Flatliners

by Leonore Fleischer

Genres: Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1990

About the author

Leonore Fleischer has written more than fifty novelizations of films. She and her five cats live in Upstate New York.

Reviews

[Raiveran Rabbit · Rating 1 out of 5]

NEVER read a BOOK based on a MOVIE. *EVER*.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently watched the original Flatliners movie, for the first time ever, followed by the remake. I discovered there was also this, the novelization of the original movie, to add to my collection. It’s also by Leonore Fleischer, who also wrote the novelization of Rainman.

This sticks pretty closely to the movie, but with a slightly different intro - you get a little insight to a young Nelson (played in the movie by Kiefer Sutherland) and why he wanted to see what happened after you die.

The author has a really annoying habit of referring to all the characters by their full names consistently throughout the book. I can understand introducing a character by their full name at the beginning of the book, but this got annoying fast. Even to the characters referring to themselves in the third person, by their full name. Also, Rachel (Julia Roberts) gets referred to as “the girl” a couple of times, unnecessarily.

You don’t really get much additional to the film, and the film flows better in my opinion. The book comes across as a little disjointed at times, similar to the film, but the film just makes more sense, while it flies between different characters.

Would I recommend this? I’m not so sure. What could have been a really good book lost major points for referring to the characters by their full names. I also wanted there to be a little more - some more about Randy (Oliver Platt) who gets forgotten about in the movie and brushed aside in the book. He was unnecessary to the movie and the book, and I was hoping he might have had more of a backstory, or additional scenes that were cut from the final screenplay, but not so.

If you loved the movie, I would say that this is worthwhile getting, but only if you can get it for a reasonable price. I bought it for £2.86 (a remainder copy, I’m guessing, as the spine and front cover are misaligned) and it has since jumped up to £25+. But don’t expect much more to what is shown in the film.

[Angie Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I read from cover to cover in 24 hours!
I was hooked from the first chapter to the very last. It's one of the few books that is such an entertaining journey that it made an equally great movie.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it had a great time reading it and I’m not sorry

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saw the previews for the remake of the movie, "Flatliners" and decided I wanted to read the book before considering seeing the movie. I found it strange that there wasn't a book connection with the new movie as my copy of the book was from the original publication date in 1990. I am wondering if the book was written after the movie. At any rate, the subject is an interesting premise. The book is a fast read but not great literature. Whether I see the movie, I think, will depend on what my husband wants to do. He read the book when it came out in 1990.

[Mikepottz · Rating 3 out of 5]

One death obsessed 3rd year med students desire to see what happens after death will plunge four of his medical colleagues into darkness when three will follow him into induced brain death and get pulled back to life. Those moments of death will show each the beauty and evil that lurks. Atonement for pass sins will come about. Is it a good day to die? Don't play with death. Great dark setting and atmosphere is captured perfectly. Getting smashed in the face with a hockey stick is going to hurt.

[Martha]

in

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great story and a would you do it kind of tale as interns decide to kill each other if just for a few minutes in hope of seeing what happens after death.