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Sieben. Spiel ohne Regeln: Thriller über Mobbing ab 14
Link is a fish out of water. Newly arrived from America, he is finding it hard to settle into the venerable and prestigious Osney School. Who knew there could be so many strange traditions to understand? And what kind of school ranks its students by how fast they can run round the school quad - however ancient that quad may be? When Link runs the slowest time in years, he immediately becomes the butt of every school joke. And some students are determined to make his life more miserable than others . . .
When a school summer trip is offered, Link can think of nothing worse than spending voluntary time with his worst tormentors. But when his parents say he can only leave Osney School - forever - if he goes on the trip, Link decides to endure it for the ultimate prize. But this particular trip will require a very special sort of endurance. The saying goes 'No man is an island' - but what if on that island is a group of teenagers, none of whom particularly like each other? When oppressive heat, hunger and thirst start to bite, everyone's true colours will be revealed. Let the battle commence . . .
From the acclaimed author of S.T.A.G.S.
When a school summer trip is offered, Link can think of nothing worse than spending voluntary time with his worst tormentors. But when his parents say he can only leave Osney School - forever - if he goes on the trip, Link decides to endure it for the ultimate prize. But this particular trip will require a very special sort of endurance. The saying goes 'No man is an island' - but what if on that island is a group of teenagers, none of whom particularly like each other? When oppressive heat, hunger and thirst start to bite, everyone's true colours will be revealed. Let the battle commence . . .
From the acclaimed author of S.T.A.G.S.
Paperback
First published August 9, 2018
62 people are currently reading
1678 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Bennett
17 books304 followersM. A. Bennett is half Venetian and was born in Manchester, England, and raised in the Yorkshire Dales. She is a history graduate of Oxford University and the University of Venice, where she specialized in the study of Shakespeare’s plays as a historical source. After university she studied art and has since worked as an illustrator, an actress, and a film reviewer. She also designed tour visuals for rock bands, including U2 and the Rolling Stones. She was married on the Grand Canal in Venice and lives in north London with her husband, son, and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 309 reviews
September 24, 2020
What a ridiculous book.
Check my updates - that word basically sums up my entire feelings towards this book: RIDICULOUS
The short version: Ostracised nerd Link is stranded on a deserted island with fellow schoolmate stereotypes. They must learn to work together to survive. There are a sh*t ton of pop culture references.
'People that are bullied aren't necessarily nice people, just because they're victims.'
That quote basically sums up the horror that follows. Link, who is bullied for three years by his classmates, turns into a total menace on the island. He's actually bummed his classmates survived and proceeds to use mind games to assert his domination over them. It's pretty messed up.
I honestly didn't like any of these characters, and the whole thing is just so far-fetched. Firstly, all the stuff at the school. Totally unbelievable that students would be treated in such a manner. It was so exaggeratedly absurd that I was rolling my eyes from the start. How am I supposed to feel sympathy when I just don't see any of this stuff actually happening? Bullying is a very real problem and I feel like this book really undermined the seriousness of it. Then for Link to become an absolute tyrant on the island just seemed too much. I hated the way he thought, and acted, and treated everyone. When we were giving redeeming qualities, they were too little, too late.
Then you get to the actual idea of these kids being stranded on a deserted island. Except no one remembers the crash, no one has shoes, and a whole ton of stuff doesn't add up. I was so bothered by stuff these kids didn't even think twice about. Idiots, the lot of them.
Also, this scrawny, non-athletic kid gets muscles after like three weeks? On a diet of fish and goat? PLEASE. Dude didn't even lift.
The whole overlying theme of this 'Deserted Discs' business did nothing for me, because I've never heard of it. I know maybe a handful of the songs mentioned. Maybe that will be more interesting for English people. *shrugs*
The one thing I did love was the book references, particularly the devotion to The Count of Monte Cristo, which is of course written by my favourite author of all time. But I gotta say, watch out for spoilers because this book has now ruined The Mysterious Island for me. There's a ton of references to books that involve islands, obviously, and the natural reference to The Breakfast Club, and a ton of music references ... it's all about that pop culture. It pokes fun at itself with continual references to Lord of the Flies. But ultimately it fails to be anywhere near as intelligent as all the books it references. It's just too strange and unbelievable.
Sigh. It wasn't terrible writing, it was just a really weak story. The idea is interesting but it went in strange directions and I just never got into the groove. Overall, it was just kind of disappointing.
If you're expecting any of the things the blurb brings to mind (Lord of the Flies, Breakfast Club, Gilligan's Island, etc.) then you're likely to be disappointed. I'd say the key to enjoying this one is low expectations.
Check my updates - that word basically sums up my entire feelings towards this book: RIDICULOUS
The short version: Ostracised nerd Link is stranded on a deserted island with fellow schoolmate stereotypes. They must learn to work together to survive. There are a sh*t ton of pop culture references.
'People that are bullied aren't necessarily nice people, just because they're victims.'
That quote basically sums up the horror that follows. Link, who is bullied for three years by his classmates, turns into a total menace on the island. He's actually bummed his classmates survived and proceeds to use mind games to assert his domination over them. It's pretty messed up.
I honestly didn't like any of these characters, and the whole thing is just so far-fetched. Firstly, all the stuff at the school. Totally unbelievable that students would be treated in such a manner. It was so exaggeratedly absurd that I was rolling my eyes from the start. How am I supposed to feel sympathy when I just don't see any of this stuff actually happening? Bullying is a very real problem and I feel like this book really undermined the seriousness of it. Then for Link to become an absolute tyrant on the island just seemed too much. I hated the way he thought, and acted, and treated everyone. When we were giving redeeming qualities, they were too little, too late.
Then you get to the actual idea of these kids being stranded on a deserted island. Except no one remembers the crash, no one has shoes, and a whole ton of stuff doesn't add up. I was so bothered by stuff these kids didn't even think twice about. Idiots, the lot of them.
Also, this scrawny, non-athletic kid gets muscles after like three weeks? On a diet of fish and goat? PLEASE. Dude didn't even lift.
The whole overlying theme of this 'Deserted Discs' business did nothing for me, because I've never heard of it. I know maybe a handful of the songs mentioned. Maybe that will be more interesting for English people. *shrugs*
The one thing I did love was the book references, particularly the devotion to The Count of Monte Cristo, which is of course written by my favourite author of all time. But I gotta say, watch out for spoilers because this book has now ruined The Mysterious Island for me. There's a ton of references to books that involve islands, obviously, and the natural reference to The Breakfast Club, and a ton of music references ... it's all about that pop culture. It pokes fun at itself with continual references to Lord of the Flies. But ultimately it fails to be anywhere near as intelligent as all the books it references. It's just too strange and unbelievable.
Sigh. It wasn't terrible writing, it was just a really weak story. The idea is interesting but it went in strange directions and I just never got into the groove. Overall, it was just kind of disappointing.
If you're expecting any of the things the blurb brings to mind (Lord of the Flies, Breakfast Club, Gilligan's Island, etc.) then you're likely to be disappointed. I'd say the key to enjoying this one is low expectations.
August 9, 2018
Having been gripped by M. A. Bennett's debut offering 'S.T.A.G.S.' I was excited about getting to read a copy of 'The Island', Both books are from the Teens & Young Adult market, feature prestigious private schools for those with more money than sense, and have thrilling elements and a deceptive darkness to them.
Link is a 16-year old American boy who has relocated to the UK with his parents after they're offered lecturing posts at the University of Oxford. Back in the U.S. he received home schooling so when his parents enrol him at the prestigious local private school Osney, he is more than a little anxious. When he turns out to be the slowest runner in an activity designed to determine school order, one of the strange traditions at the school, he immediately attracts the attention of the bullies. So when he is offered the chance to go on a summer school trip, voluntarily spending extra time with people who either mistreat or ignore him is certainly not something Link wants to subject himself to. But his parents only agree to let him leave Osney if he goes on the trip and he decides it is worth enduring to be able to leave them all behind for good later. Of course, the plane crashes and they find themselves stranded on an island (à la 'Lost') and somewhat predictably the dynamic shifts considerably. Link may not be an athlete but one thing he is is well read and is the only one who knows the things needed to survive on a desert island such as how to build a fire, how to find food and how to create shelter. What actually is sporting prowess going to achieve in your fight for survival on a desert island with noone but your peers?
This book took me back to my school days and a time when I endured a lot. Not only was I diagnosed with two debilitating illnesses at age fifteen, I was going through some pretty horrible bullying too. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of other people who endured far worse but I wanted to highlight that I understand the narrative and the harrowing outcomes this behaviour causes at such a young age. I recognise the home schooling too, having also had the same. All of this meant I had an enormous amount of empathy for Link and his situation. The fact that he ends up becoming bigheaded from the power in the end is sad but not really much of a surprise given the lack of control he's had over his life and happiness in the majority of this novel. We learn a lot of important messages from the story with the statement 'treat others as you would like to be treat' being a moral message to take away from it. I hope that many young people pick up this book for that very reason, the messages it sends out are certainly crucial ones for a well-rounded, happy and upstanding individual to uphold. Other issues the book explores include misogyny, responsibility, abuse of power, revenge/retribution and desperation - the author does this with tact and in a way that is suitable for a teenage audience.
All in all, Bennett's characterisation was exquisite, she did a great job of making most of the characters detestable and the twist during the concluding pages of the book was satisfying - I certainly hadn't predicted it. If you enjoyed S.T.A.G.S. then this will also strike a chord with you.
Many thanks to Hot Key Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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Link is a 16-year old American boy who has relocated to the UK with his parents after they're offered lecturing posts at the University of Oxford. Back in the U.S. he received home schooling so when his parents enrol him at the prestigious local private school Osney, he is more than a little anxious. When he turns out to be the slowest runner in an activity designed to determine school order, one of the strange traditions at the school, he immediately attracts the attention of the bullies. So when he is offered the chance to go on a summer school trip, voluntarily spending extra time with people who either mistreat or ignore him is certainly not something Link wants to subject himself to. But his parents only agree to let him leave Osney if he goes on the trip and he decides it is worth enduring to be able to leave them all behind for good later. Of course, the plane crashes and they find themselves stranded on an island (à la 'Lost') and somewhat predictably the dynamic shifts considerably. Link may not be an athlete but one thing he is is well read and is the only one who knows the things needed to survive on a desert island such as how to build a fire, how to find food and how to create shelter. What actually is sporting prowess going to achieve in your fight for survival on a desert island with noone but your peers?
This book took me back to my school days and a time when I endured a lot. Not only was I diagnosed with two debilitating illnesses at age fifteen, I was going through some pretty horrible bullying too. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of other people who endured far worse but I wanted to highlight that I understand the narrative and the harrowing outcomes this behaviour causes at such a young age. I recognise the home schooling too, having also had the same. All of this meant I had an enormous amount of empathy for Link and his situation. The fact that he ends up becoming bigheaded from the power in the end is sad but not really much of a surprise given the lack of control he's had over his life and happiness in the majority of this novel. We learn a lot of important messages from the story with the statement 'treat others as you would like to be treat' being a moral message to take away from it. I hope that many young people pick up this book for that very reason, the messages it sends out are certainly crucial ones for a well-rounded, happy and upstanding individual to uphold. Other issues the book explores include misogyny, responsibility, abuse of power, revenge/retribution and desperation - the author does this with tact and in a way that is suitable for a teenage audience.
All in all, Bennett's characterisation was exquisite, she did a great job of making most of the characters detestable and the twist during the concluding pages of the book was satisfying - I certainly hadn't predicted it. If you enjoyed S.T.A.G.S. then this will also strike a chord with you.
Many thanks to Hot Key Books for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
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October 9, 2018
Sadly this book was not what I had expected. I thought it was something like a YA version of Lord of Flies from the premise. It would be a nice, easy summer suspense to enjoy a good read.
The book is character driven, but too much. It took ages for the writer to do the set up. I lost my interest to read the rest. 20% of the book is spent to talk about how the main character is bullied by others at school. All characters being unlikeable, in addition. This character development is done at the expense of the plot and pace, which makes it boring. The character development was not in depth as well, to make it a story of characters you'd care about. It was just flat.
Also, the twists were quite obvious. You could guess early on.
So, with characters not to care for, slow pace and missing the plot in action, this book didn't satisfy my expectations.
The book is character driven, but too much. It took ages for the writer to do the set up. I lost my interest to read the rest. 20% of the book is spent to talk about how the main character is bullied by others at school. All characters being unlikeable, in addition. This character development is done at the expense of the plot and pace, which makes it boring. The character development was not in depth as well, to make it a story of characters you'd care about. It was just flat.
Also, the twists were quite obvious. You could guess early on.
So, with characters not to care for, slow pace and missing the plot in action, this book didn't satisfy my expectations.
June 10, 2020
Heilige Scheiße! (Tschuldigung!) Was für ein Buch!!! Klar, es klang interessant… aber never ever hätte ich sowas erwartet….
Lincoln Selkirk: Der Nerd
Flora Altounyan: Die Außenseiterin
Sebastian Loam: Die Sportkanone
Miranda Pencroft: Die Klassenschönheit
Ralph Turk: Der Kriminelle
Jun Am Li: Die Streberin
Gilbert Egan: Der Trottel
Na, wer von Euch wird bei dieser Art der Aufzählung auch sofort an einen Filmklassiker erinnert? „Don’t you, forget about me…“ Ja, richtig, Breakfast Club. Eine clevere Zusammenstellung der Protagonisten. Dazu eine einsame Insel. Klingt wie ein Selbstläufer? Ja. War es auch. Aber anders als erwartet.
Breakfast Club meets Herr der Fliegen – oder auch nicht… Dieses Buch ist kein Abklatsch irgendeines schon mal dagewesenen Stoffes. Klar, der Autor spielt damit. Nennt selbst diese Filme und Bücher – nur um die Erwartungen in Kombi mit aktuellen TV-Formaten und moderner Wissenschaft wieder in eine andere Richtung zu lenken.
Lincoln ist der geliebte Sohn zweier Akademiker, die nun einen Forschungsauftrag in Oxford bekommen haben und daher mit ihrem 13 jährigen Sohn von Amerika nach England ziehen. Bisher wurde Link zuhause von seinen Eltern unterrichtet, nun soll er eine Eliteschule besuchen. Doch anstatt dort die unendlichen Weiten akademischen Wissens zu erforschen findet sich Lincoln in einer Welt wieder, in der Sport ALLES ist. Schüler, Lehrer – alle sind extrem fixiert auf körperliche Fitness und den Sieg. Da kann ein schmächtiger Nerd nicht mithalten. Schnell wird er zum Fußabtreter aller…
3 Jahre dauert Lincolns Märtyrium an – bis die „Streiche“ zu weit gehen. Er beschließt, von der Schule abzugehen und somit den Grausamkeiten dieser Schule zu entfliehen. Seine Eltern stellen nur eine Bedingung: Zuerst muss er ins Sommercamp mit seiner Klasse, danach darf er frei entscheiden. Klingt machbar – was sind schon 2 Wochen nach 3 Jahren Leiden?
„Egal, wie schlimm es werden würde, ich hatte hundert Romane auf dem Reader gespeichert, mir konnte also gar nichts passieren.“
Oh my sweet summer child… Kurz nach dem Start des Fliegers ins Camp hat Link einen Blackout und erwacht gestrandet auf einer einsamen Insel. Nach kurzer Euphorie endlich seine Peiniger los zu haben kommt die Ernüchterung – sie leben noch. Alle. Und keine Rettung in Sicht…
Mehr über die Handlung zu verraten wäre schwierig ohne zu spoilern. Die Jugendlichen, die nicht unterschiedlicher sein könnten müssen auf der Insel überleben und eine eigene Gesellschaftsform finden. Dabei kommt nicht immer das Beste im Einzelnen hervor…
Ich kann nicht sagen, dass ich nicht zumindest Teile habe kommen sehen – die Komplexität und Vielschichtigkeit des Plots hat mich aber trotzdem überrascht.
„Niemand ist eine Insel für sich allein…“
(JOHN DONNE)
Mobbing spielt eine ganz große Rolle in SIEBEN. Mich haben eigen Aspekte tief berührt – so zum Beispiel die Szene als Link erklärt, warum er seinen Eltern nicht von den Grausamkeiten an der neuen Schule erzählt… Er will diese Leute nicht in sein Zuhause lassen – auch nicht gedanklich. Seine Familie ist sein heiliger Hafen.
Das Buch ist aus der Ich-Perspektive von Link erzählt. Sehr erfrischend, nebenbei bemerkt. Zuerst dachte ich, mag den Jungen wirklich. Nerds sind mir ja recht nah. Ich mag vieles, was er auch mag. Doch dann war ich mir nicht mehr sicher – konnte sein Verhalten nicht mehr gut heißen. Er hat zwiespältige Gefühle in mir hervor gerufen – und das war pures Kalkül der Autorin…
„Leute, die gemobbt werden, müssen nicht zwangsläufig nett sein, nur weil sie Opfer sind.“
Der rote Faden, der sich durchs Buch zieht ist die Island Disc Radio Show – die Lieblingsradiosendung von Link und seinen Eltern. Dort wird jede Woche ein Prominenter gefragt, welche 8 Songs er auf eine einsame Insel mitnehmen würde. Nun, da die Jugendlichen tatsächlich auf einer einsamen Insel gestrandet sind sagt ihre Songauswahl fast mehr über sie aus, als man auf den ersten Blick meinen mag…
Fazit – kein Herr der Fliegen Abklatsch oder nur irgendeine weitere Robinsonade – eine moderne coming of Age Gesellschaftsstudie gekonnt gepaart mit nervenaufreibenden Thriller–Elementen, die Euch absolut überraschen wird!
Ok. Über die allerletzten Seiten liesse sich streiten. Wegen mir hätte man diese auch weglassen können – aber sie haben gut getan…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bewertung: 5 von 5.
Was wäre DEIN Soundtrack für eine einsame Insel???
Lincoln Selkirk: Der Nerd
Flora Altounyan: Die Außenseiterin
Sebastian Loam: Die Sportkanone
Miranda Pencroft: Die Klassenschönheit
Ralph Turk: Der Kriminelle
Jun Am Li: Die Streberin
Gilbert Egan: Der Trottel
Na, wer von Euch wird bei dieser Art der Aufzählung auch sofort an einen Filmklassiker erinnert? „Don’t you, forget about me…“ Ja, richtig, Breakfast Club. Eine clevere Zusammenstellung der Protagonisten. Dazu eine einsame Insel. Klingt wie ein Selbstläufer? Ja. War es auch. Aber anders als erwartet.
Breakfast Club meets Herr der Fliegen – oder auch nicht… Dieses Buch ist kein Abklatsch irgendeines schon mal dagewesenen Stoffes. Klar, der Autor spielt damit. Nennt selbst diese Filme und Bücher – nur um die Erwartungen in Kombi mit aktuellen TV-Formaten und moderner Wissenschaft wieder in eine andere Richtung zu lenken.
Lincoln ist der geliebte Sohn zweier Akademiker, die nun einen Forschungsauftrag in Oxford bekommen haben und daher mit ihrem 13 jährigen Sohn von Amerika nach England ziehen. Bisher wurde Link zuhause von seinen Eltern unterrichtet, nun soll er eine Eliteschule besuchen. Doch anstatt dort die unendlichen Weiten akademischen Wissens zu erforschen findet sich Lincoln in einer Welt wieder, in der Sport ALLES ist. Schüler, Lehrer – alle sind extrem fixiert auf körperliche Fitness und den Sieg. Da kann ein schmächtiger Nerd nicht mithalten. Schnell wird er zum Fußabtreter aller…
3 Jahre dauert Lincolns Märtyrium an – bis die „Streiche“ zu weit gehen. Er beschließt, von der Schule abzugehen und somit den Grausamkeiten dieser Schule zu entfliehen. Seine Eltern stellen nur eine Bedingung: Zuerst muss er ins Sommercamp mit seiner Klasse, danach darf er frei entscheiden. Klingt machbar – was sind schon 2 Wochen nach 3 Jahren Leiden?
„Egal, wie schlimm es werden würde, ich hatte hundert Romane auf dem Reader gespeichert, mir konnte also gar nichts passieren.“
Oh my sweet summer child… Kurz nach dem Start des Fliegers ins Camp hat Link einen Blackout und erwacht gestrandet auf einer einsamen Insel. Nach kurzer Euphorie endlich seine Peiniger los zu haben kommt die Ernüchterung – sie leben noch. Alle. Und keine Rettung in Sicht…
Mehr über die Handlung zu verraten wäre schwierig ohne zu spoilern. Die Jugendlichen, die nicht unterschiedlicher sein könnten müssen auf der Insel überleben und eine eigene Gesellschaftsform finden. Dabei kommt nicht immer das Beste im Einzelnen hervor…
Ich kann nicht sagen, dass ich nicht zumindest Teile habe kommen sehen – die Komplexität und Vielschichtigkeit des Plots hat mich aber trotzdem überrascht.
„Niemand ist eine Insel für sich allein…“
(JOHN DONNE)
Mobbing spielt eine ganz große Rolle in SIEBEN. Mich haben eigen Aspekte tief berührt – so zum Beispiel die Szene als Link erklärt, warum er seinen Eltern nicht von den Grausamkeiten an der neuen Schule erzählt… Er will diese Leute nicht in sein Zuhause lassen – auch nicht gedanklich. Seine Familie ist sein heiliger Hafen.
Das Buch ist aus der Ich-Perspektive von Link erzählt. Sehr erfrischend, nebenbei bemerkt. Zuerst dachte ich, mag den Jungen wirklich. Nerds sind mir ja recht nah. Ich mag vieles, was er auch mag. Doch dann war ich mir nicht mehr sicher – konnte sein Verhalten nicht mehr gut heißen. Er hat zwiespältige Gefühle in mir hervor gerufen – und das war pures Kalkül der Autorin…
„Leute, die gemobbt werden, müssen nicht zwangsläufig nett sein, nur weil sie Opfer sind.“
Der rote Faden, der sich durchs Buch zieht ist die Island Disc Radio Show – die Lieblingsradiosendung von Link und seinen Eltern. Dort wird jede Woche ein Prominenter gefragt, welche 8 Songs er auf eine einsame Insel mitnehmen würde. Nun, da die Jugendlichen tatsächlich auf einer einsamen Insel gestrandet sind sagt ihre Songauswahl fast mehr über sie aus, als man auf den ersten Blick meinen mag…
Fazit – kein Herr der Fliegen Abklatsch oder nur irgendeine weitere Robinsonade – eine moderne coming of Age Gesellschaftsstudie gekonnt gepaart mit nervenaufreibenden Thriller–Elementen, die Euch absolut überraschen wird!
Ok. Über die allerletzten Seiten liesse sich streiten. Wegen mir hätte man diese auch weglassen können – aber sie haben gut getan…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bewertung: 5 von 5.
Was wäre DEIN Soundtrack für eine einsame Insel???
July 24, 2018
When I briefly lived in England – Desert Island Discs was must do listening at my grandparent’s house. We loved to hear what type of music various celebrities would like to listen to. Sometimes the music choices were nothing like we would expect. The theme of Desert Island discs runs through THE ISLAND as Link and his parents are fans – and Link guesses what the choices might be for the others. He states what they might be at the start and as the story unfolds we find out what they actually would have chosen.
Link is an American. His parents are scientists who move from the USA to the UK for work. Link has been home-schooled up until now, but now is enrolled at a prestige school. Link is very smart, however at Osney School the focus is not in the academic talents of the students – but how athletic they are. His very first day, his very first hour, Link is told to run around the quadrangle. The time he takes will dictate his order in the school. The top kid is a one and the lowest is an eleven. Home-schooled, nerdy Link comes in as a 12. For the next few years Link is at the bottom of the school food chain. Everyone picks on him at worse, ignores him at best. He might be the smartest boy in school – but he cannot get himself out of this situation and school is a daily torment for him. Then comes the plane crash.
The island changes the group dynamics. The bullies have no survival skills at all – Link is book smart and is able to provide fire, food and shelter. Slowly the victim becomes leader and with leadership comes power. Power can be abused – is it time for Link to get revenge for years of abuse? He makes choices that are quite horrible, he is everything you think of when it comes to a creepy person. To be fair he is copying his literary character, and TV show idols – he even names his coconut after a famous volleyball – and eventually Links true character comes to the fore. Out of this time on the island comes hope – a chance for the teens to change their lives around should they chose to.
For most of the book Link is a very unlikable person – at the start when he was the victim he had my sympathy – however, as the leader he changes and becomes – well – not nice. But his character development is terrific, and the epilogue brings out a twist which I personally think is perfect!!! I enjoyed M.A. Bennett’s writing style – was easy to read and evoked the nastiness of bullying going on without delving into it too much – something happens – move on. She has written another book – however this is the first one of hers I have read. I will certainly read more of her work.
Rating: Great - I really enjoyed reading it and it is a book I will be recommending to all my friends who like this genre.
With thanks to Allen and Unwin and the author for my copy to read and review.
Link is an American. His parents are scientists who move from the USA to the UK for work. Link has been home-schooled up until now, but now is enrolled at a prestige school. Link is very smart, however at Osney School the focus is not in the academic talents of the students – but how athletic they are. His very first day, his very first hour, Link is told to run around the quadrangle. The time he takes will dictate his order in the school. The top kid is a one and the lowest is an eleven. Home-schooled, nerdy Link comes in as a 12. For the next few years Link is at the bottom of the school food chain. Everyone picks on him at worse, ignores him at best. He might be the smartest boy in school – but he cannot get himself out of this situation and school is a daily torment for him. Then comes the plane crash.
The island changes the group dynamics. The bullies have no survival skills at all – Link is book smart and is able to provide fire, food and shelter. Slowly the victim becomes leader and with leadership comes power. Power can be abused – is it time for Link to get revenge for years of abuse? He makes choices that are quite horrible, he is everything you think of when it comes to a creepy person. To be fair he is copying his literary character, and TV show idols – he even names his coconut after a famous volleyball – and eventually Links true character comes to the fore. Out of this time on the island comes hope – a chance for the teens to change their lives around should they chose to.
For most of the book Link is a very unlikable person – at the start when he was the victim he had my sympathy – however, as the leader he changes and becomes – well – not nice. But his character development is terrific, and the epilogue brings out a twist which I personally think is perfect!!! I enjoyed M.A. Bennett’s writing style – was easy to read and evoked the nastiness of bullying going on without delving into it too much – something happens – move on. She has written another book – however this is the first one of hers I have read. I will certainly read more of her work.
Rating: Great - I really enjoyed reading it and it is a book I will be recommending to all my friends who like this genre.
With thanks to Allen and Unwin and the author for my copy to read and review.
June 9, 2018
(This review is full of spoilers. I am angry)
I can’t believe M. A. Bennett wrote this book. Bennett, whose book STAGS delivered such a killer plot twist in the final chapter that I flung the book across the room and stormed angrily to yell at a parent. STAGS, a book that I wrote about in such length in a university paper that the marker was ‘concerned’.
The Island is a misogynistic, slow paced, tiring book that disappointed me. It took me about three weeks to read it, and I only ended up finishing it because I was waiting at a bus stop after work for an hour. The plot is so drawn out that I started to skip pages, and the characters are so disgusting.
Link, the main character, is an awful greedy boy, who thinks that being a nerd makes him oppressed. Oh no, girls don’t fancy him! He reads books! He plays video games! He is every entitled male fan that you hide from at a comic convention. His actions are so gross, making women dress in a slutty skirt for him, starving them, mocking people for their beliefs.
The other characters are stereotypes. While STAGS was so clever with its clichés, The Island is basic and tries to play it off as unique. There is the Asian forced to play an instrument, the closeted gay kid in love with the jock (who never comes out at the end), the drug dealer, the pretty sporty girl who dates the jock, and the jock himself, who is a vile bully. There is also Flora, the emo girl, who is a boring manic pixie dream girl.
This book goes on FOREVER. 40% through the story and we’re still going through the backstory of Link. Just tell the story in chronological order! That’s what made STAGS fun! Stop switching back and forth between the interesting past and the incredibly mundane present. I don’t want to read about Link going for a wander when I could read about disgusting private schools!
Also, the ending. Oh god, the ending. Everything is literally spelt out to us in minute detail, right down to names. I know what just happened Bennett. I read the fucking book. I KNOW WHAT I READ GOD DAMMIT.
And then. And then. AN EPILOGUE WHERE LINK IS PRESIDENT OF THE FUCKING UNITED STATES WHO MARRIED FLORA. FLORA WHO IS THE FIRST TATTOOED FIRST LADY. HOLY SHIT. I’M GOING TO SHOVE MY KINDLE DOWN MY THROAT AND CHOKE ON IT.
Also, desert island disks isn’t even that good. Suck it bitches.
(Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.)
I can’t believe M. A. Bennett wrote this book. Bennett, whose book STAGS delivered such a killer plot twist in the final chapter that I flung the book across the room and stormed angrily to yell at a parent. STAGS, a book that I wrote about in such length in a university paper that the marker was ‘concerned’.
The Island is a misogynistic, slow paced, tiring book that disappointed me. It took me about three weeks to read it, and I only ended up finishing it because I was waiting at a bus stop after work for an hour. The plot is so drawn out that I started to skip pages, and the characters are so disgusting.
Link, the main character, is an awful greedy boy, who thinks that being a nerd makes him oppressed. Oh no, girls don’t fancy him! He reads books! He plays video games! He is every entitled male fan that you hide from at a comic convention. His actions are so gross, making women dress in a slutty skirt for him, starving them, mocking people for their beliefs.
The other characters are stereotypes. While STAGS was so clever with its clichés, The Island is basic and tries to play it off as unique. There is the Asian forced to play an instrument, the closeted gay kid in love with the jock (who never comes out at the end), the drug dealer, the pretty sporty girl who dates the jock, and the jock himself, who is a vile bully. There is also Flora, the emo girl, who is a boring manic pixie dream girl.
This book goes on FOREVER. 40% through the story and we’re still going through the backstory of Link. Just tell the story in chronological order! That’s what made STAGS fun! Stop switching back and forth between the interesting past and the incredibly mundane present. I don’t want to read about Link going for a wander when I could read about disgusting private schools!
Also, the ending. Oh god, the ending. Everything is literally spelt out to us in minute detail, right down to names. I know what just happened Bennett. I read the fucking book. I KNOW WHAT I READ GOD DAMMIT.
And then. And then. AN EPILOGUE WHERE LINK IS PRESIDENT OF THE FUCKING UNITED STATES WHO MARRIED FLORA. FLORA WHO IS THE FIRST TATTOOED FIRST LADY. HOLY SHIT. I’M GOING TO SHOVE MY KINDLE DOWN MY THROAT AND CHOKE ON IT.
Also, desert island disks isn’t even that good. Suck it bitches.
(Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.)
October 2, 2018
This is by the author who wrote STAGS. I read this on the back of STAGS and it's becoming quite apparent that the author is not a massive fan of British public schools and the elitism they foster.
The MC is a victim of intense bullying, but throughout the book he turns into a massive wanker so all the sympathy I had for him at the beginning totally evaporated. PLUS his horrible behaviour is brushed off at the end of the book with a load of hand-waving (and he is a proper sex pest, so this was quite uncomfortable).
I think the author was aiming for a Lord Of The Flies / Breakfast Club mash-up, but it didn't really work. The plot was a bit too rambling and the MC was a bit too much of a knob.
The MC is a victim of intense bullying, but throughout the book he turns into a massive wanker so all the sympathy I had for him at the beginning totally evaporated. PLUS his horrible behaviour is brushed off at the end of the book with a load of hand-waving (and he is a proper sex pest, so this was quite uncomfortable).
I think the author was aiming for a Lord Of The Flies / Breakfast Club mash-up, but it didn't really work. The plot was a bit too rambling and the MC was a bit too much of a knob.
August 9, 2018
↠ 3 stars
I received a copy in exchange for a honest review.
Having quite enjoyed S.T.A.G.S., Bennett’s debut novel, I was interested to see what she would pull out of the hat next. The Island contains some similarities to her first novel (the posh school trope, essentially), but it focuses on a very different main character, setting, and themes.
The Island is a bit like Lord of the Flies – a group of teens get stranded on a desert island and have to learn to survive. The seven teens are all character archetypes on the surface – the jock, the nerd, the emo etc etc – but in all fairness, it doesn’t actually add much to the novel because the only important one is the geek.
The geek (whose name is Link, short for Lincoln) is the main character, and after years of bullying at his posh sports school, he can finally reign supreme on an island where his knowledge allows him to thrive.
To be entirely honest, he is not the most likeable protagonist. I do feel he has been deliberately crafted this way, and having been bullied for so many years it is not unsurprising he chooses to turn the tables on those who victimised him, but I felt his character redemption came a little too late. Being the one who is undoubtedly the leader on the island, the power gets to his head and he ends up being a general sexist twat at some points. Also I’m not overly fond of his narrative voice – I cannot get around the use of ‘ya’ in places, like ‘ya know’.
In addition, I feel the book was slow to start (there was an introductory bit before they actually got to the desert island) and then the twist at the end came a little late. The twist itself wasn’t overly surprising, as I clued in about halfway through, but I did enjoy it (even if I thought it was a bit unbelievable and ethically questionable.) Additionally, the epilogue was interesting, for lack of better words, because it was in a very different tone compared to the rest of the novel, to the point where I wondered if it was just a daydream. However, the book was gripping and I was invested throughout, reading it in a relatively short time.
What I did like about the novel was what I picked up from it. I liked the references to other texts like The Breakfast Club and The Count of Monte Cristo, and I did like the actual idea of the novel, with the ‘power corrupts’ theme and how different people take to leadership. So whilst I enjoyed S.T.A.G.S. more, The Island was still a good novel. At the end of the day though, it isn’t the most memorable novel, and likely won’t stick with me for very long.
TL;DR: A tense, easily-read castaway novel about a group of teens on a desert island, and what people will do when given a role of power.
this review is also available on my blog! <3
August 8, 2018
5 Words: Power, responsibility, school, resentment, revenge.
Take one of each high-school stereotypes and dump them on a desert island, then sit back and watch the horror-show commence. The Island explores the darker realities of humanity, looking at abuse of power, misogyny, desperation, and revenge.
I imagine that this book will not be for everybody - the characters as a whole are intensely unlikable ,and it is very much a character driven story. But I loved the power struggles and how the situations unfolding turned everything on its head. The character development was incredible.
My favourite character was (predictably?) Flora. She's not the main character, and Link often pushes her aside and disregards her, but I loved those glimpses that we saw. She's probably the "best" character morally, and I loved that she could stand her ground under intense pressure and in almost unimaginable situations.
I think that the only bit of the book that I didn't like was the epilogue, as I'd have liked it to end on the last chapter and keep everything open - but that's just personal preference.
Breakfast Club meets Lord of the Flies.
First posted on my blog
Take one of each high-school stereotypes and dump them on a desert island, then sit back and watch the horror-show commence. The Island explores the darker realities of humanity, looking at abuse of power, misogyny, desperation, and revenge.
I imagine that this book will not be for everybody - the characters as a whole are intensely unlikable ,and it is very much a character driven story. But I loved the power struggles and how the situations unfolding turned everything on its head. The character development was incredible.
My favourite character was (predictably?) Flora. She's not the main character, and Link often pushes her aside and disregards her, but I loved those glimpses that we saw. She's probably the "best" character morally, and I loved that she could stand her ground under intense pressure and in almost unimaginable situations.
I think that the only bit of the book that I didn't like was the epilogue, as I'd have liked it to end on the last chapter and keep everything open - but that's just personal preference.
Breakfast Club meets Lord of the Flies.
First posted on my blog
October 15, 2018
Wow. If you want a book about a shitty group of people who do fucked up stuff to one another that all gets forgiven in the end and get given everything they ever wanted then you're welcome to this book. But none of them, even the adults, deserved shit and I am so mad that nobody made the price.
January 14, 2021
4.25
Książka bardzo dobra, a tym bardziej jej koniec, który jest naprawdę nieprzewidywalny. Nie odkładajcie tej książki póki nie dojdziecie do około 150-200 strony, dlatego ze początek nie przyciąga tak bardzo jak środek. Środek książki trochę mi się tylko dłużył. Polecam bardzo ta książkę
Książka bardzo dobra, a tym bardziej jej koniec, który jest naprawdę nieprzewidywalny. Nie odkładajcie tej książki póki nie dojdziecie do około 150-200 strony, dlatego ze początek nie przyciąga tak bardzo jak środek. Środek książki trochę mi się tylko dłużył. Polecam bardzo ta książkę
January 2, 2020
FULL REVIEW COMING SOON
I really loved this book to begin with, especially the characters and the whole 'Lord Of The Flies' setting on the abandoned island, but as soon as the first plot twist came the whole story came apart and I suddenly seriously disliked it. For me, it only got worse from there and with every new plot twist I disliked the narrative more and more. Which honestly is a real shame considering I liked the characters and the relationships between them up until page 200 or so.
I really loved this book to begin with, especially the characters and the whole 'Lord Of The Flies' setting on the abandoned island, but as soon as the first plot twist came the whole story came apart and I suddenly seriously disliked it. For me, it only got worse from there and with every new plot twist I disliked the narrative more and more. Which honestly is a real shame considering I liked the characters and the relationships between them up until page 200 or so.
January 26, 2022
Nie odnalazłam się w tej książce. Nie mogłam się w nią wgryźć aż do samego końca tak szczerze. Przeczytałam, bo przeczytałam, ale na pewno książka nic po sobie nie zostawiła. Zakończenie jest niedorzeczne.
May 15, 2022
vervelend boek, heel voorspelbaar, saaie personages (ik weet dat ze voorspelbaar moeten zijn maar dat maakt het boek niet leuker of zo), heeeele vervelende main character, best vermakelijk om te lezen maar echt geen goed boek
oh en VEEL te veel popculture references... alles is zo ‘quirky’ geschreven en blehhh idk?? het idee was leuk maar de uitvoering erg matig
oh en VEEL te veel popculture references... alles is zo ‘quirky’ geschreven en blehhh idk?? het idee was leuk maar de uitvoering erg matig
June 26, 2020
People getting stranded on a deserted island has been done many times before across all media types. Thrown into the mix here is a school where sports outrank academic achievement and one race determines your place in the school hierarchy. If you lose, the other students treat and harass you simultaneously like dirt and like a slave.
As a non-athletic person, my idea of sport is a marathon reading session so I too would be a Twelve (maybe an Eleven at a push). I did resonate with Link's predicament because I know what it's like to be an outsider and a geek.
However, as narrator, Link can be so pretentious at times. . It puts me off a little bit when the narrator is arrogant. In addition, I spent a lot of time during the slow build up contemplating my Desert Island Discs choices (see below) rather than focusing on the story.
The Island by M.A. Bennett was alright. The main reason for deducting stars, though, was that I don't like the message that comes across about bullying. I can't believe it seems like the adults turned a blind eye and even condoned it. Bullying is NOT OK and does have consequences.
So, that's -0.5 for the arrogant narrator, -0.25 for slow start, -0.25 for unoriginal stereotypes and at least -1 for handling of bullying. Oh, and I'm being pedantic but I vehemently disagree with someone's 'luxury' item on the island . My original rating was 3 stars but I felt I was being too generous. The more I think about it, the more I realise how toxic this feels so I'm moving this book down the hierarchy and deducting a star.
---
My Desert Island Discs
8 favourite pieces of music: (in no particular order)
1. That's How You Know from Enchanted (2007)
2. The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News
3. Holding Out for a Hero (the Jennifer Saunders version from Shrek 2)
4. Pachelbel's Canon
5. Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne
6. Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
7. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
8. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
Q. If all 8 records were washed out to sea, which one would I rescue? A. Keep Holding On
1 book: (in addition to the Bible and complete works of Shakespeare which you are already given) This was a hard choice for me. I finally decided on Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
1 luxury: My Kindle because then I could read all the books I wanted, mwah ha ha!
As a non-athletic person, my idea of sport is a marathon reading session so I too would be a Twelve (maybe an Eleven at a push). I did resonate with Link's predicament because I know what it's like to be an outsider and a geek.
However, as narrator, Link can be so pretentious at times. . It puts me off a little bit when the narrator is arrogant. In addition, I spent a lot of time during the slow build up contemplating my Desert Island Discs choices (see below) rather than focusing on the story.
The Island by M.A. Bennett was alright. The main reason for deducting stars, though, was that I don't like the message that comes across about bullying. I can't believe it seems like the adults turned a blind eye and even condoned it. Bullying is NOT OK and does have consequences.
So, that's -0.5 for the arrogant narrator, -0.25 for slow start, -0.25 for unoriginal stereotypes and at least -1 for handling of bullying. Oh, and I'm being pedantic but I vehemently disagree with someone's 'luxury' item on the island . My original rating was 3 stars but I felt I was being too generous. The more I think about it, the more I realise how toxic this feels so I'm moving this book down the hierarchy and deducting a star.
---
My Desert Island Discs
8 favourite pieces of music: (in no particular order)
1. That's How You Know from Enchanted (2007)
2. The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News
3. Holding Out for a Hero (the Jennifer Saunders version from Shrek 2)
4. Pachelbel's Canon
5. Keep Holding On by Avril Lavigne
6. Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
7. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
8. A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
Q. If all 8 records were washed out to sea, which one would I rescue? A. Keep Holding On
1 book: (in addition to the Bible and complete works of Shakespeare which you are already given) This was a hard choice for me. I finally decided on Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
1 luxury: My Kindle because then I could read all the books I wanted, mwah ha ha!
August 14, 2018
"My transformation was complete. Humbled Edmond Dantes had become the Count of Monte Cristo"
* * *
3 / 5
I think I might have actually liked this one better than S.T.A.G.S! The Island is just as psychological and disturbing as Bennett's first book, but I felt that the writing was better in The Island and the characters more compelling.
There was clearly no getting off of my own personal, desolate, island
Link has moved from America to England and is enrolled in an old and prestigious school; he hates it. Osney School is ridiculous and groups its students by how fast they can run around the courtyard. When Link runs the slowest time in years, he becomes the new lowest rung on the social ladder and his life becomes living hell. I really did feel for Link during all this bullying, as he's quite a pitiable figure at the start. Then he strikes a deal with his parents: if he takes part on a summer school trip, he's allowed to transfer out of Osney.
Then the plane crash lands on an island. Link is surrounded by a bunch of characters that are (intentional) stereotypes: we have the jock, the pretty girl, the bully, the emo, and a few more. Having spent all his school year being tormented, Link realises that here, on the island, his knowledge of survival is power. And that's the main message of The Island: power corrupts. It's a classic message, not particularly original, but I thought it was executed really well.
"You don't choose women. We're not chocolate bars"
Link becomes absolutely hate-able. This is on purpose, obviously. He's your "classic nerd": thinks girls hate him, inferiority complex, the whole shebang. The moment he gets a hint of power he's all about taking his revenge and turns into a raging misogynist; it's cleverly done though, as the reader you are fully aware that he is meant to be disliked and that his behaviour is reprehensible. Like in S.T.A.G.S, Bennett's writing is lovely and smooth.
Whilst clever, The Island does run on a lot of stereotypes and that got a bit boring. The twist at the end was easily guessed and didn't pack much of a punch, Link's parents were "wtf worthy", and the epilogue was cringe-worthy. Despite this, I absolutely tore through The Island and was enthralled by it.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * *
3 / 5
I think I might have actually liked this one better than S.T.A.G.S! The Island is just as psychological and disturbing as Bennett's first book, but I felt that the writing was better in The Island and the characters more compelling.
There was clearly no getting off of my own personal, desolate, island
Link has moved from America to England and is enrolled in an old and prestigious school; he hates it. Osney School is ridiculous and groups its students by how fast they can run around the courtyard. When Link runs the slowest time in years, he becomes the new lowest rung on the social ladder and his life becomes living hell. I really did feel for Link during all this bullying, as he's quite a pitiable figure at the start. Then he strikes a deal with his parents: if he takes part on a summer school trip, he's allowed to transfer out of Osney.
Then the plane crash lands on an island. Link is surrounded by a bunch of characters that are (intentional) stereotypes: we have the jock, the pretty girl, the bully, the emo, and a few more. Having spent all his school year being tormented, Link realises that here, on the island, his knowledge of survival is power. And that's the main message of The Island: power corrupts. It's a classic message, not particularly original, but I thought it was executed really well.
"You don't choose women. We're not chocolate bars"
Link becomes absolutely hate-able. This is on purpose, obviously. He's your "classic nerd": thinks girls hate him, inferiority complex, the whole shebang. The moment he gets a hint of power he's all about taking his revenge and turns into a raging misogynist; it's cleverly done though, as the reader you are fully aware that he is meant to be disliked and that his behaviour is reprehensible. Like in S.T.A.G.S, Bennett's writing is lovely and smooth.
Whilst clever, The Island does run on a lot of stereotypes and that got a bit boring. The twist at the end was easily guessed and didn't pack much of a punch, Link's parents were "wtf worthy", and the epilogue was cringe-worthy. Despite this, I absolutely tore through The Island and was enthralled by it.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
July 16, 2018
Started off promising, but I got bored about a quarter of the way through. It’s a bit Breakfast Club/Lord of the Flies but it just didn’t do anything for me!
July 28, 2021
So… this book took me months to finish! Which was a shame because I like lord of the flies and was anticipating this retelling so hard. I got to about halfway and I realised that I hated the main character. He is unlikeable, sure, but it just went into the deep end with me. I couldn’t even stand to share the same headspace as him. I somehow managed to drag my way through it. Sure, you see why he becomes the way he is. But at the same time no? And the epilogue?? Big no.
There’s literally one character who is a good character throughout all of this. All the rest of them are incredibly unlikeable. And yes they may have redeeming moments but it kind of needed to go more and deeper. It felt more like excuses for their behaviour rather than them changing and actually making up for it. So they kind of all remained 2D characters.
And the plot… some elements of it were predictable and admittedly some I didn’t see coming. But it just wasn’t enough. It dragged me through a very slow paced story and then it dumped a lot of information on me at the end and it just… wasn’t enough to save the story. I also didn’t really like how things were handled in the end, so there’s that.
And I felt like the writing was a bit too juvenile… but even then still not the best? There was a LOT of tell instead of show. In some places it felt condescending because the reader should’ve been left to make those connections themselves. And sometimes it would’ve just been nice to draw the pieces together myself. Readers are smart. we will get there.
And I have mentioned that the ending was such a disappointment. It was so so… weird. I don’t know how I feel about Link, I don’t know how I feel about the hierarchy and all those themes. I really don’t know what to think about the parenting in this book. But yeah, all I know is that I didn’t like it all.
There’s literally one character who is a good character throughout all of this. All the rest of them are incredibly unlikeable. And yes they may have redeeming moments but it kind of needed to go more and deeper. It felt more like excuses for their behaviour rather than them changing and actually making up for it. So they kind of all remained 2D characters.
And the plot… some elements of it were predictable and admittedly some I didn’t see coming. But it just wasn’t enough. It dragged me through a very slow paced story and then it dumped a lot of information on me at the end and it just… wasn’t enough to save the story. I also didn’t really like how things were handled in the end, so there’s that.
And I felt like the writing was a bit too juvenile… but even then still not the best? There was a LOT of tell instead of show. In some places it felt condescending because the reader should’ve been left to make those connections themselves. And sometimes it would’ve just been nice to draw the pieces together myself. Readers are smart. we will get there.
And I have mentioned that the ending was such a disappointment. It was so so… weird. I don’t know how I feel about Link, I don’t know how I feel about the hierarchy and all those themes. I really don’t know what to think about the parenting in this book. But yeah, all I know is that I didn’t like it all.
May 6, 2018
The book is an epic rollercoaster from the first page. There are layers and twists within the plot and narration that will ensure you’ll want to read it again.
Such a refreshing change having a male main character within a first person narrative. You’ll feel a little like a helpless Jiminey Cricket as Link’s story develops and he faces challenges on the Island. I found myself shouting as the pages one or twice.
Full review to be posted on www.queensofgeekdom.com
Such a refreshing change having a male main character within a first person narrative. You’ll feel a little like a helpless Jiminey Cricket as Link’s story develops and he faces challenges on the Island. I found myself shouting as the pages one or twice.
Full review to be posted on www.queensofgeekdom.com
July 10, 2022
Nie była to najlepszą książka, jaką czytałem. Główny bohater wprawiał mnie momentami w cringe (jak można było się tak zachowywać). Ogólnie książka była dość pouczającą dużo można było się od niej dowiedzieć, ale nie wciągnęła mnie, jedynie 20 ostatnich tron było naprawdę dobrych szkoda, że cała książka taka nie była.
January 24, 2022
DNF at page 36 when the author, who has already been extremely patronising and overly simplifying everything, feels the need to explain that the Bible "is a bunch of little books named after people."
Nah.
Nah.
January 4, 2021
Początek książki zapowiadał się nieźle - rozbitkowie na bezludnej wyspie, do tego nieszczególnie darzący się sympatią. Miałam nadzieję na trochę brutalniejszą akcję. Jednak minęła połowa, a to co zaczęło się tam dziać spowodowało, że nie wiedziałam czy się śmiać, czy płakać, zwłaszcza przez zachowanie Linka. Sam główny bohater, a zarazem narrator, zachowuje się jak rozkapryszone dziecko (pomimo tego, że ma szesnaście lat) - wyspa jest jego, to on ustala nazwy strategicznych miejsc, mianuje się samozwańczym królem, potrafi jako jedyny wzniecić ogień i przez to wszyscy mają się go słuchać, a jak coś nie idzie po jego myśli zaczyna szantażować koleżanki i kolegów. Plus taki, że pod koniec zaczyna rozumieć, że sam zamienia się w jednego z oprawców, których tak nienawidził. Pozostali bohaterowie są w większości nijacy, głównie poznajemy ich jako stereotypowych uczniów liceum - sportowca, geeka, kujona. Jedynie niewielkie fragmenty pozwalają lekko poznać ich osobowości. Chociaż jeśli się zastanowić, to żadna z tych postaci nie wykazała się zbytnią inteligencją (może poza Florą), ponieważ w sprawie katastrofy wiele rzeczy nie trzymało się przysłowiowej kupy, a oni widząc to, nie poświęcili temu zbyt wiele myśli (brak butów, brak ciał w samolocie czy brak szyby w kokpicie, a także dziwne drzewa z dziwnymi owocami). Autorka przy pisaniu powieści nie pomyślała też, że będąc na diecie składającej się z ryb i kóz niekoniecznie uzyska się sporą ilość mięśni i siły.
W powieści znajduje się dużo odniesień do innych utworów książkowych i filmowych, głównie "Władcy much", "Hrabiego Monte Christo", "Cast Away" czy "Zagubionych". Niektóre z nich mogą je nawet spojlerować, więc trzeba być ostrożnym przy czytaniu "Bezludnej wyspy".
Książkę czyta się szybko. Porusza ona również problem prześladowań w szkole, to że dzieciaki często to ukrywają przed rodzicami, a także psychiczne skutki nękania i to chyba jedyny plus. Wszystkie plot twisty udało mi się odgadnąć dosyć łatwo i żadne z nich nie było dla mnie zaskoczeniem. Epilog w ogóle nie pasował do całości, był kompletnie niepotrzebny.
Podsumowując, lekkie, niewymagające myślenia czytadło, na jeden raz. Niestety nie zostanie ze mną na dłużej.
W powieści znajduje się dużo odniesień do innych utworów książkowych i filmowych, głównie "Władcy much", "Hrabiego Monte Christo", "Cast Away" czy "Zagubionych". Niektóre z nich mogą je nawet spojlerować, więc trzeba być ostrożnym przy czytaniu "Bezludnej wyspy".
Książkę czyta się szybko. Porusza ona również problem prześladowań w szkole, to że dzieciaki często to ukrywają przed rodzicami, a także psychiczne skutki nękania i to chyba jedyny plus. Wszystkie plot twisty udało mi się odgadnąć dosyć łatwo i żadne z nich nie było dla mnie zaskoczeniem. Epilog w ogóle nie pasował do całości, był kompletnie niepotrzebny.
Podsumowując, lekkie, niewymagające myślenia czytadło, na jeden raz. Niestety nie zostanie ze mną na dłużej.
April 23, 2019
'People that are bullied aren't necessarily nice people, just because they're victims.'
Not gonna lie, I started this book with a slightly high expectation. The blurb was nice. The cover was nice. School kids stranded on an island after a plane crash? No rules applied? Interesting! But as soon as I started reading, the expectation went down by a lot. And halfway through, I got bored of it and just wanted to finish it for the sake of my own satisfaction of knowing exactly how the ending would be.
The concept of the story was nice. I liked it but not enough to like the whole book. They found themselves on a deserted island after the plane crash, and they were alone. All 7 of them. Link, the main character, was always being bullied. In their school, their ranks were determined by sports. And well, Link was a nerd who couldn’t play a sport to save a life tbh. Having treated like a slave during school, he found himself gaining power over the 6 other kids because of his knowledge and ability to adapt in such situation. They kinda depended on him for survival, because he seemed to know what he was doing. But Link, istg, he was annoying since the start. I was so sure I had to feel some sort of sympathy towards him you know, what with him being bullied and everything, but I couldn’t feel it. He had a little bit of Sheldon Cooper vibe, but I could tolerate Sheldon Cooper. Unfortunately I couldn’t say the same for Link – especially when he was being such an asshole while they’re on the island. Towards the end, he kinda sorta had some time to reflect back on his bad attitude, but I felt like it’s not enough.
Let’s talk about the other characters; Flora, Sebastian, Miranda, Ralph, Li, and Gilbert. While on the island, they called themselves The Breakfast Club. I never watched the movie (okay, my bad, everyone seemed to have watched it but I never got around to it yet) so I can’t comment much on that. But to be perfectly honest, none of the characters were likeable. Understandable, because they’re all bullies. So they had the kind of personalities that really irked me. Especially Sebastian and Miranda. They’re like on top of the chain. Everyone would have been stupid to say otherwise. But on the island where they’re powerless, they’re completely unreliable. They’re all annoying in their own ways. At this point, I felt like they all deserved to be stranded there. I expected better from Flora. But she proved to have a way to disappoint me. Although I have to say she’s the only character that I was willing to put up with. I wish the author gave a stronger character development to all of them. Ralph, Li and Gilbert were basically just there for the sake of it. They had their roles, but I didn’t see them as significant at all. Okay, maybe a little bit. I almost liked Ralph, but at the end of it, I decided none of them was worth it.
The plot development was weak imo. The author tried to tackle the bullying issue and I expected something was to be done to show that bullying was bad, but the school condoned bullying, even the teachers didn’t do anything. They must have realised about the bullying but nope, no action against it at all. And after realising their son was being bullied at school, Link’s parents didn’t do anything about it either. They still sent him to the same school to finish his education. It took me a while to wrap my head around this whole plot. After they escaped the island, none of them seemed to have learned their lessons. The ending really frustrated me. After I finished reading, I just sat and stared at the book, wondering what to make of it. I decided that it’s just not for me. It’s a little bit problematic for me and it’s a shame because I think it could have been a good book. If only it’s given a stronger plot and stronger character developments.
This one’s going on my “never again” list.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank Pansing for sending me a copy of The Island in exchange for my honest review. In case you want to give it a try, you can find it in all good bookstores.
Not gonna lie, I started this book with a slightly high expectation. The blurb was nice. The cover was nice. School kids stranded on an island after a plane crash? No rules applied? Interesting! But as soon as I started reading, the expectation went down by a lot. And halfway through, I got bored of it and just wanted to finish it for the sake of my own satisfaction of knowing exactly how the ending would be.
The concept of the story was nice. I liked it but not enough to like the whole book. They found themselves on a deserted island after the plane crash, and they were alone. All 7 of them. Link, the main character, was always being bullied. In their school, their ranks were determined by sports. And well, Link was a nerd who couldn’t play a sport to save a life tbh. Having treated like a slave during school, he found himself gaining power over the 6 other kids because of his knowledge and ability to adapt in such situation. They kinda depended on him for survival, because he seemed to know what he was doing. But Link, istg, he was annoying since the start. I was so sure I had to feel some sort of sympathy towards him you know, what with him being bullied and everything, but I couldn’t feel it. He had a little bit of Sheldon Cooper vibe, but I could tolerate Sheldon Cooper. Unfortunately I couldn’t say the same for Link – especially when he was being such an asshole while they’re on the island. Towards the end, he kinda sorta had some time to reflect back on his bad attitude, but I felt like it’s not enough.
Let’s talk about the other characters; Flora, Sebastian, Miranda, Ralph, Li, and Gilbert. While on the island, they called themselves The Breakfast Club. I never watched the movie (okay, my bad, everyone seemed to have watched it but I never got around to it yet) so I can’t comment much on that. But to be perfectly honest, none of the characters were likeable. Understandable, because they’re all bullies. So they had the kind of personalities that really irked me. Especially Sebastian and Miranda. They’re like on top of the chain. Everyone would have been stupid to say otherwise. But on the island where they’re powerless, they’re completely unreliable. They’re all annoying in their own ways. At this point, I felt like they all deserved to be stranded there. I expected better from Flora. But she proved to have a way to disappoint me. Although I have to say she’s the only character that I was willing to put up with. I wish the author gave a stronger character development to all of them. Ralph, Li and Gilbert were basically just there for the sake of it. They had their roles, but I didn’t see them as significant at all. Okay, maybe a little bit. I almost liked Ralph, but at the end of it, I decided none of them was worth it.
The plot development was weak imo. The author tried to tackle the bullying issue and I expected something was to be done to show that bullying was bad, but the school condoned bullying, even the teachers didn’t do anything. They must have realised about the bullying but nope, no action against it at all. And after realising their son was being bullied at school, Link’s parents didn’t do anything about it either. They still sent him to the same school to finish his education. It took me a while to wrap my head around this whole plot. After they escaped the island, none of them seemed to have learned their lessons. The ending really frustrated me. After I finished reading, I just sat and stared at the book, wondering what to make of it. I decided that it’s just not for me. It’s a little bit problematic for me and it’s a shame because I think it could have been a good book. If only it’s given a stronger plot and stronger character developments.
This one’s going on my “never again” list.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank Pansing for sending me a copy of The Island in exchange for my honest review. In case you want to give it a try, you can find it in all good bookstores.
dnf
March 16, 2021DNF @ 31%, bo ta książka nie ma absolutnie żadnego sensu. Tak z ciekawości przeczytałam ostatnie rozdziały, żeby sprawdzić czy i jak wydostaną się z wyspy i... O matko, jakie to żenujące. A epilog jeszcze gorszy XD jak dobrze, że nie zmarnowałam na nią więcej czasu
February 10, 2023
Gdyby dało się dać 0⭐ to tyle bym dał. Nawet nie mam słów żeby opisać jak bardzo ta książka jest łagodnie mówiąc bez sensu. żałuję każdej sekundy jaka spędziłem na czytaniu tego...czegos
January 2, 2024
1,5⭐️
Może jej dam, tylko dlatego , że czasem , w niektórych momentach miała ładne cytaty.
Takto długo ją czytałem , ale jak się zawziąłem, to mi się udało . Ale jakim kosztem , ta książka , jak dla mnie była absurdalna i dziwna , a samo zakończenie, lol kto mógł na coś takiego wpaść . Ja się frustrowałem , gdy ją czytałem i nie mogłem się doczekać kiedy ją skończę.
Szczerze od mniej więcej połowy domyślałem się dalszych poczynań , kierujących fabułą i bohaterami wrr
Sam wątek szkoły był dla mnie dziwny i rozwalony w przestrzeni , a takim sensie , może mniej mnie angażował , z tego powodu , że mnie ten temat już nie dotyczy , bo już te lata buntu , wyróżnień w szkole mam za sobą . Aczkolwiek, gdy bohaterowie byli na wyspie , mieli ciekawe czasem przebłyski zaciekawienia fabułą . Ale jak mnie irytowali wszyscy bohaterowie , a szczególnie główny bohater , który look guys , był wyśmiewany przez 3 lata w szkole , bał się odezwać , a tu nagle , gdy znaleźli się na wyspie , dostał olśnienia i rządził wszystkim . No, aż tak w naszym realnym życiu nie ma , com one ..
Też nie zżyłem się z bohaterami, ich losy mało co mnie obchodziły .Ale co muszę dodać to to , iż w tej książce ukazane jest to jak na wyspie można wykorzystać naukę ze szkoły , jednak czasem może się ona przydać w naszym dorosłym życiu.
A i co najważniejsze mamy tutaj spoilery do „ Hrabiego Monte Christo” „ Folwark Zwierzęcy „ i jeszcze innych klasyków
Może jej dam, tylko dlatego , że czasem , w niektórych momentach miała ładne cytaty.
Takto długo ją czytałem , ale jak się zawziąłem, to mi się udało . Ale jakim kosztem , ta książka , jak dla mnie była absurdalna i dziwna , a samo zakończenie, lol kto mógł na coś takiego wpaść . Ja się frustrowałem , gdy ją czytałem i nie mogłem się doczekać kiedy ją skończę.
Szczerze od mniej więcej połowy domyślałem się dalszych poczynań , kierujących fabułą i bohaterami wrr
Sam wątek szkoły był dla mnie dziwny i rozwalony w przestrzeni , a takim sensie , może mniej mnie angażował , z tego powodu , że mnie ten temat już nie dotyczy , bo już te lata buntu , wyróżnień w szkole mam za sobą . Aczkolwiek, gdy bohaterowie byli na wyspie , mieli ciekawe czasem przebłyski zaciekawienia fabułą . Ale jak mnie irytowali wszyscy bohaterowie , a szczególnie główny bohater , który look guys , był wyśmiewany przez 3 lata w szkole , bał się odezwać , a tu nagle , gdy znaleźli się na wyspie , dostał olśnienia i rządził wszystkim . No, aż tak w naszym realnym życiu nie ma , com one ..
Też nie zżyłem się z bohaterami, ich losy mało co mnie obchodziły .Ale co muszę dodać to to , iż w tej książce ukazane jest to jak na wyspie można wykorzystać naukę ze szkoły , jednak czasem może się ona przydać w naszym dorosłym życiu.
A i co najważniejsze mamy tutaj spoilery do „ Hrabiego Monte Christo” „ Folwark Zwierzęcy „ i jeszcze innych klasyków
September 8, 2022
2.5 ⭐
Jest niemożliwie absurdalna, ma błędy merytoryczne, a postacie są płaskie i durne jak buty, których raz mają, raz nie. Faktyczna intryga się ciągnie, ale jest ciekawie, przeczytałam na 2 wieczory i miały być 3⭐ ale zakończenie i, panie broń, epilog to już dobiły.
Jest niemożliwie absurdalna, ma błędy merytoryczne, a postacie są płaskie i durne jak buty, których raz mają, raz nie. Faktyczna intryga się ciągnie, ale jest ciekawie, przeczytałam na 2 wieczory i miały być 3⭐ ale zakończenie i, panie broń, epilog to już dobiły.
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