emily_bookworm8's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
j0ri3n's review
1.0
1.5 stars
Ugh, I did not like this book at all. I could probably describe the entire plot in under 5 minutes. Looking back at it, barely anything happened. And I definitely felt that while reading, too. Time went by so slowly, and the entirety of the book was just really boring, to be honest. Most of the characters were so plain, as was the city it took place in. There definitely were some interesting aspects to this story, but in my opinion they weren't written in a way that was pleasant to read, which is very unfortunate. I felt I was not at all motivated to pick up this book and continue reading. Only around page 300 did the pace pick up a bit, which was nice. But even so, it was still pretty slow. And it is definitely not worth the previous 300 pages. I did like the drawings in the book, though.
But lets just say I'd rather read anything that isn't this :))
Ugh, I did not like this book at all. I could probably describe the entire plot in under 5 minutes. Looking back at it, barely anything happened. And I definitely felt that while reading, too. Time went by so slowly, and the entirety of the book was just really boring, to be honest. Most of the characters were so plain, as was the city it took place in. There definitely were some interesting aspects to this story, but in my opinion they weren't written in a way that was pleasant to read, which is very unfortunate. I felt I was not at all motivated to pick up this book and continue reading. Only around page 300 did the pace pick up a bit, which was nice. But even so, it was still pretty slow. And it is definitely not worth the previous 300 pages. I did like the drawings in the book, though.
But lets just say I'd rather read anything that isn't this :))
nics_books's review
5.0
I found myself watching this book play in my mind like a movie. I think it’s one of Priestley’s best works and I think anyone who enjoys mystery, humour, love and escapism should read this. I highly recommend it!
bookmarked642's review
3.0
Well this was a surprising read. Not just a typical YA dystopian novel, but a peculiar, artistic novel complete with illustrations throughout.
For some reason, I wasn't expecting the strange world that Priestley created in this book. The Grey is suffocating Frank, the Ministry controlling his every decision. Most people are okay with it, comfortable in the routine provided. But Frank wants more.
First, Frank is obsessed with a girl from his school. Even after they graduate, he is desperate to be with her - he believes they're 'fated'. But after a while, he realises that maybe she's not quite right for him.
This combines two typical YA romance plots - the "unpopular boy gets the cool girl" and also the "childhood friends become lovers" plot. I think it's a bit unusual to mix the two, but I didn't find anything spectacular about this aspect of the novel.
The whole book has a very strange abstract sort of feel to it; I was unsure at times whether to actually take what he was saying at face value or take it as a metaphor. There are loads of weird myths that are thrown around, many of which play a big role later in the book.
The friendship with Scape was interesting; it kind of just happened out of the blue and ended in a similar way. And Mr Vertex was a weird character - it was obvious there was something strange about him, and I felt he really added to the abstract feel created.
The book kind of felt grey, but not in a bad way - as in, I felt how Frank felt about his life. I was pretty shocked by how dark it got at the end, quite suddenly. The ending was a bit of a whirlwind, followed by a moment of calm. The calmness was nice, an interesting ending that left your imagination running wild.
I didn't really enjoy this book at first but I did eventually get into it, and quite liked it. I definitely liked the unique feel it had, almost like Coraline. 3.5 stars.
For some reason, I wasn't expecting the strange world that Priestley created in this book. The Grey is suffocating Frank, the Ministry controlling his every decision. Most people are okay with it, comfortable in the routine provided. But Frank wants more.
First, Frank is obsessed with a girl from his school. Even after they graduate, he is desperate to be with her - he believes they're 'fated'. But after a while, he realises that maybe she's not quite right for him.
This combines two typical YA romance plots - the "unpopular boy gets the cool girl" and also the "childhood friends become lovers" plot. I think it's a bit unusual to mix the two, but I didn't find anything spectacular about this aspect of the novel.
The whole book has a very strange abstract sort of feel to it; I was unsure at times whether to actually take what he was saying at face value or take it as a metaphor. There are loads of weird myths that are thrown around, many of which play a big role later in the book.
The friendship with Scape was interesting; it kind of just happened out of the blue and ended in a similar way. And Mr Vertex was a weird character - it was obvious there was something strange about him, and I felt he really added to the abstract feel created.
The book kind of felt grey, but not in a bad way - as in, I felt how Frank felt about his life. I was pretty shocked by how dark it got at the end, quite suddenly. The ending was a bit of a whirlwind, followed by a moment of calm. The calmness was nice, an interesting ending that left your imagination running wild.
I didn't really enjoy this book at first but I did eventually get into it, and quite liked it. I definitely liked the unique feel it had, almost like Coraline. 3.5 stars.
laurenvoice's review
5.0
Is it weird this book gave me hope?
Chris Priestley has once again shown me why he is my favourite author. His dark tales never fail to capture my interest! I see a lot of myself in Frank Palp, the longing for something more, and I loved it never have I felt as close to a story as I did this one; every sentence had a way of relating to how I feel. Don't we all long for more? Don't we all need an escape?
By far one of my favourite books, it has been a long time since a devoured a whole book, especially a long one, in an entire night! Truly and utterly enjoyed Anything That Isn't This, it has given me hope that one day I will also be able to find my escape just like Frank was able to.
Chris Priestley has once again shown me why he is my favourite author. His dark tales never fail to capture my interest! I see a lot of myself in Frank Palp, the longing for something more, and I loved it never have I felt as close to a story as I did this one; every sentence had a way of relating to how I feel. Don't we all long for more? Don't we all need an escape?
By far one of my favourite books, it has been a long time since a devoured a whole book, especially a long one, in an entire night! Truly and utterly enjoyed Anything That Isn't This,
fianaigecht's review
2.0
I did not like this book. In fact, until the last, oh, I don't know, 5%?, I actively disliked it. It's depressing. I couldn't make sense of the worldbuilding, in that I didn't feel I had a handle on the world at all. The narrative seemed choppy and disjointed and I absolutely hated Frank as a character. He was a pathetic, pretentious hipster who believed himself so special and different to everyone around him and I wanted to slap him.
In fact, most of what I hated about this book (am I saying hated now? Maybe I am) was what I also disliked about Catcher In The Rye, one of my all-time least favourite books. This was like that, except less meaningful. It was depressing in a pretentious manner, an unoriginal exploration of the meaninglessness of a life lived in offices and mediocrity.
I get it, okay? Really, I do. The thought of spending my life as an unimportant cog in the great machine of the world of work terrifies me. But I just... couldn't identify with Frank. Our fears might have something in common but his shallow and creepy obsession with Olivia repulsed me, as did his utter lack of empathy and respect for anyone around him because clearly he was too much of a special snowflake to think he might not be the only one who wanted more.
The one thing that redeemed this book and kept it from being relegated to a one star rating like Catcher In The Rye was that Frank did at least undergo something that, squinting, one could call character development, so that the ending did at least represent a change from the beginning. But nah. If I hadn't committed myself to reviewing the book I'd have put it down at 30% and never got as far as the parts that made it tolerable.
Thanks for the review copy, NetGalley, but it just wasn't my thing. At all.
In fact, most of what I hated about this book (am I saying hated now? Maybe I am) was what I also disliked about Catcher In The Rye, one of my all-time least favourite books. This was like that, except less meaningful. It was depressing in a pretentious manner, an unoriginal exploration of the meaninglessness of a life lived in offices and mediocrity.
I get it, okay? Really, I do. The thought of spending my life as an unimportant cog in the great machine of the world of work terrifies me. But I just... couldn't identify with Frank. Our fears might have something in common but his shallow and creepy obsession with Olivia repulsed me, as did his utter lack of empathy and respect for anyone around him because clearly he was too much of a special snowflake to think he might not be the only one who wanted more.
The one thing that redeemed this book and kept it from being relegated to a one star rating like Catcher In The Rye was that Frank did at least undergo something that, squinting, one could call character development, so that the ending did at least represent a change from the beginning. But nah. If I hadn't committed myself to reviewing the book I'd have put it down at 30% and never got as far as the parts that made it tolerable.
Thanks for the review copy, NetGalley, but it just wasn't my thing. At all.
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