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tricapra's review against another edition
3.0
Well gosh, this certainly was a book that someone wrote.
steenabean's review against another edition
3.0
Ooooooh boy. So let me preface this by saying I did in fact finish this book, and I did find the ending very beautiful and poetic. In fact, I kind of wish the potential of these powers introduced in the ending had been brought to the forefront as a possibility sooner.
That much being said, this book has some serious issues.
To begin with, the pacing in this book is a disaster. The author seems desperate to keep the action moving, and accomplishes it very clumsily. The main characters have been in one place a little too long? Send in big bad bald man! He will create a sense of danger by literally shooting everything in his path! Honestly, it struck me as extremely lazy and after about 3 scenes with this character, I was completely bored with the horror and gore action sequences. It was repetitive and to be honest didn't add much to the narrative.
I honestly feel there was too much packed in this short book. The diversity of the characters is one of the book's greatest strengths, but because it tries to tackle so many social complexities at once, the characters come up flat. Fortunately, they don't come across as offensively stereotypical, but there's definitely a missed opportunity to explore how the character's memberships of marginalized groups informs who they are.
The overall purpose of the experimentation is left up in the air for the whole book. What was the research actually meant to accomplish? What was the goal? This was never made clear, and I guess since we're technically seeing the story from the hero's viewpoint, maybe we don't need to know that, but we don't get anything substantial to fill this gap. We don't get to really know what Ash's experience with her new powers is, just that she likes these memories for some very strange and unexplored reason. It felt like the author had a great idea for a concept and skipped developing motive for his characters.
Overall, I've definitely read worse books, but if you're trying to decide on which thrillers to read in 2018, this isn't really a MUST read. Fascinating concept, poor execution. I'm not saying you should avoid reading it entirely, but the verdict is pretty much... meh.
That much being said, this book has some serious issues.
To begin with, the pacing in this book is a disaster. The author seems desperate to keep the action moving, and accomplishes it very clumsily. The main characters have been in one place a little too long? Send in big bad bald man! He will create a sense of danger by literally shooting everything in his path! Honestly, it struck me as extremely lazy and after about 3 scenes with this character, I was completely bored with the horror and gore action sequences. It was repetitive and to be honest didn't add much to the narrative.
I honestly feel there was too much packed in this short book. The diversity of the characters is one of the book's greatest strengths, but because it tries to tackle so many social complexities at once, the characters come up flat. Fortunately, they don't come across as offensively stereotypical, but there's definitely a missed opportunity to explore how the character's memberships of marginalized groups informs who they are.
The overall purpose of the experimentation is left up in the air for the whole book. What was the research actually meant to accomplish? What was the goal? This was never made clear, and I guess since we're technically seeing the story from the hero's viewpoint, maybe we don't need to know that, but we don't get anything substantial to fill this gap. We don't get to really know what Ash's experience with her new powers is, just that she likes these memories for some very strange and unexplored reason. It felt like the author had a great idea for a concept and skipped developing motive for his characters.
Overall, I've definitely read worse books, but if you're trying to decide on which thrillers to read in 2018, this isn't really a MUST read. Fascinating concept, poor execution. I'm not saying you should avoid reading it entirely, but the verdict is pretty much... meh.
grudgemental's review against another edition
3.0
Good story, could have gone a bit harder into the sci fi, more of a thriller than anything
mryjne's review against another edition
4.0
I’m so torn. It was a good premise. I liked the idea of the story but some of the finer details just didn’t make sense
Spoilers below
Matilda was useless. She could have been killed at the nursing home honestly for the stupid decision to go there. Kojo was smart enough on his own to believe ash esp after getting the paperwork on her mom and his sympathy for her as she reminded him of his son. There was no need for the love story part they barely spent enough time together where they weren’t being shot at or after someone was killed.
How did Kojo even find them at the nursing home?!
What was the point of the revolving cell phones if rade was always gonna find them ANYWAYS. Everywhere they went rade was there
How did he always find them?! I understand how he found Kojo’s home i mean he’s a cop that’s easy but how did he know about the hospital?? Brandon didn’t know so….
How did he get shot at minimum 2x with no apparent medical help maybe he did who knows bc they didn’t say and only die after bleeding out from a stab wound from scissors?! From a random man that somehow he didn’t see coming?? I’m so confused lolllll
Why did the other three null have to die??? Ik his son was right there but i think Kojo could have taken him out after the first null was killed. At least give them a chance damn they had been in comas what was the point of it all just for them to die?! And then use the cure on rade which somehow made him a good person now and then he died
Spoilers below
Matilda was useless. She could have been killed at the nursing home honestly for the stupid decision to go there. Kojo was smart enough on his own to believe ash esp after getting the paperwork on her mom and his sympathy for her as she reminded him of his son. There was no need for the love story part they barely spent enough time together where they weren’t being shot at or after someone was killed.
How did Kojo even find them at the nursing home?!
What was the point of the revolving cell phones if rade was always gonna find them ANYWAYS. Everywhere they went rade was there
How did he always find them?! I understand how he found Kojo’s home i mean he’s a cop that’s easy but how did he know about the hospital?? Brandon didn’t know so….
How did he get shot at minimum 2x with no apparent medical help maybe he did who knows bc they didn’t say and only die after bleeding out from a stab wound from scissors?! From a random man that somehow he didn’t see coming?? I’m so confused lolllll
Why did the other three null have to die??? Ik his son was right there but i think Kojo could have taken him out after the first null was killed. At least give them a chance damn they had been in comas what was the point of it all just for them to die?! And then use the cure on rade which somehow made him a good person now and then he died
sydneeelise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Medical content, and War
ellenchapman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
meloches's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t often read science fiction but I am a sucker for a medical thriller so when #cjsreads decided to read Clarity, by Keith Thomas, I was on board. Experimentation, conspiracies, past lives and “night doctors” collide to create a fast paced, action packed novel. Truly, I loved the concept but, in the end, I struggled with the execution.
Let me explain.
The novel opens with the introduction of several different characters including Matilda, a psychologist who specializes in memories and Ashanique, an eleven-year-old girl who has violent and traumatic memories of being in WWI. Right away, I was hooked. The “past lives phenomenon” thread moving throughout the plot was extremely interesting. I don’t know how I feel about this issue, or if I believe in it, but reading about it was fascinating! Especially the little bits of medical jargon and lectures that Matilda’s character brings to the plot.
However, what started to irk me with this novel was the delivery. For starters, several things had me a little bit confused. It took me a long time to figure out who each character was (once I understood the role of everyone it was fine) but it took about 30% of the plot for me to be able to identify the main character and the sub characters and acknowledge their roles. And, for me, after about 30% of the book completed, I wanted to be able to settle in and enjoy the story instead of trying to navigate characters.
Overall, an interesting and compelling read for conspiracy and sci-fi fans; perhaps I wasn’t the right reader!
2.5/5 stars.
Let me explain.
The novel opens with the introduction of several different characters including Matilda, a psychologist who specializes in memories and Ashanique, an eleven-year-old girl who has violent and traumatic memories of being in WWI. Right away, I was hooked. The “past lives phenomenon” thread moving throughout the plot was extremely interesting. I don’t know how I feel about this issue, or if I believe in it, but reading about it was fascinating! Especially the little bits of medical jargon and lectures that Matilda’s character brings to the plot.
However, what started to irk me with this novel was the delivery. For starters, several things had me a little bit confused. It took me a long time to figure out who each character was (once I understood the role of everyone it was fine) but it took about 30% of the plot for me to be able to identify the main character and the sub characters and acknowledge their roles. And, for me, after about 30% of the book completed, I wanted to be able to settle in and enjoy the story instead of trying to navigate characters.
Overall, an interesting and compelling read for conspiracy and sci-fi fans; perhaps I wasn’t the right reader!
2.5/5 stars.
ntrotter's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun read, with some clear inspirations. It felt at first like a Dan Brown novel but eventually became something better. It's short, which makes the book feel rushed. There are some cool style choices that make the whole book more interesting, but the set up for a sequel really weakens the overall narrative
abookishtype's review against another edition
2.0
The Clarity, by Keith Thomas, is the kind of book that really wants to be a screenplay. The science fiction premise is only cursorily explored. The rampaging bad guy is described in almost loving detail. The chapters are short and packed with gun fights. I think this will be a great read for those who want a thrill. For those of us who wanted to know more about the possibility of reawakening ancestral memories, The Clarity is disappointing...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.