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melissaarnaud's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This was not a good book. Not very well thought out and just like… not good. 😬
lurdesabruscato's review against another edition
4.0
So clever: A novel about a novel, narrated by an author who isn't the author. While you won't like this slimy leading man who benefits from everyone else's misfortunes, you'll chuckle at the way lies can grow and take root.
harvio's review against another edition
3.0
- the plot: a novelist-wanna-be has a room-mate (law student) who dies in a bicycle accident the day after he confesses to also wanting to be a writer. In fact, he shares his just-written book with his roomie the night before the tragedy. The surviving room-mate decides to steal the story and claim it as his own. He makes a mint (print and film rights being sold) and becomes famous (cover of People magazine), but then is blackmailed by the only person who know that he didn't write the book.
- the reviews make many comparisons to Highsmith, and her 'Ripley' series, but Colapinto's writing isn't nearly as seasoned.
- an interesting plot though.
- the reviews make many comparisons to Highsmith, and her 'Ripley' series, but Colapinto's writing isn't nearly as seasoned.
- an interesting plot though.
mamarabbit87's review against another edition
2.0
Good thing this book was short or I don't think I would have made it all the way thru. The main character becomes extremely annoying by the end. I feel like the author wanted him to be a sympathetic character and I personally grew to not like him and just want him to go away. Also, the author uses questions constantly. If the main character asked himself the same question one more time, I was going to throw the book across the room. After awhile I started to wonder if I was reading a novel, or a choose your own adventure book!
spauffwrites's review against another edition
2.0
I found this literary thriller to be rather unmemorable, despite its unlikeable narrator.
I finished reading this book only a day ago, but the only thing that sticks in my mind is that the main character, Cal Cunningham, is an asshole who thinks -- no, who wants to pretend he's a writer.
But instead of writing his own book, he steals his dead roommate's novel and publishes it under his own name. He makes a fortune, moves to Vermont and marries his dead roommate's former girlfriend. But his literary crimes come back to haunt him when a former one night stand shows up with his roommate's laptop and a copy of the manuscript. She threatens to reveal his secret, blackmails him and his perfect life starts to unravel. This was the best part of the novel, because I felt like Cal gets what he deserves for his lazy, selfish behavior. It's probably the journalist in me, but I think blatant plagiarists deserve some jail time.
However despite all his crimes, Cal still gets a happy ending. He gets his own book contract and his wife returns to him. Perhaps I would have found this book more interesting if I'd read it a few years ago, during the Jayson Blair, Steven Glass or James Frey fiascoes. But now, my only reaction to Cal's story is: Eh. Good for you, Cal. You got away with it. So have lots of people. So will many more, unfortunately.
I finished reading this book only a day ago, but the only thing that sticks in my mind is that the main character, Cal Cunningham, is an asshole who thinks -- no, who wants to pretend he's a writer.
But instead of writing his own book, he steals his dead roommate's novel and publishes it under his own name. He makes a fortune, moves to Vermont and marries his dead roommate's former girlfriend. But his literary crimes come back to haunt him when a former one night stand shows up with his roommate's laptop and a copy of the manuscript. She threatens to reveal his secret, blackmails him and his perfect life starts to unravel. This was the best part of the novel, because I felt like Cal gets what he deserves for his lazy, selfish behavior. It's probably the journalist in me, but I think blatant plagiarists deserve some jail time.
However despite all his crimes, Cal still gets a happy ending. He gets his own book contract and his wife returns to him. Perhaps I would have found this book more interesting if I'd read it a few years ago, during the Jayson Blair, Steven Glass or James Frey fiascoes. But now, my only reaction to Cal's story is: Eh. Good for you, Cal. You got away with it. So have lots of people. So will many more, unfortunately.
goneabroad71's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. Every time I thought I knew the (predictable) turn it was going to take, it went in a different direction. It’s a fun, tongue-in-cheek version of a thriller.
dilettee's review against another edition
5.0
Probably the best book I’ve read this year. I thought I had it figured out a couple of times but he just kept surprising me. A must read.
em_holborn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes