Adam SP
I originally read part one of this book in high school, for English, and my 14 year old self hated it.
Reading it now, this is an incredible work of literature.
No, it's not clean. It's not beautifully edited and powerfully structured. It's, at times, a hot mess. But that ties in so well with the protagonist's state of mind, and the world around them.
The first 50 pages or so were a 2.5, the next 100 were a 3, and then the rest ramped between a 3.5 and a 4.
This was a fascinating read.
I actually struggled for the first ~170 pages, being unable to get into the story and the writing style, but then it ramps up something fierce. The last ~80 pages had me very much on edge, and completely enthralled.
Not my typical genre, but very glad to have read it.
Given when it was written, the technical predictions and ideas are, as usual, excellent!
But, the hypersexualisation is just absurdly over the top; it detracts from the story.
The story is also a bit all over the place. A vast array of footnotes and explanations, but so much of it all just bouncing around.
It's still Ghost in the Shell, and I did enjoy it, but it could have been much better...
There's a lot of characters here, and many perspectives. At first it's a task to stay across them, but the story develops well, and in the end I was gobsmacked. 4/5, good read!
To be fair, I really struggled to decide between 3 and 4 stars.
If you could break it down into categories/aspects, I think it'd average 4, hence the decision.
This novella is fascinating. At first you don't realise the character is descending into so sort of mental decline, and the loss of grammar is jarring, but then it all clicks.
I have many questions. Don't read this if you want to get to the end and feel complete. You won't. My imagination is performing acrobatics, and I'm enjoying it.
I feel that this is a very polarising bit of literature, and you'll either be enthralled, or absolutely hate it.
It's short, at only 169 pages, so worth the time.
This was a sensational read! So many characters, so many hidden sins, so much to unpack. I'll be spending a few days pondering over this story before I can pick up another...
Absolutely brilliant read!
Although you can tell that it's not Larsson, as he did have a very peculiar way of writing, Lagercrantz has done an absolutely superb job here.
The story is rich, the pace fast, the vision clear.
What a nostalgic ride!
This addaption seemed to be an excellent reimagination of the originals, with my two eldest kids (11 and 9) and I all thoroughly enjoying it.
A sold 3.8/5. Would have been a 4/5, but the ending (final ~3 chapters) was a hit too clean and theatrically rounded for my liking.
Still, an excellent novel.
I wish I could go back and rank the previous books as 4.5 stars, so that I could give this the full 5 stars, but alas.
This is my absolute favourite of the Sandman series. You would benefit from reading the preceding 11 books to provide the firm appreciation of The Dreaming, and the Dream King, but even alone it is a stunning read.
Yoshitaka Amano's art is simply breathtaking. It is so perfectly matched with the text, but completely stand alone in its own right.
This was a good prequel!!
The writing was far more balanced, and the characters easy to comprehend (and in some cases, absolutely despise.)
Cons:
- The characters are quite wooden, with their development either rushed, or done “off screen”.
- Some parts of the story are too shallow/glossed over, and others way too detailed; as such, the reading can be stilted, and jarring.
Pros:
- Absolutely wicked fun.
- Overall a good story, with some great action.
- The writing is somewhat simplistic, it's easy to get into the groove and visualise, and so it can be a real page turner.
I enjoyed it, and will likely read it again someday. I'm keen for the sequels.
To be honest, I went into this not expecting much, and at first I was intrigued, but not hooked.
That intrigue turned into complete and utter devotion to what was to come next.
Overall, I highly rate this book. If you've read things like Without Remorse (Tom Clancy,) you'll enjoy this as a much more evolved, and realistic thriller.
This was a hard book to read. There needs to be a CW/TW regarding the themes: rape, manipulation, abuse, death.
The book itself wasn't hard to read, and I think Amanda has done an incredible job for her second book. It is engaging, tantalising, gripping, and very well structured.
But the themes. My word. Some people have claimed it's too predictable, or that there's no feeling in the actions of some of the characters.
I disagree.
This book, scarily, imitates what people go through in real life, with regards to child abuse, emotional manipulation, rape, how awful people are with judgement, and how terribly victims are put to blame for the abuse they receive.
Yes, some parts you could see coming, just like any outsider can. But the big difference here is that you feel the character's adrenalin, emotion, conditioning, which completely blinds a person. For years.
I found this book hard, because the story is just so real. The themes are presented raw, and powerful.
If you can stomach them, I definately recommend having a read.
4.5 stars, as there is always something that could be improved, but damn if this isn't a brilliant book! If you like crime and thriller, read this. So, so good.
This was my first Heather Graham novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's quick, engaging, and the writing was fun.
The negative reviews, I feel, stem from people who've never suffered the traumas that drive this story.
For anyone who has suffered the extreme side of bullying in school, and the punishment you receive when you are finally worn down to nothing, this book hits hard.
To those who've suffered at the hands of a family member abusing the love and trust that is instilled from infancy, and been abused, this book hits hard.
There is some closure I would have preferred, or some more stated justice spoken, but overall this book was sensational.
Phenomenal resource for any carer of an adolescent that is gearing up for their first period, or has already started and needs help. This book is for both the carer, and adolescent, and you'll both benefit from reading it, and clear, open discussion together.
Cons:
- The characters are quite wooden, with their development either rushed, or done “off screen”.
- Some parts of the story are too shallow/glossed over, and others way too detailed; as such, the reading can be stilted, and jarring.
Pros:
- Absolutely wicked fun.
- Overall a good story, with some great action.
- The writing is somewhat simplistic, it's easy to get into the groove and visualise, and so it can be a real page turner.
I enjoyed it, and will likely read it again someday. I'm keen for the sequels.
Iris is a talented writer, and this is an excellent sequel to the first of Leo.
Thanks for the laughs, the horror, and the borderline heart attacks
The three intertwined timelines in the same physical space was well done, and the interlinked stories easy to follow. For the most part the characters were well written, and the authors intent for your trust, distrust, like, and dislike felt very balanced.
Unfortunately I found the ending unsatisfying, and the relationship between the two “now” characters a bit too 2 dimensional, and their relationship troubles a bit disheartening.
Overall, I'm glad to have read it, and would recommend it.
3.8/5
There are some amazing twists and turns in this book, but a few holes/inconsistencies that stick like a thistle in your clothes.
At times the author comes across pretentious and insulting, which can let down the twist that's just occurred.
Still, overall, an enjoyable read.