Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by ojtheviking
Night Train by David Quantick
2.5
To me, this book was okay. I admittedly was expecting something a little bit different, but what I did get wasn't horrible, although I do have some minor gripes.
I like the concept. The overall plot on the train feels like a sort of warped odyssey where the main character is on a journey, meeting friends and dangers along the way. And one find some metaphors within the story, such as how you are defined by identity vs. your actions, and so on. The backstories of some characters adds a underlying tone of anthology into the mix as well. And we have themes of war, conflict and dystopia.
The ideas are there, I just felt like it was executed somewhat poorly or "safely" at times, with some uneven pacing. The main character adapts a little too quickly to the circumstances. I'd assume that to wake up in such a scenario, one would be very confused and disoriented for quite a while - "What the hell is going on, and where the hell am I?" - but the author rushes the character into almost immediate action, and as she comes across the first other living character on the train, they start socializing, sharing a meal, almost as if they have already accepted that they live on this train now.
I admire the effort to blend science fiction, horror and surrealism, although it did feel like the science fiction element was the dominant part.
All in all, not a bad read, but also not one that has me itching to immediately go back to the beginning and start again.
I like the concept. The overall plot on the train feels like a sort of warped odyssey where the main character is on a journey, meeting friends and dangers along the way. And one find some metaphors within the story, such as how you are defined by identity vs. your actions, and so on. The backstories of some characters adds a underlying tone of anthology into the mix as well. And we have themes of war, conflict and dystopia.
The ideas are there, I just felt like it was executed somewhat poorly or "safely" at times, with some uneven pacing. The main character adapts a little too quickly to the circumstances. I'd assume that to wake up in such a scenario, one would be very confused and disoriented for quite a while - "What the hell is going on, and where the hell am I?" - but the author rushes the character into almost immediate action, and as she comes across the first other living character on the train, they start socializing, sharing a meal, almost as if they have already accepted that they live on this train now.
I admire the effort to blend science fiction, horror and surrealism, although it did feel like the science fiction element was the dominant part.
All in all, not a bad read, but also not one that has me itching to immediately go back to the beginning and start again.