Reviews

You know, I think I would have liked this book if it were a TV show. It had that sort of serialized, plodding feel to the plot that just felt bogged down as a novel. Also, it seems like Cronin is trying his hardest to emulate Stephen King, and while that is a smart financial move (apparently), it makes his prose seem dumbed-down and inefficient to me.

hiltzmoore's review against another edition

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4.0

This author reminded me a lot of Stephen King - the character portrayals were nicely done and that was what kept me interested for the entire (long) book. I wasn't completely pleased with how the plot turned out, but it was entertaining enough, and towards the end, I was squeezing in as much reading time as possible so that I could just find out what happened!

possiblytheworstbookreviewer's review against another edition

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When the story shifted to the future, I got bored and never really wanted to pick up the book.

gloriaannwilson's review against another edition

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4.0

I invested alot of time to read this book and I was so disappointed with the ending. I loved it right up to the end. It was almost like Justin Cronin just got tired of writing.

Addendum:
But wait! I just found out the other day that there is a second book. I may have to change my rating of this one.

nikkucallian's review against another edition

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5.0

It reminded me in parts of Stephen King's "The Stand", but actually a bit better (more logical and straightforward), and more of a heroes-adventure story.

hucklebuck411's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I have no qualms about giving a rating of five stars to The Passage. Justin Cronin's writing is on par with Stephen King. In fact, The Passage in some sense can be compared to King's The Stand. But some of the plotline also reminds me of Max Brooks' World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, since parts of the book take place in a far future time looking back to events as referenced in one of the main character's diaries. This is not a quick read and will take a commitment of time to complete the book; however it is well worth it. Cronin unwinds the story slowly, making sure to cover every detail completely. The reader gets to know and comes to care about the characters and their struggle for survival.

Spoiler

Similar in theme to many modern day horror fiction tales, a viral apocalypse is mistakenly unleashed upon the world by a covert military lab in the western United States. When the infected escape the lab, a growing carnivorous horde of monstrous vampire-like mutated humans is set free that will bring modern civilization to an end, leaving the dwindling number of the human race to seek survival in any way possible. The story picks up around a century later and the reader is introduced to the core group of protagonists living in a California sanctuary; a sanctuary harassed by virals by night and whose days are numbered, as the supply of electricity to maintain the warding nighttime perimeter searchlights will eventually fail. As tensions rise within the sanctuary, the small core group leaves on a dangerous quest to find the source of a mysterious radio signal in the Colorado mountains. With them will travel a strange ageless girl, Amy, who after approaching the sanctuary had been mistakenly wounded by one of the guards. With her recuperation it is discovered that she has the ability of telepathic communication and seems to have some mental connection with the virals as well. The reader follows the small group through their trials and tribulations as they fight to reach their goal and possible answers to the survival of the human race; some will not survive the ordeal.

This is the first book in The Passage trilogy but can be read as a stand-alone story if the reader so chooses.

roberts0208's review against another edition

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Could not finish this book #lifeistooshort

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