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jazz_faith's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
stephxsu's review
3.0
THE RAPTURE is an unusual though frighteningly scientifically plausible take on the apocalypse. It is not an easy read: Gabrielle’s colloquial narrative takes you right into her head, which may or may not be effective, depending on the reader. The first half of the book builds slowly, as it focuses more on developing Gabrielle and her relationship with the physicist. Bethany is supremely dislikable all throughout, but more so at the beginning.
Even with these minor complaints, however, Liz Jensen writes a story that’s full of scientific accuracy in a way that sucks you in. Apocalyptic tales only work when they’re done intelligently, and both THE RAPTURE and its author are well aware of and accomplish that. While I found the pacing of this novel a little odd—too slow in the beginning, too quickly building to its climax towards the end—it is still a masterfully suspenseful read in the end.
THE RAPTURE is not for the faint of heart, and it focuses more on Gabrielle’s emotional damage and the apocalyptic possibility of Bethany’s predictions than the actual psychological aspects of their relationship. However, for those who love speculative fiction and similar geological horror/thriller movies, this will be a good read.
Even with these minor complaints, however, Liz Jensen writes a story that’s full of scientific accuracy in a way that sucks you in. Apocalyptic tales only work when they’re done intelligently, and both THE RAPTURE and its author are well aware of and accomplish that. While I found the pacing of this novel a little odd—too slow in the beginning, too quickly building to its climax towards the end—it is still a masterfully suspenseful read in the end.
THE RAPTURE is not for the faint of heart, and it focuses more on Gabrielle’s emotional damage and the apocalyptic possibility of Bethany’s predictions than the actual psychological aspects of their relationship. However, for those who love speculative fiction and similar geological horror/thriller movies, this will be a good read.
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
5.0
Certainly a gripping read. I am a fan of natural disaster type movies though so this was a perfect book for me. The addition of the mental patient and the religious fanatics just made it an original and thought provoking thriller.
lauren3101's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jessica_patient's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoying Liz Jensen's Rapture. Lyrical prose about the end of the world.
phillipjedwards's review against another edition
3.0
Anyone familiar with the work of JG Ballard will see his influence all over this novel - set, as it is, in an ill-at-ease near-future with, as its protagonist, a psychologist disabled following a car crash. On her return to work at a secure psychiatric hospital she finds herself faced with a violent teenage killer who sees visions of future disasters following electroconvulsive therapy.
The Rapture is more of a literary thriller than a page-turner, as you can tell from its opening paragraph - which is one of the best I've read for a long time:
"That summer, the summer all the rules began to change, June seemed to last for a thousand years. The temperatures were merciless: thirty-eight, thirty-nine, then forty in the shade. It was heat to die in, to go nuts in, or to spawn. Old folk collapsed, dogs were cooked alive in cars, lovers couldn't keep their hands off each other. The sky pressed down like a furnace lid, shrinking the subsoil, cracking concrete, killing shrubs from the roots up. In the parched suburbs, ice-cream vans plinked their baby tunes into streets that sweated tar. Down at the harbour, the sea reflected the sun in tiny, barbaric mirrors. Asphyxiated, you longed for rain. It didn't come."
So right from the start I wallowed in the ominous, is-this-the-end-of-the-world atmosphere. (Is it wrong of me to enjoy apocalyptic thrillers, I wonder?) Unfortunately, as the book progressed, some of characters were not believable enough, and the vague scientific explanation for the cause of those visions was far from convincing, so I felt that The Rapture didn't turn out to be as seriously scary as it promised early on.
The Rapture is more of a literary thriller than a page-turner, as you can tell from its opening paragraph - which is one of the best I've read for a long time:
"That summer, the summer all the rules began to change, June seemed to last for a thousand years. The temperatures were merciless: thirty-eight, thirty-nine, then forty in the shade. It was heat to die in, to go nuts in, or to spawn. Old folk collapsed, dogs were cooked alive in cars, lovers couldn't keep their hands off each other. The sky pressed down like a furnace lid, shrinking the subsoil, cracking concrete, killing shrubs from the roots up. In the parched suburbs, ice-cream vans plinked their baby tunes into streets that sweated tar. Down at the harbour, the sea reflected the sun in tiny, barbaric mirrors. Asphyxiated, you longed for rain. It didn't come."
So right from the start I wallowed in the ominous, is-this-the-end-of-the-world atmosphere. (Is it wrong of me to enjoy apocalyptic thrillers, I wonder?) Unfortunately, as the book progressed, some of characters were not believable enough, and the vague scientific explanation for the cause of those visions was far from convincing, so I felt that The Rapture didn't turn out to be as seriously scary as it promised early on.
susannavs's review
3.0
This reminded me a bit of Not Forgetting the Whale - although with less of the "after". I wish we'd found out exactly how Bethany knew what she knew, and I wish Gabrielle had stopped calling Frazer Melville by his full name ALL. THE. TIME.
It, like "the Whale" and "The Handmaid's Tale", is a possible future.
It, like "the Whale" and "The Handmaid's Tale", is a possible future.
andintothetrees's review against another edition
4.0
I’ll be honest – I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book when I picked it up from the library. Liz Jensen was on my list of “authors to check out”, and after a thoroughly unsuccessful library visit I decided to give this book of hers (the only one they had in stock) a go despite the initial premise not really appealing to me, figuring it was better to do that than return home empty-handed. I soon found myself drawn in however and, whilst it is not without its flaws, it was far from disappointing and has inspired me to read her other novels too (which, interestingly, seem to inhabit a sprawling breadth of genres).
... [Read the rest of my review here: https://whathannahread.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/the-rapture-by-liz-jensen/]
... [Read the rest of my review here: https://whathannahread.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/the-rapture-by-liz-jensen/]
balibee146's review against another edition
3.0
Great audiobook reading by India Fisher - the Voice of UK Materchef!!
chrstnareads's review
2.0
This book. Well, it started out pretty strong. The writing is pretty flowery, and I felt like the author sometimes went on tangents there are sort of interesting. It was fine when the main character, Gabrielle Fox, the therapist was actually the main focus. But then the apocalyptic events started being real, and then I wasn't sure who was the main character anymore. When I want to know if the apocalypse is really coming, I really could care less about paraplegic sex (spoiler alert). I don't know. I had high hopes for his, but I was disappointed. The end was kind of abrupt, and just strange. And. Disappointment is a good word to sum it up.