Reviews

After the First Death by Robert Cormier

wombat_88's review

dark tense 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? Yes

3.0

imapeach's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Cormier is definitely one of my favorite authors. I read this as a kid in middle school and just recently read it again.  

If you enjoy thrillers, definitely a book to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Child death, War, and Gun violence

Moderate: Suicide

sjh8123's review against another edition

5.0

This was such an engaging book! I read all but 20 pages of it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. The story was fast-paced and kept me interested. Great twist at the end!

ravzatoprak's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

gooma's review against another edition

2.0

Was forced to read this for school which honestly already makes it impossible to give 5 stars. Don't remember a whole heap except the hostage situation, the ending and the really weird fixation with pee?? Everyone keeps peeing for some reason.
Did not have a happy end which I think suits the events of the story, which are quite heavy and reflect real hostage situations.

molly_s_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

mokey81's review against another edition

3.0

I need to start noting why books end up on my to-read list because I think that would help me understand why I'm reading. I have no clue why I read this. It isn't what I typically read. I struggled to get through the beginning because of the stream of consciousness writing. I wasn't all that interested in the story. I pushed through because it was a short book. It was definitely a darker read. Hijackers kidnapping a bus load of children is a dark story to tell. I'm sure this is great for some people, but it isn't my cup of tea, and I think I'm going to be done with Cormier at this point.

naokamiya's review against another edition

4.0

I love this book so much that for years I tried to replicate Robert Cormier's uncomfortably-personal-and-honest stream of consciousness style writing in my own work, but every single time it came out terribly and I realized it was probably because it's nigh impossible to do it as well and skillfully as he does.

Truly one of my favorite novels of all time. I've only read it once, but I don't think I have to read it again to fully grasp how powerful it is for me.

alteabengu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

Reading this was absolutely gut wrenching. 

meggy_weggy_bacon_and_eggy's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75