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aksyring 's review for:
The Passage
by Justin Cronin
Wow... just finished this book a few minutes ago. Overall, I have to say I liked it, and most of that goes to complete amazement and awe at the author. I can't imagine how he kept all the characters and storylines straight. I have to say, it's absolultey nothing like his first book, other than he definitely has the gift of creating wonderful, complete characters. They really do seem like real people, and I found myself 100% invested in all of them. Peter is a fantastic hero, and Alicia, Maus, Amy, Lacey... all of them great heroines.
The only thing that really bugs me is that I can't imagine what a viral looks like. I really like the story Cronin came up with -- I've always been interested in people who tell the vampire story from the lines that it's a virus, and I think the modern setting is great. But I think part of the problem with having a third person narrator who is close to different characters in different sections is, it makes for somewhat inconsistent storytelling. Sometimes it helps -- for instance, the scene in the Ring, where you get a bunch of different perspectives so that you view the whole picture. But when it comes to actually seeing the virals, I feel like their image is foggy. They vaguely resemble people, I think they're bald? They have rows of sharp teeth. The original 12 are "bigger", whatever that means. One of the Littles said once that a viral looks like a bear, but later on she disputes that. I just wish I had a better picture of this being that Cronin creates.
The other thing, and I just have to say this... it's VERY Stephen King. Not in a bad way; in fact, I think it's interesting to read something that reminds me of him, since mostly nothing does! He gives a dazzling endorsement on the back of the book, and I can see why. I imagine he read the book from cover to cover in one sitting. It also reminds me of the Gone series by Michael Grant, another book Stephen King endorsed. I can't quite put my finger on why they all remind me of each other... other than they're all long, but they still have this immediacy. Like you absolutely have to read the book NOW. And when you're done, you absolutely HAVE to read the next book.
Also, I have to say, the part where Lish attached herself to the Expeditionary. I almost stopped reading, I was so mad. And for the rest of the book I was just furious, until she ends up back with Peter, and I felt like everything was as it should be. Part of me wanted to dock the book a star for that, until I realized that drama actually made the book better, and it made the me realize how much I cared about the characters.
Definitely poised for a sequel -- or two or three.
The only thing that really bugs me is that I can't imagine what a viral looks like. I really like the story Cronin came up with -- I've always been interested in people who tell the vampire story from the lines that it's a virus, and I think the modern setting is great. But I think part of the problem with having a third person narrator who is close to different characters in different sections is, it makes for somewhat inconsistent storytelling. Sometimes it helps -- for instance, the scene in the Ring, where you get a bunch of different perspectives so that you view the whole picture. But when it comes to actually seeing the virals, I feel like their image is foggy. They vaguely resemble people, I think they're bald? They have rows of sharp teeth. The original 12 are "bigger", whatever that means. One of the Littles said once that a viral looks like a bear, but later on she disputes that. I just wish I had a better picture of this being that Cronin creates.
The other thing, and I just have to say this... it's VERY Stephen King. Not in a bad way; in fact, I think it's interesting to read something that reminds me of him, since mostly nothing does! He gives a dazzling endorsement on the back of the book, and I can see why. I imagine he read the book from cover to cover in one sitting. It also reminds me of the Gone series by Michael Grant, another book Stephen King endorsed. I can't quite put my finger on why they all remind me of each other... other than they're all long, but they still have this immediacy. Like you absolutely have to read the book NOW. And when you're done, you absolutely HAVE to read the next book.
Also, I have to say, the part where Lish attached herself to the Expeditionary. I almost stopped reading, I was so mad. And for the rest of the book I was just furious, until she ends up back with Peter, and I felt like everything was as it should be. Part of me wanted to dock the book a star for that, until I realized that drama actually made the book better, and it made the me realize how much I cared about the characters.
Definitely poised for a sequel -- or two or three.