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savannahl09's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dlberglund's review
2.0
I read this book in about 3 hours during a bout of insomnia. I have great respect for Chris Crutcher as a human and as a writer. I have found many of his novels to be excellent, compelling, recommendable books. Period 8 was a disappointment.
I don't even agree with much of the blurb. Paulie is pretty honest, but he didn't truly come across as THE most honest guy you've actually ever met- people just kept saying he was. The novel was written mostly in dialogue, it seemed while reading it, and not always very good dialogue. The guru teacher had so many boundary issues that I had a hard time backing the guy. Also, MANDATORY REPORTER! There's no such thing as "sure I'll keep all of the secrets you disclose in this room" when you're a teacher and there's a suspicion of abuse.
More important, though, was the bad guy issue. I didn't believe them or understand them. One of them comes out of nowhere and suddenly puts us into an episode of Law and Order SVU.
I'm sorry to say it, but read something else by Crutcher instead. Whale Talk or Deadline would be my choices.
I don't even agree with much of the blurb. Paulie is pretty honest, but he didn't truly come across as THE most honest guy you've actually ever met- people just kept saying he was. The novel was written mostly in dialogue, it seemed while reading it, and not always very good dialogue. The guru teacher had so many boundary issues that I had a hard time backing the guy. Also, MANDATORY REPORTER! There's no such thing as "sure I'll keep all of the secrets you disclose in this room" when you're a teacher and there's a suspicion of abuse.
More important, though, was the bad guy issue. I didn't believe them or understand them. One of them comes out of nowhere and suddenly puts us into an episode of Law and Order SVU.
I'm sorry to say it, but read something else by Crutcher instead. Whale Talk or Deadline would be my choices.
afro8921's review
4.0
I read this one in a day. I have always loved Chris Crutcher's books for their gritty nature. He didn't disappoint with this one. This book was so suspenseful! There were several times in the story where i found myself reading on just to make sure that the characters would end up okay. It's kind of the equivalent of #1 doesn't go into the lake house by herself.
resslesa's review
4.0
Ahh Chris Crutcher=quite interesting book-a little more of a thriller this time! Interesting....
katherina_lei's review
1.0
I don't know what my problem is lately, but this is the second book in one week that I have had to stop before I even got half way. I really wish that the language was cleaner, because I would have liked to finish it. But, I was really disappointed and would not recommend it.
mvsstevens's review
3.0
This was a typical Crutcher style novel:heavy language, Yoda type mentor (teacher), and full of heavy issues. The mystery aspect was new/different.
heyhannahrae's review
2.0
I've always been a huge Chris Crutcher fan, and I'm especially fond of his novels that center around swimming, but Period 8 just didn't do it for me... which is a bummer, because I was crazy-excited to read it. A novel with open-water swimming in it? Yes, please!
So I bought it.
And I read it.
And when I finished, I was just sort of like, "Meh."
The plot was a bit too farfetched for me. Plus, this novel contained So. Much. Swearing. Now, I'm not someone who's typically bothered by foul language in books, but Crutcher overdid it in Period 8. I was distracted by the f-bombs exploding on every other page; normally, I don't even notice an author's use of four-letter words.
In conclusion... would I recommend Period 8 to you? No. But I also wouldn't discourage you from checking out some of Crutcher's earlier titles. Stotan!, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, and Whale Talk (all about swimming) are three of my favorites. Deadline is up there as well. But for me, Period 8 just doesn't make the list.
So I bought it.
And I read it.
And when I finished, I was just sort of like, "Meh."
The plot was a bit too farfetched for me. Plus, this novel contained So. Much. Swearing. Now, I'm not someone who's typically bothered by foul language in books, but Crutcher overdid it in Period 8. I was distracted by the f-bombs exploding on every other page; normally, I don't even notice an author's use of four-letter words.
In conclusion... would I recommend Period 8 to you? No. But I also wouldn't discourage you from checking out some of Crutcher's earlier titles. Stotan!, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, and Whale Talk (all about swimming) are three of my favorites. Deadline is up there as well. But for me, Period 8 just doesn't make the list.
lazygal's review
3.0
The suspense part of the book gets a little overshadowed by the over-writing, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. There's a very (very!) slow build, so you have to stick with it before getting to the payoff.
Period 8 is more a concept - the really cool teacher hosts what seems like an encounter group in his classroom during lunch. "Logs" is one of those beloved guys, the teacher everyone confides in. He also is training with Paulie, having aspired to swimming the channel in his youth; Paulie, know as "Bomb", is an avid swimmer, and seems to be a generally good guy with the exception of his one night with Mary. Hannah, Paulie's girlfriend, is obviously upset by the news and they break up. Then Mary disappears, and the suspense starts.
The what and who of all this is only revealed during the last third of the book, and the very end of the book leads me to suspect "sequel". Until then, however, this seems like a rather normal town, with averagely messed up teens. The relationship with Logs did bother me some, because in this post-Penn State era, would any school have tolerated students visiting a teacher at night? privately training with a student? That just feels a little wrong.
ARC provided by publisher.
Period 8 is more a concept - the really cool teacher hosts what seems like an encounter group in his classroom during lunch. "Logs" is one of those beloved guys, the teacher everyone confides in. He also is training with Paulie, having aspired to swimming the channel in his youth; Paulie, know as "Bomb", is an avid swimmer, and seems to be a generally good guy with the exception of his one night with Mary. Hannah, Paulie's girlfriend, is obviously upset by the news and they break up. Then Mary disappears, and the suspense starts.
The what and who of all this is only revealed during the last third of the book, and the very end of the book leads me to suspect "sequel". Until then, however, this seems like a rather normal town, with averagely messed up teens. The relationship with Logs did bother me some, because in this post-Penn State era, would any school have tolerated students visiting a teacher at night? privately training with a student? That just feels a little wrong.
ARC provided by publisher.