missprint_'s review against another edition
2.0
This reminded me a lot of Pod (which I hated). The writing was marginally better but the latter half of the story dragged. I'm not a fan of science fiction/horror stories that start to deal in parables and cautionary tales which this did--it all just becomes too abstract and bizarre. This was kind of a strange blend of Brain Jack and Pod but with all of the elements I could handle and fewer of the problems. Eh.
fennecsgirl's review against another edition
2.0
This book just seemed so disjointed. It didn't flow and I was often left trying to piece the story together.
pwbalto's review against another edition
4.0
Paranoid and muffled, like a thriller in slow motion, like a ghost story set in the cement landscape of Roosevelt Island, it called to mind the frightened, frightening work of Philip K. Dick . Like Mulder's quieter, more desperate X-Files moments. The characters - and the reader - don't know what's going on, why everything around them keeps breaking and why everyone they encounter seems so hostile. The atmosphere is chilling and hopeless - magnetically written, it seeps into the reader's head like silence and inertia and entropy.
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/01/those-that-wake-by-jesse-karp-review.html
Full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2011/01/those-that-wake-by-jesse-karp-review.html
amynbell's review against another edition
5.0
This book reads a bit like if you mixed up the implausible science of the television show "Fringe" with the odd scenarios that only kinda-sorta of make logical sense in the television show "Doctor Who". The book was interesting enough to sit down and read in only a couple of sittings. However, when I tried to explain the plot (ending and all) to my husband, I wasn't able to tell it in a sensical way. Sometimes, though, it's the books that are tied together by such loose and elusive threads that are the most interesting because they're not so completely predictable and have a nice dreamlike quality to them.
Imagine a time in the future, when everyone is so plugged into their cell phones and other electronic devices as to lead a nearly zombie-like existence in the real world. It's probably not that difficult to imagine, is it? And then imagine that everyone you knew suddenly doesn't recognize you. Not your friends, not your family ... nobody. Now it becomes obvious that the world is operating with different rules than the ones that you thought it operated under. And stranger things begin to happen. People disappear and the rules for getting from Point A to Point B have changed, too. Luckily, you're not the only person this has happened to. But why?
This was definitely one of my more interesting and unique reads this year. I'd highly recommend it for those who like bizarre dystopian tales. However, I've noticed that a lot of readers didn't like it at all. So I guess it's not everyone's cup of tea.
Imagine a time in the future, when everyone is so plugged into their cell phones and other electronic devices as to lead a nearly zombie-like existence in the real world. It's probably not that difficult to imagine, is it? And then imagine that everyone you knew suddenly doesn't recognize you. Not your friends, not your family ... nobody. Now it becomes obvious that the world is operating with different rules than the ones that you thought it operated under. And stranger things begin to happen. People disappear and the rules for getting from Point A to Point B have changed, too. Luckily, you're not the only person this has happened to. But why?
This was definitely one of my more interesting and unique reads this year. I'd highly recommend it for those who like bizarre dystopian tales. However, I've noticed that a lot of readers didn't like it at all. So I guess it's not everyone's cup of tea.
chloesumner1317's review against another edition
4.0
First, let me say that this book is a big spew of social commentary. So if you don't like social commentary books, this is definitely not for you.
The premise for the world in which the characters live in is that it is New York City after an incident called Big Black, which caused this 4 block section of the city to be destroyed and have a dome placed over it. Everyone lives on "cells" which does everything-calls, videochats, pays for food/drinks, orders for you, GPS unit, the whole shebang. Everyone is very isolated from each other and I always pictured the weather being very gray, though that may have had something to do with the cover.
The two main characters are Mal, a foster kid trying to find his brother Tommy in Brooklyn, and Laura, a suburban college-bound girl from Long Island whose parents just can't remember her one day. There is also a focus on Mike, an inner city teacher, and Dave Remak, a corporate analyst of the Global Dynamic.
This book is not light. You've got quite a bit of theory to chew on dispersed throughout the book. There was the enclosed space on infinite loop, the Global Dynamic, and other pieces which requires you to really think about how this world reflects upon our own.
That being said, the theory is really what is driving this story. Yes, Mal, Laura, Mike, Tommy, Annie, and all of the other characters have compelling back stories, but their main purpose is to deliver this author's view on the world: Hopelessness is catching-don't let it catch you.
I really did like it, but I eat up theory like this.
The premise for the world in which the characters live in is that it is New York City after an incident called Big Black, which caused this 4 block section of the city to be destroyed and have a dome placed over it. Everyone lives on "cells" which does everything-calls, videochats, pays for food/drinks, orders for you, GPS unit, the whole shebang. Everyone is very isolated from each other and I always pictured the weather being very gray, though that may have had something to do with the cover.
The two main characters are Mal, a foster kid trying to find his brother Tommy in Brooklyn, and Laura, a suburban college-bound girl from Long Island whose parents just can't remember her one day. There is also a focus on Mike, an inner city teacher, and Dave Remak, a corporate analyst of the Global Dynamic.
This book is not light. You've got quite a bit of theory to chew on dispersed throughout the book. There was the enclosed space on infinite loop, the Global Dynamic, and other pieces which requires you to really think about how this world reflects upon our own.
That being said, the theory is really what is driving this story. Yes, Mal, Laura, Mike, Tommy, Annie, and all of the other characters have compelling back stories, but their main purpose is to deliver this author's view on the world: Hopelessness is catching-don't let it catch you.
I really did like it, but I eat up theory like this.
skundrik87's review against another edition
2.0
pretty boring. pretty preachy. the loved ones of some people forget they exist and it was an evil corporation that did it. not really interesting.
tamaraniac's review against another edition
1.0
Originally posted: http://tamaraniac.tumblr.com/post/89269955289/mini-reviews-hero-and-those-that-wake
This book was my bane for months. The beginning was just so slow that I would set it right back down again after a chapter. I must have read the first few chapters twenty times. Eventually I pushed my way through, and while it does get better later, I wouldn’t say it’s really worth it.
The beginning part (150 pages or so) is very nonsensical. It hops around to different people but nothing really happens. The ending is interesting and thoughtful and has a little bit of action, but that itself is still slow and hard to get through.
It’s a lot like what I consider to be “old” sci-fi (The Foundation Trilogy for example) without the classical or cultural significance. But it’s not a bad book, just a slow one, so if you like the look of it go ahead. You could like it.
This book was my bane for months. The beginning was just so slow that I would set it right back down again after a chapter. I must have read the first few chapters twenty times. Eventually I pushed my way through, and while it does get better later, I wouldn’t say it’s really worth it.
The beginning part (150 pages or so) is very nonsensical. It hops around to different people but nothing really happens. The ending is interesting and thoughtful and has a little bit of action, but that itself is still slow and hard to get through.
It’s a lot like what I consider to be “old” sci-fi (The Foundation Trilogy for example) without the classical or cultural significance. But it’s not a bad book, just a slow one, so if you like the look of it go ahead. You could like it.
pegahe's review against another edition
2.0
Those That Wake has the appearance of a book about zombies but, you should know, it isn't. The book is instead about helplessness and fighting it.
To be honest, after finishing the last page my reaction was "What happened?" I was thoroughly confused. I couldn't really grasp the concept Jesse Karp was using so many things had me puzzled. I read one passage three or four times and still didn't understand what was going on. Maybe someone else will understand or there could have been better explanations. You had to pay very very close attention to understand what was going on and I honestly wasn't willing to put that much effort in a book I had hoped would entertain me.
The characters... What can I say? I didn't actively like any of them. I thought they ranged from "I hate them" to "normal." I just couldn't seem to connect with them or what they did. For example, the "romance." It didn't make sense. It wasn't needed. Does all it take for love to appear is a girl to see a guy? There wasn't any foreplay. No one ever questioned their feelings. They just felt protective from the start. I couldn't understand it.
The world building wasn't really amazing. I couldn't tell if this world was supposed to be a near future or an advanced future. They referenced 9/11 so it could be near but based on how people were so technologically advanced I really don't know. We were told people never looked up from screens. Besides a few events, I couldn't really picture the New York in Those That Wake.
You may have gotten the impression I wasn't too impressed by Those That Wake,but there were good things. A lot of cool stuff happened like Laura being forgotten and having to deal with that. The characters' backgrounds were also interesting. Those That Wake make you want to stop using the Internet and testing all the time and instead look around the world. It also raises awareness of media's influences.
This book wasn't the book for me. I couldn't get into it, I didn't find myself liking the characters, the plot confused me... Definitely not for me. I'm sure someone else may enjoy this book. If Sci-fi with conspiracies against media and corporations is your thing, you'll probably like this. 2 stars,
**
To be honest, after finishing the last page my reaction was "What happened?" I was thoroughly confused. I couldn't really grasp the concept Jesse Karp was using so many things had me puzzled. I read one passage three or four times and still didn't understand what was going on. Maybe someone else will understand or there could have been better explanations. You had to pay very very close attention to understand what was going on and I honestly wasn't willing to put that much effort in a book I had hoped would entertain me.
The characters... What can I say? I didn't actively like any of them. I thought they ranged from "I hate them" to "normal." I just couldn't seem to connect with them or what they did. For example, the "romance." It didn't make sense. It wasn't needed. Does all it take for love to appear is a girl to see a guy? There wasn't any foreplay. No one ever questioned their feelings. They just felt protective from the start. I couldn't understand it.
The world building wasn't really amazing. I couldn't tell if this world was supposed to be a near future or an advanced future. They referenced 9/11 so it could be near but based on how people were so technologically advanced I really don't know. We were told people never looked up from screens. Besides a few events, I couldn't really picture the New York in Those That Wake.
You may have gotten the impression I wasn't too impressed by Those That Wake,but there were good things. A lot of cool stuff happened like Laura being forgotten and having to deal with that. The characters' backgrounds were also interesting. Those That Wake make you want to stop using the Internet and testing all the time and instead look around the world. It also raises awareness of media's influences.
This book wasn't the book for me. I couldn't get into it, I didn't find myself liking the characters, the plot confused me... Definitely not for me. I'm sure someone else may enjoy this book. If Sci-fi with conspiracies against media and corporations is your thing, you'll probably like this. 2 stars,
**
dukesangel002's review against another edition
1.0
Got to page 230 and had to give up. Wasn't for me.