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A review by bibliophilebookclub
Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton
4.0
I read Three Hours back in November, but it is still as clear as day in my head. I think that’s because of a couple of things. Firstly, it is a beautifully written novel, but secondly, it spoke to my heart as a parent. It took one of my worst fears, and realised it on paper. Albeit it in a stunningly eloquent and emotive way, but it really hit me hard.
I knew going into Three Hours that it was not going to be an easy subject to read about. School shootings are sadly becoming more prevalent in today’s increasingly warped world, and any book that deals with it is going to be an emotional gut punch. Bring that location to the UK, as the author has done, and it becomes closer to home (I’m in Ireland) and more tangible.
I, as a rule, tend to stay away from books that involve kids these days. I have no doubt that its since I became a parent. I am hard-wired to feel a constant fear of the “what if?” for my kids, and reading books in which there is the threat of harm etc ramps that up exponentially. So it was definitely with a little trepidation on my part that I picked up Three Hours.
Rosamund Lupton has written a thoroughly compelling book in Three Hours. I felt like I was right there with the characters the whole way through, and I was emotionally wrung out upon finishing it. I had tears in my eyes more than once while reading, and it takes A LOT to make me cry, so that is testament to the strength and depth of feeling in this book.
On the face of it, its about a school siege and told through their viewpoints of the various characters as the actual three hours pass. But it is also about resilience, bravery, honesty, and most importantly, love. Love is the thing. Immeasurable, messy, complicated in many forms, but the nuances in Three Hours will make you see love differently.
Heartbreaking, compelling and utterly brilliant, I loved Three Hours.
Highly recommended.
I knew going into Three Hours that it was not going to be an easy subject to read about. School shootings are sadly becoming more prevalent in today’s increasingly warped world, and any book that deals with it is going to be an emotional gut punch. Bring that location to the UK, as the author has done, and it becomes closer to home (I’m in Ireland) and more tangible.
I, as a rule, tend to stay away from books that involve kids these days. I have no doubt that its since I became a parent. I am hard-wired to feel a constant fear of the “what if?” for my kids, and reading books in which there is the threat of harm etc ramps that up exponentially. So it was definitely with a little trepidation on my part that I picked up Three Hours.
Rosamund Lupton has written a thoroughly compelling book in Three Hours. I felt like I was right there with the characters the whole way through, and I was emotionally wrung out upon finishing it. I had tears in my eyes more than once while reading, and it takes A LOT to make me cry, so that is testament to the strength and depth of feeling in this book.
On the face of it, its about a school siege and told through their viewpoints of the various characters as the actual three hours pass. But it is also about resilience, bravery, honesty, and most importantly, love. Love is the thing. Immeasurable, messy, complicated in many forms, but the nuances in Three Hours will make you see love differently.
Heartbreaking, compelling and utterly brilliant, I loved Three Hours.
Highly recommended.