jcobb's review against another edition
3.0
Beginning sucked. Got good once the actually story started, which was like more than half way through the book
mransford's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
vidalovesspice's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars, actually. Not quite 3, but not too high for a 4.
A good read if you're looking for something quick to pass the time. It wasn't a terribly bad concept either, but there were just a number of issues that I just couldn't get past.
My main issue was really the lack of urgency throughout the book. I had picked this up with the initial thought that it was about some poor farm kid or something who gets thrown into a compound with his dad and they can't go out because of a nuclear fallout that occurred. What I did not know until I actually began to read the book was that the main character is the son of a billionaire, who does, in fact get thrown into a compound. My issue with this is that Eli, the main character, and his family pretty much live a life of luxury in their nuclear bomb shelter. From flat screen tvs, private gyms, spas, salons, to their own customized rooms tailored perfectly to their tastes, I really saw no reason for the main character to complain and be as miserable as he was for most of the book.
I mean, I see where the author is going with this, showing how the rich have souls as well, how they can be miserable, how having everything you can materialistically possess really isn't enough. But we're talking about them being in a pimped out bomb shelter with pretty much everything they could possibly want to survive for the next 15 years...minus perhaps the lack of new company and dwindling food supplies.
But aside from that, I felt that the main character really had no right to whine so much about his current predicament. I felt absolutely no sympathy for him and his family whatsoever, given the fact that, yes there may have been a nuclear fallout, but they're pretty much comfortable for the most part.
I also felt it was a bit much to believe that these children were geniuses in their own way, yet for X amount of years they stayed stuck in a compound blind to what their father was doing in secrecy. I also found their excuse of "Oh, what dad says is law" a bit too unrealistic, especially for spoiled teenagers who pretty much always got what they wanted. Why couldn't they have questioned earlier? Not that there was really anything to cause them to question anything to begin with, since there really was no sense of urgency. They really never go beyond their life of comfort and security, and Bodeen fails to show just how far someone is willing to go to survive. We may see glimpses and hypothetical situations of what could happen to Eli and his family, but they never get there. Yes, they begin to run out of food, but do they ever actually run out? None of the family members suffers what it's like to truly starve or to truly undergo what 'normal people' (if you will) would undergo in a survivor situation. So in the end, I really didn't feel bad for any of these characters, and I failed to connect with any of them including the main character.
What I did like about the book was the pacing and the story in general. Yes, I wasn't too big a fan of the main character, but I liked how he was flawed in his own way, unlike many main characters who just can do no wrong. Eli also grows by the end of the book, and we see character development mostly on his part. I also did like the basic concept of the book, but as I previously mentioned, it stays on a rather shallow plane as opposed to delving in completely. I also pretty much predicted how it would end by the start of Ch. 5, so readers looking for some kind of really unexpected twist may be a little disappointed.
Overall, not a bad read. It's quick and gets to the point.
A good read if you're looking for something quick to pass the time. It wasn't a terribly bad concept either, but there were just a number of issues that I just couldn't get past.
My main issue was really the lack of urgency throughout the book. I had picked this up with the initial thought that it was about some poor farm kid or something who gets thrown into a compound with his dad and they can't go out because of a nuclear fallout that occurred. What I did not know until I actually began to read the book was that the main character is the son of a billionaire, who does, in fact get thrown into a compound. My issue with this is that Eli, the main character, and his family pretty much live a life of luxury in their nuclear bomb shelter. From flat screen tvs, private gyms, spas, salons, to their own customized rooms tailored perfectly to their tastes, I really saw no reason for the main character to complain and be as miserable as he was for most of the book.
I mean, I see where the author is going with this, showing how the rich have souls as well, how they can be miserable, how having everything you can materialistically possess really isn't enough. But we're talking about them being in a pimped out bomb shelter with pretty much everything they could possibly want to survive for the next 15 years...minus perhaps the lack of new company and dwindling food supplies.
But aside from that, I felt that the main character really had no right to whine so much about his current predicament. I felt absolutely no sympathy for him and his family whatsoever, given the fact that, yes there may have been a nuclear fallout, but they're pretty much comfortable for the most part.
I also felt it was a bit much to believe that these children were geniuses in their own way, yet for X amount of years they stayed stuck in a compound blind to what their father was doing in secrecy. I also found their excuse of "Oh, what dad says is law" a bit too unrealistic, especially for spoiled teenagers who pretty much always got what they wanted. Why couldn't they have questioned earlier? Not that there was really anything to cause them to question anything to begin with, since there really was no sense of urgency. They really never go beyond their life of comfort and security, and Bodeen fails to show just how far someone is willing to go to survive. We may see glimpses and hypothetical situations of what could happen to Eli and his family, but they never get there. Yes, they begin to run out of food, but do they ever actually run out? None of the family members suffers what it's like to truly starve or to truly undergo what 'normal people' (if you will) would undergo in a survivor situation. So in the end, I really didn't feel bad for any of these characters, and I failed to connect with any of them including the main character.
What I did like about the book was the pacing and the story in general. Yes, I wasn't too big a fan of the main character, but I liked how he was flawed in his own way, unlike many main characters who just can do no wrong. Eli also grows by the end of the book, and we see character development mostly on his part. I also did like the basic concept of the book, but as I previously mentioned, it stays on a rather shallow plane as opposed to delving in completely. I also pretty much predicted how it would end by the start of Ch. 5, so readers looking for some kind of really unexpected twist may be a little disappointed.
Overall, not a bad read. It's quick and gets to the point.
kmoneytothemax's review against another edition
3.0
What a rollarcoaster! This book was crazy from start to finish. I am a huge sucker for conspiricies and lies. However I don't feel like it was very well-written, but if you're looking for sn easy read filled with suspense this is for you.
gracieaml's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5.0
I remember loving this one when I first read it in middle school but some of the YA aspects didn’t quite hold up over the years. Eli isn’t the most sympathetic main character- he’s a little whiny. I understand the author was trying to make him a spoiled rich kid who finds his humanity but I just had a hard time not finding him ridiculous for the first chunk of the story. But it was still an entertaining read and I’ll definitely read the sequel!
I remember loving this one when I first read it in middle school but some of the YA aspects didn’t quite hold up over the years. Eli isn’t the most sympathetic main character- he’s a little whiny. I understand the author was trying to make him a spoiled rich kid who finds his humanity but I just had a hard time not finding him ridiculous for the first chunk of the story. But it was still an entertaining read and I’ll definitely read the sequel!
bluedevil's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
3.0
ajaubrey1's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, fast-paced page-turner. Great premise, if a little predictable in places. This was a simply written, “pulpy” book, but with high energy and lots of suspense. Highly recommended for reluctant readers.
joeyklinko's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
marimoose's review against another edition
3.0
I contemplated putting this in my "dystopia" category, but then realized it wasn't really much of one (unless you count the family stuck inside the Compound). Anyway, this was certainly...weird and just a wee bit (sic) disturbing. No, really, it was.
The most that did stick out was the turducken, to be honest, but I blame my siblings for that. The second and third things that did amuse me, though, were the Supplements and the source of "milk" in the Compound, both were just a wee bit insane, especially with the environment they lived in. Just...I'm not even sure where to go with that one.
And finally, I can't help but get geeky and start to think of Vault 101 in Bethesda's Fallout 3. Might be something about vaults and nuclear wars. Yep.
The most that did stick out was the turducken, to be honest, but I blame my siblings for that. The second and third things that did amuse me, though, were the Supplements and the source of "milk" in the Compound, both were just a wee bit insane, especially with the environment they lived in. Just...I'm not even sure where to go with that one.
And finally, I can't help but get geeky and start to think of Vault 101 in Bethesda's Fallout 3. Might be something about vaults and nuclear wars. Yep.