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erikadawnbraham's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars ⭐️
I have a lot of feelings about this book. The plot absolutely captivated me from the first page. The idea that 90% of the worlds population has died from a coronavirus was immediately intriguing to me, especially living in a 2023 world post-pandemic. The story follows Nico as him and his father Willem work to rebuild a community in a post-apocalyptic world.
Here is where it lost me….the length. The middle section was so girthy and wordy that I lost for at times. It often took days for me to get through 3-5 chapters which is wild considering each chapter is typically 2-5 pages long. I think what made it so long was the perspective often changed. Willem storm captured every newcomers story and it was often shared in bits and pieces. Some of this information was relevant to the story, other times it felt like fluff.
It gets an extra 0.5 star rating for me because the last 100 pages I could barely put down. This is when it really gets interesting! My qualm here though is that the end felt rushed. Why take 300-350 pages to setup the story to end it in less than 20?
Needless to say, it was entertaining. If you don’t mind trecking through a slow burn book, this may be something to read!
I have a lot of feelings about this book. The plot absolutely captivated me from the first page. The idea that 90% of the worlds population has died from a coronavirus was immediately intriguing to me, especially living in a 2023 world post-pandemic. The story follows Nico as him and his father Willem work to rebuild a community in a post-apocalyptic world.
Here is where it lost me….the length. The middle section was so girthy and wordy that I lost for at times. It often took days for me to get through 3-5 chapters which is wild considering each chapter is typically 2-5 pages long. I think what made it so long was the perspective often changed. Willem storm captured every newcomers story and it was often shared in bits and pieces. Some of this information was relevant to the story, other times it felt like fluff.
It gets an extra 0.5 star rating for me because the last 100 pages I could barely put down. This is when it really gets interesting! My qualm here though is that the end felt rushed. Why take 300-350 pages to setup the story to end it in less than 20?
Needless to say, it was entertaining. If you don’t mind trecking through a slow burn book, this may be something to read!
alexandria_in_wonderland's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
annknee's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
n33k's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
roooch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
À 8 ans j'aurais rêvé d'être comme le personnage principal à 18 ans j'admire mais jamais de la vie je serai mort immédiatement
chantalsbookstuff's review against another edition
4.0
The story line was really good and kept you engaged. Loved reading about home, Deon captures the heart, language and natural beauty of South Africa!
cdeane61's review against another edition
4.0
Have not yet been disappointed by a Deon Meyer novel.
Interesting take on an end-of-the-world scenario, set in South Africa.
Good and interesting characters and story lines, with a bit of a twist at the end.
Interesting take on an end-of-the-world scenario, set in South Africa.
Good and interesting characters and story lines, with a bit of a twist at the end.
koalathebear's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't read a post-apocalyptic novel set in South Africa before so found if fascinating. The narration by Will Damron was also excellent and evocative.
The cast of characters was interesting, the storyline engaging... What made me not give the book a higher score in the end was the strangely WTF ending. It was almost as if towards the end, the author couldn't figure out if it was a post apocalyptic novel, a biographical novel or a whodunnit ... he'd thrown crumbs out through the book that we'd met/seen the murderer before .. but when we found out the truth, it was a dramatic twist - but didn't quite make sense or stack up. A real shame given that 95% of the book was excellent and I was surprised by how compelling and convincing even unsympathetic characters like the pastor were.
The cast of characters was interesting, the storyline engaging... What made me not give the book a higher score in the end was the strangely WTF ending. It was almost as if towards the end, the author couldn't figure out if it was a post apocalyptic novel, a biographical novel or a whodunnit ... he'd thrown crumbs out through the book that we'd met/seen the murderer before .. but when we found out the truth, it was a dramatic twist - but didn't quite make sense or stack up. A real shame given that 95% of the book was excellent and I was surprised by how compelling and convincing even unsympathetic characters like the pastor were.
raytheron's review against another edition
4.0
This review is in Afrikaans and English, the English version following the Afrikaans.
Wat gebeur ná 'n ramp wat biljoene lewens eis? Dis nie 'n nuwe idee nie; daar is 'n swetterjoel romans wat dieselfde tema pak, maar Meyer se Koors is, na die beste van my wete, uniek. Die gebeure wat op die uitbreek en gepaardgaande massa-dood van miljoene in Suid-Afrika volg, is in Meyer se kosmos anders as die gewone, want Koors is die verhaal van hoop, samewerking, eenheid, en die vasbeslotenheid van 'n handjievol oorlewendes om van nuuts af 'n gemeenskap wat verlig, demokraties en vreedsaam is, te stig.
Natuurlik is daar, soos gewoonlik, diegene wat nie wil bou en werk nie, maar net wil plunder en roof, en natuurlik kom die twee magte tot stryd. Willem Storm se stryd om hierdie nuwe gemeenskap op die been te bring, is die hooftema van die roman. Dit is die verhaal van hom, sy seun Nico en vele ander. Meyer se karakters is almal kompleks en almal simpatiek en genuanseerd uitgebeeld. Ons het nie hier met stereotipes te doen nie, met moontlik een uitsondering: 'n persoon wat ons laat in die roman ontmoet.
Koors onderstreep weer eens Deon Meyer se status as meesterskrywer, G'n wonder dat hy as die gewildste huidige skrywer in Afrikaans beskou word nie.
Maar waarom dan nie vyf sterre nie? Na my mening laat die slot van die verhaal die hele werk in die steek. Die laaste 24 bladsye snel verby, bevat onthullings wat m.i. meer reaksie van Nico moes ontlok het. 'n Daad wat ontsettend is, word gelate aanvaar en aan ons voorgehou asof dit 'n nietigheid is. Die einde is te simplisties, reken ek.
Is Koors aan te beveel? Ongetwyfeld! Dit is 'n roman wat kop en skouers bó die meeste ander in sy genre staan. Dit is meesterlik geskryf en uitsonderlik goed, net jammer van die einde.
***
What happens after a disaster that claims billions of lives? This is not a new question; there are many novels with the same theme, but Meyer’s Koors (English: Fever) is, to the best of my knowledge, unique. The events following the outbreak and subsequent mass deaths of millions in South Africa in Meyer’s cosmos differs from the usual, because it is a novel of hope, co-operation, unity, and the determination of a handful of survivors to create a community that is enlightened, democratic and peaceful.
Of course, as usual, there are those who are not willing to build and work, but are only interested in pillage and robbery, and of course the two forces clash. Willem Storm’s struggle to create this new community is the main theme of the novel. It is the story of him, his son Nico, and many others. Meyer’s characters are all complex and nuanced, complex and presented in a sympathetic manner. We are not dealing with stereotypes here, with perhaps the exception of one person we meet towards the end.
This novel underlines Meyer’s status as a master storyteller. No wonder he is considered the most popular Afrikaans writer today.
But why, then, not five stars? In my opinion the ending does the novel a disservice. The last 24 pages speed past, and contain revelations that I consider should have evoked more of a reaction from Nico. A horrific deed seems to be accepted without qualms, and held up to us as if it is a mere trifle. The ending is simplistic, I contend.
Is Koors (Fever) to be recommended? Indubitably! It is a novel that stands well above most in its genre. It is written exceptionally well, just a pity about the ending.
Wat gebeur ná 'n ramp wat biljoene lewens eis? Dis nie 'n nuwe idee nie; daar is 'n swetterjoel romans wat dieselfde tema pak, maar Meyer se Koors is, na die beste van my wete, uniek. Die gebeure wat op die uitbreek en gepaardgaande massa-dood van miljoene in Suid-Afrika volg, is in Meyer se kosmos anders as die gewone, want Koors is die verhaal van hoop, samewerking, eenheid, en die vasbeslotenheid van 'n handjievol oorlewendes om van nuuts af 'n gemeenskap wat verlig, demokraties en vreedsaam is, te stig.
Natuurlik is daar, soos gewoonlik, diegene wat nie wil bou en werk nie, maar net wil plunder en roof, en natuurlik kom die twee magte tot stryd. Willem Storm se stryd om hierdie nuwe gemeenskap op die been te bring, is die hooftema van die roman. Dit is die verhaal van hom, sy seun Nico en vele ander. Meyer se karakters is almal kompleks en almal simpatiek en genuanseerd uitgebeeld. Ons het nie hier met stereotipes te doen nie, met moontlik een uitsondering: 'n persoon wat ons laat in die roman ontmoet.
Koors onderstreep weer eens Deon Meyer se status as meesterskrywer, G'n wonder dat hy as die gewildste huidige skrywer in Afrikaans beskou word nie.
Maar waarom dan nie vyf sterre nie? Na my mening laat die slot van die verhaal die hele werk in die steek. Die laaste 24 bladsye snel verby, bevat onthullings wat m.i. meer reaksie van Nico moes ontlok het. 'n Daad wat ontsettend is, word gelate aanvaar en aan ons voorgehou asof dit 'n nietigheid is. Die einde is te simplisties, reken ek.
Is Koors aan te beveel? Ongetwyfeld! Dit is 'n roman wat kop en skouers bó die meeste ander in sy genre staan. Dit is meesterlik geskryf en uitsonderlik goed, net jammer van die einde.
***
What happens after a disaster that claims billions of lives? This is not a new question; there are many novels with the same theme, but Meyer’s Koors (English: Fever) is, to the best of my knowledge, unique. The events following the outbreak and subsequent mass deaths of millions in South Africa in Meyer’s cosmos differs from the usual, because it is a novel of hope, co-operation, unity, and the determination of a handful of survivors to create a community that is enlightened, democratic and peaceful.
Of course, as usual, there are those who are not willing to build and work, but are only interested in pillage and robbery, and of course the two forces clash. Willem Storm’s struggle to create this new community is the main theme of the novel. It is the story of him, his son Nico, and many others. Meyer’s characters are all complex and nuanced, complex and presented in a sympathetic manner. We are not dealing with stereotypes here, with perhaps the exception of one person we meet towards the end.
This novel underlines Meyer’s status as a master storyteller. No wonder he is considered the most popular Afrikaans writer today.
But why, then, not five stars? In my opinion the ending does the novel a disservice. The last 24 pages speed past, and contain revelations that I consider should have evoked more of a reaction from Nico. A horrific deed seems to be accepted without qualms, and held up to us as if it is a mere trifle. The ending is simplistic, I contend.
Is Koors (Fever) to be recommended? Indubitably! It is a novel that stands well above most in its genre. It is written exceptionally well, just a pity about the ending.
barrod221's review against another edition
4.0
I am a big fan of pandemic and post apocalyptic novels and this one brought a unique angle. Characters were well fleshed. Structure was well suited to the narrative. Well worth the length of the book.