louisadassow's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Hilarious and observant throughout. A clever premise delivered with very human characters.
shaynasiakimotu's review
3.0
Parts of this book were so easy to get lost in, but then other parts frustrated me so much (particularly the main character).
corpsewhale's review
2.0
Harding did a great job of creating a rich world full of fleshed-out and interesting characters. However, this book was about twice as long as it should have been. Sporadic somber moments seemed out of place amongst the light jovial tone, and I could have done without the 9/11 reference. Considering how many parallels there were to various Shakespeare plays, I'm not sure why he chose to have a character trying to translate Hamlet; it would have been neat if the focus were on a play that the characters were more closely, but unintentionally, acting out.
milasa's review against another edition
Unfinished.
I bought this book because the plot intrigued me. It had a lot of potential, but I just couldn't take the bad writing, lewd humour, ridiculous stereotypes and shallow characters anymore... Life is too short.
I bought this book because the plot intrigued me. It had a lot of potential, but I just couldn't take the bad writing, lewd humour, ridiculous stereotypes and shallow characters anymore... Life is too short.
kingds's review
4.0
I read this book on a whim, without knowing anything about it, when it came out around four years ago. I was 18 years old, and I had just graduated high school. To be honest, I really don't remember it that well. What I do remember, however, is really loving it at the time. I thought it was really clever, and amusing, and that it was culturally relevant and touched on some genuinely important issues in modern society. I remember that the narrative includes the events of 9/11, and I remember thinking what a master stroke that was on the part of the author. In short I remember, if not being totally blow away by this book, at least thinking it was the kind of thing that would be adored by critics and readers alike.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I found this book on my Goodreads shelf and decided to see what other users on the site think of it. The overwhelming consensus seems to be that it is thoroughly average, and that Harding's take on 21st century American colonial instincts comes across as nothing more than a vapid non-statement. I find this really interesting, because if there was one word my 18-year-old self would have used to describe this book it would have been: "deep." I saw all the literary, lingual, and cultural undertones to be the marks of a profound, expertly told story, but I get the impression from some of the reviews I have read that rather than strengthening the novel they come across as cheap ploys on the part of the author. This may indeed be the case, and I don't doubt that I would see them as such if I were to read the book again, now, as a more experienced and worldly reader. But they worked their magic as Harding obviously intended them to on a younger version of me.
I suppose what I am trying to say is: if you're 18 or so, and looking for something to read that will make you feel like an intellectual, by all means give this book a whirl. It worked for me, and if you wait four years this book will most likely be wasted on you.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I found this book on my Goodreads shelf and decided to see what other users on the site think of it. The overwhelming consensus seems to be that it is thoroughly average, and that Harding's take on 21st century American colonial instincts comes across as nothing more than a vapid non-statement. I find this really interesting, because if there was one word my 18-year-old self would have used to describe this book it would have been: "deep." I saw all the literary, lingual, and cultural undertones to be the marks of a profound, expertly told story, but I get the impression from some of the reviews I have read that rather than strengthening the novel they come across as cheap ploys on the part of the author. This may indeed be the case, and I don't doubt that I would see them as such if I were to read the book again, now, as a more experienced and worldly reader. But they worked their magic as Harding obviously intended them to on a younger version of me.
I suppose what I am trying to say is: if you're 18 or so, and looking for something to read that will make you feel like an intellectual, by all means give this book a whirl. It worked for me, and if you wait four years this book will most likely be wasted on you.
pollyandthebooks's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
robinwalter's review against another edition
The writing annoyed me from the beginning with its stereotypically ignorant depiction of "pidgin" and mention of the island's FOURTEEN species of monkeys. There are some Pacific islands where one or two species of monkeys have been introduced, but none that have anywhere near as many as 14, and none where the monkeys are part of a revered local culture.
Worse than that though, was the way the book basically depicted the indigenous HUMANS as monkeys. I waded through a quarter of the book waiting for some change from the patronising "point and laugh" mentality on show from the author, and when it didn't happen, I waved bye bye.
Worse than that though, was the way the book basically depicted the indigenous HUMANS as monkeys. I waded through a quarter of the book waiting for some change from the patronising "point and laugh" mentality on show from the author, and when it didn't happen, I waved bye bye.
thewoodenfinch's review
1.0
I finished this because I hate starting and never finishing books, but meh. This was ironically the book that for whatever reason got me back into reading after a long absence...but I really wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Bought it because of the cover. When you play that game, you win some, you lose some.