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ralphball's review
2.0
2 stars.
Because you automatically get one for writing a book (good job) and the second because there were a couple of parts that genuinely made me retch. Again, good job.
Apart from that I had no interest in the characters or story.
Because you automatically get one for writing a book (good job) and the second because there were a couple of parts that genuinely made me retch. Again, good job.
Apart from that I had no interest in the characters or story.
taliatalksbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
South by Frank Owen wasn’t what I expected. Though the idea of diseases sweeping across the south on winds, making everyone sick with horrible variations of deadly illnesses, is certainly a fear for many, especially with recent world events, this concept didn’t stretch much further than a good idea. While the concept was interesting, I felt like there were a lot of structural issues with the story. The characters felt flat and lacked motivation, and characters that did have motivation, ended up being one-note in that one instance. Many characters were used more as props rather than actual characters. Some story lines were brought up and either dropped quickly or were very quickly resolved in what felt like a haphazard way. Again, it did have its redeeming moments through the mystery of the world and horror of the situation at hand, but overall, left a lot to be desired. Though this was certainly far from my favorite read, I’ll be excited to compare this to the sequel, North, to see how to two sides of this world compare, as I do feel the concept is worthwhile in exploring what Owen makes of the other side of the unified border.
morgeliz99's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The first 200 pages or so were extremely slow-paced and I had to force myself to pick it back up and hope it got better.
Around the halfway point the story picked up and it gradually got more gruesome and interesting. I found myself enjoying it more and more. Very similar to The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
Around the halfway point the story picked up and it gradually got more gruesome and interesting. I found myself enjoying it more and more. Very similar to The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
nads25's review against another edition
4.0
#Author #Interview – #South – #Frank Owen
Wordpress link: http://ow.ly/WSyZ304gAhA;
Blogger Link: http://ow.ly/zVxL304gASP
Wordpress link: http://ow.ly/WSyZ304gAhA;
Blogger Link: http://ow.ly/zVxL304gASP
eloisebell's review against another edition
3.0
I am a huge dystopian fan. I was looking forward to the South/North duology and ultimately ended up being disappointed by them both.
I thoroughly enjoyed the concept.... America split into two halves. The losing side ravaged by virus and illness and the winning side tormented by dictatorship. However the execution was not what I expected. I found the writing to be very convoluted and long winded.
The characters were strong, brave and clever, the series just fell short for me due to its general execution, however I think this book would be a massive hit for fans of The Wind Up Girl and The Water Knife
I thoroughly enjoyed the concept.... America split into two halves. The losing side ravaged by virus and illness and the winning side tormented by dictatorship. However the execution was not what I expected. I found the writing to be very convoluted and long winded.
The characters were strong, brave and clever, the series just fell short for me due to its general execution, however I think this book would be a massive hit for fans of The Wind Up Girl and The Water Knife
amothersmusings1's review against another edition
Won in the Goodreads Giveaways - not read, passed to another reader.
ralphball's review against another edition
2.0
2 stars.
Because you automatically get one for writing a book (good job) and the second because there were a couple of parts that genuinely made me retch. Again, good job.
Apart from that I had no interest in the characters or story.
Because you automatically get one for writing a book (good job) and the second because there were a couple of parts that genuinely made me retch. Again, good job.
Apart from that I had no interest in the characters or story.
bi_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't really know what to expect from this book, especially it seems to be influenced by current affairs in the US and I'm not the most political of people if I can help it. The book is set 30 years after an American Civil War and strange and deadly viruses ride the winds that attack the South on a nearly daily basis. It's a brilliant concept that mixes biological warfare and a dystopia future that feels new but worryingly possible. The story follows brothers Garrett and Dyce (Allerdyce) and a woman they meet on their journey across the violent wasteland, Vida.
This book is in no means for people expecting a fast paced, action packed, apocalypse story. But this book never seems slow, some parts are fast and strange and aggressive but some parts are steady and comfortable and quiet. It's a great story about the interactions people would have during an apocalypse as much as it is about surviving the end of the world.
There's some action, there is conflict and violence, betrayal and death, there's even friendship and romance all twined into one well paced book about journeying through a wilderness that was once a home and there is the constant threat that these people will end up alone because death can ride the slightest breeze.
I loved the dynamic between the characters and the different characters stories that all overlap and crossover each other to make one large story about living in a world that's trying to kill you. It's a weird but realistic view of what a post-apocalyptic world could be like.
This book is in no means for people expecting a fast paced, action packed, apocalypse story. But this book never seems slow, some parts are fast and strange and aggressive but some parts are steady and comfortable and quiet. It's a great story about the interactions people would have during an apocalypse as much as it is about surviving the end of the world.
There's some action, there is conflict and violence, betrayal and death, there's even friendship and romance all twined into one well paced book about journeying through a wilderness that was once a home and there is the constant threat that these people will end up alone because death can ride the slightest breeze.
I loved the dynamic between the characters and the different characters stories that all overlap and crossover each other to make one large story about living in a world that's trying to kill you. It's a weird but realistic view of what a post-apocalyptic world could be like.
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