anniekenway's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Started slow but picked up. Easy read but believable emotionally.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
4.0
Half a World Away was a great reintroduction to Cath Staincliffe's novels. The book is about new graduate Lorelei who goes on holiday to China. She sets up a blog and posts regular diary posts with photographs and emails her family regularly. And then it all stops. The blog isn't updated, phone calls go to voicemail and emails remain unanswered. When her parents feel they are not getting enough answers they fly over to try and find her.
The biggest thing for me with this novel was how different life was in China to how it is here. No freedom of speech, people afraid to get involved in case the police or people with power became aware of it. Jo and Tom are being controlled by the Chinese police, they are held back repeatedly as they try and search for their daughter. Jo also has problems at home to deal with as well. Her husband has been made redundant, and her youngest child has mood swings.
I found this a quick fascinating read, I wanted to know what had happened to her and also because I was learning about a country that I knew nothing about. Despite the police, the food and the climate its appeal was still there. I didn't really think of it as a crime novel. It is a crime investigation but mostly it is about the desperation felt by a parent in finding their daughter.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy via netgalley.
The biggest thing for me with this novel was how different life was in China to how it is here. No freedom of speech, people afraid to get involved in case the police or people with power became aware of it. Jo and Tom are being controlled by the Chinese police, they are held back repeatedly as they try and search for their daughter. Jo also has problems at home to deal with as well. Her husband has been made redundant, and her youngest child has mood swings.
I found this a quick fascinating read, I wanted to know what had happened to her and also because I was learning about a country that I knew nothing about. Despite the police, the food and the climate its appeal was still there. I didn't really think of it as a crime novel. It is a crime investigation but mostly it is about the desperation felt by a parent in finding their daughter.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy via netgalley.
ashak's review against another edition
4.0
A story that you can relate to.
https://onerightword.blogspot.com/2019/01/half-world-away-cath-staincliff.html
https://onerightword.blogspot.com/2019/01/half-world-away-cath-staincliff.html
mandyl45's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
skruetny's review against another edition
3.0
Felt a little slow in the beginning, but it picked up a lot in the 120 page mark (about halfway) and I read 200 pages in the span of two days quite easily (To be fair, that *is* how books work with the slow build-up leading up to the climax).
I thought the idea for the story was unique, and I enjoyed seeing Jo and Tom play detective. The final reveal of it being Bradley was predictable, but in a good way? It wasn't predictable as in a, "Ugh, I saw this coming. Booring." but in a, "Wow, I saw this coming! Cool." since evidence was established pretty early on against Bradley. The reveal made sense, which I think beats having a contrived plot twist be randomly injected purely for shock value or whatever. It was a little jarring finding out what Bradley had done, when compared to how he had acted with Jo and Tom; how nice and inviting he was. I guess, that's exactly what the author wanted however, since you really never expect anyone's capable of such things.
One thing I'd like to note is how I disliked the men in this book. Bradley, for obvious reasons. Nick, while he was okay at first, slowly spiralled into a character I couldn't like. He was immature, and refused to talk his issues out with Jo, instead choosing to turn a blind eye to them and play the victim card, blaming his alcoholism on her. Jo bothered me sometimes when she kept brushing things off as nothing. She's definitely not the confrontational type, but letting things simmer and assuming the best, cost her. I don't harbour any ill will towards her though, since after some time, she does eventually address the issues going on, and it's understandable with Nick how she'd *want* to believe everything's fine, especially after everything with Lori. Sure, she said some nasty things, but she was quick to realise her mistake and apologise, and while apologies certainly can't take back words said, at least she *apologised*, while Nick on the other hand, petulantly chose to stand his ground and pin the blame on her. I *am* upset however that Jo didn't come clean about sleeping with Tom, but I can't be too pissed either since I doubt being honest with Nick would've made anything better, and even if it did, I don't think I'd like for him to stay. Also, there was one sentence where Jo was wondering what was wrong with Isaac, and one of the possibilities she thought of was Nick had hit him and knocked him out? Hello? To have Jo even *consider* that was frightening.
I could sympathise with Tom more though. He isn't amazing, not by a long shot, and me having been in Jo's perspective during the book–who's spending her time alongside Tom–definitely put him in a good light. He was impulsive and rash, but I suppose at the end of the day he got shit done. He mirrored my frustrations towards the authorities, so that aided in his image. There was one scene that stuck with me however, of him putting his finger to Jo's lip angrily, and I was sitting there like..... uhm.
I liked how in the end, Tom ended up with Aphrodite because despite the brief physical comfort they found in each other, the couple would be unhealthy together. It felt realistic how that one night stayed one night. I mean, the couple got divorced for a reason, just because they banged one night doesn't magically heal all their past wounds.
Overall, I don't have anything bad to say about the book. It did what it did, and well. It wasn't something I'd rave for ages about though. Good book.
I thought the idea for the story was unique, and I enjoyed seeing Jo and Tom play detective. The final reveal of it being Bradley was predictable, but in a good way? It wasn't predictable as in a, "Ugh, I saw this coming. Booring." but in a, "Wow, I saw this coming! Cool." since evidence was established pretty early on against Bradley. The reveal made sense, which I think beats having a contrived plot twist be randomly injected purely for shock value or whatever. It was a little jarring finding out what Bradley had done, when compared to how he had acted with Jo and Tom; how nice and inviting he was. I guess, that's exactly what the author wanted however, since you really never expect anyone's capable of such things.
One thing I'd like to note is how I disliked the men in this book. Bradley, for obvious reasons. Nick, while he was okay at first, slowly spiralled into a character I couldn't like. He was immature, and refused to talk his issues out with Jo, instead choosing to turn a blind eye to them and play the victim card, blaming his alcoholism on her. Jo bothered me sometimes when she kept brushing things off as nothing. She's definitely not the confrontational type, but letting things simmer and assuming the best, cost her. I don't harbour any ill will towards her though, since after some time, she does eventually address the issues going on, and it's understandable with Nick how she'd *want* to believe everything's fine, especially after everything with Lori. Sure, she said some nasty things, but she was quick to realise her mistake and apologise, and while apologies certainly can't take back words said, at least she *apologised*, while Nick on the other hand, petulantly chose to stand his ground and pin the blame on her. I *am* upset however that Jo didn't come clean about sleeping with Tom, but I can't be too pissed either since I doubt being honest with Nick would've made anything better, and even if it did, I don't think I'd like for him to stay. Also, there was one sentence where Jo was wondering what was wrong with Isaac, and one of the possibilities she thought of was Nick had hit him and knocked him out? Hello? To have Jo even *consider* that was frightening.
I could sympathise with Tom more though. He isn't amazing, not by a long shot, and me having been in Jo's perspective during the book–who's spending her time alongside Tom–definitely put him in a good light. He was impulsive and rash, but I suppose at the end of the day he got shit done. He mirrored my frustrations towards the authorities, so that aided in his image. There was one scene that stuck with me however, of him putting his finger to Jo's lip angrily, and I was sitting there like..... uhm.
I liked how in the end, Tom ended up with Aphrodite because despite the brief physical comfort they found in each other, the couple would be unhealthy together. It felt realistic how that one night stayed one night. I mean, the couple got divorced for a reason, just because they banged one night doesn't magically heal all their past wounds.
Overall, I don't have anything bad to say about the book. It did what it did, and well. It wasn't something I'd rave for ages about though. Good book.
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