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katiescho741's review against another edition
2.0
This book was such a letdown. I was drawn to the post-apocalypse, virus-based story but the execution is pretty bad.
There's some good stuff in the book, the vampire-based virus was interesting and one of the best bits was a setpiece in Las Vegas involving empty streets, darkness, and approching danger, but the good just got swallowed up by the bad.
The opening section is over 200 pages...200+ pages of build-up and following a group of characters and their lives, and then we're taken abruptly to 90 years later and a whole new load of characters. I struggled with names, locations, relationships, and the worst thing was that I didn't really care about most of them. The main character, Amy, who is heralded and special and one-to-watch right from the first line, disappears for hundreds of pages, and then shows up as a mute mystery. I found this incredibly frustrating as I was wading through pages and pages of soap-opera drama from the other people just so I could get to the point where Amy re-surfaces.
I had some nit-picking issues with language too. The use of "flyers" as some sort of exclamation/expletive was so dumb. It doesn't work as either and made me roll my eyes everytime it was said. The other one was calling children "Littles". I didn't get that one. I know language can evolve quickly but it seemed like such a weird word to change, especially when much of their English was the same as today.
Overall, a disappointment.
There's some good stuff in the book, the vampire-based virus was interesting and one of the best bits was a setpiece in Las Vegas involving empty streets, darkness, and approching danger, but the good just got swallowed up by the bad.
The opening section is over 200 pages...200+ pages of build-up and following a group of characters and their lives, and then we're taken abruptly to 90 years later and a whole new load of characters. I struggled with names, locations, relationships, and the worst thing was that I didn't really care about most of them. The main character, Amy, who is heralded and special and one-to-watch right from the first line, disappears for hundreds of pages, and then shows up as a mute mystery. I found this incredibly frustrating as I was wading through pages and pages of soap-opera drama from the other people just so I could get to the point where Amy re-surfaces.
I had some nit-picking issues with language too. The use of "flyers" as some sort of exclamation/expletive was so dumb. It doesn't work as either and made me roll my eyes everytime it was said. The other one was calling children "Littles". I didn't get that one. I know language can evolve quickly but it seemed like such a weird word to change, especially when much of their English was the same as today.
Overall, a disappointment.
myyours's review
Started it blindly. Didn’t know it would be about vampires. Snooze.
danoreading's review
5.0
I loved this. The beginning was stronger than the end, as many have said, but I loved it anyway. I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic epics. This was everything I wanted The Stand to be.
liakeller's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. Lots of characters to keep track of, but if you just go with the story it is a good one. I spent way to much time reading it today, but I just had to see where the story went.
johnmartins's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
4.5
tinkbeadlebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
junancollins's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
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
5.0
shallbetter's review
4.0
Very good; not great. Eminently readable and very well realized post-apocalyptic world. Interesting plot with some unfortunately obvious twists; but overall the characters are consistent and complex enough that this book is well worth it.
skynet666's review
4.0
I just loved this book - would have given it 5 stars, but it's hard to do that based on an awesome story, but not well developed characters. This author is a great story teller...he has to be if he's expecting the reader to enjoy such a long book. The story has an apocolyptic theme intertwined with the latest vampire craze. I enjoy both....and although I tend to read fantasy as opposed to sci-fi (which I love in other forms), this story really grabbed me.