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the_sunken_library's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this puzzling little novel. Trying to deduce whether the female protagonist is mad, has been set-up or is playing a clever game is a delight while she spins a tale riddled with lies about her life. I only knocked off a star as the ending was a little cluttered and therefore confusing!
trin's review against another edition
2.0
One of those books that starts out great and then totally falls apart. It opens with Jane Charlotte having been arrested for murder in Las Vegas; when she told the police she’s part of a secret government organization (code name: Bad Monkeys) she ended up in the psych ward. The book is comprised of her interviews with the doctor there alternating with her first person account of her story. For about two-thirds of the book, this is fascinating: Ruff—whose [b: Set This House in Order|71847|Set This House in Order A Romance of Souls|Matt Ruff|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436462577s/71847.jpg|2204766], about Dissociative Identity Disorder, I still want to read—is really skilled at making the reader wonder if Jane’s story is true or the result of her being a total whackjob. But then, something that Ruff had been doing a good job hinting at was revealed as fact in about the least subtle way possible. That alone would have been a minor misstep, but it unfortunately signaled worse things to come. Suddenly plot twists were heaped on plot twists; I was left staring at the (beautifully designed, alas) book, going, “When did this become a bad M. Night Shyamalan movie?” (If one discards The Sixth Sense, that’s kind of redundant, isn’t it?) I shut the (incredibly cool, elongated yellow plastic) cover with no idea what this book was actually supposed to be about, what it was trying to say. Maybe I expected too much from Ruff—based solely on an excerpt from Set This House in Order—but I was deeply disappointed.
brandyrae's review against another edition
1.5
The only good thing I can think to say about this book was it was short.
Such a great premise and so so poorly done. It tried so hard to be clever but just came out overwritten and convoluted.
Like the final twist is so fucking stupid after so many stupid twists leading up to it.
I do not remember the last time i disliked a book this much.
Such a great premise and so so poorly done. It tried so hard to be clever but just came out overwritten and convoluted.
Like the final twist is so fucking stupid after so many stupid twists leading up to it.
I do not remember the last time i disliked a book this much.
andrewsweet's review against another edition
4.0
Not for the faint of heart! The last line of the first chapter reeled me in: "Well, it all started when I figured out that the janitor of my high-school was the Angel of Death...". I mean, really, that's how you're going to end chapter 1?! I loved it, beginning to end. But it has to be more than that for 5 stars nowadays for me - I have to want to re-read it at a minimum. It takes a huge leap about 3/4 the way through, so I imagine some folks fall off there. Not for everyone, but definitely fun for *me*.
phoebewerling's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
the book was corny from the beginning though it was tolerable. by the end the plot twists seemed so forced and confusing it became somehow even MORE corny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
noriam_reads's review against another edition
4.0
3,5
Well it's fast paced and intriguing. It took me one night to finish. It's true that the ending isn't as strong as the beginning, but it's not that bad.
Well it's fast paced and intriguing. It took me one night to finish. It's true that the ending isn't as strong as the beginning, but it's not that bad.
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
1.0
It's hard to express how bad this book was. Premise sounds interesting on the back. Book is straight up terrible.
pandorave's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katyab's review against another edition
2.0
Completely batshit bonkers. And the fact is that, for two-thirds of the book, I really enjoyed how mad it was! All the comparisons the first Matrix film were accurate and the storytelling was exciting. I felt like this book knew it was over-the-top and kitschy (in a good way) and was having fun with it. I really liked how you weren’t completely certain of Jane’s story, but you also really wanted to believe it.
But in the last third, there were plot twists upon plot twists, with not enough room in between for breath. I became more and more incredulous about the logic and reasoning in the plot. I agree with another reviewer on here describing it as becoming a bad M. Night Shyamalan story, and unfortunately my care for the characters and the outcome went downhill rapidly. I was given many reasons to believe in The Organisation in the end, but with all the nonsense that was happening, I was reluctant to do so. Damn.
But in the last third, there were plot twists upon plot twists, with not enough room in between for breath. I became more and more incredulous about the logic and reasoning in the plot. I agree with another reviewer on here describing it as becoming a bad M. Night Shyamalan story, and unfortunately my care for the characters and the outcome went downhill rapidly. I was given many reasons to believe in The Organisation in the end, but with all the nonsense that was happening, I was reluctant to do so. Damn.