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A review by charlote_1347
The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North
4.0
SOME SPOILERS AHEAD.
1st star was for psychological intensity. The only other novel that has had such an effect on me was 'Beside Myself' by Ann Morgan (read it; it's awesome).
2nd star was for North's unique and engaging writing style. Stream-of-consciousness narratives have long been a pet peeve of mine but it worked for Hope's voice. I couldn't imagine how agonising it would have been to be in her position.
3rd star was for the sheer amount of research that must have gone into this book. It's difficult to include so many facts in fiction and keep it interesting but North managed. She even used those facts as an effective tool to help portray Hope, since her condition made it impossible for her to be defined by society like everyone else.
4th star was for the plot, plain and simple. I loved everything about it, including Byron's oh-so-tragic ending.
I would have awarded the 5th star if there'd be more romance in the story. It wasn't the lack of hearts-and-flowers either, that I necessarily noticed. Without the balancing effect of gushy feelings and heartfelt confessions, the narrative was very action-heavy and fast-paced. I wanted to see another side to Hope, something less depressing and more hopeful-for-the-future. It was nice that her sister remembered her though.
My opinion of 'The Sudden Appearance of Hope' was overwhelmingly positive. It was a thought-provoking read that examined real-life issues unflinchingly. I liked it so much, in fact, that I have 'Touch' and 'The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August' on my shelves, ready to be read.
1st star was for psychological intensity. The only other novel that has had such an effect on me was 'Beside Myself' by Ann Morgan (read it; it's awesome).
2nd star was for North's unique and engaging writing style. Stream-of-consciousness narratives have long been a pet peeve of mine but it worked for Hope's voice. I couldn't imagine how agonising it would have been to be in her position.
3rd star was for the sheer amount of research that must have gone into this book. It's difficult to include so many facts in fiction and keep it interesting but North managed. She even used those facts as an effective tool to help portray Hope, since her condition made it impossible for her to be defined by society like everyone else.
4th star was for the plot, plain and simple. I loved everything about it, including Byron's oh-so-tragic ending.
I would have awarded the 5th star if there'd be more romance in the story. It wasn't the lack of hearts-and-flowers either, that I necessarily noticed. Without the balancing effect of gushy feelings and heartfelt confessions, the narrative was very action-heavy and fast-paced. I wanted to see another side to Hope, something less depressing and more hopeful-for-the-future. It was nice that her sister remembered her though.
My opinion of 'The Sudden Appearance of Hope' was overwhelmingly positive. It was a thought-provoking read that examined real-life issues unflinchingly. I liked it so much, in fact, that I have 'Touch' and 'The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August' on my shelves, ready to be read.