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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I was expecting this book to be a total page turner but it wasn't. I just kept reading. Good story, but it was a bit of a slog to get through. Might be just me though.
Reread 2015 - 5 stars
It annoys me that Goodreads does not count a reread as a normal read.
It annoys me that Goodreads does not count a reread as a normal read.
I don't usually care about the next big thing -- at least, not in adult fiction -- but I read so many positive reviews of this literary science fiction thriller that I decided to pick it up, even though it was supposedly about vampires.
This is a long book, but it reads fast, especially the first 200-300 pages, so I read it in a matter of days. Very long days, where I got a crick in my neck from trying to hold up the stupid thing (until I went ahead and bought it on the Kindle to save my eyes and my shoulder muscles). The vampires are not really vampires, just like the zombies in 28 Days Later are not really zombies -- though both use some of the familiar tropes, the monsters are not traditional, and they are scientifically explained (sort of) by an outbreak of a government-sanctioned, man-made virus. Everyone is comparing this to The Stand, and I can see it, especially with the vague, quasi-religious slant to some of the characters (their "calling"), but I don't think this has the same focus on good vs. evil (God vs. Satan) that I read into King's book. Maybe that will be developed more in the next book (which will probably also be 800 pages, something that makes me both happy and dismayed). I really think 28 Days Later is a better comparison, if a comparison must be made, especially with the focus on how people band together to survive the monsters but end up in conflict with other groups of survivors, which often ends with them destroying each other. Man's worst enemy is man and whatnot.
I was most invested in this book when Wolgast and Amy were on the scene, less so with everyone else -- though the nail-biting suspense remained for me whether I cared about the characters or not. I faltered when the narrative switched to new characters a hundred years after the initial outbreak, and faltered again after those characters split up multiple times (I was starting to get sick of holding on to the tension for one group of characters while I read about others), but the narratives wove together so well that I ultimately became absorbed in every one of their lives. You know it's something good when you sit down to read an hour or two and don't stop until 6 hours later because your eyes are falling out of your head from exhaustion.
I found the book creepy and compelling and foreboding and beautifully written (if bloated at times), and I especially liked the slow reveal of the monsters' true nature as the characters seek to survive and understand what they're up against. This is definitely a top read for me for 2010.
This is a long book, but it reads fast, especially the first 200-300 pages, so I read it in a matter of days. Very long days, where I got a crick in my neck from trying to hold up the stupid thing (until I went ahead and bought it on the Kindle to save my eyes and my shoulder muscles). The vampires are not really vampires, just like the zombies in 28 Days Later are not really zombies -- though both use some of the familiar tropes, the monsters are not traditional, and they are scientifically explained (sort of) by an outbreak of a government-sanctioned, man-made virus. Everyone is comparing this to The Stand, and I can see it, especially with the vague, quasi-religious slant to some of the characters (their "calling"), but I don't think this has the same focus on good vs. evil (God vs. Satan) that I read into King's book. Maybe that will be developed more in the next book (which will probably also be 800 pages, something that makes me both happy and dismayed). I really think 28 Days Later is a better comparison, if a comparison must be made, especially with the focus on how people band together to survive the monsters but end up in conflict with other groups of survivors, which often ends with them destroying each other. Man's worst enemy is man and whatnot.
I was most invested in this book when Wolgast and Amy were on the scene, less so with everyone else -- though the nail-biting suspense remained for me whether I cared about the characters or not. I faltered when the narrative switched to new characters a hundred years after the initial outbreak, and faltered again after those characters split up multiple times (I was starting to get sick of holding on to the tension for one group of characters while I read about others), but the narratives wove together so well that I ultimately became absorbed in every one of their lives. You know it's something good when you sit down to read an hour or two and don't stop until 6 hours later because your eyes are falling out of your head from exhaustion.
I found the book creepy and compelling and foreboding and beautifully written (if bloated at times), and I especially liked the slow reveal of the monsters' true nature as the characters seek to survive and understand what they're up against. This is definitely a top read for me for 2010.
Good entertainment but a few more life threatening situations than I generally look for in 'entertainment only' reading.
My chief complaint is length related. It's good long in some parts, I really liked learning about Carter's back story (I thought he could have gotten to the point about 50 pages earlier) but then why did we then spend another million pages with Babcock being the guy destroying everyone. Seriously, if there is a sequel, I'll probably read it, but come on Justin, if I'm seeing a gun in the first act, it better go off in the 3rd. And if you use a damned crossbow instead, I will throw that book at your head. Consider yourself warned.
More like 3.5 ⭐️. I didn’t love this, but I did find it compelling enough to keep going despite the fact that it’s practically all I read in April. It was well done, but I’m not sure I want to commit the time to finish the series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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:
No
So this epic tome did take me a few months to get through, but it is definitely worth it! I really enjoyed the story, and found a lot of the characters very likeable and could relate to them. I will definitely continue the trilogy. The narrators also did a very good job of bringing the story to life.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Still a 5 star book after re-reading it to prepare for The Twelve.