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vigneswara_prabhu 's review for:
Outbreak
by Robin Cook
First of all, It's my fault for being misled by the title and expecting a World war Z-esque story. That being the preface, I didn't enjoy the book very much.
A third of the way in, after realizing what I was reading was not what I had expected, I made a comment as to why Mr. Cook was trying to tell a badly written Sidney Sheldon novel.
Towards the end, there was little to change my mind. Although the book is titled 'Outbreak', the Ebola outbreak, as it is served as a window dressing. With the focus being on a hammed up, half baked conspiracy plot line about using Ebola infections as a means to protecting financial interests.
By the last part of the book, one can see the twists and reveals coming a mile away. Barely halfway through the book, you can guess who the traitor (so to speak) Is.
And this is 'helped' by the writer always having at least two red herrings in place to keep us 'puzzled'. Our MC has an unfortunate affliction of being on the run, and telling everyone exactly where she is.
This contrivance follows a pattern. She visits a city, often times visiting a hospital afflicted with the Ebola Outbreak, Checks into a hotel, calls and tells at least two people where she is and then proceeds to be assaulted in her hotel room.
After a while you begin to thing, again, she got attacked again in that place. She gets attacked in her hotel room/house at least 3-4 times, an additional 2 times in her workplace. There is limit to keep playing the same record.
The big secret controversy is a bunch of rightwing fat cat doctors using the outbreak to bankrupt their competition, something which is revealed with some of the most elementary Nancy Drew-ing.
Mr.Cook wraps up the whole thing 'neatly' within the last few pages, with little of no explanation, and plot points of convenience. And a Sheldon-esque, 'then they fell in love' sort of ending.
All in all the whole thing seemed a bit too 'throw everything in and let's see what we get' sort of writing.
Not to say this genre of writing has no fans. If you just want to pass time, in some mindless reading you can pick this up. But don't expect much from the title.
P.S: I seriously didn't want to end my year of reading with this one. Sigh..beggars and choosers I guess.
A third of the way in, after realizing what I was reading was not what I had expected, I made a comment as to why Mr. Cook was trying to tell a badly written Sidney Sheldon novel.
Towards the end, there was little to change my mind. Although the book is titled 'Outbreak', the Ebola outbreak, as it is served as a window dressing. With the focus being on a hammed up, half baked conspiracy plot line about using Ebola infections as a means to protecting financial interests.
By the last part of the book, one can see the twists and reveals coming a mile away. Barely halfway through the book, you can guess who the traitor (so to speak) Is.
And this is 'helped' by the writer always having at least two red herrings in place to keep us 'puzzled'. Our MC has an unfortunate affliction of being on the run, and telling everyone exactly where she is.
This contrivance follows a pattern. She visits a city, often times visiting a hospital afflicted with the Ebola Outbreak, Checks into a hotel, calls and tells at least two people where she is and then proceeds to be assaulted in her hotel room.
After a while you begin to thing, again, she got attacked again in that place. She gets attacked in her hotel room/house at least 3-4 times, an additional 2 times in her workplace. There is limit to keep playing the same record.
The big secret controversy is a bunch of rightwing fat cat doctors using the outbreak to bankrupt their competition, something which is revealed with some of the most elementary Nancy Drew-ing.
Mr.Cook wraps up the whole thing 'neatly' within the last few pages, with little of no explanation, and plot points of convenience. And a Sheldon-esque, 'then they fell in love' sort of ending.
All in all the whole thing seemed a bit too 'throw everything in and let's see what we get' sort of writing.
Not to say this genre of writing has no fans. If you just want to pass time, in some mindless reading you can pick this up. But don't expect much from the title.
P.S: I seriously didn't want to end my year of reading with this one. Sigh..beggars and choosers I guess.