wanderingmuse's review
4.0
***The author was kind enough to give me a free copy of the book this is a voluntary review***
The book was a fascinating take of the path to the after life. The story was poetic at times and often heartbreaking to relive the past while trying to come to terms with your own death. It was interesting read for anyone who is interested in this topic.
The book was a fascinating take of the path to the after life. The story was poetic at times and often heartbreaking to relive the past while trying to come to terms with your own death. It was interesting read for anyone who is interested in this topic.
sstarke's review
4.0
I will admit that I don't read many books about the afterlife, but the concept behind this one intrigued me. The main character dies right at the beginning and the rest of the book follows him while he tries to make his way into the afterlife. Surprisingly (and thankfully), this isn't a book full of preaching about how to get to heaven. Instead, it's a thought provoking look at letting go. The narration was very good, though the reading lacked full emotion in some parts. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who finds the premise interesting.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.
I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.
magickislife's review
4.0
This was one of the more interesting books I have ever encountered, it took me much longer to listen to than books three times it's length because I found it quite disturbing. I think it might have just been bad timing for me as my great aunt passed away in the midst of me listening to it and I had to combat those ideas in my head. (over active imagination).
It really made me contemplate how I am living my life and what I might to have to sort through at the end of it. So far I am not too worried but there are things I could work on for sure. As I am sure we all could. I felt a great deal of sympathy for Neville, it felt like he held a lot of bitterness.
It really made me contemplate how I am living my life and what I might to have to sort through at the end of it. So far I am not too worried but there are things I could work on for sure. As I am sure we all could. I felt a great deal of sympathy for Neville, it felt like he held a lot of bitterness.
christieleejok's review
5.0
Lost in the Clouds is a wonderful story of a man trying to find truth and direction after his time has past. Neville is well-written and you'll spend the entire story rooting for him to reach his "destination." Neville's guide was also a great character and I got a kick out of reading his parts. I highly recommend this book, it's very unique and won't leave you disappointed!
ignaciorlimon's review
3.0
I don’t think you’re supposed to like Neville. Which I thought was a fresh take and interesting, the ending was bittersweet. The more I read about him the less I liked. After finishing I think this is the point. On some level he was aware of other people and their perspectives, but he chose to ignore them. He’s also incredibly unreliable, I can’t recommend this to someone who’s bothered by things like this (the unreliable and and borderline selfishness). If you want something different and want to follow someone you know isn’t the best person (think anti-hero) go for it.
The guy with the bank/loan company delivering the eviction is the over the top and heavy handed... Depending on the year the cops would be more inclined to be there with the guy serving the notice to avoid culpability and a complaint. They would also say something in regards to assault or laying hands on someone prior as it could potentially create problems later down the road.
His boss Lauren was also a little over the top (and out of bounds) in the meeting too. There are some things you would word differently in a higher position within a company, otherwise HR will get anxious and label your file with a “liability” stamp. If you aren’t on the external board of directors, you’re one hundred percent expendable, CEOs and CFOs included. Especially if you’re woman, it’s always much worse for women; no tax break for a diversity hire is worth that much trouble in a major company’s eyes.
The work crew coming in to discard their life is believable! Ouch! :(
I can’t speak for the death/afterlife in this since I have little experience there. But it’s definitely an interesting journey.
Some of the writing is a little repetitive, but this is a dedicated first person narrative, so we only know and experience as much as the character. It’s a double edged sword; awesome in that you never see the author from behind the curtain trying to conjure up a description, but at the same time I’m little sad this guy wasn’t “a word a day” fan.
Neville keeps forgetting the cardinal rule of the world he’s in which was a little frustrating at times.
A good book doesn’t have to be 600+ pages, I’ve read plenty that had mostly meaningless filler to pad the story. This is not the case with Lost in the Clouds, you get the end of a man’s journey and the reckoning that must come with it.
I did cringe with the thing with Melinda. I just don’t care for it. But I acknowledge that sort of thing does happen, more often than people would like to think. I can’t tell you how many I’ve know over the years to have had it happen, or been on the receiving end. I didn’t take away for this being put in.
Is this a major pharmaceutical company?
What was his official title at the company?
He went to Dartmouth, and his office was somewhere in the executive suites, so he had to have been making bank. With that said where was his house located? I’m genuinely curious if it was some cool mansion worth half a mill, or if he chose to live in a sketchy part of town out of his own guilt.
With a conversation with his sister we find he was a drug rep; drug reps not only make bonuses worth as much as some people’s cars, but their base pay can be as much as a doctor’s or more. Neville would have been making good money in the sales department, or as a rep for the company. He also wouldn’t have done both...unless it was teeny? But there aren’t really mom and pop companies like that, unless they’re in the homeopathic end, which is another ballgame.
I kept asking this question the entire time... How did he mess his life up so badly? I’ll also admit he’s hard to empathize with, on some level he knew the money was in the envelope, but he was hell bent on setting his life on fire. It’s not like a Shameless (HBO) intensity, but you do see it.
His sister swung too far in one direction, so by the time we got her side of the story it was too hard for me to empathize with her too. There were also a few things that made her seem like she was trying to gaslight her brother. Ten is young, but is old enough to have a conversation with someone about the changes that have to happen in the future when someone dies. Counseling was an option too, Tess did it for the first seven years without trying to bring Neville or present it as an option. I’m also going to put out there she could have gotten him a tutor, or signed him up for some after school/community programs to mitigate some of that pain.
Later we find she was providing precooked meals in the fridge. Which is more than some got growing up. It makes Neville even less likable for me and all the more entitled. If they were made by her or a company it’s still a meal and not an empty fridge. He was more than capable of using a microwave in the beginning or a stove as he got older, he wasn’t a helpless child the entire time.
But at the same time she didn’t try, either because she didn’t care deep down, or she was too overwhelmed which she should have tried to get help for with having such a young kid. Neville’s behavior wasn’t ideal when he was a child, but grief is complex and manifests differently for children.
When everything is all said and done he’s able to ask for help, and moves on.
The guy with the bank/loan company delivering the eviction is the over the top and heavy handed... Depending on the year the cops would be more inclined to be there with the guy serving the notice to avoid culpability and a complaint. They would also say something in regards to assault or laying hands on someone prior as it could potentially create problems later down the road.
His boss Lauren was also a little over the top (and out of bounds) in the meeting too. There are some things you would word differently in a higher position within a company, otherwise HR will get anxious and label your file with a “liability” stamp. If you aren’t on the external board of directors, you’re one hundred percent expendable, CEOs and CFOs included. Especially if you’re woman, it’s always much worse for women; no tax break for a diversity hire is worth that much trouble in a major company’s eyes.
The work crew coming in to discard their life is believable! Ouch! :(
I can’t speak for the death/afterlife in this since I have little experience there. But it’s definitely an interesting journey.
Some of the writing is a little repetitive, but this is a dedicated first person narrative, so we only know and experience as much as the character. It’s a double edged sword; awesome in that you never see the author from behind the curtain trying to conjure up a description, but at the same time I’m little sad this guy wasn’t “a word a day” fan.
Neville keeps forgetting the cardinal rule of the world he’s in which was a little frustrating at times.
A good book doesn’t have to be 600+ pages, I’ve read plenty that had mostly meaningless filler to pad the story. This is not the case with Lost in the Clouds, you get the end of a man’s journey and the reckoning that must come with it.
I did cringe with the thing with Melinda. I just don’t care for it. But I acknowledge that sort of thing does happen, more often than people would like to think. I can’t tell you how many I’ve know over the years to have had it happen, or been on the receiving end. I didn’t take away for this being put in.
Is this a major pharmaceutical company?
What was his official title at the company?
He went to Dartmouth, and his office was somewhere in the executive suites, so he had to have been making bank. With that said where was his house located? I’m genuinely curious if it was some cool mansion worth half a mill, or if he chose to live in a sketchy part of town out of his own guilt.
With a conversation with his sister we find he was a drug rep; drug reps not only make bonuses worth as much as some people’s cars, but their base pay can be as much as a doctor’s or more. Neville would have been making good money in the sales department, or as a rep for the company. He also wouldn’t have done both...unless it was teeny? But there aren’t really mom and pop companies like that, unless they’re in the homeopathic end, which is another ballgame.
I kept asking this question the entire time... How did he mess his life up so badly? I’ll also admit he’s hard to empathize with, on some level he knew the money was in the envelope, but he was hell bent on setting his life on fire. It’s not like a Shameless (HBO) intensity, but you do see it.
His sister swung too far in one direction, so by the time we got her side of the story it was too hard for me to empathize with her too. There were also a few things that made her seem like she was trying to gaslight her brother. Ten is young, but is old enough to have a conversation with someone about the changes that have to happen in the future when someone dies. Counseling was an option too, Tess did it for the first seven years without trying to bring Neville or present it as an option. I’m also going to put out there she could have gotten him a tutor, or signed him up for some after school/community programs to mitigate some of that pain.
Later we find she was providing precooked meals in the fridge. Which is more than some got growing up. It makes Neville even less likable for me and all the more entitled. If they were made by her or a company it’s still a meal and not an empty fridge. He was more than capable of using a microwave in the beginning or a stove as he got older, he wasn’t a helpless child the entire time.
But at the same time she didn’t try, either because she didn’t care deep down, or she was too overwhelmed which she should have tried to get help for with having such a young kid. Neville’s behavior wasn’t ideal when he was a child, but grief is complex and manifests differently for children.
When everything is all said and done he’s able to ask for help, and moves on.
margaretadelle's review
4.0
When the author first offered me the book for review, I was immediately intrigued by the premise. I've always been intrigued by a book's depiction of the afterlife and this seemed like a unique take. And it has "unique" in spades.
This book is, in a word, trippy. Neville's journey to detach himself from corporeal life is a strange one and filled with symbolism and metaphors. There are the standard flashbacks of memories, but much more of the story is dedicated to what are essentially surreal set ups for the seven things Neville must overcome, the ways he must detach himself from his previous life to move on. There's not a lot of plot so much as there's character development and philosophy. This is definitely not a book for people who like easy explanations.
There were some moments that proved a bit too surreal, just enough to take the focus away from the philosophy and character development. And I'm not sure I agree with the parting message Neville makes. But if you enjoy acid trips as character development and the spending large amounts of time philosophizing about the state of life and/or afterlife, this is the book for you.
This book is, in a word, trippy. Neville's journey to detach himself from corporeal life is a strange one and filled with symbolism and metaphors. There are the standard flashbacks of memories, but much more of the story is dedicated to what are essentially surreal set ups for the seven things Neville must overcome, the ways he must detach himself from his previous life to move on. There's not a lot of plot so much as there's character development and philosophy. This is definitely not a book for people who like easy explanations.
There were some moments that proved a bit too surreal, just enough to take the focus away from the philosophy and character development. And I'm not sure I agree with the parting message Neville makes. But if you enjoy acid trips as character development and the spending large amounts of time philosophizing about the state of life and/or afterlife, this is the book for you.
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