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penguininabluebox's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure what to make of this book. The following review may contain LIGHT SPOILERS.
I was expecting a book about dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting, but it turned full on conspiracy theory and it just felt weird. Especially with a topic like this which I don't think there are a lot of books about it, I would have liked it to stay a bit more... realistic. It just went absolutely crazy towards the end and got kind of scary and I can't say it was bad, but it was neither what I wanted from this book nor what I expected. So it wasn't bad by any means, actually I think it was really well done, but I wasn't prepared for that and it made me kind of anxious. I'm just not completely happy with how this book turned out right now, but maybe if I let it sit for a bit in my mind, I will end up appreciating how well done it was and actually liking it more than I do right now, since my only reason for not really liking it is it not being what I expected.
I was expecting a book about dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting, but it turned full on conspiracy theory and it just felt weird. Especially with a topic like this which I don't think there are a lot of books about it, I would have liked it to stay a bit more... realistic. It just went absolutely crazy towards the end and got kind of scary and I can't say it was bad, but it was neither what I wanted from this book nor what I expected. So it wasn't bad by any means, actually I think it was really well done, but I wasn't prepared for that and it made me kind of anxious. I'm just not completely happy with how this book turned out right now, but maybe if I let it sit for a bit in my mind, I will end up appreciating how well done it was and actually liking it more than I do right now, since my only reason for not really liking it is it not being what I expected.
barbells_and_bookshelves's review against another edition
4.0
To read my review of Francine Prose's young adult novel After, click here: http://theobsessedreader.com/category/book-reviews/prose-francine/
rebekahlynn's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It starts off really interesting and then just kind of stops. Like by the time you get to part where you feel like you should be 1/2 way through the book, it's done.
bezareader's review against another edition
3.0
2 1/2 stars
No ending.
Two dimensional characters.
However, I liked the idea of the story, I'm just sorry that it didn't turn out like I thought it would.
No ending.
Two dimensional characters.
However, I liked the idea of the story, I'm just sorry that it didn't turn out like I thought it would.
theawkwardbookw's review against another edition
1.0
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCferU-BCL2dlFjWdD0rS75Q/videos
One day, while at school, Tom and the rest of his classmates receive phone calls from their parents informing them of a school shooting a few towns over in Pleasant Valley. Dr. Willner, the new grief and crisis counsellor arrives at the school the next day and begins to enforce new rules that the students believe to be ridiculous and unfair. As time goes on and the rules become stricter, kids begin to disappear. As Tom and his friends begin to realize that things may be getting out of hand, it's already too late.
Well... this book was bad. REALLY bad... When I first began the book, I was thinking I was going to get a story about the after math of a school shooting... boy was I wrong. The plot was extremely boring and flimsy. Nothing is believable or even mildly realistic. The concept behind the story was interesting and I think it could have made for a very cool story, it just was not executed well. The characters were all bland. The actions that the characters took and the thought processes they had were so unrealistic and overly stupid that it just made me roll my eyes half the time. The main character Tom frustrated the HECK out of me. The supporting characters were equally as annoying. All of the dialogue seemed forced and all the characters talked as if they were 12 year olds, even the adults. The book had mild racism and homophobic slurs in it that just made me angry while reading. Not to mention the use of the word 'retarded' as an insult. NOT TO MENTION that the author wrote about a basketball game and then said that it was possible to tie a basketball game... If you are going to include something in your book at least know that it IS NOT POSSIBLE to tie a basketball... like come on lady at least do your research....
One day, while at school, Tom and the rest of his classmates receive phone calls from their parents informing them of a school shooting a few towns over in Pleasant Valley. Dr. Willner, the new grief and crisis counsellor arrives at the school the next day and begins to enforce new rules that the students believe to be ridiculous and unfair. As time goes on and the rules become stricter, kids begin to disappear. As Tom and his friends begin to realize that things may be getting out of hand, it's already too late.
Well... this book was bad. REALLY bad... When I first began the book, I was thinking I was going to get a story about the after math of a school shooting... boy was I wrong. The plot was extremely boring and flimsy. Nothing is believable or even mildly realistic. The concept behind the story was interesting and I think it could have made for a very cool story, it just was not executed well. The characters were all bland. The actions that the characters took and the thought processes they had were so unrealistic and overly stupid that it just made me roll my eyes half the time. The main character Tom frustrated the HECK out of me. The supporting characters were equally as annoying. All of the dialogue seemed forced and all the characters talked as if they were 12 year olds, even the adults. The book had mild racism and homophobic slurs in it that just made me angry while reading. Not to mention the use of the word 'retarded' as an insult. NOT TO MENTION that the author wrote about a basketball game and then said that it was possible to tie a basketball game... If you are going to include something in your book at least know that it IS NOT POSSIBLE to tie a basketball... like come on lady at least do your research....
torts's review against another edition
3.0
This book was weird. I'm not sure when I read it. Recently, I suppose.
circleofreadersdruid's review against another edition
2.0
Great premise, but horrible implementation.
stephaniereads9b0f8's review against another edition
4.0
Spooky as hell, a 1984 for today's post-Columbine generation.
falconerreader's review against another edition
3.0
Full review here: http://falconerslibrary.blogspot.com/2015/07/review-after-by-francine-prose.html
The book suffers from lack of a rationale for the bad guys. It also has the same issues that The Giver does, in that the science fiction has an element of magic. How exactly does one use email to brainwash people? If you are looking for a cohesive plot, you will probably find the book frustrating. This is where it pays to think of the book as allegory, rather than speculative fiction. If you can do that, you will find a lot to think about, from how we treat "troubled" teens, to how passive we can be in the face of authority.
The book suffers from lack of a rationale for the bad guys. It also has the same issues that The Giver does, in that the science fiction has an element of magic. How exactly does one use email to brainwash people? If you are looking for a cohesive plot, you will probably find the book frustrating. This is where it pays to think of the book as allegory, rather than speculative fiction. If you can do that, you will find a lot to think about, from how we treat "troubled" teens, to how passive we can be in the face of authority.
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