Fantastic opening and the middle is the perfect amount of unsettling, but it all kind of falls apart in the last 10 pages or so, which is truly disappFantastic opening and the middle is the perfect amount of unsettling, but it all kind of falls apart in the last 10 pages or so, which is truly disappointing. Flynn is a great writer, and this story may have benefited from being longer by maybe even 30 pages. The ending tries to constantly undo itself in such a short amount of time that it comes across as rushed and a lazy attempt at being a psychological mindfuck, when I know that Flynn is more than capable of doing given a proper amount of pages....more
A tautly written, quietly horrifying novel. It's one of the most powerful books I've read this year, and has a whole lot to say in very few words, andA tautly written, quietly horrifying novel. It's one of the most powerful books I've read this year, and has a whole lot to say in very few words, and says it well.
Although not told in explicit detail, there's no avoiding the horror that this book portrays, and it's a book that tackles a subject matter not discussed seriously enough. Easily one of the best books I've read this year, or in my life....more
*no specific spoilers, but do not read further on if you intend on reading the book and don't want to be spoiled at all*
A compelling story with solid *no specific spoilers, but do not read further on if you intend on reading the book and don't want to be spoiled at all*
A compelling story with solid writing and an interesting cast of characters, but I find myself too put off by the ending.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not somebody who's against a less than HEA ending, but I'd have to agree with other reviews that I've read that described it as "pointless." As a reader, we've stuck by the characters for 260 pages, and then left with an ending that opens up more questions and answers none. In some ways I feel the novel may have suffered with given answers, but the reader could leave more satisfied than this.
I can't even accurately put into words why the ending a disappointed me as much as it did, but I can't help but feel cheated, almost as though I wasted my time by reading this. I didn't come to read a book plagued by hopelessness and that's all. Because truly, what else happened? This book was nothing more than our central cast of characters slipping down into absolute depravity.
I'll give Brooks his credit for creating a compelling story and characters that held my attention and was also solidly written, but I can't quite say this is a book that I can give a higher rating. ...more
This is one of those rare books where, despite the fact that there's plenty of explosions and deaths, virtually nothing happens in terms of i2.5 stars
This is one of those rare books where, despite the fact that there's plenty of explosions and deaths, virtually nothing happens in terms of important events or even plot progression up until the very end. The progression of the story is very stagnant, and the reader often finds themselves in the same location for long extended periods of time, and the first half of the book is basically just the different perspectives of the characters all getting to the exact same point.
Ringer is definitely a much more interesting character than Cassie though, however I just can't find myself rooting for or all that invested in any of the characters. I'll read the final book since there's only 1 more to struggle through, but overall this is a disappointing series thus far. I could see The 5th Wave being adapted into a movie, but I'd be very interested to see what they could really make out of this....more
I think I get it. Maybe this story is just way too sophisticated for me, but I can't say with certainty that I understand what exactly Sedgwi3.5 stars
I think I get it. Maybe this story is just way too sophisticated for me, but I can't say with certainty that I understand what exactly Sedgwick was trying to say here. I believe I have the general gist of it, and I appreciated the twist in the last chapter that truly tied everything together, but I'd really need somebody to walk me through the significance of the spiral since probably a big chunk of it went over my head.
Between a combination of my confusion regarding the entire meaning of the book as well as my complete boredom with the entire first story and half of the second, I can't find it within me to rate this one much higher than 3.5 stars.
Amazing writing, great second half of the second story and amazing third and fourth story, and I can definitely appreciate what Sedgwick set out to do by writing a highly intelligent novel marketed for teenagers (although I'm sad to say that as a teenager I didn't quite get it)....more
I think this's a book that I lot of people won't like, or appreciate.
The characters are messy, mean, and not easy to like, and at times it seems like I think this's a book that I lot of people won't like, or appreciate.
The characters are messy, mean, and not easy to like, and at times it seems like they deny their feelings and refuse to develop for too long. There isn't a whole lot of big plot points, however that isn't where the strengths in this book lie.
No, the reason why I went from wanting to give this book 4 stars to 5 is because the ending ripped my freaking heart to shreds, and maybe it's because I've finally entered high school, and the thought of leaving behind my entire life for adulthood, of leaving behind the memories and the friends that I've been fortunate enough to make, destroys me. However, this book is real, and so are the emotions that it stirs up inside of me.
I also loved the writing, character dynamics, as well as the development of the characters. At times it does seem like the book is just sort of wandering around, unsure of where it's going, and it's very possible that is what happened over the course of the writing, however when it finally does get back on the path, there's no stopping this book.
A book written with this much heart and reality simply cannot get a lesser rating from me. Easily one of the most surprising reads I've experienced in a long, long time, seeing as how I thought I'd only mildly enjoy this one....more
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