THIS BOOK HAD SUCH POTENTIAL I loved the ideas behind every story - the plot lines, the gore, the utter horror BUT The way this was written completely THIS BOOK HAD SUCH POTENTIAL I loved the ideas behind every story - the plot lines, the gore, the utter horror BUT The way this was written completely ruined it for me, I was completely unattached to the characters, i felt like I was watching this rather than reading it and not in that good way where you lose track of time, but the horrible way where you feel like you are viewing a picture through a viewfinder. It's blurry, it feels so removed from your life and your view of it... sucks. Even if the picture is taken by a good artist and looks pretty powerful in person, in a viewfinder, it.... it just really sucks.
Such a personal opinion though and I know some people will be able to push through the writing style, or even love it. I just wasn't one of them. ...more
UGH I wanted so much more from this. I wanted an entire magical school... not a normal prep school with a magical chalk class. I wanted a smart, intelliUGH I wanted so much more from this. I wanted an entire magical school... not a normal prep school with a magical chalk class. I wanted a smart, intelligent character... not a student that is so BORED with his ability to do well in class without even trying. I wanted an enchanted world.... not glamorized math.
The only thing I wanted that I did actually get was a good plot line, evil darkness and an intriguing evil teacher.
I feel like a child at christmas who only got one present off their christmas list and heaps of socks. I'm not ungrateful. Just disappointed....more
**spoiler alert** Nope Nope Nope. I LOVED "Bittersweet" so I was so so excited when I got this! But, um. This book made me sigh when I was only just 3 pa**spoiler alert** Nope Nope Nope. I LOVED "Bittersweet" so I was so so excited when I got this! But, um. This book made me sigh when I was only just 3 pages in.
Basically: Lawyer approaches woman. Says she's the heir to 37 million and 5 houses all over the world. Because she's an illegitimate granddaughter to some Hollywood star. "Oh no Grandma had an affair??" Needs DNA test to prove. Doesn't want to take test to avoid making (deceased) Grandma look like a hoe. IN WHAT UNIVERSE WOULD THAT EVER HAPPEN. Woman sleeps with lawyer (shock scandal). Turns out Grandma wasn't having an affair, but that Hollywood star was her first love (cue violins).
AND, I almost forgot my favorite part:
"I'm sorry to burst your bubble, little princess, I'm sorry the world isn't all lollipops and blowjobs, but he was a dick. D.I.C.K. Dick"
Written so poorly I couldn't even finish this. To be honest, I barely began it.Written so poorly I couldn't even finish this. To be honest, I barely began it....more
I feel like I would've really liked this if I didn't start reading it under the impression that it was Non-Fiction. Some of the things Addison said, hI feel like I would've really liked this if I didn't start reading it under the impression that it was Non-Fiction. Some of the things Addison said, her ballsy way of acting, how she "never got caught" was only ever cool, because I really did think there was someone out there like this. Discovering the book is fiction? Really made me feel that my feeling of the whole "no one would really act that way" was a bit disappointing because it turns out no one ever actually did. I know, I know, I should probably have taken more of a notice of all the FICTION awards on the back cover haha but, honestly? I saw a review online about this book, pre publication, and it was all "best non fiction book I've ever read" so I went with it. Never again. ...more
WARNING: don't read this book because, like me, you ADORED The Book Thief. This book is a completely different witting style to that. And... a completeWARNING: don't read this book because, like me, you ADORED The Book Thief. This book is a completely different witting style to that. And... a completely different story style. And written. In small sentences. Like this.
It's fast to read, and at the beginning, rather fascinating but... It just isn't my cup of tea. It reminded me of a Jonathan Safran Foer novel with a mindfulness focus.
I really loathe obvious "feel good" ish novels, I like to be surprised and to find philosophy in books with really no philosophical focus. And in this book, I just felt all this pressure on the inspirational side of this book and in the process forgoing the need to a talent for storytelling.
I know there are masses of people that this book will appeal to. And it saddens me that I'm not part of them, but it's just not my kind of book....more
I don't know how Lev Grossman took my favorite daydream (getting accepted to a secret School Of Magic) and made it intolerable...but he managed to. WasI don't know how Lev Grossman took my favorite daydream (getting accepted to a secret School Of Magic) and made it intolerable...but he managed to. Was it the description of EVERY woman in the book as pretty, sexy or, for some poor soul, unpretty, the straw that broke the camel's back?? Or was it Quentin's constant DEPRESSING and SELFISH manner that ruined it for me?? I'll guess we will never know because I think I'd rather get my teeth pulled than finish this book.
Look, I usually LOVE unlikeable, negative characters. Like Holden from Catcher in the Rye. Adorable. "Quentin is like a cross between Harry Potter and Holden Caulfield", I was told.
Quentin is nothing like Holden. Holden is a teen that gets expelled and his life slowly spirals into "what am i even doing with my life". Quentin just got ACCEPTED TO A SCHOOL OF MAGIC THAT IS FROM HIS FAVORITE FANTASY NOVEL, LITERALLY A DREAM COME TO LIFE and he's so bloody negative, it was exhausting just reading his thoughts.
How could Lev write about what is literally all fantasy novel fans' dream come true and then make the character less-than-stoked about it?????
ALSO, I couldn't shake the feeling that Lev has the mind of a dirty old man?? EVERY woman's description was the level of how pretty they were (like that's all female characters are good for), how wide and sexy their mouth is???? and how full their breasts are under their school blouses. He even had the audacity to ruin my view of one of his professor's saying she was "sexy" and "distractingly pretty" like can you not RUIN my view of magical professors. All I can imagine is some kid finding professor McGonagall hot.... and it was absolutely too much.
Look, its not the worst writing in the world, so two stars. But...if you're gonna try write about a School Of Magic AFTER Harry Potter was printed, you better do a damn good job.
**spoiler alert** I loved how Joel had you changing your mind through this whole novel with "whodunnit" but when he introduces someone completely out **spoiler alert** I loved how Joel had you changing your mind through this whole novel with "whodunnit" but when he introduces someone completely out of the storyline as the killer after that many pages of mystery I COULD SCREAM.
I loved that Nola had a psychotic break and was bat shit crazy, that was a good little morsel in the story to make it more... Intriguing but all in all it was kind of bland.
Also, the fact that the police were all "here, citizen, help us solve this crime" was irritating. All I wanted when I was growing up was to be a young Nancy Drew and help the police solve murders. But as an adult, I know that isn't possible. Unless you're in a Joel dicker book, that is.
This book reminds me of the quote "beauty is pain" ... It's so beautifully and elegantly written but so sad, it's almost painful. My hat goes off to MThis book reminds me of the quote "beauty is pain" ... It's so beautifully and elegantly written but so sad, it's almost painful. My hat goes off to M.L.Steadman for making me sympathise with all the characters for different reasons, wanting them all to come out ok... This book is truly an elegant essay on grief and heartbreak. ...more
Reminded me so much of "A Pleasure And A Calling" by Phil Hogan... Just much more slow paced and less suspenseful, more irritating. The twist... Was exReminded me so much of "A Pleasure And A Calling" by Phil Hogan... Just much more slow paced and less suspenseful, more irritating. The twist... Was expected. The characters were unlikable. And I felt like this took forever to come to a conclusion that by the time I got to it I found I no longer cared....more
Not a thriller by any means.....more psychological drama on grief, stress and religious brain washing. The reason I gave this 2 stars and not 3 is becNot a thriller by any means.....more psychological drama on grief, stress and religious brain washing. The reason I gave this 2 stars and not 3 is because I couldn't get into the way this book was narrated, both mother and daughters view points sound pretty similar and I couldn't help myself from thinking Carmel's view point read a bit like "Room" by Emma Donoghue. Which I loathed every second of. Call it transference of judgement but I couldn't shake the "Room" feeling....more
DNF Tried to read on a "just like secret history but at high school" recommendation and was terribly disappointed. What made The Secret History great wDNF Tried to read on a "just like secret history but at high school" recommendation and was terribly disappointed. What made The Secret History great was Donna Tartt's writing talent, not just the storyline. Which Christopher just does not have.
I mean, his description of the cool kids was
"He had an air of a young London accountant....25 going on 50"
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