cammaleahh's review
challenging
dark
slow-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
4.0
slimeandslashers's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 rounded up to 4 for Goodreads. This book was very atmospheric, and I loved the very end. But the story did drag at times. Overall, it definitely could have been tightened up. However, I did find parts effectively creepy and eerie, and I am ultimately glad I gave this one a read.
jenniferlwatson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ghostlydreamer's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately, this is a Ruby Jean Jensen book that just didn't cut it. Ordinarily, I enjoy her writing. She's cliche and cheesy, and there really isn't any substance to her writing, but they're fun, especially if you're in the mood that flavor of horror. But right from the start, I wasn't sure if I'd like this one. I started reading RJJ's books because she wrote stories about creepy dolls. So I was a little reluctant to start one that had nothing to do with creepy dolls. But seeing as her books are a little harder to find and I already had it, I figured I might as well give it a try.
Let me start by saying this wasn't bad. But since it already wasn't something I was interested in, this one easily fell short for me. I just wasn't feeling it, which is why I stopped reading it. I left a bookmark in it thinking that I'd one day return to it, thinking it just wasn't the right time, but its been five years and I realize I will likely never go back. Thing is, I can see the appeal in this one. It's just not what I want out of a RJJ book. We all remember chain letters. And while this one is more of its time, I remember being a young middle schooler going on the internet, and every single youtube video seemed to have one of those spam chain letters sitting in the comments. Or my friends would send them to me via text, and I'd never have enough people to send them to in order to stave off whatever bad fortune might have befallen me if I did not. And at that age, a tiny little part of me wondered, "Well, what if these ARE true?" even though I knew that they were not deep down. So yeah, I can see the appeal. But it's not really a plot I want to read about in a book, you know? I could see a movie faring better than a book with this sort of plot, but hey, I think others would like this.
Like I said, it's not a bad book. But it's not what I wanted out of a book from this author, so there really wasn't any point in pursuing it.
Let me start by saying this wasn't bad. But since it already wasn't something I was interested in, this one easily fell short for me. I just wasn't feeling it, which is why I stopped reading it. I left a bookmark in it thinking that I'd one day return to it, thinking it just wasn't the right time, but its been five years and I realize I will likely never go back. Thing is, I can see the appeal in this one. It's just not what I want out of a RJJ book. We all remember chain letters. And while this one is more of its time, I remember being a young middle schooler going on the internet, and every single youtube video seemed to have one of those spam chain letters sitting in the comments. Or my friends would send them to me via text, and I'd never have enough people to send them to in order to stave off whatever bad fortune might have befallen me if I did not. And at that age, a tiny little part of me wondered, "Well, what if these ARE true?" even though I knew that they were not deep down. So yeah, I can see the appeal. But it's not really a plot I want to read about in a book, you know? I could see a movie faring better than a book with this sort of plot, but hey, I think others would like this.
Like I said, it's not a bad book. But it's not what I wanted out of a book from this author, so there really wasn't any point in pursuing it.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a mega-Jensen fan. After reading the back cover, fearing it was another chain letter type plot, I still whipped it up and plunged in the first day.
Fortunately not just another chain letter book, the story is primarily through the eyes of the protagonists Brian and Abby, two kids who dare to take the plunge of uncovering the mysteries of the letter. It begins with Brian's dog, Babs, going missing. The poor animal wanders in the old, abandoned Hawthorne Hill nursing home. There three children - Brian, Abby, Shelly - find a piece of the letter. Predictably tragedy soon strikes, but not just through deaths, but in how the children change.
I noted immediately this book is not as cruel int one as Jensen's others. It's lighter and more young adult, maybe dished out quickly, or else when she was in an off mood. The atmosphere is still unsettling, Jensen could never write a book that wasn't, even though the tone is told through the children much of the time. The kiddies themselves aren't annoying. Brian's an adorable (yes, I really said that) little kid who is all innocence with a big heart. He's fun to read through and sympathize with. All other characters are likeable - although I wanted to know more on the bearded "man."
The story starts out a little slow but it's never dull. Jensen's writing style is to par with the best of them . Her choice of wording is, frankly, beautiful and I love the analogues she uses. The writing doesn't get too stuffy, where it crams the rhythm aside.
Chain letter is what it says it is, a little more. It is more complex than the back of the cover lets on. In fact, cover blurb is a little misleading, as it doesn't play out much like the words suggest. Sadly it loses focus in the end, being abrupt and cheesy. I guess they were proposing a 'shocking' moment, but with a revelation like this it was sooo 80's. (not in a good way this time). Overall Chain Letter took me two days to read - if it weren't for distraction like work, food, and humans to take care of, I would have finished it much sooner. With flaws by still worth a read.
Fortunately not just another chain letter book, the story is primarily through the eyes of the protagonists Brian and Abby, two kids who dare to take the plunge of uncovering the mysteries of the letter. It begins with Brian's dog, Babs, going missing. The poor animal wanders in the old, abandoned Hawthorne Hill nursing home. There three children - Brian, Abby, Shelly - find a piece of the letter. Predictably tragedy soon strikes, but not just through deaths, but in how the children change.
I noted immediately this book is not as cruel int one as Jensen's others. It's lighter and more young adult, maybe dished out quickly, or else when she was in an off mood. The atmosphere is still unsettling, Jensen could never write a book that wasn't, even though the tone is told through the children much of the time. The kiddies themselves aren't annoying. Brian's an adorable (yes, I really said that) little kid who is all innocence with a big heart. He's fun to read through and sympathize with. All other characters are likeable - although I wanted to know more on the bearded "man."
The story starts out a little slow but it's never dull. Jensen's writing style is to par with the best of them . Her choice of wording is, frankly, beautiful and I love the analogues she uses. The writing doesn't get too stuffy, where it crams the rhythm aside.
Chain letter is what it says it is, a little more. It is more complex than the back of the cover lets on. In fact, cover blurb is a little misleading, as it doesn't play out much like the words suggest. Sadly it loses focus in the end, being abrupt and cheesy. I guess they were proposing a 'shocking' moment, but with a revelation like this it was sooo 80's. (not in a good way this time). Overall Chain Letter took me two days to read - if it weren't for distraction like work, food, and humans to take care of, I would have finished it much sooner. With flaws by still worth a read.
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