conversations about race in America were what really made this book stand out. I picked this up because it was recommended on the Read or Dead podcast as a read-alike for Get Out, which was all I needed to sell me on it. And I agree, if you liked Get Out, this will probably appeal to you too. I don't want to say much about the plot--I think it's best to go into this as blind as possible. The main character is a young black civil rights lawyer who, after winning a huge case, is asked to join a group of other mega-successful black men on a trip. And you should read this addictive thriller asap to find out just what he uncovers there.
*Used for the Read Harder 2018 prompt "A one sitting read."
The writing in Forty Acres is comparable to a lot of popular thrillers, but the plot and the ideas and conversations about race in America were what really made this book stand out. I picked this up because it was recommended on the Read or Dead podcast as a read-alike for Get Out, which was all I needed to sell me on it. And I agree, if you liked Get Out, this will probably appeal to you too. I don't want to say much about the plot--I think it's best to go into this as blind as possible. The main character is a young black civil rights lawyer who, after winning a huge case, is asked to join a group of other mega-successful black men on a trip. And you should read this addictive thriller asap to find out just what he uncovers there.
*Used for the Read Harder 2018 prompt "A one sitting read."
So, beginning of the book did not capture my attention. However, shortly after the trial and the relationships started to develop I was hooked. Martin our protagonist keeps getting into situations while sometimes far-fetched made you constantly think “what would I have done”. Once you start book it’s difficult to put down.
Wow! This book was exceptional!
There were a few moments where I could tell that it was a debut novel, but they didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. In fact, I would say this book reads even stronger as a debut novel because it shows great promise for Smith’s career.
I can’t recommend this story enough! It’s a very thought-provoking and thrilling story about race and, to an extent, masculinity.
I look forward to reading more of Smith’s work whenever it is released.
5 out of 5 stars
There were a few moments where I could tell that it was a debut novel, but they didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. In fact, I would say this book reads even stronger as a debut novel because it shows great promise for Smith’s career.
I can’t recommend this story enough! It’s a very thought-provoking and thrilling story about race and, to an extent, masculinity.
I look forward to reading more of Smith’s work whenever it is released.
5 out of 5 stars
This is definitely an easy read. It was really good until wasn’t anymore. The ending seemed to be rushed. This would have made a great series to really develop the characters and also the secret. Great concept and something different so overall I enjoyed the book.
This novel encompasses an interesting topic and would be great for a book club or any other discussion group. It's a novel about race, morals, humanity, & the price of vengeance. Martin Grey is invited into this world that he can not accept. Forty Acres is a page turner keeping the reader wanting more. I was disappointed in the path that Martin choose to take to expose them - a bit unrealistic. Overall it's not a bad read.
A thriller of the type you normally see atop bestseller lists and in airport bookstores, the kind you can speed through on a plane flight. And it's got a better concept than most thrillers, it makes you wonder if someone has sent it over to Jordan Peele to option.
I don't really love the standard thriller style, though, and the high concept wasn't enough for me to stay happily engaged. I waited for some good twists but didn't get them. And I found that this thriller suffers from one of the same major problems many thrillers by men suffer from (and why I've mostly stopped reading them): it has a real male gaze problem. Every single woman in this book is beautiful and her beauty must be commented on. Often the specifics of her breasts and her body are discussed in detail, as are her sexual appetites. They exist solely as the typical female archetypes. Although the men don't get to be much more on the page either, and while the book wants to take down a certain kind of masculinity, it's still awfully caught up in that masculinity itself. It's tempting to take it down to two stars, honestly.
I don't really love the standard thriller style, though, and the high concept wasn't enough for me to stay happily engaged. I waited for some good twists but didn't get them. And I found that this thriller suffers from one of the same major problems many thrillers by men suffer from (and why I've mostly stopped reading them): it has a real male gaze problem. Every single woman in this book is beautiful and her beauty must be commented on. Often the specifics of her breasts and her body are discussed in detail, as are her sexual appetites. They exist solely as the typical female archetypes. Although the men don't get to be much more on the page either, and while the book wants to take down a certain kind of masculinity, it's still awfully caught up in that masculinity itself. It's tempting to take it down to two stars, honestly.