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Aus den Trümmern
Lillian Linden ist eine Lügnerin. Auf den ersten Blick wirkt sie wie die tapfere Überlebende eines Flugzeugabsturzes, aber sie hat ihre Familie und die ganze Welt angelogen, seitdem Rettungshubschrauber sie und einen anderen Überlebenden namens Dave Hall von einer einsamen Insel im Südpazifik geborgen haben. Die Schiffbrüchigen waren fast zwei Jahre lang verschollen und stehen nach ihrer Rettung im Rampenlicht. Auf einmal werden sie von den Medien hofiert, aber sie können ihre wahre Geschichte nicht erzählen. Doch Genevieve Randall, die knallharte Enthüllungsjournalistin eines TV-Nachrichtenmagazins, kauft ihnen ihre Story nicht ab. Sie vermutet, dass Lillian und Dave in Bezug auf das Schicksal der anderen Überlebenden des Flugzeugabsturzes lügen, und ist entschlossen, die Wahrheit ans Licht zu bringen, auch wenn sie dabei unzählige Leben zerstört.
In dieser faszinierenden Geschichte über das Überleben, Geheimnisse und Wiedergutmachungen müssen sich zwei ganz normale Menschen, die durch eine Tragödie zusammenfanden, der Wahrheit stellen … selbst wenn sie dadurch voneinander getrennt werden.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2015
6913 people are currently reading
18764 people want to read
About the author
Emily Bleeker
13 books1,715 followersEmily lives in suburban Chicago with her family. Between writing and being a mom, she attempts to learn guitar, sings along to the radio (loudly), and embraces her newfound addiction to running.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,568 reviews
March 23, 2015
Am I taking crazy pills? This book was pants-on-head ridiculous. I read it in one sitting and it completely fell apart 2/3-3/4 of the way through. The dialogue wasn't immersive. The characters weren't compelling. I felt like I was stranded on an island for like, four hours and would have pitched myself off of a cliff if I was trapped with Lily, David, or their clunky plot devices irl.
October 9, 2016
I picked up this book as a Kindle Unlimited selection, with Audible narration. While the narration was okay, the story felt "flat" to me. I never felt a strong connection to the main characters. The blurb was intriguing, but the story itself failed to draw me in.
'Wreckage' tells the story of Lillian and Dave, who have returned to the families after being rescued from a remote island where they were stranded for nearly two years. The story alternates between present-day, as the two provide their account of events to a pushy reporter, flashing back to their time on the island. It is evident early-on that Lillian and Dave are keeping some secrets about what took place on the island.
Listening to this book, I can't say that I was surprised by many of the "big reveals". I found most of the story to be highly predictable and underwhelming. I expected more suspense and danger than what this book delivered. Unfortunately, it just fell flat for me.
I was also surprised to find that I didn't feel any strong connection between Dave and Lillian. The author told us that it was there, but I never felt it. I expected to be blown away by the strength of their bond. After all, they were stranded on an island together for two years. That kind of thing has to make you incredibly dependent upon another person, but I never felt it.
In fact, I was most taken aback by the lack of a bond between these two. They were supposedly head-over-heels in love, but were able to return to their former lives with little more than a backwards glance. I won't give away the full-extent to which they "return to normal", but I will say that I didn't buy it.
This was one of those stories that just didn't work for me. It was mostly okay, but never made me feel much of anything, except perhaps incredulity. The ending also left me feeling disappointed and a little irritated.
'Wreckage' tells the story of Lillian and Dave, who have returned to the families after being rescued from a remote island where they were stranded for nearly two years. The story alternates between present-day, as the two provide their account of events to a pushy reporter, flashing back to their time on the island. It is evident early-on that Lillian and Dave are keeping some secrets about what took place on the island.
Listening to this book, I can't say that I was surprised by many of the "big reveals". I found most of the story to be highly predictable and underwhelming. I expected more suspense and danger than what this book delivered. Unfortunately, it just fell flat for me.
I was also surprised to find that I didn't feel any strong connection between Dave and Lillian. The author told us that it was there, but I never felt it. I expected to be blown away by the strength of their bond. After all, they were stranded on an island together for two years. That kind of thing has to make you incredibly dependent upon another person, but I never felt it.
In fact, I was most taken aback by the lack of a bond between these two. They were supposedly head-over-heels in love, but were able to return to their former lives with little more than a backwards glance. I won't give away the full-extent to which they "return to normal", but I will say that I didn't buy it.
This was one of those stories that just didn't work for me. It was mostly okay, but never made me feel much of anything, except perhaps incredulity. The ending also left me feeling disappointed and a little irritated.
May 27, 2015
The one dimensional characters that were either irritating or ineffectual.
The dialogue was puerile and trite. The storyline was predictable,lacking originality.
The ending was absurd.
Suffice it to say,I found this book to be a wreck.
The dialogue was puerile and trite. The storyline was predictable,lacking originality.
The ending was absurd.
Suffice it to say,I found this book to be a wreck.
February 12, 2015
With a little spit and polish, this debut novel could shine a bit brighter. I liked the idea of the story, but I was not able to sink my teeth into any of the characterizations, just not enough there. In my opinion, the dialogue was awkward and the ending too trite. What the author got exactly right was the predatory nature of the media.
This was a Kindle First offering, so the bargain price of free was much appreciated. Thank you.
This was a Kindle First offering, so the bargain price of free was much appreciated. Thank you.
February 12, 2015
Sheer frothy guilty-pleasure tale of escape!
A page-turning, absorbing survival adventure....that at times you'd wish you'd gone along, yet so audaciously life-threatening you're grateful you didn't.
Immediately "Wreckage" pulls you in! A fully satisfying novel...from start to finish!
Touching intimacy!!!
Secrets, and more secrets!
I won't be surprised at all if "Emily Bleeker" becomes a household name! This book is just soooooooooo
fully satisfying to read! I'd love to see the movie made also!
I'm looking forward --(will smile big time)-- to see this book on the best sellers list. People around town are going to be talking about "WRECKAGE"!!!!
Its a new 'it' book!!!
Thank you Netgalley ...the Publishing Company...and to "EMILY BLEEKER"! (many congrats!)
A page-turning, absorbing survival adventure....that at times you'd wish you'd gone along, yet so audaciously life-threatening you're grateful you didn't.
Immediately "Wreckage" pulls you in! A fully satisfying novel...from start to finish!
Touching intimacy!!!
Secrets, and more secrets!
I won't be surprised at all if "Emily Bleeker" becomes a household name! This book is just soooooooooo
fully satisfying to read! I'd love to see the movie made also!
I'm looking forward --(will smile big time)-- to see this book on the best sellers list. People around town are going to be talking about "WRECKAGE"!!!!
Its a new 'it' book!!!
Thank you Netgalley ...the Publishing Company...and to "EMILY BLEEKER"! (many congrats!)
November 15, 2015
This is not an ideal situation: a better-than-average story that devolves into something silly and unbelievable. Most of this book was compelling, easy, interesting enough to keep me turning the pages quickly...then all of a sudden it began unraveling, as the dialog got cheesy and the ending absurd. It lost its shine toward the end but it was still an enjoyable book. 3 stars.
July 2, 2015
TL;DR Version:
2.5 stars. Ugh.
Long Version:
Wreckage revolves around two survivors of a plane crash, Lillian and Dave, who'd spent two years trapped on a deserted island together. Both are married, and Lillian has two boys. Lillian's mother-in-law, Margaret, wins a trip for two to Fiji thanks to a contest ran by a yogurt company. After a week of VIP treatment, the company sends out a private jet to take the two women to the company's private island. The airplane is manned by a pilot and a stewardess, Kent and Theresa respectively. The company also sends Dave, a representative of the company.
When the plane loses an engine and gets caught in a storm (I know, I know), it goes down. Theresa and Margaret are the only ones fortunate enough to bail out of this story early, leaving Lillian, Dave, and Kent to fend for themselves. However, this story doesn't follow them from that point. This book begins some time after they've been rescued. Lillian has agreed to do one exclusive interview so that she can tell her "necessary lies" and be done with the whole thing, only she requires Dave to get in on this fiasco for whatever reason (and I never figure out why he had to factor in). The book shifts between the interviews and scenes on the island.
This book started out promising, even as I joked, "Is this going to be like that Guy Ritchie and Madonna movie?" Looking at some of the other reviews for this book that thought terrible things like cannibalism would come into play while reading this, I wished I'd been more creative with my question. I will admit that I initially picked it up because I was hoping that I was going to get something like The Woman Who Wasn't There (a documentary about a woman who faked being a 911 survivor for many years). The more I got into the story, the more dissatisfied I became with it.
My main problem with this book is the whole idea it's based on. Why did Lillian and David feel the need to make up such a complex story? You were stranded on an island. You didn't think you were coming home. No one thought you were alive. While hurtful, no one can blame you for whatever happened there in such a stressful situation. I get there are things that happened on that island that would hurt their partners. Just tell the truth so people can heal and move on.
I'm not so much annoyed that they chose to lie, but what they chose to lie about and the types of lies they chose to tell. Some of these lies, like Kent's death (and Kent only served to be the mustache twirling villain who knew exactly how to survive on a deserted island making him feel necessary to the two), weren't even worth the effort to lie about. If you feel you have to lie, why would you unnecessarily complicate your story with excess lies? Not only that, one of the lies you told was perhaps the easiest to debunk because of the wonders of modern medicine, and it was debunked because of the wonders of modern medicine.
The dialogue was so trite. It just didn't feel like things that people would say to each other. I could see this dialogue being in one of those old 80s young adult books I used to read, just real shallow, banal quality for the most part. I found myself unintentionally frowning up at most of it. Some of these other points of contention, I'm not even going to comment on because I'll never stop talking about it, such as Paul. Insert ominous music here.
Two-thirds of the way into this book, it just fell apart completely as the romance plot completely took over. Two attractive, married people (though they don't think of themselves as attractive, but the writing proves that this just isn't so) on a beach alone together after the villain's demise... what else is there to do? Apparently, have the book lose its shit altogether from that moment to the ending.
The ending wrapped everything up so neatly. They all lived happily ever after. The truth came out to the ones that mattered despite all the lies, and everyone is okay and they're all one big happy family. Literally. I don't have anything against HEA endings, but this just didn't fit the context of the story. However, considering how the book just fell apart and the general shaky premise, maybe it did fit the book.
After I finished reading it, I was so disappointed. It wasn't a badly written book, which is why I can't rate it lower than 2 stars. The story is actually intriguing in parts, and the concept of the story itself isn't bad just not executed well. I also think that she mostly got it right with media feeling entitled to every piece of a story, as if their opinions are the ones that really matter. (I still found the woman doing the interview to be a bit of a caricature of the ambitious reporter herself.) I think I'm more perplexed at how such a promising start could go so absolutely wrong.
2.5 stars. Ugh.
Long Version:
Wreckage revolves around two survivors of a plane crash, Lillian and Dave, who'd spent two years trapped on a deserted island together. Both are married, and Lillian has two boys. Lillian's mother-in-law, Margaret, wins a trip for two to Fiji thanks to a contest ran by a yogurt company. After a week of VIP treatment, the company sends out a private jet to take the two women to the company's private island. The airplane is manned by a pilot and a stewardess, Kent and Theresa respectively. The company also sends Dave, a representative of the company.
When the plane loses an engine and gets caught in a storm (I know, I know), it goes down. Theresa and Margaret are the only ones fortunate enough to bail out of this story early, leaving Lillian, Dave, and Kent to fend for themselves. However, this story doesn't follow them from that point. This book begins some time after they've been rescued. Lillian has agreed to do one exclusive interview so that she can tell her "necessary lies" and be done with the whole thing, only she requires Dave to get in on this fiasco for whatever reason (and I never figure out why he had to factor in). The book shifts between the interviews and scenes on the island.
This book started out promising, even as I joked, "Is this going to be like that Guy Ritchie and Madonna movie?" Looking at some of the other reviews for this book that thought terrible things like cannibalism would come into play while reading this, I wished I'd been more creative with my question. I will admit that I initially picked it up because I was hoping that I was going to get something like The Woman Who Wasn't There (a documentary about a woman who faked being a 911 survivor for many years). The more I got into the story, the more dissatisfied I became with it.
My main problem with this book is the whole idea it's based on. Why did Lillian and David feel the need to make up such a complex story? You were stranded on an island. You didn't think you were coming home. No one thought you were alive. While hurtful, no one can blame you for whatever happened there in such a stressful situation. I get there are things that happened on that island that would hurt their partners. Just tell the truth so people can heal and move on.
I'm not so much annoyed that they chose to lie, but what they chose to lie about and the types of lies they chose to tell. Some of these lies, like Kent's death (and Kent only served to be the mustache twirling villain who knew exactly how to survive on a deserted island making him feel necessary to the two), weren't even worth the effort to lie about. If you feel you have to lie, why would you unnecessarily complicate your story with excess lies? Not only that, one of the lies you told was perhaps the easiest to debunk because of the wonders of modern medicine, and it was debunked because of the wonders of modern medicine.
The dialogue was so trite. It just didn't feel like things that people would say to each other. I could see this dialogue being in one of those old 80s young adult books I used to read, just real shallow, banal quality for the most part. I found myself unintentionally frowning up at most of it. Some of these other points of contention, I'm not even going to comment on because I'll never stop talking about it, such as Paul. Insert ominous music here.
Two-thirds of the way into this book, it just fell apart completely as the romance plot completely took over. Two attractive, married people (though they don't think of themselves as attractive, but the writing proves that this just isn't so) on a beach alone together after the villain's demise... what else is there to do? Apparently, have the book lose its shit altogether from that moment to the ending.
The ending wrapped everything up so neatly. They all lived happily ever after. The truth came out to the ones that mattered despite all the lies, and everyone is okay and they're all one big happy family. Literally. I don't have anything against HEA endings, but this just didn't fit the context of the story. However, considering how the book just fell apart and the general shaky premise, maybe it did fit the book.
After I finished reading it, I was so disappointed. It wasn't a badly written book, which is why I can't rate it lower than 2 stars. The story is actually intriguing in parts, and the concept of the story itself isn't bad just not executed well. I also think that she mostly got it right with media feeling entitled to every piece of a story, as if their opinions are the ones that really matter. (I still found the woman doing the interview to be a bit of a caricature of the ambitious reporter herself.) I think I'm more perplexed at how such a promising start could go so absolutely wrong.
February 12, 2015
I really, really wanted to like this book. It started out very intriguing, leaving me asking a lot of questions that I just had to know the answers for. But about halfway through, all the characters were still falling flat and I'd figured out the big secret, so there was little to keep me going.
The ending felt incredibly disingenuous to me. I realize the author wanted to wrap everything up neatly, but a little mess in this instance would have been fine. The whole thing was messy. It didn't deserve just a sterilized finish.
Now, for a more in-depth analysis...
SPOILERS
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---
---
Kent was a complete caricature. I can only surmise that either the author has never encountered abusive, misogynistic men before, or she has but wasn't able to fully characterize him in this way. He read like a soap opera villain, and his attempted rape of Lillian was something I saw coming from a mile away. It's the "let's use rape to up the ante!" trope, and I'm personally not a fan. His reasoning about Theresa might have rang a bit more true if Kent seemed like the kind of person who could actually care about anyone, but he didn't. Nothing about him seemed genuine, and that made his death matter even less and his actions seem like nothing more than the author not knowing what else to do.
Dave wasn't interesting in the least. He was a sad puppy who very quickly forgot all about his wife in favor of Lillian. It was almost like he was happy to be on that island, toward the end, and he obviously never got over her. The messy nature of their relationship isn't what bothers me. I can hardly blame two people for seeking out companionship when they had no hope of ever being rescued. But Dave felt that way about her before the crash, or he was starting to, and after she got home he expected her to abandon her husband and children for him. He even used her embryos to have children with his wife. I was with Jerry, on this one. Dave was completely inappropriate, but I never felt his passion, either. The author told me it was there, but she never showed me, which made it difficult for me not to roll my eyes at these two adults acting like teenagers in "paradise."
Lillian herself had a bit of depth, but she was always the victim. From the beginning, she's being dragged around by her abrasive mother-in-law. After the crash, she's a mess. All she can do is cry. When Margaret dies, she becomes useless again, refusing to eat. She's supposed to be working on the island like the men are, but she'd much rather swim around in a pool most of the time. When Kent tries to rape her, she just starts singing this weird song (which came off to me as more the author trying to be edgy and make it creepy in much the same way a teenaged author might, or someone who watches too much TV) and has to wait for Dave to rescue her. She is utterly hapless in every single way and so passive that it's hard to identify with her. Lillian doesn't really persevere through any of this. She's just along for the ride, letting others make decisions and give ultimatums while she does very little herself.
The pregnancy plotline was absolutely absurd. Had she conceived a child while on an IUD, it's almost certain she would have died from the complications associated with it. Either the IUD was embedded in her uterine wall or it was still in place and would have likely ruptured the placental sac. Either way, she would have died, but instead she has a completely uncomplicated birth (only three pushes!) and the plot device... um, I mean, baby... dies three months later for absolutely no reason.
So, in short, things were happening in this book. I just didn't believe or connect with any of them, and most I saw coming from a mile away. The story could have been an intriguing one, and the first half was pretty decent (even if I found the writing a bit sophomoric for my tastes), but I was ultimately disappointed. I'm not swearing off this author by any means, but I would like to see some improvement from her in the future.
The ending felt incredibly disingenuous to me. I realize the author wanted to wrap everything up neatly, but a little mess in this instance would have been fine. The whole thing was messy. It didn't deserve just a sterilized finish.
Now, for a more in-depth analysis...
SPOILERS
---
---
---
Kent was a complete caricature. I can only surmise that either the author has never encountered abusive, misogynistic men before, or she has but wasn't able to fully characterize him in this way. He read like a soap opera villain, and his attempted rape of Lillian was something I saw coming from a mile away. It's the "let's use rape to up the ante!" trope, and I'm personally not a fan. His reasoning about Theresa might have rang a bit more true if Kent seemed like the kind of person who could actually care about anyone, but he didn't. Nothing about him seemed genuine, and that made his death matter even less and his actions seem like nothing more than the author not knowing what else to do.
Dave wasn't interesting in the least. He was a sad puppy who very quickly forgot all about his wife in favor of Lillian. It was almost like he was happy to be on that island, toward the end, and he obviously never got over her. The messy nature of their relationship isn't what bothers me. I can hardly blame two people for seeking out companionship when they had no hope of ever being rescued. But Dave felt that way about her before the crash, or he was starting to, and after she got home he expected her to abandon her husband and children for him. He even used her embryos to have children with his wife. I was with Jerry, on this one. Dave was completely inappropriate, but I never felt his passion, either. The author told me it was there, but she never showed me, which made it difficult for me not to roll my eyes at these two adults acting like teenagers in "paradise."
Lillian herself had a bit of depth, but she was always the victim. From the beginning, she's being dragged around by her abrasive mother-in-law. After the crash, she's a mess. All she can do is cry. When Margaret dies, she becomes useless again, refusing to eat. She's supposed to be working on the island like the men are, but she'd much rather swim around in a pool most of the time. When Kent tries to rape her, she just starts singing this weird song (which came off to me as more the author trying to be edgy and make it creepy in much the same way a teenaged author might, or someone who watches too much TV) and has to wait for Dave to rescue her. She is utterly hapless in every single way and so passive that it's hard to identify with her. Lillian doesn't really persevere through any of this. She's just along for the ride, letting others make decisions and give ultimatums while she does very little herself.
The pregnancy plotline was absolutely absurd. Had she conceived a child while on an IUD, it's almost certain she would have died from the complications associated with it. Either the IUD was embedded in her uterine wall or it was still in place and would have likely ruptured the placental sac. Either way, she would have died, but instead she has a completely uncomplicated birth (only three pushes!) and the plot device... um, I mean, baby... dies three months later for absolutely no reason.
So, in short, things were happening in this book. I just didn't believe or connect with any of them, and most I saw coming from a mile away. The story could have been an intriguing one, and the first half was pretty decent (even if I found the writing a bit sophomoric for my tastes), but I was ultimately disappointed. I'm not swearing off this author by any means, but I would like to see some improvement from her in the future.
February 8, 2015
I really enjoyed the first 75%, but I found the last 25% completely hokey and ridiculous.
January 4, 2016
When Lillian Linden's mother-in-law Margaret won an all-expense paid trip for two to Fiji sponsored by a yogurt company, it seemed a good bonding opportunity for the two of them. Even with Margaret's periodic nagging, the first week of the trip was tremendously relaxing, surrounded by the beauty of Fiji.
For the second week of the trip, they'll fly to a private island, accompanied by Dave Hall, the yogurt company's public relations director. Lillian and Dave develop an easy rapport on the flight.
Less than an hour before they're scheduled to land, the plane crashes, leaving them stranded on an island in the middle of the South Pacific. For nearly two years, they are castaways, struggling to survive and not lose hope. But things happened on the island, things that Lillian and Dave have vowed never to talk about if they are rescued, which they don't believe will ever happen. And when they finally are rescued, they vow to tell their families their version of the truth, nothing else.
"Sometimes you have to lie. Sometimes it's the only way to protect the ones you love."
As they try to re-acclimate themselves to the lives they knew before the crash, Dave and Lillian find the adjustment hard, and hiding the truth even harder. They never counted on the media frenzy that would follow their return home, and after months of refusing interviews, Lillian agrees to one exclusive interview with a dogged television reporter, under the condition that Dave be interviewed as well. She hopes that finally sharing their version of the story will put the questions and suspicions aside, and let everyone go back to living their lives, even if they're not sure that's what they want.
Emily Bleeker's Wreckage is a fascinating story about the things we do to survive a catastrophe, the bargains we make with ourselves and others, the secrets we keep, and the sacrifices we make for others' sake. The book shifts back and forth between the crash and the present, and switches between Lillian and Dave as narrators. You see both of their versions of what happened, how they choose to handle it, and how they tell their stories. But of course, you need to figure out which version is really true.
I really enjoyed this book, and found it really compelling. Although this isn't a book with a lot of plot twists, Bleeker threw in a few surprises here and there. This is a book that derives more of its strength from character development and Bleeker's excellent storytelling than any true sense of suspense, but that doesn't take away from its appeal. Definitely worth reading.
See all of my reviews (and other stuff) at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
For the second week of the trip, they'll fly to a private island, accompanied by Dave Hall, the yogurt company's public relations director. Lillian and Dave develop an easy rapport on the flight.
Less than an hour before they're scheduled to land, the plane crashes, leaving them stranded on an island in the middle of the South Pacific. For nearly two years, they are castaways, struggling to survive and not lose hope. But things happened on the island, things that Lillian and Dave have vowed never to talk about if they are rescued, which they don't believe will ever happen. And when they finally are rescued, they vow to tell their families their version of the truth, nothing else.
"Sometimes you have to lie. Sometimes it's the only way to protect the ones you love."
As they try to re-acclimate themselves to the lives they knew before the crash, Dave and Lillian find the adjustment hard, and hiding the truth even harder. They never counted on the media frenzy that would follow their return home, and after months of refusing interviews, Lillian agrees to one exclusive interview with a dogged television reporter, under the condition that Dave be interviewed as well. She hopes that finally sharing their version of the story will put the questions and suspicions aside, and let everyone go back to living their lives, even if they're not sure that's what they want.
Emily Bleeker's Wreckage is a fascinating story about the things we do to survive a catastrophe, the bargains we make with ourselves and others, the secrets we keep, and the sacrifices we make for others' sake. The book shifts back and forth between the crash and the present, and switches between Lillian and Dave as narrators. You see both of their versions of what happened, how they choose to handle it, and how they tell their stories. But of course, you need to figure out which version is really true.
I really enjoyed this book, and found it really compelling. Although this isn't a book with a lot of plot twists, Bleeker threw in a few surprises here and there. This is a book that derives more of its strength from character development and Bleeker's excellent storytelling than any true sense of suspense, but that doesn't take away from its appeal. Definitely worth reading.
See all of my reviews (and other stuff) at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
February 5, 2015
This book started out as a real page turner but I absolutely hated the ending. I'm definitely not a person who was hoping that Lily and Dave would end up together but the whole last chapter was ridiculous to me. Beth is impregnated with Lily and Dave's baby and everyone is cool with that? This ruined a perfectly good book for me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2015
I raced through this book and actually said "no way" out loud at one point. Fantastic read.
March 5, 2015
This was one of the February Kindle First choices. I'd say its main redeeming quality was that it was a short, quick read.
I don't think I can describe my frustrations with the novel without some spoilers.
After their private plane crashes into the South Pacific, Lillian, Dave, Kent, and Margaret end up on a deserted island. Flight attendant Theresa died before the plane hit the water. Margaret died within a day of landing on the island.
The three remaining survivors live there for awhile, Kent attempts to rape Lillian, Dave catches him in the act and tries to protect Lillian, Kent in turn tries to kill Dave, so Lillian kills Kent as he is in the act of killing Dave. First of all, why lie? It was a clear act of self-defense. Second, if you're going to lie about how Kent died, why bother mentioning that Kent even made it to the island? Why not just say he jumped off the life raft before hitting land instead of working him into this tale?
I guess I live in a world where there are bad men and bad women, but mostly people are generally good. It was a little nauseating that when two men and a woman are stranded together on a deserted island, CLEARLY one of the men will turn out to be a rapist. It was one of many cliches.
I thought the secrets were going to be totally scandalous, but they ended up feeling anticlimactic. I think anyone could understand a romantic relationship developing between two people who don't think that they will ever see home again. I'm not sure why they went to such great lengths to downplay it.
Overall the characters were just cliche and one-dimensional. The characters and the advents of their relationships with each other were underdeveloped. Dave and Lily's relationship developed eventually, but it started out with a really uneven tempo making it really hard for me to buy it.
I couldn't connect with Lillian because I couldn't figure out who she was supposed to be. One minute she's cool and collected, and the next she's needy and irrational.
I wasn't a fan of the writing. "Immature" kept coming to mind - it was shallow, unconvincing, and not very eloquent.
I didn't enjoy this one. If you're considering reading it, I'd suggest passing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2015
I must say I am very disappointed by this book. I bought it based on the synopsis and how interesting it sounded. I had never heard of the author before, but I bought it on a whim because I was taken in by the storyline.
*Spoilers ahead*
Unfortunately, it did not meet any of my expectations. I went in looking for adventure, drama, and whole lot of mystery. I ended up reading some long-winded interview that was taking place, while it alternated back and forth through past and present events.
For starters, I don't understand why there were only 4 passengers on the plane, including Theresa and Dave, who work for the airline and PR company. So basically, only Lillian and her mother in law were the main passengers on this flight? I know it's a small plane, but I would've appreciated more characters being present, or at least mentioned. When the blurb says "brave survivor of a plane crash", you can't help but think large scale plane crash.
Then, there's Kent, strange, violent pilot. And Paul? An invisible character that is mentioned over and over again, but is nowhere to be seen. Not for a while anyway.
The synopsis talks about how Lillian is a liar, and how things happened on the island that they can't share with anyone. How a reporter is after them to get to the bottom of the story and find out what really happened when they got stranded for two years before their rescue. I mean, wow. It sounds INTENSE. So when I started reading it, and found out that the reporter is really not much of a threat, and her role consisted of interviewing Lillian and Dave and asking them "tough" questions for the WHOLE DURATION of the book, ending with her basically giving up on finding out what really happened, I was honestly put off. Not to mention the fact that the lies they were keeping were completely exaggerated and unnecessary!
And the jumping back and forth in time to see what really took place on the island, reading from Lillian and Dave's POV, was not exciting either. How can it be when it's just them two on an island for the majority of the time? I was bored out of my mind. There was nothing to keep me hooked, to suck me in, to make me feel for them. I just wanted this book to end so I can find out who Paul was. Oh the disappointment when I did find out.
But please, let's discuss that ending. When the survivors each go back to their lives and their spouses, and they're finally happy and have moved on from the events on that island, we find out that Lillian gave Dave her eggs so he can have a baby with his wife, and Lillian's husband eventually finds out as does Dave's wife. That's not all though, everyone is absolutely OK with that!! In fact, they're all best buddies now and couldn't be happier!!
Really? Is that realistic? If I find out my husband went to the woman he loved for two years and asked her to be the egg donor of our child, I would be furious. Not thankful.
I really don't understand this book. So many plot holes. The execution of the actual storyline is weak and the character development is nonexistent. Do not recommend this book.
*Spoilers ahead*
Unfortunately, it did not meet any of my expectations. I went in looking for adventure, drama, and whole lot of mystery. I ended up reading some long-winded interview that was taking place, while it alternated back and forth through past and present events.
For starters, I don't understand why there were only 4 passengers on the plane, including Theresa and Dave, who work for the airline and PR company. So basically, only Lillian and her mother in law were the main passengers on this flight? I know it's a small plane, but I would've appreciated more characters being present, or at least mentioned. When the blurb says "brave survivor of a plane crash", you can't help but think large scale plane crash.
Then, there's Kent, strange, violent pilot. And Paul? An invisible character that is mentioned over and over again, but is nowhere to be seen. Not for a while anyway.
The synopsis talks about how Lillian is a liar, and how things happened on the island that they can't share with anyone. How a reporter is after them to get to the bottom of the story and find out what really happened when they got stranded for two years before their rescue. I mean, wow. It sounds INTENSE. So when I started reading it, and found out that the reporter is really not much of a threat, and her role consisted of interviewing Lillian and Dave and asking them "tough" questions for the WHOLE DURATION of the book, ending with her basically giving up on finding out what really happened, I was honestly put off. Not to mention the fact that the lies they were keeping were completely exaggerated and unnecessary!
And the jumping back and forth in time to see what really took place on the island, reading from Lillian and Dave's POV, was not exciting either. How can it be when it's just them two on an island for the majority of the time? I was bored out of my mind. There was nothing to keep me hooked, to suck me in, to make me feel for them. I just wanted this book to end so I can find out who Paul was. Oh the disappointment when I did find out.
But please, let's discuss that ending. When the survivors each go back to their lives and their spouses, and they're finally happy and have moved on from the events on that island, we find out that Lillian gave Dave her eggs so he can have a baby with his wife, and Lillian's husband eventually finds out as does Dave's wife. That's not all though, everyone is absolutely OK with that!! In fact, they're all best buddies now and couldn't be happier!!
Really? Is that realistic? If I find out my husband went to the woman he loved for two years and asked her to be the egg donor of our child, I would be furious. Not thankful.
I really don't understand this book. So many plot holes. The execution of the actual storyline is weak and the character development is nonexistent. Do not recommend this book.
May 27, 2016
3.5 STARS
This was a good book, teetering between really good and so-so throughout. Stranded on an island in the South Pacific sounds almost magical, right? Maybe if it was an all-inclusive trip and not because of an airplane crash.
This had elements of suspense, romance and action. The biggest success of this book for me was the tangible and intense connection between Lillian and Dave. Stranded, away from your family and presumed dead, those facts alone made the connection between them so much more emotional. Their incredibly complicated relationship and their unfathomable bond is something that moved me and I can't stop thinking about it. However, it's worth mentioning that the HEA in this book is probably not what you're expecting, considering both Lillian and Dave are married to other people when the plane goes down. I will say, as not to spoil the book, that it ended in the best way it could have.
My biggest complaint, and what accounts for my rating, was the lack of detail for such a dynamic plot. This book is told in the present with the past island scenes being shared in interviews given by Lillian and Dave independently of each other.
I did like that set up, because it showed what was being told and what wasn't. It was an incredible story with an unbelievable outcome, but could have been so much more--aside from the amazing connection between the main characters--. The characterizations were good, but the island stuff didn't impact like it should have. I felt I should have been biting my nails, but I almost never did. There were several great scenes that upped the ante, but in general I think this book could have been more intense. I also wanted more scenes between Lillian and her husband Jerry. Regardless, I liked it, absolutely loved the visceral connection between Dave and Lillian, the hurdles of fitting back into their old lives and the originality.
This was a good book, teetering between really good and so-so throughout. Stranded on an island in the South Pacific sounds almost magical, right? Maybe if it was an all-inclusive trip and not because of an airplane crash.
This had elements of suspense, romance and action. The biggest success of this book for me was the tangible and intense connection between Lillian and Dave. Stranded, away from your family and presumed dead, those facts alone made the connection between them so much more emotional. Their incredibly complicated relationship and their unfathomable bond is something that moved me and I can't stop thinking about it. However, it's worth mentioning that the HEA in this book is probably not what you're expecting, considering both Lillian and Dave are married to other people when the plane goes down. I will say, as not to spoil the book, that it ended in the best way it could have.
My biggest complaint, and what accounts for my rating, was the lack of detail for such a dynamic plot. This book is told in the present with the past island scenes being shared in interviews given by Lillian and Dave independently of each other.
I did like that set up, because it showed what was being told and what wasn't. It was an incredible story with an unbelievable outcome, but could have been so much more--aside from the amazing connection between the main characters--. The characterizations were good, but the island stuff didn't impact like it should have. I felt I should have been biting my nails, but I almost never did. There were several great scenes that upped the ante, but in general I think this book could have been more intense. I also wanted more scenes between Lillian and her husband Jerry. Regardless, I liked it, absolutely loved the visceral connection between Dave and Lillian, the hurdles of fitting back into their old lives and the originality.
February 5, 2015
An excellent debut novel. The title describes this book perfectly. Found in a nightmare situation the characters are believable including the reporter who doesn't appear to have a empathic bone in her. In a plane crash and stranded together on a island for months Kent, Lillian and David develop working relationships. As time progresses character traits become more critical and exaggerated. Both the best and worst of people evolves as time goes on. I couldn't put this one down. Made me wonder what we all would do if found in the situation of this novel. I look forward to seeing what comes in the future from this author.
March 6, 2018
OH. MY. GOD!
I loved everything about this book. I was seriously so sad that it was over when I was at work. I basically yelled at my phone for telling me that the audio book was over. OVER people! I couldn't handle that sort of information. So what did I do to cope? Hot freaking Chocolate people.
Wreckage was so freaking good. I loved Lillian and Dave's characters throughout the book. The stuff that those two had to go through was terrifying, yet amazing because they are alive. Yes, they are adjusting to life still but their story was still freaking mysterious, interesting, and I honestly couldn't put my headphones down.
I also really liked that it was a dual POV. I liked both narrators for the audio because they just made the book that more interesting to me. I loved the story, the twists, and everything else. I'm definitely going to look forward to more stuff from Emily Bleeker.
I loved everything about this book. I was seriously so sad that it was over when I was at work. I basically yelled at my phone for telling me that the audio book was over. OVER people! I couldn't handle that sort of information. So what did I do to cope? Hot freaking Chocolate people.
Wreckage was so freaking good. I loved Lillian and Dave's characters throughout the book. The stuff that those two had to go through was terrifying, yet amazing because they are alive. Yes, they are adjusting to life still but their story was still freaking mysterious, interesting, and I honestly couldn't put my headphones down.
I also really liked that it was a dual POV. I liked both narrators for the audio because they just made the book that more interesting to me. I loved the story, the twists, and everything else. I'm definitely going to look forward to more stuff from Emily Bleeker.
August 16, 2016
It was pretty alright. :)
I love Kindle Firsts!
I love Kindle Firsts!
April 30, 2017
4.5 stars. I would totally give this 5 stars except that it ended with me feeling hollow. Not that I was surprised or even disappointed...(maybe I was a bit). But this book was amazing to me. I was immersed in this story. I couldn't wait to see how all these secrets played out and came out. Looking at this book from a wife and mother prospective, I love the ending. Looking at it from a readers perspective and what I really wanted, I'm bummed and torn. The ending kinda took away from the whole book. It's all I can focus on in my review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2018
Surrounding the aftermath of a plane crash, Wreckage is a story of love and survival for a handful of survivors on an island. I liked the characters and enjoyed the narration of this story. It was perhaps a little slow-paced at times, but overall quite a good story.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Kindle Unlimited.
I borrowed this in audiobook format through Kindle Unlimited.
February 21, 2015
As an Amazon Prime member, I am able to get a free Kindle book each month via their Kindle First program. I haven't been keeping up and have a bit of a backlog of titles, so when February rolled around, I decided I would read my Kindle First selection right away. I chose Emily Bleeker's Wreckage. Unfortunately, this has been the weakest book I've gotten through the program and one of the most disappointing books I've actually bothered to finish.
The premise of people getting stranded on a desert island has certainly been attempted before but the inherent drama of the situation is undermined because we are introduced to two of the survivors early on as they agree to participate in a TV interview. This reveal is allegedly justified because there are secrets about what happened on the island which are slowly revealed during the interview process, but these secrets are so obvious that there is no tension. Basically, I finished the book because I was hoping that the big reveals weren't so obvious but, alas, they were. Neither of the two survivors wanted to do the interview and their rationale for doing so was unrealistic.
The characters are thinly drawn and borderline unbelievable, especially those of Kent and the TV interviewer. The interviews never felt plausible and really undermined the story. Here's hoping for better luck next month.
The premise of people getting stranded on a desert island has certainly been attempted before but the inherent drama of the situation is undermined because we are introduced to two of the survivors early on as they agree to participate in a TV interview. This reveal is allegedly justified because there are secrets about what happened on the island which are slowly revealed during the interview process, but these secrets are so obvious that there is no tension. Basically, I finished the book because I was hoping that the big reveals weren't so obvious but, alas, they were. Neither of the two survivors wanted to do the interview and their rationale for doing so was unrealistic.
The characters are thinly drawn and borderline unbelievable, especially those of Kent and the TV interviewer. The interviews never felt plausible and really undermined the story. Here's hoping for better luck next month.
July 1, 2017
Audiobook narrated by Kristin Watson Heintz &Luke Daniels (10h 17min)
What is it about seeing people on deserted islands and having to keep secrets that speaks to my soap operish soul? Although it took me awhile to get immersed in the plot, I soon hit my stride. Alternatively narrated by Lillian and Dave, the chapters switch from the plane crash to the aftermath of their rescue.
Oh this book was full of so many lies and two pretty dumb protagonists. That's right, I hated both Lillian and Dave, but a little part of me wonders if maybe my dislike was stronger given the audio. The ending was er.... interesting and certainly not what I had anticipated. I give kudos to the author for spinning us in a different direction even though I am still on the fence of how I felt about it. But let's take a moment to appreciate that eye catching cover.... okay that's over. As an aside, I really loved Lillian's husband, Jerry. For what it's worth, he was pretty perfect for the fictional world.
If you desire to read an unfamiliar author, check out Emily Bleeker.
What is it about seeing people on deserted islands and having to keep secrets that speaks to my soap operish soul? Although it took me awhile to get immersed in the plot, I soon hit my stride. Alternatively narrated by Lillian and Dave, the chapters switch from the plane crash to the aftermath of their rescue.
Oh this book was full of so many lies and two pretty dumb protagonists. That's right, I hated both Lillian and Dave, but a little part of me wonders if maybe my dislike was stronger given the audio. The ending was er.... interesting and certainly not what I had anticipated. I give kudos to the author for spinning us in a different direction even though I am still on the fence of how I felt about it. But let's take a moment to appreciate that eye catching cover.... okay that's over. As an aside, I really loved Lillian's husband, Jerry. For what it's worth, he was pretty perfect for the fictional world.
If you desire to read an unfamiliar author, check out Emily Bleeker.
February 22, 2015
This survival/adventure story is told by Lillian and David who are the protagonists involved in a plane crash that sees them separated from their families for almost two years.
The narrative flits between present day when they are returned to their lives and being hounded by the media, and their shared past on the island where they struggled to survive following the crash.
It is a fast paced adventure filled with secrets and lies.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and particularly liked the depiction of the media and their 'feeding frenzy'.
This would make a brilliant holiday read (I'm dreaming of the summer right now, all that desert island beauty sounds perrrrfect...or is it??!! Lol)
Thanks to Elyse for the recommendation :)
The narrative flits between present day when they are returned to their lives and being hounded by the media, and their shared past on the island where they struggled to survive following the crash.
It is a fast paced adventure filled with secrets and lies.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and particularly liked the depiction of the media and their 'feeding frenzy'.
This would make a brilliant holiday read (I'm dreaming of the summer right now, all that desert island beauty sounds perrrrfect...or is it??!! Lol)
Thanks to Elyse for the recommendation :)
February 1, 2015
This was a fabulous read that I couldn't put down. The characters were complex and kept you on the edge of your seat.
October 6, 2015
This was a great story to sneak under my duvet last night as start to read. I didn't expect I would be still reading and hearing the birds tweet outside my bedroom window telling me it was early morning. I got so carried away with this. Needless to say, I slept in later.
This has all the elements of what I would call, survival suspense.
After the plane crash and before the plane the plane crash, those are the main themes of the chapter through the book.
I have to say that at times I got a bit frustrated, I wanted to 'gee it up a bit' because some things were taking ages to pan out. But we got there in the end, as you do.
A plane crash changed not only the survivors but also the relatives of those that were involved, we see that plainly from the event.
We see secrets and lies too.
Lillian and Dave were marooned on this Island, they didn't feel they had much time left to live. That was poignant.
Also, I think the thing that enriched this read, well.....there were several really, but this is a gentle love story, the romance was exquisite.
This is not a straight forward tale of a woman who was a survivor of a plane crash, this has a much wider scope, far more than is in the blurb.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
** Thank you to Lake Union Publishing via Net Galley for my copy **
August 3, 2015
So the prose isn't great and the characters aren't the roundest I've come across, but this is another fun weekend read.
The last twist at the end did surprise me, which was nice because some of the other plot points weren't hugely shocking (a lot of signposting here). I did, however, think that the introduction of Paul as a character was a little clumsy. Instead of wondering who he was, I was trying to figure out if he had already been introduced and I had just missed it somehow.
All in all, a fun and fairly light read -- recommended if you need a bit of a break from some heavy stuff.
The last twist at the end did surprise me, which was nice because some of the other plot points weren't hugely shocking (a lot of signposting here). I did, however, think that the introduction of Paul as a character was a little clumsy. Instead of wondering who he was, I was trying to figure out if he had already been introduced and I had just missed it somehow.
All in all, a fun and fairly light read -- recommended if you need a bit of a break from some heavy stuff.
October 13, 2017
This book was like a store bought generic bakery product. While I was reading it wasn't awful but the next morning I realized it was just empty calories, artificial flavors and colors.
There is not a single likeable main character in the book. And the author tells you this right off the bat. The female protagonist is a whiny, weepy, needy mess. She doesn't have any sense and she literally repeatedly makes decisions which get people killed.
The basic premise is like Gilligan's Island without charm. A small plane is forced to ditch in the ocean and three survive and make it to a small deserted island where it gets ugly quickly.
The book is related as memories from the stranded and as part of an interview with a media star.
There is not a single likeable main character in the book. And the author tells you this right off the bat. The female protagonist is a whiny, weepy, needy mess. She doesn't have any sense and she literally repeatedly makes decisions which get people killed.
The basic premise is like Gilligan's Island without charm. A small plane is forced to ditch in the ocean and three survive and make it to a small deserted island where it gets ugly quickly.
The book is related as memories from the stranded and as part of an interview with a media star.
July 8, 2015
What the f**k did I just spend my night reading?
Look, I get that fiction is not true. There is no Hogwart's, Jon Snow is not guarding The Wall, and I'm not going to fall through time and marry Jamie Fraser, yet ALL of those stories are more plausible than this one.
SPOILER --Ladies, show of hands-- your husband comes back from spending almost two years on a deserted tropical island with a beautiful woman he's completely in love with, calls her every chance he gets, but it's all okay and you'll all be besties and visit at the holidays (seriously??? WTF???) and live happily ever after because the baby SHE had with your husband died, so she gave you an egg so YOU can have a baby with your husband, even though it's really a reincarnation of their love child that died on the island and will be a constant reminder that your husband loves someone else and is only staying with you because you made him a father. And also because a psychic told you it would happen. That's cool, right?
This book had so much potential. The premise was interesting, and the author initially did a decent job of building suspense, but much like poor Paul, the characters died before they could fully develop (sorry, too soon?). And the ending, dear God, the ending. The story starts with a plane crash and tries for this "everyone lives happily ever after" ending that is so convoluted and contrived that it's just an absolute train wreck. Really disappointing.
Look, I get that fiction is not true. There is no Hogwart's, Jon Snow is not guarding The Wall, and I'm not going to fall through time and marry Jamie Fraser, yet ALL of those stories are more plausible than this one.
SPOILER --Ladies, show of hands-- your husband comes back from spending almost two years on a deserted tropical island with a beautiful woman he's completely in love with, calls her every chance he gets, but it's all okay and you'll all be besties and visit at the holidays (seriously??? WTF???) and live happily ever after because the baby SHE had with your husband died, so she gave you an egg so YOU can have a baby with your husband, even though it's really a reincarnation of their love child that died on the island and will be a constant reminder that your husband loves someone else and is only staying with you because you made him a father. And also because a psychic told you it would happen. That's cool, right?
This book had so much potential. The premise was interesting, and the author initially did a decent job of building suspense, but much like poor Paul, the characters died before they could fully develop (sorry, too soon?). And the ending, dear God, the ending. The story starts with a plane crash and tries for this "everyone lives happily ever after" ending that is so convoluted and contrived that it's just an absolute train wreck. Really disappointing.
February 6, 2015
Intriguing and convoluted story line but "surface" characters needed much more depth. I really don't know why Dave was so great or what made Kent so malicious. Lillian was...well, she needed more believability.
April 9, 2017
Nunca pensei que ia ler este livro num dia, quanto mais, que me fosse prender tanto. Senti como se fosse verdadeiro, como se estivesse não a ler, mas sim a ver a história nas notícias a ser contada por dois sobreviventes, senti como se fosse algo verídico.
A história é contada através do ponto de vista de duas personagens, Lilliam e Dave, dois sobreviventes de um acidente de avião, desaparecidos por quase dois anos. Para Genevieve Randall, (tal como diz a sinopse: uma jornalista experiente e obstinada) aquilo parece demasiado misterioso e então através de uma entrevista a cada um, decide procurar algo que destrua aquela versão da história que eles tentam contar.
O livro vai nos contando a história do acidente conforme a entrevista vai andando, conseguimos assim absorver os pormenores um por um, tornando a história mais interessante, prendendo-nos ao enredo e curiosos com tudo o que está a acontecer e com algumas dúvidas já aparecer.
Senti que foi um livro completo, com ( ler continuação neste link https://nerdechique.wordpress.com/201...)
A história é contada através do ponto de vista de duas personagens, Lilliam e Dave, dois sobreviventes de um acidente de avião, desaparecidos por quase dois anos. Para Genevieve Randall, (tal como diz a sinopse: uma jornalista experiente e obstinada) aquilo parece demasiado misterioso e então através de uma entrevista a cada um, decide procurar algo que destrua aquela versão da história que eles tentam contar.
O livro vai nos contando a história do acidente conforme a entrevista vai andando, conseguimos assim absorver os pormenores um por um, tornando a história mais interessante, prendendo-nos ao enredo e curiosos com tudo o que está a acontecer e com algumas dúvidas já aparecer.
Senti que foi um livro completo, com ( ler continuação neste link https://nerdechique.wordpress.com/201...)
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