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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this book but not nearly as much as Lauren Oliver's other books. I felt like the characters were more distant and the plot line less moving than most of her stuff. Still a good book, just not groundbreaking as her others are.
I really enjoyed this book, which is no surprise as I’ve always loved Lauren Oliver. I did watch the show before reading the book and for that reason I was a little bit let down at times as the characters and plot in the show just felt better and more developed. If I had read the book first I’m sure I wouldn’t have any complaints. It is rare that I prefer the on screen version, but it really just went above and beyond. That said, the book was still really good and really different from anything else I’ve read. I really liked the plot of this book and most of the characters, especially Heather. Dodge’s possessiveness over his sister felt pretty weird though. I’m not a huge fan of switching the POV a lot but I almost wish we’d gotten to see Nat’s perspective. Lauren made it very obvious that Nat had OCD but it was such a small and relatively unimportant detail when it was clearly a massive issue for her. I would have liked to know more about that from her perspective and get more of her story.
Originally published on the book review blog: http://thelilbookshelf.blogspot.com/2016/04/39-panic.html#more
“She thought all you needed to do - all any of them needed - was to get out. But maybe you carried your demons with you everywhere, the way you carried your shadow.”
First, I rounded the rating up to 4 stars because I was really feeling good. It's more of a 3.5.
Panic. Panic. How do I feel about Panic? Well, going in I had really low expectations since I had heard terrible review after terrible review. Still, I needed an audiobook for the trip I was going on, and this is what my library had to offer. I think a mix of it being an audiobook and me having such low expectations saved it.
The woman who narrated the audiobook I listened to was really good at her job. She had inflections that were just different enough to distinguish each character, but not so different that it felt like she was making silly voices. She also had a very young-sounding voice, which was good since she was narrating the perspectives of teenagers. (PS, I just Googled it, and the woman's name was Sarah Drew. Nice job Sarah!)
Some of the reviews I read claimed this book sounded/felt a lot like the Hunger Games series, which is one of the least accurate comparisons I've ever been exposed to. The Hunger Games is a story about children being forced to fight like gladiators to the death in a post-apocalyptic society, but Panic is just about some bored kids doing some dangerous challenges where yes, sometimes people die, but that's not the point. The point is that they are modern-day kids who are bored and want to win some money. Just because kids are in a dangerous contest does not mean the book is a Hunger Games ripoff! It's like saying Percy Jackson is the same as Harry Potter because some magic kids do magic stuff.
Readers need realize that there is some suspension of disbelief required to read this book. Yes, the police and parents don't really do much to stop this death game, which is stupid and unbelievable (as a parent, are you going to go let your child out after dark if you know a game where people sometimes DIE is going on? No! My parents' won't let me go out if it's raining too hard!). But once you accept that none of the adults in this town have any common sense, it's okay.
But really, why would anyone even play this game? People DIE in this game. People the players personally know/are related to have DIED or have been CRIPPLED because of this game! I get that you win almost $70,000, but is your LIFE worth the slim chance of winning this game? The challenges weren't just hard, but suicidal!
But other than the unbelievable setup, my main complaint was that Nat, one of the main character's best friends, never gets her comeuppance. The whole story she does things to manipulate her friends, and no one acts like this is in any way a bad thing. Although her plans backfired, no one ever gets mad and no bad karma ever comes her way. I just would have liked some cosmic justice for her constantly taking advantage of her friends, even if she had a good reason to.
Also my other complaint is that Lauren Oliver overused the word "panic." It just bugged me.
As for the challenges, I thought they were all pretty intense, but the last one was a bit over dramatic for me (highlight for spoiler) it was fine except for her putting her hand on the tiger's head. That bit was stupid. As little as I would believe anyone would ever actually do any of these challenges, Oliver did a good job writing the suspense, although the unique solo challenges did not feel anywhere near the same level of difficulty.
Long story short, the book has mixed reviews, and all in all I liked it well enough. It's a YA contemporary book, technically, but school and love are put on the backburner for intense life-or-death challenges. Also, no love triangles! If you think it sounds like your thing, give it a try! (And sorry this review was kind of all over the place)
-Claire
“She thought all you needed to do - all any of them needed - was to get out. But maybe you carried your demons with you everywhere, the way you carried your shadow.”
First, I rounded the rating up to 4 stars because I was really feeling good. It's more of a 3.5.
Panic. Panic. How do I feel about Panic? Well, going in I had really low expectations since I had heard terrible review after terrible review. Still, I needed an audiobook for the trip I was going on, and this is what my library had to offer. I think a mix of it being an audiobook and me having such low expectations saved it.
The woman who narrated the audiobook I listened to was really good at her job. She had inflections that were just different enough to distinguish each character, but not so different that it felt like she was making silly voices. She also had a very young-sounding voice, which was good since she was narrating the perspectives of teenagers. (PS, I just Googled it, and the woman's name was Sarah Drew. Nice job Sarah!)
Some of the reviews I read claimed this book sounded/felt a lot like the Hunger Games series, which is one of the least accurate comparisons I've ever been exposed to. The Hunger Games is a story about children being forced to fight like gladiators to the death in a post-apocalyptic society, but Panic is just about some bored kids doing some dangerous challenges where yes, sometimes people die, but that's not the point. The point is that they are modern-day kids who are bored and want to win some money. Just because kids are in a dangerous contest does not mean the book is a Hunger Games ripoff! It's like saying Percy Jackson is the same as Harry Potter because some magic kids do magic stuff.
Readers need realize that there is some suspension of disbelief required to read this book. Yes, the police and parents don't really do much to stop this death game, which is stupid and unbelievable (as a parent, are you going to go let your child out after dark if you know a game where people sometimes DIE is going on? No! My parents' won't let me go out if it's raining too hard!). But once you accept that none of the adults in this town have any common sense, it's okay.
But really, why would anyone even play this game? People DIE in this game. People the players personally know/are related to have DIED or have been CRIPPLED because of this game! I get that you win almost $70,000, but is your LIFE worth the slim chance of winning this game? The challenges weren't just hard, but suicidal!
But other than the unbelievable setup, my main complaint was that Nat, one of the main character's best friends, never gets her comeuppance. The whole story she does things to manipulate her friends, and no one acts like this is in any way a bad thing. Although her plans backfired, no one ever gets mad and no bad karma ever comes her way. I just would have liked some cosmic justice for her constantly taking advantage of her friends, even if she had a good reason to.
Also my other complaint is that Lauren Oliver overused the word "panic." It just bugged me.
As for the challenges, I thought they were all pretty intense, but the last one was a bit over dramatic for me (highlight for spoiler) it was fine except for her putting her hand on the tiger's head. That bit was stupid. As little as I would believe anyone would ever actually do any of these challenges, Oliver did a good job writing the suspense, although the unique solo challenges did not feel anywhere near the same level of difficulty.
Long story short, the book has mixed reviews, and all in all I liked it well enough. It's a YA contemporary book, technically, but school and love are put on the backburner for intense life-or-death challenges. Also, no love triangles! If you think it sounds like your thing, give it a try! (And sorry this review was kind of all over the place)
-Claire
Decent novel for a thrilling YA story- and quick to get through!
It was a cool plot but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters.
*spoiler* Ray doesn’t become good and since that was the best thing out of the series. I don’t feel like I will pick this up again.
I liked this book even though it was not the usual type of genre that I tend to read. I do love Lauren Oliver though, and it was Oliver's writing through and through, and that is what made all the difference.
I think the problem that most readers may have had with this book is that they did not go in to it with a clear understanding that this is not a story with any supernatural thread whatsoever. These are regular kids, in a regular town doing regular, if stupid and ill-thought out, things.
I think the problem that most readers may have had with this book is that they did not go in to it with a clear understanding that this is not a story with any supernatural thread whatsoever. These are regular kids, in a regular town doing regular, if stupid and ill-thought out, things.
Yawn. Seriously, where was the big ending? After loving Delirium, being bored by its sequel and then hating the finale, I wasn't sure what I was going to get here. I went in with an open mind. And came out with a story that didn't grab me. It isn't memorable, and the best part is a tiger's yawn. Seriously. Also WHERE ARE ALL THE PARENTS? They don't give their kids curfews after a "house party" ends in a fire and death? Not to mention the gun attack at the old guy's farm? Worst. Parents. Ever.
This one started out a little "meh" but really kicked in the last half. Ended up really liking this one! So glad my love for LO is bigger than my distaste for Requiem. I would have hated to miss this one. :)