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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Started this with high hopes and a great recommendation. And initially, I was sucked in with the set up of an intriguing tale (part mystery, horror), fascinating characters (with lots of name-dropping and pop culture), plus an unique incorporation of multimedia. But pretty quickly, this story fell flat and I had to force myself to continue.
Instead of reading this, I listened to the audio book during a few weeks of long drives. Kept my interest (and sometimes made me take the long way just to listen for a little while longer!) While the story is essentially a mystery/journalist investigation plot, it has a lot of thought provoking stuff along the way.
I mean I was intrigued the whole time but I wasn't in love. Solid 3/5.
Excellent, though not as well written as Special Topics in Calamity Physics. There were many parts where I really couldn't put it down before going to bed, getting off the bus, going to work, etc. It definitely tapers off a bit at the end, but overall great story with fantastic characters.
I loved everything about this book. this is only my second 5 stars of a fiction book that wasn't a reread this year! mysterious macabre and fantastic. I kept thinking of the ninth gate and 8 mm when I read this, which I would loooove to see this book also made into a movie.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Had been on my to read list for over 10 years and I’m glad I finally read it! Compelling and imaginative story that started dark and stayed there. Really enjoyed it.
At nearly 600 pages long, and with so much potential, I was ultimately disappointed in this book. I felt the author had a great concept, but failed to make me believe in her characters--all three main ones were annoying and shallow right from the start and I didn't like how unbelievably they came to work together. The book progressed rockily at first, especially trying to read through the author's overuse of italics (more than a dozen on some pages) and got slightly better toward the middle--hope that kept me reading!--but was just too predictable at the end to be a great mystery novel. Two and a half stars for the effort.
This book was a total disappointment.
It was extremely well written, which is why it gets two stars. But for plot? For story? One star.
Pessl made lazy choices with plotting, especially at the end, and it shows.
Everybody has a sophomore slump.
It was extremely well written, which is why it gets two stars. But for plot? For story? One star.
Pessl made lazy choices with plotting, especially at the end, and it shows.
Everybody has a sophomore slump.
There are some really great 5-star passages of this book and I liked the way it dealt with its own questions of fantasy or reality.
I was disappointed in the big action scene as it dragged on. At times the story dragged on too, but I'm glad it didn't end when I initially thought it should. The final twist was worth it and fit in very well with the story.
I have a feeling this might make a good movie. I might be too scared to watch it though.
I was disappointed in the big action scene as it dragged on. At times the story dragged on too, but I'm glad it didn't end when I initially thought it should. The final twist was worth it and fit in very well with the story.
I have a feeling this might make a good movie. I might be too scared to watch it though.