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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
I finished listening to the audiobook of The Living about 5 minutes ago and I feel like I'm going to be asking questions for a long time to come.
At first, it seems like it's a teenage love story...but in the second half of the book, things take a turn and the main characters are faced with disaster, disease and a conspiracy.
It was well written for the most part...though I am not necessarily into fluffy romance, this had enough excitement to keep me interested all the way through.
At first, it seems like it's a teenage love story...but in the second half of the book, things take a turn and the main characters are faced with disaster, disease and a conspiracy.
It was well written for the most part...though I am not necessarily into fluffy romance, this had enough excitement to keep me interested all the way through.
I neither loved nor hated this book. It was just okay.
An interesting thriller set in the backdrop of a tsunami. This one kept me guessing. Great teen characters and a strong male protagonist.
Grade 9 and up. Beaucoup language.
Grade 9 and up. Beaucoup language.
I agree with some of the other reviewers that the name of the MC was a little distracting. I kept reading it as She- not Shy. I thought the story was pretty compelling and it kept me reading- especially after the disaster hit. I think one of the positives of the book was the diversity among the characters. Other than that- not sure if I'll keep reading the series, but I think I can recommend it to some readers.
This is probably 2.5 stars for me. What a strange, strange book.
It has the pacing of a middle grade disaster-type novel, but the gore and horror is pure YA. The tone shifts are all over the place, the action is loose, unbelievable, and quite messy. If anything, The Living is super pulpy. I do have to say, though, it works as a page turner.
I liked the voice here (yes, this is the same Shy from My True Love Gave to Me), even though it can be a bit too.. teenage boy for me, and I enjoyed little tidbits about growing up as a Mexican-American. The tidbits about privilege and class treatment are pretty good as well.
I'm curious to see how the second book goes, as this ends on a pretty abrupt, massive cliffhanger.
It has the pacing of a middle grade disaster-type novel, but the gore and horror is pure YA. The tone shifts are all over the place, the action is loose, unbelievable, and quite messy. If anything, The Living is super pulpy. I do have to say, though, it works as a page turner.
I liked the voice here (yes, this is the same Shy from My True Love Gave to Me), even though it can be a bit too.. teenage boy for me, and I enjoyed little tidbits about growing up as a Mexican-American. The tidbits about privilege and class treatment are pretty good as well.
I'm curious to see how the second book goes, as this ends on a pretty abrupt, massive cliffhanger.
Oh my god! What the hell did Matt de la Pena ever do to you, Brilliance Audio? The reader on this audiobook not only can't remotely pull off de la Pena's contemporary language (we knew we were in trouble when he made "score some new kicks" sound like a distasteful drug reference), but the accent he shifts into for the Australian underwear model Kevin is so ludicrous that my sons have adopted it for all of their doomed characters when they play Forbidden Desert. I want Kevin to die soon, and not for the right reasons.
I can't even tell if the story's any good. Matt, call your agent.
I can't even tell if the story's any good. Matt, call your agent.
What a rush! THE LIVING is a thrill ride of a novel. Will be a long wait for THE FORGOTTEN!
I enjoyed this book - there seemed to be a lot going on as far as the disaster plot and I enjoyed the unique setting of the cruise liner. I will read the second book for sure.
A gripping story of murder, suicide, tidal waves and mysterious deadly illnesses.
3 stars. Pretty good but then things get weirder and weirder. I'm not sure I like the direction of certain plot points.
Henry Leyva isn't a good narrator. He emphasizes all the wrong things.
Henry Leyva isn't a good narrator. He emphasizes all the wrong things.