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Read Harder Challenge Plans: 2016
By Book Riot · 284 posts · 3115 views
By Book Riot · 284 posts · 3115 views
last updated Dec 19, 2017 10:57AM
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Challenge Tasks: The Complete List
By Book Riot · 9 posts · 3392 views
last updated Jan 19, 2016 06:00AM
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What Members Thought
I would actually like to give this book 4.5 stars
I think the reason this novel works so well is the POV used. Writing from the little boy's perspective you truly feel you're walking several brutal miles in his little shoes and that's what makes this read the "experience" I kept seeing it referred to as in critic's reviews.
The little boy does seem to have language skills well beyond his years, but this is nicely acknowledged within the text.
When I heard the plot of the novel I was worried it migh ...more
I think the reason this novel works so well is the POV used. Writing from the little boy's perspective you truly feel you're walking several brutal miles in his little shoes and that's what makes this read the "experience" I kept seeing it referred to as in critic's reviews.
The little boy does seem to have language skills well beyond his years, but this is nicely acknowledged within the text.
When I heard the plot of the novel I was worried it migh ...more
The narration was as almost convincing, yet I could never really get into this book. I felt like I stood slightly outside it. And maybe this is just because the child's point of view is just too far removed from what I can really imagine. Jack seemed too old for his years. I wanted to buy into his worldview, but in the end, it just seemed like a good fictional experiment in narrative voice and nothing more. Good but not completely successful, and in the end, that made it disappointing.
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Emma Donaghue made me believe in Jack, and the optimism that a 5-year-old boy could have despite his difficult situation. The book was a good read but did not meet my expectations given all the hype. I wonder what gimmick Donaghue is going to use to interest readers in her next book.
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By the time I started to think the characters had been developed enough for the action to start, I realized I was three-quarters thru the book and no real plotline was ever going to develop. But I thought the idea was interesting enough to keep going. I read the whole thing on a plane and it was the perfect distraction to my own cramped surroundings.
At first, I wasn't sure about this book. Reading in a five year olds dialect was a little tough for me. But then, the story took off, and I was up half of the night reading it. I really enjoyed this story and came to enjoy the unique perspective.
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Wow. Amazed by the writing, the voice and the story.
Jan 04, 2011
Jenny
marked it as to-read
Feb 05, 2011
Alison
marked it as to-read
Mar 27, 2011
Ms. McGregor
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2011
Mandy
marked it as to-read
