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A review by rad_reads_123
Lasting Damage by Sophie Hannah
2.0
I found this book in a charity shop with 'To Stefania, with best wishes', and felt bad that a book should ever be donated when somebody has gone to the trouble of writing a message in it for someone special. Reading the blurb, I was interested: 'Ok, how are they going to go about this virtual tour mishap?' Having made my way through the 440 pages of 'Lasting Damage', I now have a slightly better understanding as to why Stefania gave the book away.
This book was repetitive and disappointing. From the very beginning, it's quite clear that this book is going to be about Cambridge. Cambridge, Cambridge. Page after page is populated by Cambridge. It seems not only the characters of the book are obsessed with Cambridge, but rather the author as well. Is she trying to bring something sinister and slightly unnerving to the classic cobbled streets of the university city?
Throughout the book, chapters are accompanied by pieces about the Gilpatricks. While it is obvious to the reader that the family must be significant, these reminders are tedious; it is only on the final page that any real revelation is made, and by then, it is arguably too late.
There seems to be an attempt at a sub-plot; the drama of Charlie and her sister develops to a certain extent, yet disappears almost completely from view, with no resolution whatsoever. Will it continue in another book? Am I going to have to read another in order to find out what didn't really keep me interested in the first place?
Perhaps I am being too harsh. Apparently this is the sixth psychological novel to feature the character of Simon Waterhouse. I don't know whether this is a good thing or not. Is Hannah's storyline weaker than her previous instalments, or have the first five been as dull and unrewarding as this one?
It's strange: I was intrigued by another of Hannah's blurbs, I might read it if it were at hand. The blurb for 'Lasting Damage' held hope whereas the storyline only brought disappointment. Would I only be saying the same reviewing another of Hannah's novels?
Apologies: this is my first book review, it may not be up to scratch. Then again...neither was the book being reviewed.
This book was repetitive and disappointing. From the very beginning, it's quite clear that this book is going to be about Cambridge. Cambridge, Cambridge. Page after page is populated by Cambridge. It seems not only the characters of the book are obsessed with Cambridge, but rather the author as well. Is she trying to bring something sinister and slightly unnerving to the classic cobbled streets of the university city?
Throughout the book, chapters are accompanied by pieces about the Gilpatricks. While it is obvious to the reader that the family must be significant, these reminders are tedious; it is only on the final page that any real revelation is made, and by then, it is arguably too late.
There seems to be an attempt at a sub-plot; the drama of Charlie and her sister develops to a certain extent, yet disappears almost completely from view, with no resolution whatsoever. Will it continue in another book? Am I going to have to read another in order to find out what didn't really keep me interested in the first place?
Perhaps I am being too harsh. Apparently this is the sixth psychological novel to feature the character of Simon Waterhouse. I don't know whether this is a good thing or not. Is Hannah's storyline weaker than her previous instalments, or have the first five been as dull and unrewarding as this one?
It's strange: I was intrigued by another of Hannah's blurbs, I might read it if it were at hand. The blurb for 'Lasting Damage' held hope whereas the storyline only brought disappointment. Would I only be saying the same reviewing another of Hannah's novels?
Apologies: this is my first book review, it may not be up to scratch. Then again...neither was the book being reviewed.