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olivia_b2509's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah does an amazing job of capturing the male teenage voice. The fact that Toby isn’t a particularly likable character to me, proves this point. I can sympathise with his situation though, and slowly his better qualities comes through. He’s a good big brother to the younger boys in his dorm, even if somewhat grudgingly.
Little of their classes in included in the story, for the main they are inconsequential for them; they’re not going to use their lessons learned after all. However one key thing they are reading in class, which can hardly be coincidental, is Lord of the Flies. In the house, the kids are mostly left to themselves and they form their own social hierarchy. Those who show weakness (first signs of illness) are shunned by the group.
There was one thing which distracted me a little. The way the defectiveness is introduced made me think it wasn’t logical. A genetic defect that’s only becomes detectable after time, not at birth and the need to isolate them from society just didn’t make sense to me. What would make their families just give them up like that? However, enough is suggested near the end that explains it enough for me. I just wish my brain hadn’t got attached to that particular niggle.
It’s not really about the outside world at all. There are little hints, like the change in climate, and the flashbacks to how Toby came to be in the Death House. We know there are other houses like it around the country. But the children have been separated from the greater world, and this story is about them. It’s insular and intimate, but with a sense of dread pervading. Is there hope? Or are they right to just accept their fate?
I liked that is wasn’t about the children fighting the system or being unlikely saviours for mankind, as we so often see. I do think it’s one you’re going to want to discuss afterwards, there is so much not told, but enough to make assumptions. Have we all made the same ones?
Review copy provided by publisher.
Little of their classes in included in the story, for the main they are inconsequential for them; they’re not going to use their lessons learned after all. However one key thing they are reading in class, which can hardly be coincidental, is Lord of the Flies. In the house, the kids are mostly left to themselves and they form their own social hierarchy. Those who show weakness (first signs of illness) are shunned by the group.
There was one thing which distracted me a little. The way the defectiveness is introduced made me think it wasn’t logical. A genetic defect that’s only becomes detectable after time, not at birth and the need to isolate them from society just didn’t make sense to me. What would make their families just give them up like that? However, enough is suggested near the end that explains it enough for me. I just wish my brain hadn’t got attached to that particular niggle.
It’s not really about the outside world at all. There are little hints, like the change in climate, and the flashbacks to how Toby came to be in the Death House. We know there are other houses like it around the country. But the children have been separated from the greater world, and this story is about them. It’s insular and intimate, but with a sense of dread pervading. Is there hope? Or are they right to just accept their fate?
I liked that is wasn’t about the children fighting the system or being unlikely saviours for mankind, as we so often see. I do think it’s one you’re going to want to discuss afterwards, there is so much not told, but enough to make assumptions. Have we all made the same ones?
Review copy provided by publisher.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
Somewhere in the near future some sort of disease is almost eradicated but the population are still tested and the Defectives found are whisked away to an island so live in isolation. Toby is one of the older young people in the Death House carving out his way of coping among many. I found the massive anti-religion drive very distracting as that's not my fight, but the description of first love was rather sweet. It definitely was a page-turner but there was something about it too that dropped the stars, so to speak. Still trying to figure out what that was.
ai__'s review against another edition
3.0
Interesting enough for me to finish it but really childish at times (even thought the main characters are supposed to be teenagers) and with extremely predictable plot twists.
gabyshedwick's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
Exactly what I needed, fast paced, really likeable narrator, absolutely devoured it
Exactly what I needed, fast paced, really likeable narrator, absolutely devoured it
chrismacilzeg's review against another edition
3.0
I find The Death House a difficult one to review: I found it compelling reading, nigh impossible to put down because of how well realised the characters and their little community. Their interpersonal drama rings true and is entirely involving. Toby's voice is strong and emotionally he's bang on point. What's more the premise fantastic and the setting is intriguing. So much mystery and atmosphere. When it also came to the point where Pinborough needed to start jerking some tears, she does so with aplomb.
And yet, faced with all these excellently assets, The Death House stumbles.
The premise is ill-realised and hardly used. The setting is rather a bland one. The mysteries are badly developed and unsatisfying. This is a novel that is only interested in the characters, and in disregarding everything else promising about the story it limits itself badly.
Unanswered questions and mysteries that go unexplained don't need to be a bad thing; often authors ruin mysteries that would work without an explanation by giving them one. I feel like Pinborough understands that, but she never develops the mysteries beyond their initial premise. What other mysteries spring up in the book, after a point, pop up just to fuel the plot and provoke an emotional reaction.
Much of the book happens just to provoke an emotional reaction. This is something that often twists me up a little - all authors want to provoke an emotional reaction. That is one of the fundamental things all storytellers write for - how can you criticise a novelist for being effective at it. As has been argued "manipulative" is a ridiculous criticism. All writing means to be manipulative.
There is a balance to be struck, however. The Death House crosses that line, and as effective as it was the descent into tear jerking felt cheap and weakened the story as a whole. Rather than emotions being interlinked with the characters and themes and ideas invoked in the story, it begins to feel like everything is there to cynically provoke that emotion, and the story that I had enjoyed and bought into for so long began to feel thin and limited.
The Death House may lack atmosphere, be written basically okay and fail to deliver on its premise, but it has strengths that almost allow the book to move past these weaknesses. Alas, at the last minute even that begins to feel cheapened and unsatisfying. In the end, this book wasn't for me.
And yet, faced with all these excellently assets, The Death House stumbles.
The premise is ill-realised and hardly used. The setting is rather a bland one. The mysteries are badly developed and unsatisfying. This is a novel that is only interested in the characters, and in disregarding everything else promising about the story it limits itself badly.
Unanswered questions and mysteries that go unexplained don't need to be a bad thing; often authors ruin mysteries that would work without an explanation by giving them one. I feel like Pinborough understands that, but she never develops the mysteries beyond their initial premise. What other mysteries spring up in the book, after a point, pop up just to fuel the plot and provoke an emotional reaction.
Much of the book happens just to provoke an emotional reaction. This is something that often twists me up a little - all authors want to provoke an emotional reaction. That is one of the fundamental things all storytellers write for - how can you criticise a novelist for being effective at it. As has been argued "manipulative" is a ridiculous criticism. All writing means to be manipulative.
There is a balance to be struck, however. The Death House crosses that line, and as effective as it was the descent into tear jerking felt cheap and weakened the story as a whole. Rather than emotions being interlinked with the characters and themes and ideas invoked in the story, it begins to feel like everything is there to cynically provoke that emotion, and the story that I had enjoyed and bought into for so long began to feel thin and limited.
The Death House may lack atmosphere, be written basically okay and fail to deliver on its premise, but it has strengths that almost allow the book to move past these weaknesses. Alas, at the last minute even that begins to feel cheapened and unsatisfying. In the end, this book wasn't for me.
emptyrustyfuller's review against another edition
dark
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
The reason I have rated 3 is it started out strong but fell flat by the end
kasandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I was extremely intrigued by this book and was excited to read it. In the beginning, I was really interested in the storyline and I could see how the suspense was starting to build but it never climaxed. Sadly, it turned into a dystopian love story. Overall, I really enjoyed the way the story flowed and the emotions it made me feel. It was a hopeful, heartwarming and heartbreaking novel but it didn't live up to the thriller genre in my opinion.
booksfemme's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars!
So this was an interesting read. I kinda still have to gather my thoughts on this but I've never read anything quite like this.
So this was an interesting read. I kinda still have to gather my thoughts on this but I've never read anything quite like this.
catrad's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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