Kelly
At first the story draws you in trying to piece together what happened between Chani and Gabe and the external forces at play. But as you get closer to finishing, you realize that this isn't living up to expectations, borderline problematic, and it's disappointing. Because this book could have been way better. I also wasn't a fan of the constant time jumps & news articles. It made the book confusing and repetitive.
The world is beautiful and I'd love to see it come to life. I liked the messages of the book and the imagery and metaphors that went along with it. But it felt like the story skipped at some parts or transitions were too choppy. While the main characters were fully developed, the recurring side characters didn't have much dimension to them. This was a missed opportunity to add more depth.
I love Simu and will see every movie, show, music video, and stock photo he's on :) But the memoir felt inconsistent. The first half was filled with reflection, vulnerability and appreciation for those around him. The second half seemed more of “I'm successful because I never gave up” sprint and lacked the relatability & rawness of the first half.
I couldn't get into story or any of the characters. Everything and everyone felt pretentious, type casted, and annoying. And I was incredibly bored in one of the pivotal scenes, I just couldn't keep reading.
DNF because I couldn't get into the plot and had no connection to the characters. I was bored. There was no atmosphere or tension to pull you into the book or keep you turning the pages. There was a lot of potential but it lacked a dynamic range, everything played out as the same note.
I just wasn't in the mood or right headspace for this book. This is a type that you should read in multiple sittings to really enjoy and appreciate. I liked the humor and sharp observations by the author, but I wasn't vibing with the material.