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celtic67's review
5.0
What can you say about Will Carver as an author or this book. So many tales of different people, seemingly going nowhere. Not in the least connected. Or are they? You will need to read this book to find out. Will Carver is a must read author. At least for me! Maybe for you too!
wintrovia's review
4.0
A clever, interwoven plot that covers a group of seemingly unrelated characters but beings them together to a satisfying conclusion in the end. It would spoil the story to be too specific but Will Carver's writing has an enjoyable mix of grisly crime, astute social observations and well-drawn characters. Because the book involves multiple overlapping stories it was an effort to keep track of at times but worth it in the end.
booksbybindu's review against another edition
5.0
Is this a crime book or a philosophical tome? Is Will Carver God? Or a man disillusioned with modern society? Is his writing superb? Or was that a silly question? Is this one of the most thought-provoking books that will challenge your most inner preconceptions? Yes, yes it is. Is it one of the weirdest books I have read this year? Yes, yes it is. Is it one of the best books I have read this year? Again, yes, yes it is!
‘The Daves Next Door’ is one of those books you will remember for a long long time. But then all of Carver’s work is like that. We have had ‘Evil’ narrate a book before and this time we may have God as the narrator/suicide bomber/commuter/normal being getting on with his life.
From the above blurb you can see there are many stories and characters running parallel to each other in this weird and wonderful tale. All of them as important as each other and all tied together by one character sat on a tube carriage trying to determine who they are. They chop and disjoint they story as much as they allow for the story to progress. But isn't it really that those chapters merge and become part of the reader as it's your own inner self asking and answering those questions? Every single one of them hits home and will have a different answer for every reader. And that is where the genius of this book lies. It becomes personal. It jolts and shocks the reader and takes them on a journey of inner discovery. Well for me it did. Check all your preconceptions at the door as this book will make you question everything.
As someone who devours Will’s work I loved all the wee nods to his previous books! It made me feel like that class swot when I spotted them! Take me to the #CarverCoven now as I'm a fully paid member. I'm already desperate to know what is coming next from that deliciously dark and tremendous mind of his.
Let me know if you read this one!
‘The Daves Next Door’ is one of those books you will remember for a long long time. But then all of Carver’s work is like that. We have had ‘Evil’ narrate a book before and this time we may have God as the narrator/suicide bomber/commuter/normal being getting on with his life.
From the above blurb you can see there are many stories and characters running parallel to each other in this weird and wonderful tale. All of them as important as each other and all tied together by one character sat on a tube carriage trying to determine who they are. They chop and disjoint they story as much as they allow for the story to progress. But isn't it really that those chapters merge and become part of the reader as it's your own inner self asking and answering those questions? Every single one of them hits home and will have a different answer for every reader. And that is where the genius of this book lies. It becomes personal. It jolts and shocks the reader and takes them on a journey of inner discovery. Well for me it did. Check all your preconceptions at the door as this book will make you question everything.
As someone who devours Will’s work I loved all the wee nods to his previous books! It made me feel like that class swot when I spotted them! Take me to the #CarverCoven now as I'm a fully paid member. I'm already desperate to know what is coming next from that deliciously dark and tremendous mind of his.
Let me know if you read this one!
kellyvandamme's review against another edition
5.0
How does one even begin to review a book like this one? (Starting with a question is probably rather appropriate
missevey's review
5.0
There aren’t many books that I can say feel hold a truly unique perspective, but this one certainly does! What a way to tackle a ‘terrorist tale’ - I was enthralled with what would occur and how the fascinating characters’ tale would ultimately entwine. Can’t wait to read some more of his work!
frombethanysbookshelf's review
5.0
In July 2022, a terror attack send shockwaves through London. Now, the ICS are trying to examine the evidence, find out what actually happened that day and everything that led to that moment. Could it have been prevented? Was it inevitable? And what really is the start of a story?
We explore the intertwined lives and deaths of perfect strangers as they orbit each other, waiting for collision. The nurse who has lost her humanity, the young man waking up in hospital to a world of black and white, the widower seeing angels, the con artists who might be murderers, the commuter reading on the train, two men named Dave who may have a brain tumour - and the potential terrorist, riding the same train every day, watching and waiting. But waiting for what, exactly?
"If a butterfly can cause a tornado, if something so small can have such a giant effect, what, then, is the effect of the tornado? What happens when I blow up everybody on this train? Could I make the world end? Would that be such a bad thing?"
This isn't a book about terrorists, there's just terrorism in it. It's a book about the curiosity of the human condition. About true horror, the kind not on a screen but hidden in the people we know. About the countless sides of a single story, and the strange intricacies of what it means to be human.
Will Carver has a style like no other - truly intense and absorbing. With swift, jarring changes between unique perspectives each with a distinct voice and intriguing visual style. Each story moves quickly, but still manages to give intricate details for each and not push any to the side.
This is a mystery like no other - our narrator is almost ethereal and strange. With an unnerving otherness that makes it seem like our potential terrorist is reading along with us, watching in a morbid curiosity as hellish dreamscapes play out on each page.
This book offers no real answers - but leaves a thousand questions. If you want something neatly wrapped up and explained, put this book down and walk away. However, if you're ready to be challenged, confused, and chaotic - this is for you, dear reader.
Thank you to Karen at Orenda Books and Anne at Random Things for inviting me to take part in this tour. I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.
We explore the intertwined lives and deaths of perfect strangers as they orbit each other, waiting for collision. The nurse who has lost her humanity, the young man waking up in hospital to a world of black and white, the widower seeing angels, the con artists who might be murderers, the commuter reading on the train, two men named Dave who may have a brain tumour - and the potential terrorist, riding the same train every day, watching and waiting. But waiting for what, exactly?
"If a butterfly can cause a tornado, if something so small can have such a giant effect, what, then, is the effect of the tornado? What happens when I blow up everybody on this train? Could I make the world end? Would that be such a bad thing?"
This isn't a book about terrorists, there's just terrorism in it. It's a book about the curiosity of the human condition. About true horror, the kind not on a screen but hidden in the people we know. About the countless sides of a single story, and the strange intricacies of what it means to be human.
Will Carver has a style like no other - truly intense and absorbing. With swift, jarring changes between unique perspectives each with a distinct voice and intriguing visual style. Each story moves quickly, but still manages to give intricate details for each and not push any to the side.
This is a mystery like no other - our narrator is almost ethereal and strange. With an unnerving otherness that makes it seem like our potential terrorist is reading along with us, watching in a morbid curiosity as hellish dreamscapes play out on each page.
This book offers no real answers - but leaves a thousand questions. If you want something neatly wrapped up and explained, put this book down and walk away. However, if you're ready to be challenged, confused, and chaotic - this is for you, dear reader.
Thank you to Karen at Orenda Books and Anne at Random Things for inviting me to take part in this tour. I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.
oabird's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This book is different to any other I've read. I really liked how it twisted the genre and played with questions we ask ourselves when we're faced with terrorist attacks. Very pleased I picked it up. It did take me a while to get into, as it was very different to what I initially expected, but once I got into it I couldn't put it down.