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ashe_13's review
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jrmarr's review
3.0
Interesting premise, but it just didn't grab me the way I expected it to. I liked the way the back story filled out gradually, but it was also confusing as there are a lot of names and bodies to keep up with. Credit to the author though: I was somehow able to work it out after a while without it being explained in detail, so that worked. Glad I've finished it now.
kschmehl's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
dilchh's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my, where do I start? Where do I even begin? Clearly I should not be given this much liberty in telling other people about this book. I mean, surely there ought to be other people more apt in voicing their opinion about this book, than having me butchered my way around trying to sound comprehensive whilst I praised the wonder that is this book. Alas, this is my blog, and so just let me butchered my way around. Here goes nothing.
Whilst I am not a big fan of action movies (because I am old and I don’t take being surprised lightly, the same reason goes for why I don’t like horror movies), I have to admit I enjoy an action-packed book, and obviously this was most definitely an action-packed book if ever I read one. I think NPR Books did a good job in summarising this book as fast-paced and thrilling because those are definitely the emotions that I am feeling as I flip the pages. And, obviously it wouldn’t be a Claire North book if it is not adventurous, all the way from Turkey, Germany, Slovakia, and the US, I was travelling and running together with Kepler.
The story is just unique, much like the other two novels from Claire North that I’ve read, but it’s not just unique, it is also thought-provoking. Where The Sudden Appearance of Hope pose the question about perfection, Touch pose questions on feeling content of your life, and the what ifs of other people’s lives. I’m quite sure that there are lots of other questions that might arise after you’re done with the book, but the very idea of being content of your life and the what ifs stuck with me the most.
This was not just a science fiction that are both thrilling and fast-paced, but this is also a book you can choose for your next book club and spend countless of hours discussing about the many probabilities of life offered to you if you were like Kepler, Janus, Galileo, Aurangzeb, and Kuanyin; or if you’re just regular Nathan, Will, or Johannes.
Oh gosh, I suck at this book review thing.
Here’s what I’m going to tell you, the moment I caught the flow of the story and the characters, I really can’t put this book down. This book gave me back my reading mojo, I was out of my reading slump because of this book. This book reminded me a lot of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, there was something about this book that drew you in, into the characters, into the storyline, into the world of Kepler, you name it. This book made you invest your own emotion for all the characters. It was so hard saying goodbye to all the characters as I finished the book, but it was harder not to keep on reading.
I think this book and its story deserves a round of applause. It was just that good and amazing.
Whilst I am not a big fan of action movies (because I am old and I don’t take being surprised lightly, the same reason goes for why I don’t like horror movies), I have to admit I enjoy an action-packed book, and obviously this was most definitely an action-packed book if ever I read one. I think NPR Books did a good job in summarising this book as fast-paced and thrilling because those are definitely the emotions that I am feeling as I flip the pages. And, obviously it wouldn’t be a Claire North book if it is not adventurous, all the way from Turkey, Germany, Slovakia, and the US, I was travelling and running together with Kepler.
The story is just unique, much like the other two novels from Claire North that I’ve read, but it’s not just unique, it is also thought-provoking. Where The Sudden Appearance of Hope pose the question about perfection, Touch pose questions on feeling content of your life, and the what ifs of other people’s lives. I’m quite sure that there are lots of other questions that might arise after you’re done with the book, but the very idea of being content of your life and the what ifs stuck with me the most.
This was not just a science fiction that are both thrilling and fast-paced, but this is also a book you can choose for your next book club and spend countless of hours discussing about the many probabilities of life offered to you if you were like Kepler, Janus, Galileo, Aurangzeb, and Kuanyin; or if you’re just regular Nathan, Will, or Johannes.
Oh gosh, I suck at this book review thing.
Here’s what I’m going to tell you, the moment I caught the flow of the story and the characters, I really can’t put this book down. This book gave me back my reading mojo, I was out of my reading slump because of this book. This book reminded me a lot of The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, there was something about this book that drew you in, into the characters, into the storyline, into the world of Kepler, you name it. This book made you invest your own emotion for all the characters. It was so hard saying goodbye to all the characters as I finished the book, but it was harder not to keep on reading.
I think this book and its story deserves a round of applause. It was just that good and amazing.
katykelly's review
5.0
This author continues to impress. Another fascinating concept, which feels familiar but at the same time fresh, and a real human story that slots into this science fiction concept.
North's first (under her pseudonym) was one of my favourite reads of last year. It just pips this one at the post I think, but Touch was hard to put down. It isn't an easy read in that you are pulled around in time, space and also bodies and never quite gain a feeling of equilibrium and full understanding of who, what and where our protagonist is.
The unnamed narrator, we learn, died after a violent mugging. Just before death, she (or he) touched the killer and consciousness was instantly transported into his body. He then watches his own body die. And thus learns of his ability to transfer his mind into other bodies, simply by touching their skin. And later learns that he/she isn't alone...
What a concept. I have vague recollections of this idea being used in sci-fi films before (the Agents of the Matrix films who can take on the appearance of humans have scenes where they quickly transfer themselves from body to body) but I can't think of any book or film where the idea is central to the whole story and fleshed out in such detail.
Here we see the past lives (and loves) of our narrator, who for a long time acted as an Estate Agent (sourcing out and being paid to find bodies that suit the preferences of other body-swappers wanting a new 'skin'), as well as other people who have this ability. The idea of such a long life, and such varied experiences might at first sound idyllic, but Touch shows the downsides and the pain of leaving loved ones behind, of making lives then disappearing, of watching others die. And not just the glamorous aspects of choosing young and nubile bodies to be admired in.
I loved the scenes where we see how body-swappers feel in their new skins, the way the skin feels on them and what they experience (aching feet, myopic vision, empty bellies) - the uniqueness of people is clear. And those scenes where those who have been used have their senses returned to them - how would YOU feel if days/weeks/months of your life were a blank?
It's been very well thought-through, like Harry August. I loved it from start to finish, even with the disorientation of different lives, personas and times. I liked the inclusion of morally suspect characters (both swappers and regular people) who added danger and voices of crticism - should swapping be stamped out? What effect does theis abiliyt have to someone over many centuries? Would you still feel the same empathy that you would if you were mortal?
This isn't one if you like something straightforward and linear, but it will reward those who like to be challenged and given something to think about. I for one can't wait to see the film of this.
North is an author (or at least a name!) I will continue to look out for, with two impressive and distinctive works under her belt.
North's first (under her pseudonym) was one of my favourite reads of last year. It just pips this one at the post I think, but Touch was hard to put down. It isn't an easy read in that you are pulled around in time, space and also bodies and never quite gain a feeling of equilibrium and full understanding of who, what and where our protagonist is.
The unnamed narrator, we learn, died after a violent mugging. Just before death, she (or he) touched the killer and consciousness was instantly transported into his body. He then watches his own body die. And thus learns of his ability to transfer his mind into other bodies, simply by touching their skin. And later learns that he/she isn't alone...
What a concept. I have vague recollections of this idea being used in sci-fi films before (the Agents of the Matrix films who can take on the appearance of humans have scenes where they quickly transfer themselves from body to body) but I can't think of any book or film where the idea is central to the whole story and fleshed out in such detail.
Here we see the past lives (and loves) of our narrator, who for a long time acted as an Estate Agent (sourcing out and being paid to find bodies that suit the preferences of other body-swappers wanting a new 'skin'), as well as other people who have this ability. The idea of such a long life, and such varied experiences might at first sound idyllic, but Touch shows the downsides and the pain of leaving loved ones behind, of making lives then disappearing, of watching others die. And not just the glamorous aspects of choosing young and nubile bodies to be admired in.
I loved the scenes where we see how body-swappers feel in their new skins, the way the skin feels on them and what they experience (aching feet, myopic vision, empty bellies) - the uniqueness of people is clear. And those scenes where those who have been used have their senses returned to them - how would YOU feel if days/weeks/months of your life were a blank?
It's been very well thought-through, like Harry August. I loved it from start to finish, even with the disorientation of different lives, personas and times. I liked the inclusion of morally suspect characters (both swappers and regular people) who added danger and voices of crticism - should swapping be stamped out? What effect does theis abiliyt have to someone over many centuries? Would you still feel the same empathy that you would if you were mortal?
This isn't one if you like something straightforward and linear, but it will reward those who like to be challenged and given something to think about. I for one can't wait to see the film of this.
North is an author (or at least a name!) I will continue to look out for, with two impressive and distinctive works under her belt.
itsfreelancer's review
5.0
*deep breathe*
Claire North. You amazing, wonderful writer!
Have you read "The Fifteen Lives of Harry August"? Go read that now. And then, return to this. Claire is to thriller what Sanderson is to fantasy. A racy plot and a whole different system.
Who would NOT want to be Kepler? The protagonist. Who would not want to jump from body to body, living your life to your fullest in a different skin, every year or week or hour or for a few mins. You can be Tom Cruise today and Maria Sharapova tomorrow, a whore in a red light area or the POTUS. This is what we have been missing in books for so long. Creativity. Claire North makes it ridiculously simple.
Be an immortal within boundaries. Hah! Even Gods have issues. A bit of Jumper and a bit of the Host, mash it together with more brains and a chase and we have Touch. This book made me jump up and down, giddy with relief, taut with fear. What do you to when you can be someone else with just a bare touch? And specially what do you do when someone knows what you're capable of and is hunting you?
Run?
Touch?
Jump?
Or bring the fight to them? When you've managed to live for centuries and faced off one foe or the another, nothing seems too dangerous. And when you don't see it coming, what would you do?
Go pick this one up. It's one of those books that never lets you keep down.
Claire North. You amazing, wonderful writer!
Have you read "The Fifteen Lives of Harry August"? Go read that now. And then, return to this. Claire is to thriller what Sanderson is to fantasy. A racy plot and a whole different system.
Who would NOT want to be Kepler? The protagonist. Who would not want to jump from body to body, living your life to your fullest in a different skin, every year or week or hour or for a few mins. You can be Tom Cruise today and Maria Sharapova tomorrow, a whore in a red light area or the POTUS. This is what we have been missing in books for so long. Creativity. Claire North makes it ridiculously simple.
Be an immortal within boundaries. Hah! Even Gods have issues. A bit of Jumper and a bit of the Host, mash it together with more brains and a chase and we have Touch. This book made me jump up and down, giddy with relief, taut with fear. What do you to when you can be someone else with just a bare touch? And specially what do you do when someone knows what you're capable of and is hunting you?
Run?
Touch?
Jump?
Or bring the fight to them? When you've managed to live for centuries and faced off one foe or the another, nothing seems too dangerous. And when you don't see it coming, what would you do?
Go pick this one up. It's one of those books that never lets you keep down.
joshhall13's review
3.0
3.5. Brain food. There's so many ideas batted around in a stream of conscious style crazythrillersciencefictiony book. Great read, but it was packed. Sometimes i wanted the author to slow down a little to explore some of the lives, ideas, or time periods she created in the story.
tvderg's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
karinlib's review
3.0
I have not read [b:The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August|35066358|The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August|Claire North|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493966668l/35066358._SY75_.jpg|25807847], so I don't have that to compare this book to. I have [b:Ithaca|59416521|Ithaca (The Songs of Penelope, #1)|Claire North|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646748845l/59416521._SY75_.jpg|92958346], which I really enjoyed.
I must say, that although, I enjoyed some aspects of the book, I found myself confused most of the time. The best part of this book is the travel log. Traveling by train, bus, plane, car, etc., to multiple destinations in Europe.
I did like the premise, and the author explored ways in which the premise could be used in society.
I must say, that although, I enjoyed some aspects of the book, I found myself confused most of the time. The best part of this book is the travel log. Traveling by train, bus, plane, car, etc., to multiple destinations in Europe.
I did like the premise, and the author explored ways in which the premise could be used in society.