Scan barcode
hnengle's review against another edition
3.0
Story itself was a great idea. The characters could have been more developed imo
sksrenninger's review
4.0
I liked this book fine, but for such a foreboding and suspenseful build-up, the conclusion felt insubstantial and hasty. I felt like Daphne fell out of the book, characters' romantic interests flip-flopped for no reason, and no one's emotional journey was particularly satisfying.
nellday's review against another edition
2.0
I would give this three stars but I'm too cross about the girl whose entire character arc is 1. she is fat but starts doing exercise and gets thin 2. she is in unrequited love with her female best friend but then gets a boyfriend. Ugh x 100.
rakoerose's review
4.0
My annotations wildly varied from:
Collin is a good one.
to, roughly 100 pages later:
COLLIN U FUCK.
So. Needless to say these characters were all portrayed as human, so they had good qualities and bad, which I enjoy seeing! There were three different main perspectives and thus three different main conflicts that all tied together like a neat little present of storytelling that made me want to chef kiss my fingers (not to mention side parts with Kerry, Diana, Brynna, etc. that was like icing on the cake). Lots of good morals and messages. Nina was by far my favorite - but I also have a bias towards loving English teachers irl and in fiction.
Would deffos recommend for people looking for some fluff but also some angst!
Collin is a good one.
to, roughly 100 pages later:
COLLIN U FUCK.
So. Needless to say these characters were all portrayed as human, so they had good qualities and bad, which I enjoy seeing! There were three different main perspectives and thus three different main conflicts that all tied together like a neat little present of storytelling that made me want to chef kiss my fingers (not to mention side parts with Kerry, Diana, Brynna, etc. that was like icing on the cake). Lots of good morals and messages. Nina was by far my favorite - but I also have a bias towards loving English teachers irl and in fiction.
Would deffos recommend for people looking for some fluff but also some angst!
knitter22's review against another edition
2.0
The Chalk Artist started off interestingly enough, but my initial interest didn't last very long. I enjoyed reading about Collin, a chalk artist and waiter, who seemed reasonably happy with his life despite everyone around him telling him that he should be and do more. After the opening pages, it quickly fell apart into an unfocused, seemingly random series of snippets about video games, virtual reality, a teacher trying to reach her students, a teenage girl suffering from angst and confusion, and bits about the interrelated characters with no transitions or depth. I enjoy playing video games, and have even watched my kids play on occasion, but for me, reading endless decriptions of the characters in The Chalk Artist playing a video game was more painful than waiting in line at the DMV.
Book Bingo 2017 - About art/artist(s)
Book Bingo 2017 - About art/artist(s)
ylshelflove's review
4.0
This book started off really strong with distinct characters that felt pretty realistic, albeit it took a bit of time for them to grow into more than their cliche at first (idealistic first-year teacher, poor starving artist, overweight girl, etc.). I really enjoyed seeing how the characters stories interwove with each other and to get those different perspectives on a single situation. Towards the middle, it seemed like the book was going into more of a sci-fi/gaming horror direction, which would have been an interesting twist. However, that path was never really explored, which was a problem I had for the entire second half.
It felt like the story had lost direction and was more a journal detailing how life was going for each character as it happened to them. It read more like a passive report. Somehow, the book had lost all feeling to me. The romance was abrupt, unrealistic, and strange. It popped out of nowhere and then in some cases seemed to disappear just as quickly. The interpersonal issues between the characters were half-explored and half-resolved and then back to normal without much to it.
Overall, while the first half was excellent and very enjoyable to read, the second half just didn't match up. It was wandering all over the place, and for that reason I can't bring myself to give it a full 4 stars.
It felt like the story had lost direction and was more a journal detailing how life was going for each character as it happened to them. It read more like a passive report. Somehow, the book had lost all feeling to me. The romance was abrupt, unrealistic, and strange. It popped out of nowhere and then in some cases seemed to disappear just as quickly. The interpersonal issues between the characters were half-explored and half-resolved and then back to normal without much to it.
Overall, while the first half was excellent and very enjoyable to read, the second half just didn't match up. It was wandering all over the place, and for that reason I can't bring myself to give it a full 4 stars.
rlafleur85's review against another edition
3.0
This book reminded me of the Rainbow Rowell books I've read before "Landline" or "Eleanor and Park;" the romantic storyline and the teenage angst, relationships between teenagers and adults. In Goodman's story, the commentary and storyline move from romance to commentary on video game violence and addiction.
I found high school English teacher, Nina, likable and the perfect thread to weave the stories of Connor, Myra, Victor, Aiden, and Diana together. Not my favorite book but somewhat enjoyable.
I found high school English teacher, Nina, likable and the perfect thread to weave the stories of Connor, Myra, Victor, Aiden, and Diana together. Not my favorite book but somewhat enjoyable.
manaledi's review against another edition
3.0
This was fun. It's multi-faceted with bits of relationship, family, coming of age, technology dramas through the lens of the effect of a video game behemoth.
pianorunner421's review against another edition
3.0
I just don't know about this one. At times I was compelled to keep reading and not put it down. At times, I was so frustrated I thought about not finishing it. There is really potential for a series in this book based on each of the characters. There is so much going on and so many threads it was both intriguing and maddening. At any point in reading this I could have given it two stars and then fifty pages later given it five. I guess it was a good book in that it has me perplexed and still thinking about it. Truly unlike anything else I have read. It is labeled a Romance. Yes, but it could also be fantasy, general fiction, and slightly mystery. Strange.
knunderb's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The narration in this audiobook was fantastic. I really enjoyed the different storylines, but they were only loosely connected, and to me, didn't come together in a powerful way, nor in a way that provided any resolution. The book kind of just ended and didn't really wrap up the storylines. However, the writing was beautiful and I did enjoy the characters, even as they infuriated me sometimes.