Prurient and Implausible
592637
Irving Wallace is a good storyteller and has written better books than this, which I found to be prurient. I found the ending to be implausible, as well.
506499
A pedestrian hodgepodge of hackneyed cliches and prose that somehow manages to be both needlessly convoluted yet beyond simple-minded.

The plot, of which is expounded upon in painful detail (multiple times), does not feel restrained to the confines of time and space, as the tense seems to change for no real reason. Even if you have read the Hunger Games, however, there are still surprises to be had, in the same sense that opening a treasure chest and being eaten as a mimic can be "surprising." The "surprises" came in the form of strange plot twists that are so detached from basic logic that you couldn't possibly see them coming.

The eponymous "doge" barely qualifies as a side-character. The "lobster" and "cat" described on the back are mentioned in approximately one sentence and promptly forgotten. Dialogue is literally copy-pasted, just in case you've managed for forget the plot points detailed just paragraphs ago. Punctuation is sparsely used and in some places entirely absent. Characters drop in and out like a game of Goldeneye where you have five friends and four controllers. The conflicts are handled similarly, such as in the case of a vicious snake (An excerpt: "Really!" Oh no it's a snake!"Says Craig "I hate snakes" I said.) that is forgotten in the very next sentence.

It is the 49th Annual Reaping Games, which take place in the year 102214, 95 years after the 33rd Annual Reaping Games. You wouldn't know that this series takes place 100,000 years in the future, as the characters are watching the Simpsons on television. It's plausible, however, that it hasn't really been 100,000 years, as Mr. Brown plays fast and loose with the concept of chronology.

In short, I believe I put more thought into writing this review than the author put into this book. And it shows. What's worse, it ends on a cliffhanger (sort of), with a dire warning to beware a dangerous new enemy that lurk in the shadows. Perhaps some of the many, many questions that were raised will be answered in the next installment of this series. Definitely looking forward to the sequel!
2066396
I finally made it to the end of this book out of respect for the author's effort.  It is a rather silly treatment of some potentially powerful ideas, with trite language out of character for a woman with Kit's education, experience and social privilege; stiff, see-through characters that I never felt connected to; too many secret letters; far too many improbable and confusing coincidences, etc.  Kit was not particularly lovable or believable (eye roll when she singlehandedly killed three bad guys with her karate, one at a time while each politely waited his turn, even though armed).  My serious attempt to appreciate this story was dampened early on by the mental image of Kit whizzing through space and time in her covered wagon loaded to the gills with medical supplies, modern weapons & ammo, Apple products, etc., and of course the horse, dog & cat.  It was irrevocably thwarted when she later used her iPhone to research medical procedures--in the nineteenth century, after several days on the Oregon trail.  Sorry.  Too weird.
2782979
Zombie apocalypse aside, completely implausible, especially in regards to the military aspect.  I can see suspending belief in places, but the protagonist simply turning and running?  Then his home state's National Guard not having some kind of interaction with the Army and finding out that the protagonist abandoned his post?  No.  Sorry.  I paid for this and am sorry to have wasted the .99 cents.
3943613
What an awful book this is. On the pretext of telling women not to be preoccupied with their looks and weight, Wolf has written several hundred pages about women's looks and weight. Her intentions, I am sure, were righteous; but the "empowering" framing message fades away in comparison to the hypnotically graphic struggle-porn that forms the bulk of the text. As I read these horror stories about breast surgery and analyses of cosmetics advertisements, I had an all-too-familiar feeling of prurience. The cumulative effect was similar to that of the women's magazines Wolf deplores, but more inimical. I am a college-educated female with a history of mild eating disorders, and I closed the book feeling more insecure and depressed about my looks and weight than I had in years. In conclusion, anyone with a history of bulimia and / or anorexia ought to stay well away from "The Beauty Myth" unless she has total confidence in her immunity to triggering materials.

Another not-so-minor quibble: Wolf's chapter on "Religion" exposes her total ignorance of Christian doctrine, be it Catholic or Protestant. She writes from the premise that Christianity is anti-woman, apparently expecting that her readers will accept this common canard without any logical arguments to back it up. This further stains her intellectual credentials.
4054582
This is one of the worst books I've ever read.  All of it is totally implausible and poorly crafted.  I'm angry at myself for not abandoning it at the earliest opportunity. None of the principal characters are believable. The skills attributed to the characters are not believable. The language doesn't seem to know if it's in the 17th century, the 21st century, or some of  both.  I must have said "Oh, please!" to myself every few pages.  Neither does the book have any literary value at all. I am at a total loss as to how this book could have become published.
2002786
If this book reveals anything it is the grotesque hubris of Patricia Cornwell herself in giving her book such a ludicrous title. She had added nothing to the debate as to the identity of Jack the Ripper and has instead pushed her theory about Sickert, irrespective of the lack of real evidence. The author truly seems to believe that if she could prove that Sickert wrote the ripper letters, which she can not, then it would prove beyond a shadow of a doubt he actually committed the murders. The fact it has subsequently emerged that Sickert was almost certainly in France with his family the night of the double murder also makes her conclusion dubious in the extreme. I have never read any of Cornwell's fiction but I assume it must be somewhat more worthy than this drivel. A feeble effort and a waste of money.
4119583
The writing is difficult to follow at times, and the plot is very implausible.
143032
Dan Brown begins this book by assembling the winning combination of a mysterious plot-line, a compellingly twisted villain, and a broad knowledge of fascinating esoteric religious symbology. He then proceeds to hack all this to pieces with the blunt, rusty hatchet of his torturously bad writing. In addition to treating the reader as an utter numbskull, Brown makes the infuriating mistake of having every character speak their own subtext. All of this would be bad enough, but he goes on to make his characters give long expository monologues which are clearly designed to expound Brown's own point of view and cease to have any relevance to his story. As soon as you think things are getting good, somebody turns to face the camera, and say something like "What I really mean here is that George Washington was a sorcerer and cast a spell on the people of D.C. to make them build pyramids in the basement, and you can too, if you truly believe." Do not read this book. Do not do it. You will end up wishing you could sue Dan Brown to get those agonizing hours of your life back. This review is my one chance at retribution - Brown, you turd!
2977200
I enjoy medical thrillers, and Robin Cook is among the best authors in that genre.  But this book is the least satisfying of any of his novels.  First, it is not a medical thriller.  Although there are some facts about alternative medicine, the dangers of cervical chiropractic manipulation, and the efficacy of DNA investigation thrown in, the cover art on the book (showing what appears to be a surgical kit) is misleading to a degree that I find offensive.  The book mainly is about the early history of the Catholic Church.  And, the plot is completely unbelievable.  One must suspend disbelief on too many occasions about the ability to sneak into the grave of St. Peter, remove things from the Vatican and the failure of the Archbishop of NY to take effective action.  One also must suspend disbelief about the normal emotional reactions of Jack Stapleton and his wife when faced with their child's cancer. One must suspend disbelief about the reactions of Stapleton's superiors when he steps out of line, grossly, and gets the Department sued.  Finally, the ending of the book is contrived and completely unsatisfying.  The book involves several potentially interesting plots, that Cook interweves creatively, but he does not resolve any of them in a believable or satisfying manner.

For me, this book was a waste and if you buy Robin Cook novels because you like believable medical thrillers, don't waste your money or your time on this one.
1781953
As I was reading this book to my kids I rolled my eyes and groaned so many times.  I had to force myself to finish the story it was so implausible.  I found it hard to believe that Doon is the first person in 240 years to have enough curiousity to search through the pipeworks. It seems that in 240 years no one has even tried to do any innovation, to figure out the generator, to make new things out of trash.  I found it hard to believe that they all just lived for 240 years with no curiousity.  The fact that there were no books seems to have only been thrown in to make the story work not because it made any sense. Didn't they bring batteries?  Flashlights?  Just dumb people existing for 240 years.  I only give it 2 stars because it was well written and my kids liked it.
831464
This book is nothing more than a collection of either enticing fantasy or delusional ramblings. The former case is cruel, and the latter, potentially dangerous if actually taken seriously. Completely disregarding the fact that shapeshifting has been proven scientifically impossible, what shapeshifter in their right mind would divulge that kind of information? In the best case scenario, they would most likely be ostracized, and worst case, committed, if they were a danger to themselves or others. But, if it is possible, then I highly doubt other 'shapeshifters' would like their secrets shared. Or, the government might find you a very interesting and useful test subject. Either way, even to DIVULGE that information, if it was real, would be disastrous. This is furthermore compounded by the fact that, once again, shapeshifting is physically impossible. If you don't believe me, take a year of college level (or, even high school level) biology. Not only would it be profoundly obvious that it is in no way feasible, but you might learn something useful, rather than this garbage that is being peddled.

Wraithe plays upon a very deep desire in people, which can range from wanting to be special to wanting to escape to actually believing you are spiritually an animal. This latter is called Therianthropy, a spiritual condition where an individual believes that they are entirely or in part, mentally or spiritually, an animal. Therianthropy is in no way a physical condition, and therians can not shapeshift. A wonderful place to find information on therianthropy is the Werelist. It is a very mature learning space with thoughtful and informed people. They can be very helpful, and are extremely willing and approachable. But please people, don't throw away your money, or give this con artist the satisfaction of scamming you.

This deserves zero stars for the moral corruption and greed it spreads. Sadly, one star was the lowest rating.
2060745
To sum up as succinctly as I can: not cute.

This was one of the most aggravating, childish books I have ever had to drag my eyes across. I really don't understand the high ratings -- the author is insufferable, lazy, self-aggrandizing, unapologetic, and above all tedious. The narration makes sense when she begins with her childhood, so the chronic self-centeredness feels like a justified match given her age at the time, but then suddenly she's married? With a child? And continually blaming others for her allegedly zany mishaps, making excuses, or else telling the world "you're welcome" simply because she has made others' lives more difficult? Please. Her desire to write this book comes from such an obviously selfish, self-satisfied place that you wonder how on earth she could have grown up to think her little stories are THIS important. If you claim to relate to her on any level, I have unfortunate news for you: you are deeply, deeply obnoxious.

I was genuinely annoyed while reading this book. In fact, I forced myself to finish it so as not to give the author the "pleasure" of driving me off "like all the others," as she would doubtless claim. Fake editors notes are not the mark of a quality read, and I should have acted on my revulsion from the get-go. Skip.
1074392
Everything from the pacing to the characterization is too outlandish to take seriously and any attempts to read it as a serious work of fiction led to a headache within a minute.  In truth, it read more like a farce (and that is often times a stretch) and can only be enjoyed in the same fashion as the movies mocked in the mystery science theater 3000 could be.
3711573
This novel is about as far as you can get from Adler-Olsen's wonderful Department Q series.  It seems to have arisen from  the author's preoccupation with the Nazis in World War II, and is based on the totally preposterous concept that two downed British flyers in 1943 could have boarded a Nazi hospital train, assumed the uniforms and persona of two SS officers who were patients on the train, and were then taken to a mental hospital near Friborg near the border with occupied France, and were then able to be taken as shell-shocked SS officers until one of them managed to escape.  The story resumes thirty years later in the 1970s when one of them returns and, after going through another preposterous series of adventures, frees his remaining mate from yet another mental hospital incarceration, and killls the men who had made their lives hell in the first hospital in Friburg.  The absurdity of the basic notion, as well as the ridiculous unfolding of the plot makes this novel tiresome and pretty mucha  waste of time.  I'm sorry I bought it and still more sorry  that I read it.
4382156
tedious and ridiculous.charlie[the woman] has been dumped by exactly one man and has such a distrust of mens motives it borders on ridiculous.ben the [the guy] is such a groveler that he would put up with charlies unbelievable insecurities at all cost to keep her from running off.the more i read the more disgusted i got with these characters.as for the rest of bens family the syrupy isn't life wonderful crap was enough to make me gag.read at your own risk.yuk.
1543544
I was interested enough in the description of this book to order it. It turns out to be based on a rather strange premise of "chalk drawing" that become animated through "magic" and are used as weapons not only against other "chalklings" but also living creatures.

The mechanical "clockwork" creatures are likewise quite unbelievable and contrived. I can't say I'd recommend this book even to the juvenile audience for whom it was supposedly written.