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trekkie1999's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
mpginter's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
renee_3011's review against another edition
4.0
yeah this was a though one.
it leaves a lot left unanswered, and tries to zoom in on some things at the end of the book, but you're still left wanting more information. a very insular story, which makes it all the more scary.
the non-linear and confusing storytelling added so much to this book. you really feel like you're living through a fever dream and you're right there with the main character fighting to make sense of everything.
the real monster was the american healthcare system all along.
it leaves a lot left unanswered, and tries to zoom in on some things at the end of the book, but you're still left wanting more information. a very insular story, which makes it all the more scary.
the non-linear and confusing storytelling added so much to this book. you really feel like you're living through a fever dream and you're right there with the main character fighting to make sense of everything.
the real monster was the american healthcare system all along.
maloki's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
2.0
(2.5 stars) The concept is intriguing but the execution just wasn't there. Giddings is a good writer, but the book was just too thin and felt like a short story that had been rushed into a novel.
I rarely felt that the tension was appropriate for the high-stakes plot points, and this might have had to do with Adenrele Oja's narration, which was one-note (and the note was too calm and almost sing-song as she described some pretty terrifying situations).
If you're interested in reading this, I'd say give the hard copy a try. I hope her second novel is better developed. I'd definitely check out Giddings's short fiction, and I bet it's great.
I rarely felt that the tension was appropriate for the high-stakes plot points, and this might have had to do with Adenrele Oja's narration, which was one-note (and the note was too calm and almost sing-song as she described some pretty terrifying situations).
If you're interested in reading this, I'd say give the hard copy a try. I hope her second novel is better developed. I'd definitely check out Giddings's short fiction, and I bet it's great.
eengland's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
janaedoe's review against another edition
2.0
This book had potential. It had the ability to be a great book if it were a longer novel or a series.
justinkhchen's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars
A promising debut, but doesn't quite deliver on its ambition. Lakewood is a mystery thriller centering around racism, conspiracy theory, and ethics; while it appropriately recreates the disorienting experience of someone who is slowly losing grip with one self and reality, the lack of emotional punch and narrative vigor makes the final product just shy of its true potential.
Like a R-rated movie being trimmed into a PG-13 mess, Megan Giddings' indecisive writing wavers between rightfully disturbing and strangely censored; there are a couple fantastic scenes that really showcases Megan's ability to depict chill-to-the-bone macabre, yet there are more instances where the intentional vagueness dilutes impact, instead of layering up the atmosphere. The incorporation of racism also feels strangely surface level, like they are pluck directly from general news headlines without any further internalized perspective. Perhaps this can be attributed to the hazy writing style, but I didn't get a visceral reaction like I did while reading When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole.
Lakewood is broken into 2 parts, each with a distinct storytelling approach. While I enjoy both on their own, together they feel disconnected and oddly paced; especially with Part 2 being so short (one can almost argue it's an extended epilogue), but packs with the majority of the story beats, one has to question if this a calculated narrative choice, or simply a rushed, easy way out for the author to 'info dump' closures without really dissecting them.
Lakewood reads like a trial and error, and I'm OK with that. Yes, it comes across as noncommittal at times, teetering between being an enigmatic 'mood' piece, and something a little bit more conventional with articulated climax and closure, but I still applaud Megan Giddings' ambition to push her craft — hopefully her next one will be even better!
A promising debut, but doesn't quite deliver on its ambition. Lakewood is a mystery thriller centering around racism, conspiracy theory, and ethics; while it appropriately recreates the disorienting experience of someone who is slowly losing grip with one self and reality, the lack of emotional punch and narrative vigor makes the final product just shy of its true potential.
Like a R-rated movie being trimmed into a PG-13 mess, Megan Giddings' indecisive writing wavers between rightfully disturbing and strangely censored; there are a couple fantastic scenes that really showcases Megan's ability to depict chill-to-the-bone macabre, yet there are more instances where the intentional vagueness dilutes impact, instead of layering up the atmosphere. The incorporation of racism also feels strangely surface level, like they are pluck directly from general news headlines without any further internalized perspective. Perhaps this can be attributed to the hazy writing style, but I didn't get a visceral reaction like I did while reading When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole.
Lakewood is broken into 2 parts, each with a distinct storytelling approach. While I enjoy both on their own, together they feel disconnected and oddly paced; especially with Part 2 being so short (one can almost argue it's an extended epilogue), but packs with the majority of the story beats, one has to question if this a calculated narrative choice, or simply a rushed, easy way out for the author to 'info dump' closures without really dissecting them.
Lakewood reads like a trial and error, and I'm OK with that. Yes, it comes across as noncommittal at times, teetering between being an enigmatic 'mood' piece, and something a little bit more conventional with articulated climax and closure, but I still applaud Megan Giddings' ambition to push her craft — hopefully her next one will be even better!
jeannine6's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0