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rileypeper's review against another edition
4.0
I sure love a book that makes you think! Steven Peck was an entertaining writer, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is a topic that I have spent a bit of time pondering myself. Not hell, per se, but rather the eternities. It's something we can't comprehend currently, but I love thinking about it.
Spoiler
I found his ending to be perfect for me, actually. I have my own thoughts of how this story would continue. Eventually, people would start to figure out that searching for their personal book of life was a fruitless endeavor. Furthermore, they would (hopefully) realize that hell is really only hell if you make it hell and that heaven is something we can create together. Then, they could spend their time with each other in "hell" turning it into "heaven."auntiepeculiar's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
iamsara's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
campestcowboy's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
specificwonderland's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was ok. I wish it was longer. Not a ton happened. I thought they'd at least mention someone who had found their book. But that is more bleak, no one ever found or heard of anyone finding their book.
debbiesnacks's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
is it bad that this feels reassuring to me? i’m so scared of dying that this feels better!
squilvia's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
There are no gays in here so I assumed they're in heaven. But if there's truly hell, can I request the devils or whatever Gods out there to separate the women from the men? 😂 thanks.
"Hell is other people" - this quote from a French dude was all I can think about during the 'cult scene'. Like you're in hell, how dumb can you still be to worship another human who is also in hell with you? But fiiiine. Whatever. I'm in no way a philosopher but that scenes also reminds me of a random dialogue I read somewhere where a person said, "Maybe we're already in one (hell)." when talking about hell, referring to earth. I mean, we have slavery, murder, sexual assaults, P3dofiles, and many many more—not even animal level worthy to be called that—heinous shits we do to each other. Even all the hells (of the thousands of religion), if they're all made up, they're still made up by humans' imaginations. All the cruelty, the torture, the punishments? Yes, all humans. That's so scary to think about.
Do I feel existential crisis at the end of this book? Personally, no. Eh...maybe a little. But for the main character that I had followed through his journey of eons upon eons of years—BIG YES. My stomach churned and I had this deep, gnawing unsettling feelings upon reading the last few pages of this book. Maybe it's a mix of the gore too. But I can't really complain, it's hell after all haha.
"Hell is other people" - this quote from a French dude was all I can think about during the 'cult scene'. Like you're in hell, how dumb can you still be to worship another human who is also in hell with you? But fiiiine. Whatever. I'm in no way a philosopher but that scenes also reminds me of a random dialogue I read somewhere where a person said, "Maybe we're already in one (hell)." when talking about hell, referring to earth. I mean, we have slavery, murder, sexual assaults, P3dofiles, and many many more—not even animal level worthy to be called that—heinous shits we do to each other. Even all the hells (of the thousands of religion), if they're all made up, they're still made up by humans' imaginations. All the cruelty, the torture, the punishments? Yes, all humans. That's so scary to think about.
Do I feel existential crisis at the end of this book? Personally, no. Eh...maybe a little. But for the main character that I had followed through his journey of eons upon eons of years—BIG YES. My stomach churned and I had this deep, gnawing unsettling feelings upon reading the last few pages of this book. Maybe it's a mix of the gore too. But I can't really complain, it's hell after all haha.
ashxoxo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
augustine130614's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
yulimaru's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0