If probably give it more 3.5 stars than 4, but it was a quick, enjoyable read...and although I liked it, it reminded me why I don't read YA religiouslIf probably give it more 3.5 stars than 4, but it was a quick, enjoyable read...and although I liked it, it reminded me why I don't read YA religiously. More complex writing and nonteenaged characters not fighting dystopian wars are a nice change of pace (or a better baseline).
I'd love to know the back story why Chicago ended up as it is. Is it the whole country too? I hope the other two books might clue readers in....more
Parts drove me crazy and I'd give them a 2. The end was well-done without being too smarmy, overwrought, or saccharin and more on the 4-stars end (forParts drove me crazy and I'd give them a 2. The end was well-done without being too smarmy, overwrought, or saccharin and more on the 4-stars end (for 20 pages or so). But the uptick evens out to a 3 -- no compulsion to read it again, but glad I did (and glad I read it for free as a library ebook). I grew up in southern Oregon and camped in many of the area she describes -- even went on a few overnight backpacking trips or day hikes with my family likely near the trail when I was a kid -- and it made Strayed's voyage both unfathomable and familiar. If nothing else, her quest and reaction to the wilderness reminds me how much I've simply taken for granted growing up and camping in such a beautiful state. Still doesn't make me want to take up backpacking again, though -- which is a good reminder. :)...more
I'm torn. I liked the second half better than the first, but I'm at a strange place -- it wasn't good enough that I want to spend money buying the nexI'm torn. I liked the second half better than the first, but I'm at a strange place -- it wasn't good enough that I want to spend money buying the next book, and it's not available as a library ebook. Guess I may need to hit up the actual library, or my friends who've read it.
I didn't like it as well as other YA books I've read, and as a generally nonfantasy reader this one never really drew me in until perhaps the last 2-3 chapters...and that's a bit late. It did a poor job of explaining some of the creatures and theology of their world and instead assumed the reader would automatically know what things were. I'm somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars, and since I'm not sold on 3 stars (meaning I liked it vs. just okay), I'll round down. I feel no compulsion to see or rent the movie ever...but I am curious to see what happens next in the series...I think. It's much like I felt with the Nicholas Flamel series -- not great writing or characters, but with a number of books in the series, I'm curious where the author tries to go. Maybe. ...more
I selected it because it was a library book with a short wait list and I was curious how it compared to the movie, which I saw once or twice in collegI selected it because it was a library book with a short wait list and I was curious how it compared to the movie, which I saw once or twice in college 10-15 years ago. I didn't like the writing style, though, and instead cheated by reading the full plot summary of the movie on imdb.com...and lost any compulsion to finish the book. Too many other things I'd like to read in the meantime....more
The first quarter was painful to slog through and get used to, but mercifully the rest of the novel was a quick, engaging vacation read...and thank GOThe first quarter was painful to slog through and get used to, but mercifully the rest of the novel was a quick, engaging vacation read...and thank GOD the characters were better than Bella and Edward, relatively speaking. Still glad it was a free library book and I didn't spend money on it, though. ...more
I'd give it a 2.5 more than a 3. The Lincoln/Child books have lost much of the verve and suspense of their earlier novels, and this one was in the midI'd give it a 2.5 more than a 3. The Lincoln/Child books have lost much of the verve and suspense of their earlier novels, and this one was in the middling range. Better than the one(s) with Diogenes, but not as good as the previous two in this trilogy (and nowhere near as good as my favorites from the authors). While this plot line was more feasible than many more-recent Pendergast books, it still felt flat, disjointed, and one-dimensional. ...more
The copyediting and proofreading were appalling ("it's" when it should be "its"??), the writing only so-so, and it's irritating that the story line isThe copyediting and proofreading were appalling ("it's" when it should be "its"??), the writing only so-so, and it's irritating that the story line is stretched out for HOW many books? If I have to read "you don't want to know what's there" or variations on "they could not fail this time; Flamel was his" a dozen more times, I'll scream. Yet I keep reading because they're library books and free, and I'm curious how on earth the series will end. Wish there was a Cliff's Notes version to speedread, though....more
The end of the book greatly compensates for the slower, lengthy middle chunk of the plot, shifting it more toward 3.5 to 4 stars (instead of the 3 I wThe end of the book greatly compensates for the slower, lengthy middle chunk of the plot, shifting it more toward 3.5 to 4 stars (instead of the 3 I would have given it 200 pages from the end).
Like with Voyager, some of the plot twists and turns are so wide that it stretched my limits of willing suspension of disbelief...but all the same, it was an entertaining, enjoyable read and far better than book 4 and 5 (thank god)....more
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