I really enjoyed this book. The extensive amount of science and science jargon may not appeal to all, but if you like it, you will enjoy this book. itI really enjoyed this book. The extensive amount of science and science jargon may not appeal to all, but if you like it, you will enjoy this book. it's like Castaway in space....more
Quick, enjoyable read for those who already like the TV series. Not a lot of depth, but fun. The way it ends (how the group escapes) seems a little ouQuick, enjoyable read for those who already like the TV series. Not a lot of depth, but fun. The way it ends (how the group escapes) seems a little out of character as built up in the series (don't usually treat lives so carelessly), but still ok....more
I listened to the audio book because I watched the Netflix series and really enjoyed it and hoped the book would provide more information and depth. FI listened to the audio book because I watched the Netflix series and really enjoyed it and hoped the book would provide more information and depth. For those reading the book and watching the series, there are some changes, most especially in adding additional characters to the Netflix series to add more social dynamics, but the overall basics are very similar. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if I had read it before watching the series, but the book does provide more information from all the characters perspectives.
One issue I had listening to the book was remembering the names of the people, almost all Chinese names. It was hard for me to keep straight who was who to understand the plot. In this respect it helped seeing the series first since it gave me a mental picture for reference where characters appeared in both, as well as a knowledge of the basic plot. This is one case where reading the physical book might have helped too so I could see the name written. In the end I downloaded a list of character names online to refer to. This helped but also gave away parts of the plot. But I think more than anything it shows I need to listen to more books with diverse names to challenge my brain and become more familiar with them.
I enjoyed the story. Gave a good background to the start of the games and origin story for Snow. I had two small issues with it. (slight spoiler) FirsI enjoyed the story. Gave a good background to the start of the games and origin story for Snow. I had two small issues with it. (slight spoiler) First: the end of it seemed a bit rushed (Snow's final "transformation" seemed a bit sudden based on how he acted throughout the rest of the book. It wasn't unexpected, good hints leading up to it, just happened so quickly). And Second: it makes the time line feel off for the series. Based on this book, Snow would then have been about 82 in the Hunger Games book, which seemed a bit old, but maybe I am not remembering the story well and we can chalk it up to the technology of the capital....more
Quick read (or listen) but I enjoyed it. I even liked the ending, which I know will not appeal to everyone. Without giving much away, it makes you thiQuick read (or listen) but I enjoyed it. I even liked the ending, which I know will not appeal to everyone. Without giving much away, it makes you think and leaves you having to decide what happened. If you only like endings with clear cut finales, then you may be left wanting with the way this one ends....more
Actually preferred the movie (though it has its own problems). Overall I found this book boring (usually I like Crichton's books).Actually preferred the movie (though it has its own problems). Overall I found this book boring (usually I like Crichton's books)....more
I can't say I liked this book very much. Definitely not as good as the first two. One it has a very dark view on humanity, though not unjustified. TwoI can't say I liked this book very much. Definitely not as good as the first two. One it has a very dark view on humanity, though not unjustified. Two, there are two many VERY annoying characters, and the characters you like just seem to argue the whole time through this book. I was interested to see how it ended so I kept reading, but the enjoyment I had at the end was not in completing a good book but rather that I am finally done and can stop.
I'm not sure if there will be a 4th book in the series but I'm not sure I would read it after this one....more
I hesitate to call this a children's book due to the dark themes in the book. This wasn't as good as the first book and was darker than the first (deaI hesitate to call this a children's book due to the dark themes in the book. This wasn't as good as the first book and was darker than the first (deals with things like justifying lying for a greater good and torture), but I still enjoyed it. It still uses the same story telling technique of everything told through "reports" (recorded interviews, official memos, personal journal entries, media broadcasts, meeting minutes, etc). It isn't a complete story narrative but more snapshots of events.
This one may be better suited as an audio book (I listened to most of it) than as a book to read....more
I enjoyed the story line of this book but I'm still not sure how I feel about the mechanism of the story telling. It is all told through "reports" (reI enjoyed the story line of this book but I'm still not sure how I feel about the mechanism of the story telling. It is all told through "reports" (recorded interviews, official memos, personal journal entries, media broadcasts, meeting minutes, etc). It isn't a complete story narrative but more snapshots of events. Still, it was creative and new, with a descent story.
Note: it has some darker themes (doing questionable/bad things for the good of the world) and not really appropriate for young children. I don't have kids so I'm not sure what age could tackle this, but would be a good book for parent and child to read together and discuss what makes something right or wrong.
This one may be better suited as an audio book (I listened to most of it) than as a book to read....more
**spoiler alert** I wanted so much to like this book but it just fell flat. The characters were not that compelling and the plot not well thought out.**spoiler alert** I wanted so much to like this book but it just fell flat. The characters were not that compelling and the plot not well thought out.
SPOILER My biggest problem was the builders set up this system to save humanity and then help them return to the world, but so little was done to make sure they could find their way out. One set of instructions and that's it. No education plan to make sure the people had a basic knowledge needed to escape successfully. And I find it hard to believe that after 200+ years someone would not have found a way to make a candle or carry a flame unless there was a strict taboo on fire (which doesn't seem to be the case)....more
I enjoyed this book, maybe more than the first 3 Mistborn books (which are pretty much a separate series). I'm excited to see where this series goes.I enjoyed this book, maybe more than the first 3 Mistborn books (which are pretty much a separate series). I'm excited to see where this series goes....more
I didn't realize when I started this that it was the second book in a series, but it was easy to catch up. This is a quick, mindless read so if that'sI didn't realize when I started this that it was the second book in a series, but it was easy to catch up. This is a quick, mindless read so if that's what you want you may enjoy it. But I found the characters (some who were supposed to be experienced and smart) incredibly naive and the romantic parts felt so out of place. Probably will not bother reading the first book or any subsequent....more
I wanted to like this series, but no. The unique thrill of the first one got lost in the plodding style of the narrative. There are interesting plot pI wanted to like this series, but no. The unique thrill of the first one got lost in the plodding style of the narrative. There are interesting plot points, and this final book does provide some answers, but the end falls flat....more
I want to really like these books but there are constantly issues. I loved the first book but found the end anticlimactic and a little boring. For theI want to really like these books but there are constantly issues. I loved the first book but found the end anticlimactic and a little boring. For the second book it was opposite, the ending finally got good, but you had to plod through 2/3 of the book first. At least it isn't that long.
One of the problems is the writing style. It is a very slow paced narrative. That worked okay in the first book because it juxtaposed with the creepy, thriller content of the story. In the second, the thriller aspect was gone and you are just left with a slow paced mystery that almost isn't enough to keep your attention. It kept just enough to keep me going and the ending definitely picked up.
The overall story is interesting and unique, but it is almost done-in by the writing style. ...more
I thought this book was okay. It isn't a masterpiece of literary work, but the story is fun and all the 1980s references will thrminor SPOILER warning
I thought this book was okay. It isn't a masterpiece of literary work, but the story is fun and all the 1980s references will thrill anyone who grew up during those years. For that alone it was worth reading.
But I found the plot a little weak when things started getting serious and people started dying in real life. I found the reaction of the main characters pretty unrealistic (there was only a couple lines to indicate anyone was really that upset at first). Maybe it was intentional to show how detached they were from living in an alternate reality so that real life and real loss no longer felt real, but to me it just felt like weak writing with no character development/depth. ...more
I really wanted to give this book 4 stars. I was invested from the very beginning and loved the sense of trying to figure out what was real. However, I really wanted to give this book 4 stars. I was invested from the very beginning and loved the sense of trying to figure out what was real. However, the shifting from current events to the past sometimes just broke up interesting sections without adding much insight (mostly towards the end, earlier flashbacks played well by adding detail to the story) and I found the end anticlimactic. The tension between the characters that made the book so intriguing was gone at the end and seemed to go on too long past the true climax. Given that this is the first book in a trilogy, my opinion may improve with further books. But the overall story was very engaging....more
Bought this at the airport when I ran out of books to read. I enjoyed it, but its pretty much just the movie (without all the nice visusals). You alwaBought this at the airport when I ran out of books to read. I enjoyed it, but its pretty much just the movie (without all the nice visusals). You always hope books based on movies will provide a little more insight into what characters were thinking, and though this book does it a little its certainly not as much as I would like. So I enjoyed the book, there was one part in the book that I liked better than the way it was portrayed in the movie, but overall I will stick with the movie....more
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