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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Until I write this, I'm not reading the reviews to see why anyone would give this more than one star. But I cannot be the only one who would like a semblance of LOGIC to prevail in fiction.
As I was reading, I thought often about how sad it was that this clearly gifted writer had not had better editors, critiques, education, or whatever it was that prevented them from holding their plot to a higher standard. This, in addition to giving the reader the Highest Level of Melodrama possible at every turn, made me want to throw this book out a window. Perhaps I was subconsciously influenced by the main character nonstop trying to control ridiculous fits of rage. Thankfully, it was a library book, and passerby were saved from a dangerous flying object. It was easy enough to continue reading, then skim-read the last few chapters.
Unbelievable:
2. Evelyn deciding to sit down at 10am and drink an entire bottle of wine and call in sick. Not something a mature adult person would do.
3. Martine continuing to accompany Evelyn to the lab every day, when the first morning they are so worried about her being discovered.
4. Evelyn's backstory as to why she doesn't speak to her mother is not remotely convincing.
5. The idea of "damaging a fresh specimen" is presented as something that is routinely done -- what? I thought that the clones were simply created to be organ donors or maybe for rich people who wanted to duplicate themselves or something. There's zero context for this idea of damaging the specimen.
6. The timeline for Nathan to have been creating clones himself -- okay if there was one or two attempts, but ELEVEN? The backyard full of eleven bodies is So Ridiculous.
7. Not to mention the fact that Martine is supposedly such a breakthrough in terms of imprinting personalities or that the imprinting is currently what Evelyn is working on.
8. Near the end of the book, on p. 221, Evelyn: "I had started to think of her as a person" rather than a specimen. WHAT? This person has been living with you, you've been giving her books to read, you've been commenting on their growth and development as a person... now you're going all the way back to page one?
As I was reading, I thought often about how sad it was that this clearly gifted writer had not had better editors, critiques, education, or whatever it was that prevented them from holding their plot to a higher standard. This, in addition to giving the reader the Highest Level of Melodrama possible at every turn, made me want to throw this book out a window. Perhaps I was subconsciously influenced by the main character nonstop trying to control ridiculous fits of rage. Thankfully, it was a library book, and passerby were saved from a dangerous flying object. It was easy enough to continue reading, then skim-read the last few chapters.
Unbelievable:
Spoiler
1. Fully human clones that can walk and talk, yet they are considered specimens that can be disposed of without a thought. More on this later.2. Evelyn deciding to sit down at 10am and drink an entire bottle of wine and call in sick. Not something a mature adult person would do.
3. Martine continuing to accompany Evelyn to the lab every day, when the first morning they are so worried about her being discovered.
4. Evelyn's backstory as to why she doesn't speak to her mother is not remotely convincing.
5. The idea of "damaging a fresh specimen" is presented as something that is routinely done -- what? I thought that the clones were simply created to be organ donors or maybe for rich people who wanted to duplicate themselves or something. There's zero context for this idea of damaging the specimen.
6. The timeline for Nathan to have been creating clones himself -- okay if there was one or two attempts, but ELEVEN? The backyard full of eleven bodies is So Ridiculous.
7. Not to mention the fact that Martine is supposedly such a breakthrough in terms of imprinting personalities or that the imprinting is currently what Evelyn is working on.
8. Near the end of the book, on p. 221, Evelyn: "I had started to think of her as a person" rather than a specimen. WHAT? This person has been living with you, you've been giving her books to read, you've been commenting on their growth and development as a person... now you're going all the way back to page one?
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars
The story had potential, but it didn't quite hit the mark IMO. I was hoping for more.
The story had potential, but it didn't quite hit the mark IMO. I was hoping for more.
medium-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had really enchanted me, and then reading the acknowledgment sent me into a spiral. What a beautiful way to articulate DV, and use experience to create this vivid world.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A little predictable, and I'm not sure the if the author meant to make the point that did come across?