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kjharrowick's review
4.0
True rating: 3.5 stars
Why I picked up this book:
I was given a free copy of this story by the author in exchange for an honest review. When I first read the book blurb, I was a tiny bit skeptical that this story was too contemporary. However, I loved the idea of an older hero on an adventure with alzheimer's shadowing every step of his quest.
It should be noted that I agreed to read/review the story before the Covid-19 outbreak, and started the story weeks before lockdowns. I DNF'd at 19%.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
Gabriel is a wonderful hero. We see right from the beginning that he's trapped within a nursing home with no ability to return to his life (he has too many medical problems), and this is further impacted by the high security lockdown of the facility. Even though he can smell and almost see the ocean, he's never allowed to go there despite the fact it's so close. As a reader this broke my heart thinking about how many of our wonderful older folks might be trapped in a similar way--they just want one more day in the sun and surf to give the last days of their lives some happiness and peace. These elements helped me connect to the wonderful Gabriel and really root for him to find his day at the beach.
Why I didn't finish:
This one is a bit more complicated. I really wanted to love this story and feel the intensity of a clock ticking down. However, the first several chapters meandered through life without any tension. And the introduction of Gabriel's daughter seemed to slow the story down even more. Apart from being his daughter, I'm not sure what her purpose is or why she has a POV.
Finally in chapter 4 (5?) the story started with a bang. The mystery virus takes hold of one of Gabriel's friends and nursing home inmates, immediately followed by the talking slug. For me, these were the two most interesting elements and as a reader I really wanted the story to start there.
Once I reached this point I was ready to give the story a second shot and keep reading. However, a virus outbreak happened in reality, and suddenly I couldn't read further. I tried to reconnect to the story, but as a reader I want to escape in my stories, and this is one I could no longer escape to.
This is no fault of the author... just an unfortunate coincidence. However, I hope that maybe one day I can pick up the story and try again.
Overall:
I think Nicholas Conley has a great tale buried in this book. It might be a perfect fit for readers who want to read virus outbreak stories right now and find comfort in something familiar. In the first 19%, I'd classify this story as more contemporary than science fiction, but the rest of the book might be pure SF (I'm honestly not sure). If you're a reader that doesn't do well with long, drawn out openers, I'd recommend you start reading in chapter 4 where the story really starts. I also recommend this for anyone who likes older heroes, or stories that are more general fiction with hints of science fiction.
Why I picked up this book:
I was given a free copy of this story by the author in exchange for an honest review. When I first read the book blurb, I was a tiny bit skeptical that this story was too contemporary. However, I loved the idea of an older hero on an adventure with alzheimer's shadowing every step of his quest.
It should be noted that I agreed to read/review the story before the Covid-19 outbreak, and started the story weeks before lockdowns. I DNF'd at 19%.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
Gabriel is a wonderful hero. We see right from the beginning that he's trapped within a nursing home with no ability to return to his life (he has too many medical problems), and this is further impacted by the high security lockdown of the facility. Even though he can smell and almost see the ocean, he's never allowed to go there despite the fact it's so close. As a reader this broke my heart thinking about how many of our wonderful older folks might be trapped in a similar way--they just want one more day in the sun and surf to give the last days of their lives some happiness and peace. These elements helped me connect to the wonderful Gabriel and really root for him to find his day at the beach.
Why I didn't finish:
This one is a bit more complicated. I really wanted to love this story and feel the intensity of a clock ticking down. However, the first several chapters meandered through life without any tension. And the introduction of Gabriel's daughter seemed to slow the story down even more. Apart from being his daughter, I'm not sure what her purpose is or why she has a POV.
Finally in chapter 4 (5?) the story started with a bang. The mystery virus takes hold of one of Gabriel's friends and nursing home inmates, immediately followed by the talking slug. For me, these were the two most interesting elements and as a reader I really wanted the story to start there.
Once I reached this point I was ready to give the story a second shot and keep reading. However, a virus outbreak happened in reality, and suddenly I couldn't read further. I tried to reconnect to the story, but as a reader I want to escape in my stories, and this is one I could no longer escape to.
This is no fault of the author... just an unfortunate coincidence. However, I hope that maybe one day I can pick up the story and try again.
Overall:
I think Nicholas Conley has a great tale buried in this book. It might be a perfect fit for readers who want to read virus outbreak stories right now and find comfort in something familiar. In the first 19%, I'd classify this story as more contemporary than science fiction, but the rest of the book might be pure SF (I'm honestly not sure). If you're a reader that doesn't do well with long, drawn out openers, I'd recommend you start reading in chapter 4 where the story really starts. I also recommend this for anyone who likes older heroes, or stories that are more general fiction with hints of science fiction.
avoraciousreader68's review
4.0
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Gabriel Schist won the Nobel Prize for inventing a vaccine for AIDS. Now he’s in his 70s and losing the battle with Alzheimer’s. Living out his days in the Bright New Day nursing home, Gabriel is just trying to hang onto as much as his memory as possible. When a horrific and terrifying new disease begins to affect residents and the government is keeping it completely hush hush, Gabriel wonders if his deteriorating mind can come up with the cure before it fails him completely. He doesn’t think so, but a resident named Victor and some prodding by some hinky beings that are probably, maybe, figments of his swiss cheese mind get him working on the problem. The results are mind boggling!
Gabriel’s tale is a terrifying one for someone like me, fast approaching 50 and familiar with relatives in nursing homes. However, while at times depressing as hell, there are plenty of times when it is quite heartening. Gabriel is an interesting character and in addition to seeing his life in the nursing home, there are flashbacks to when he was younger. They are very well-done and dovetail what is happening in his present. As the tension of the strange disease ratchets up, I had a hard time putting this book down. But…you knew there was a but, right? It got quite weird. Not exactly bad weird, just weird. I was left sitting there scratching my head and going wtf just happened? I mean, I pretty much know what happened, I think, but still… You’ll understand what I mean when you read it. LOL Even with the weirdness I recommend it. It’s quite the ride.
Gabriel Schist won the Nobel Prize for inventing a vaccine for AIDS. Now he’s in his 70s and losing the battle with Alzheimer’s. Living out his days in the Bright New Day nursing home, Gabriel is just trying to hang onto as much as his memory as possible. When a horrific and terrifying new disease begins to affect residents and the government is keeping it completely hush hush, Gabriel wonders if his deteriorating mind can come up with the cure before it fails him completely. He doesn’t think so, but a resident named Victor and some prodding by some hinky beings that are probably, maybe, figments of his swiss cheese mind get him working on the problem. The results are mind boggling!
Gabriel’s tale is a terrifying one for someone like me, fast approaching 50 and familiar with relatives in nursing homes. However, while at times depressing as hell, there are plenty of times when it is quite heartening. Gabriel is an interesting character and in addition to seeing his life in the nursing home, there are flashbacks to when he was younger. They are very well-done and dovetail what is happening in his present. As the tension of the strange disease ratchets up, I had a hard time putting this book down. But…you knew there was a but, right? It got quite weird. Not exactly bad weird, just weird. I was left sitting there scratching my head and going wtf just happened? I mean, I pretty much know what happened, I think, but still… You’ll understand what I mean when you read it. LOL Even with the weirdness I recommend it. It’s quite the ride.
marianc6f98's review
4.0
Nicholas Conley's debut novel, Pale Highway, has an unlikely setting: a long term care home. The protagonist is even more unlikely: a Nobel Prize-winning scientist losing his battle with Alzheimer's. Once hailed as a saviour for developing a vaccine against AIDS, Gabriel Schist is slowly losing touch with everything he held dear, until it appears a new, deadly, virus has arisen, one that only Gabriel can understand and fight.
Conley has worked in care homes with Alzheimer's patients, and this is clear not only from his descriptions of the environment, procedures, and organization of these homes, but from his accurate, compassionate depiction of the residents. Pale Highway is a science-fiction story, but it is also speculative fiction, speculative in terms of what reality is and might be in the mind of a man with Alzheimer's.
The major characters in Pale Highway are complex and fully developed, and the prose lucid. The plot is suspenseful, and Conley finely balances the reader's perceptions: is what is occurring in these pages real at all, or is everything happening within the disintegrating mind of Gabriel Schist? Like Life of Pi, the book questions what constitutes reality.
Gabriel's struggle to maintain some control over his failing mind, not only to solve the medical crisis facing the world, but to hold on to his relationship with his daughter, is presented movingly and realistically. His current struggle reflects past struggles in his life; the novel jumps between past and present, showing us how Gabriel's past issues have forged his character and determination.
My only niggle was that I found some aspects of Gabriel's reality difficult to suspend belief enough to accept. Both how Gabriel is given help to do his work, and his ability to obtain the materials needed, led me to the conclusion that the actions must be taking place only in his mind. But that, I think, is a limitation of my imagination, not a limitation of the story; another reader may come to a different conclusion. Overall, 4 stars, for an impressive debut novel.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review by Goodreads Author Marian Thorpe [b:Empire's Daughter|24979052|Empire's Daughter|Marian L. Thorpe|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424496086s/24979052.jpg|44645036]
Conley has worked in care homes with Alzheimer's patients, and this is clear not only from his descriptions of the environment, procedures, and organization of these homes, but from his accurate, compassionate depiction of the residents. Pale Highway is a science-fiction story, but it is also speculative fiction, speculative in terms of what reality is and might be in the mind of a man with Alzheimer's.
The major characters in Pale Highway are complex and fully developed, and the prose lucid. The plot is suspenseful, and Conley finely balances the reader's perceptions: is what is occurring in these pages real at all, or is everything happening within the disintegrating mind of Gabriel Schist? Like Life of Pi, the book questions what constitutes reality.
Gabriel's struggle to maintain some control over his failing mind, not only to solve the medical crisis facing the world, but to hold on to his relationship with his daughter, is presented movingly and realistically. His current struggle reflects past struggles in his life; the novel jumps between past and present, showing us how Gabriel's past issues have forged his character and determination.
My only niggle was that I found some aspects of Gabriel's reality difficult to suspend belief enough to accept. Both how Gabriel is given help to do his work, and his ability to obtain the materials needed, led me to the conclusion that the actions must be taking place only in his mind. But that, I think, is a limitation of my imagination, not a limitation of the story; another reader may come to a different conclusion. Overall, 4 stars, for an impressive debut novel.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review by Goodreads Author Marian Thorpe [b:Empire's Daughter|24979052|Empire's Daughter|Marian L. Thorpe|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424496086s/24979052.jpg|44645036]
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