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ambeesbookishpages's review against another edition
3.0
The full review can be found at The Book Bratz closer to its release date!
No Parking at the End of Times is a book that is going to make you think. This book made me realize that I am very lucky to have a lot of things and I take for granted. Bryan Bliss created a thought provoking, simply written book about what you would do for the people you love.
I liked Abigail and Aaron's characters, for what they were going through at that time, they were well put together and acted the ways any teenager would: trying to make best of the situation, and shutting it all out. I loved the part where Abigail went out with Jenna and just talked and had a good time, after all she been through she deserved to have a friend in this. The characters were a little lacking, I would have loved to know more about them, but over all they were well written and relatable.
I was so mad on how Brother John just took and took from this family. They were already living in a van, across the country from their home, based on a false promise? vision? Of what I think in my opinion is a con-man. It was refreshing to see religion taking up a huge portion of this book. It isn't really touched upon much.
All in all I really enjoyed No Parking in the End of Times. The book makes you think about life, what you have and most importantly the importance of hope. The ending left me satisfied and content for the characters.
No Parking at the End of Times is a book that is going to make you think. This book made me realize that I am very lucky to have a lot of things and I take for granted. Bryan Bliss created a thought provoking, simply written book about what you would do for the people you love.
I liked Abigail and Aaron's characters, for what they were going through at that time, they were well put together and acted the ways any teenager would: trying to make best of the situation, and shutting it all out. I loved the part where Abigail went out with Jenna and just talked and had a good time, after all she been through she deserved to have a friend in this. The characters were a little lacking, I would have loved to know more about them, but over all they were well written and relatable.
I was so mad on how Brother John just took and took from this family. They were already living in a van, across the country from their home, based on a false promise? vision? Of what I think in my opinion is a con-man. It was refreshing to see religion taking up a huge portion of this book. It isn't really touched upon much.
All in all I really enjoyed No Parking in the End of Times. The book makes you think about life, what you have and most importantly the importance of hope. The ending left me satisfied and content for the characters.
celjla212's review against another edition
2.0
If I had to sum this book up with one word, that word would be BORING. I was very intrigued by the premise--books about cult religion and how it affects those within it are almost always worth a read--but this novel portrayed very little about the cult itself, and more about the family it affected, which would have been fine if this family had anything interesting about them at all.
The voice of the story is Abigail, a teenage girl who along with her twin brother Aaron has been whisked away from her North Carolina home by her parents to worship in California at the feet of Brother John. Brother John has proclaimed that the world will be coming to an end, but of course, this does not happen. What does happen is that Abigail's family is forced to live in their van in California, because her parents sold everything else they owned to give to the church.
Abigail, as a main character, has a distinct lack of personality. Her whole life is basically centered around Aaron, and trying to make sure he is keeping out of trouble. At least Aaron is mad, and at least he is trying to do something about their situation. All the reader really knows about Abigail is that she likes to run. Even in flashbacks to their life before moving, we don't see anything of Abigail enjoying her life or having any friends of her own. I understand that she is an introvert, but she seems to shun getting to know anyone else besides her family.
There is actually no real conflict in the novel. Abigail and Aaron don't yell or get into fights with their parents, and most of the time their parents kind of seem to forget they exist. Even the introduction of Aaron's street kid friends couldn't make events more interesting, because all the kids seem to be stereotypical, down to their sad stories and "wild" personalities. A sort of villain affects the kids very late in the story, but even this is rather glossed over and the effects of his actions are very predictable.
I just couldn't form any sort of connection with any of these characters, and that is unfortunate because the beginning of the book offered a bit of promise. It just didn't deliver on the potential of the synopsis.
The voice of the story is Abigail, a teenage girl who along with her twin brother Aaron has been whisked away from her North Carolina home by her parents to worship in California at the feet of Brother John. Brother John has proclaimed that the world will be coming to an end, but of course, this does not happen. What does happen is that Abigail's family is forced to live in their van in California, because her parents sold everything else they owned to give to the church.
Abigail, as a main character, has a distinct lack of personality. Her whole life is basically centered around Aaron, and trying to make sure he is keeping out of trouble. At least Aaron is mad, and at least he is trying to do something about their situation. All the reader really knows about Abigail is that she likes to run. Even in flashbacks to their life before moving, we don't see anything of Abigail enjoying her life or having any friends of her own. I understand that she is an introvert, but she seems to shun getting to know anyone else besides her family.
There is actually no real conflict in the novel. Abigail and Aaron don't yell or get into fights with their parents, and most of the time their parents kind of seem to forget they exist. Even the introduction of Aaron's street kid friends couldn't make events more interesting, because all the kids seem to be stereotypical, down to their sad stories and "wild" personalities. A sort of villain affects the kids very late in the story, but even this is rather glossed over and the effects of his actions are very predictable.
I just couldn't form any sort of connection with any of these characters, and that is unfortunate because the beginning of the book offered a bit of promise. It just didn't deliver on the potential of the synopsis.
zmull's review against another edition
5.0
Bryan Bliss' first novel, No Parking at the End Times, is about faith in many forms - religious faith, children's faith in their parents, a person's faith in themselves. The narrator, Abigail, find herself at the center of these faiths unable to surrender fully to any of them. At the start of the novel, Abigail and her family are living in a van on the streets of San Francisco after selling all of their possessions to join a charismatic preacher predicting the end of the world. The end does not come and Abigail's family must find a way to sort out their, apparently misplaced faith.
The book tackles big issues in an interesting way. Bliss has complex view of belief and responsibility. He never takes an easy way out on these issues. The reader is allowed to decide for themselves. His take on parent / child relationships is ripe with greater insights to come. I hope he continues to write about these things.
The book tackles big issues in an interesting way. Bliss has complex view of belief and responsibility. He never takes an easy way out on these issues. The reader is allowed to decide for themselves. His take on parent / child relationships is ripe with greater insights to come. I hope he continues to write about these things.
marylavallee's review against another edition
2.0
So, I was pretty excited about this book
The plot looked interesting, and I grew close to the characters
However, the plot fell flat, and it had so much potential!! I felt bored through the beginning, and when Jess and the group was introduced, I felt more invested
But, I fell to boredom towards the end, so I had to give it 1.5 stars (I rounded up)
The plot looked interesting, and I grew close to the characters
However, the plot fell flat, and it had so much potential!! I felt bored through the beginning, and when Jess and the group was introduced, I felt more invested
But, I fell to boredom towards the end, so I had to give it 1.5 stars (I rounded up)
eliathereader's review against another edition
3.0
İlginç bir konusu vardı ve hızlıca okunan bir kitaptı. Mükemmel değildi ancak samimi yanları vardı. Yazar farklı bir konuya özgün bir şekilde değinebilmiş.
libbytx's review against another edition
1.0
I didn’t really enjoy much of this book. It was an interesting concept but didn’t keep me engaged. It felt like nothing really happened in the first 200 pages and then suddenly things started picking up, characters were acting very OUT of character, and the story developed only to be left on and unsatisfying, open-ended note.
kpjt_books's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting topic for the story and certainly not one you see often in YA much less anywhere else. Decent character development, but I felt like it ended somewhat abruptly. That may have been the authors intention, but it felt awkward somehow.
It does deal with the tricky issue of teenage homelessness and I almost wish the author had included some factual information at the end or at least a listing of resources for teens who might be in danger of becoming homeless themselves - or even a reader who might know someone in that position. This book could be an effective segue to helping kids who might not otherwise know where they can turn.
Quick read, engaging and overall a strong effort in a first novel.
It does deal with the tricky issue of teenage homelessness and I almost wish the author had included some factual information at the end or at least a listing of resources for teens who might be in danger of becoming homeless themselves - or even a reader who might know someone in that position. This book could be an effective segue to helping kids who might not otherwise know where they can turn.
Quick read, engaging and overall a strong effort in a first novel.
mckinlay's review against another edition
4.0
[3.5 stars]
i honestly didn't know what to expect going into this, i don't even remember buying it, to be honest. but i actually really enjoyed it! even if it was frustrating as hell! the ending was a little too abrupt for my liking, but overall, it was a good story. and sadly, i know this stuff happens in real life all the time. it really makes you think about Faith, and what it means to people.
i honestly didn't know what to expect going into this, i don't even remember buying it, to be honest. but i actually really enjoyed it! even if it was frustrating as hell! the ending was a little too abrupt for my liking, but overall, it was a good story. and sadly, i know this stuff happens in real life all the time. it really makes you think about Faith, and what it means to people.
crypticspren's review against another edition
4.0
It was kind of refreshing to read a cultish book that was so realistic. In taking something that most people simply incorporate into their lives, No Parking at the End Times tells the story of a family being dragged along by a religious fanatic for a father. It was infuriating, and I felt so strongly for Abigail and Aaron., who were living in a van after their father sold everything the owned- including their house.
This book is painfully realistic, and an enjoyable quick read.
This book is painfully realistic, and an enjoyable quick read.