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7 Souls
Mary expected her seventeenth birthday to be a blowout to remember, courtesy of her best friends, fellow New York City prepsters Amy and Joon, and her doting boyfriend, Trick. Instead, the day starts badly and gets worse. After waking up in a mortifying place with a massive, unexplainable hangover, Mary soon discovers that nobody at school is even aware that it's her birthday. As evening approaches, paranoia sets in. Mary just can't shake the feeling that someone is out to get her—and, as it turns out, she's right. Before the night is over, she's been killed in cold blood. But murder is just the beginning of Mary's ordeal. Her soul gets trapped in a strange limbo, and she must relive the day of her death through the eyes of seven people—each of whom, she finds, had plenty of reasons to hate her. As Mary explores the mysteries of her world, discovering secrets that were hidden in plain sight while she was alive, she clings desperately to the hope that she can solve her own murder, change the past, and—just maybe—save her own life. With its blend of suspense, horror, fantasy, and realism, 7 Souls is an adrenaline rush of a thriller.From the Hardcover edition.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2010
26 people are currently reading
1123 people want to read
About the author
Barnabas Miller
9 books24 followersBarnabas Miller has written many books for children and young adults. He also composes and produces music for film and network television. He lives in New York City with his wife, Heidi; their cat, Ted; and their dog, Zooey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
April 10, 2011
I would definitely say this is amazing! It is currently 2:25am and I have stayed up to finish this book. I could not put it down and i knew there was no way i could ever sleep until I finished 7 souls so i didn't even try, i just made myself comfy and finished the book. now i must sleep so expect a longer more detailed review to come.
January 20, 2023
This novel is an unexpected read from a few years ago. I always have a bit hesitation when I pick up a stand-alone book because sometimes the story is rushed to meet a 300-page conclusion, and I'm always left feeling robbed. However, this book really made up for all those other books I have read.
The definite high points of the book was that the storyline was amazing right from the beginning because I was left wondering what had just happened, like did she just get drunk and pass out in a store window or did someone leave her there? Seeing the flashbacks and instances through the eyes of the other characters on the last day of her life was very intriguing to know why every single character wanted her dead.
I will say that at some points it was very scattered to try and keep things in a linear path, but those instances were quickly resolved later on because I had an "oh moment" realizing that something else happened. Things were a tad overdramatic because I felt that none of them, except for maybe the one character who was traumatized, really had a true reason to want the main character dead. Maybe have a piece of revenge but nothing that warranted the main character's death.
Nevertheless, it was a great book, and hopefully there will be a sequel with another story of characters, but I feel that my hopes could be pointless.
The definite high points of the book was that the storyline was amazing right from the beginning because I was left wondering what had just happened, like did she just get drunk and pass out in a store window or did someone leave her there? Seeing the flashbacks and instances through the eyes of the other characters on the last day of her life was very intriguing to know why every single character wanted her dead.
I will say that at some points it was very scattered to try and keep things in a linear path, but those instances were quickly resolved later on because I had an "oh moment" realizing that something else happened. Things were a tad overdramatic because I felt that none of them, except for maybe the one character who was traumatized, really had a true reason to want the main character dead. Maybe have a piece of revenge but nothing that warranted the main character's death.
Nevertheless, it was a great book, and hopefully there will be a sequel with another story of characters, but I feel that my hopes could be pointless.
February 27, 2010
I need to preface this review by saying, first of all, that this is a book I would never, ever have picked up if Shannon had not placed it in my hands and told me to ignore the cover, that it is excellent and even visionary.
You have to trust that kind of endorsement.
So I ignored the hieroglyphics, the Olde English font, the fact that the authors' names are "Barnabas" and "Jordan Orlando." All of which would have led me to immediately put this book back on the shelf on a browse, despite what seems like an intriguing premise.
I still almost put it down within the first 25 pages. It opens with this great set-up -- a privileged girl with a wicked hangover waking up naked on a bed in a Crate & Barrel store with inexplicable cuts on her back -- and yet the writing seemed to drag down the action. Every third sentence had a lame simile or metaphor; the exposition seemed obvious and clumsy. I considered abandoning it but recalled Shannon's recommendation, and remembering how often she and I have similar opinions about books and the fact that it's a YA book (oh how quickly they read, even when you're not fully loving it), I kept going.
The sucking-in happened slowly. I think I realized I couldn't stop reading somewhere around the point that Mary realized something was very wrong, when all of her best friends treated her like a princess as usual but none of them mentioned the fact that it was her birthday at all. This doesn't seem that weird in writing, but the atmosphere of the book gains its palpable sense of dread here, and that just grows and grows.
I refuse to talk about the rest of the book, because you need to experience the sequence of events that happens in the first half of the book for yourself, unspoiled. Somewhere around page 120, I dreaded for this character, whom I didn't even really like, so much that I couldn't get up off the couch until the climax (which is spoiled on the back of the book, but is so creepy and brutal that I would advise you to approach it cold without reading the synopsis). The last time I felt so much fearful nervousness for a fictional character was when I saw Blue Velvet, which, OK, I watched like last week. But I can't even remember the last time it happened before that.
The flaw of this book -- besides the writing, which definitely gets a lot better and heads into the realm of really good after the first scene, with a clunker phrase slipping in here and there; you have to be a good writer to actually make your reader feel fear, and Barnabas/Jordan Orlando accomplish that -- is that explaining away the surreal moments takes away some of the scare and suspense of it. But inevitably, logic has to happen. Lucky for you, the book circles around to end on an ambiguous, unsettling note again.
Well played, Barnabas and J. Orlando. Hope your book sells well, 'cause for what it is, I loved it.
You have to trust that kind of endorsement.
So I ignored the hieroglyphics, the Olde English font, the fact that the authors' names are "Barnabas" and "Jordan Orlando." All of which would have led me to immediately put this book back on the shelf on a browse, despite what seems like an intriguing premise.
I still almost put it down within the first 25 pages. It opens with this great set-up -- a privileged girl with a wicked hangover waking up naked on a bed in a Crate & Barrel store with inexplicable cuts on her back -- and yet the writing seemed to drag down the action. Every third sentence had a lame simile or metaphor; the exposition seemed obvious and clumsy. I considered abandoning it but recalled Shannon's recommendation, and remembering how often she and I have similar opinions about books and the fact that it's a YA book (oh how quickly they read, even when you're not fully loving it), I kept going.
The sucking-in happened slowly. I think I realized I couldn't stop reading somewhere around the point that Mary realized something was very wrong, when all of her best friends treated her like a princess as usual but none of them mentioned the fact that it was her birthday at all. This doesn't seem that weird in writing, but the atmosphere of the book gains its palpable sense of dread here, and that just grows and grows.
I refuse to talk about the rest of the book, because you need to experience the sequence of events that happens in the first half of the book for yourself, unspoiled. Somewhere around page 120, I dreaded for this character, whom I didn't even really like, so much that I couldn't get up off the couch until the climax (which is spoiled on the back of the book, but is so creepy and brutal that I would advise you to approach it cold without reading the synopsis). The last time I felt so much fearful nervousness for a fictional character was when I saw Blue Velvet, which, OK, I watched like last week. But I can't even remember the last time it happened before that.
The flaw of this book -- besides the writing, which definitely gets a lot better and heads into the realm of really good after the first scene, with a clunker phrase slipping in here and there; you have to be a good writer to actually make your reader feel fear, and Barnabas/Jordan Orlando accomplish that -- is that explaining away the surreal moments takes away some of the scare and suspense of it. But inevitably, logic has to happen. Lucky for you, the book circles around to end on an ambiguous, unsettling note again.
Well played, Barnabas and J. Orlando. Hope your book sells well, 'cause for what it is, I loved it.
December 17, 2010
7 Souls has a propulsive energy and certainly once started, a reader will want to find out how Mary dies and who is ultimately responsible for her death. The problem is the underlying reason for the plot to kill her and how quickly the logic and morality of it fall apart under scrutiny.
Mary's sister Ellen blames her for the near-death of their mother a decade before, but it turns out that Mary was the pawn of their father using the exact same ritual that Ellen uses to curse Mary. There are two huge clues to this that should smack Ellen in the face as soon as she researches the ritual: Mary has no memory of that day (the "minions" of the spell-caster remember nothing), and their mother wears the amulet--the Eye of Tnahsit--that is a huge part of the curse and that their father gave to her the day of the tragedy.
Mary's friends have not-very-good but typically teenage reasons for disliking her: she stole one's boyfriend, one made a clumsy pass at her she rejected while drunk, she told her boyfriend's mom about his heavy drug use. Ellen also ropes in her only friend Dylan, who resents Mary because he blames her for keeping Ellen from committing to him, and uses Mary herself as one of the seven "minions" whose hatred will destroy her. So Ellen is perceptive enough to know her sister hates herself, but can't put together the clues about the ritual or feel any empathy.
Mary develops a kind of crazy Stockholm Syndrome as she sees the day through her friends' eyes. After she sees her boyfriend's memory that his mother cut him off without a cent after the drug revelations, she thinks "I just screwed him over for no reason." Except for the very valid reason that he's using insane amounts of drugs and alcohol and his parents are enabling him. By the end she thinks "It doesn't matter what they did to me....I deserved all of their rage; I brought it all on myself." Mary is thoughtless and selfish, but that's not unusual for someone her age. It hardly justifies a plot to traumatize her and drive her to suicide.
By the end, Mary is selfless enough to sacrifice her life to save her sister, who is supposed to perish as a penalty for casting the spell. Since Mary achieved enlightenment, her reward is apparently sharing the body of her sister. Given that Ellen is stupid and craven, this seems more like a punishment.
Mary's sister Ellen blames her for the near-death of their mother a decade before, but it turns out that Mary was the pawn of their father using the exact same ritual that Ellen uses to curse Mary. There are two huge clues to this that should smack Ellen in the face as soon as she researches the ritual: Mary has no memory of that day (the "minions" of the spell-caster remember nothing), and their mother wears the amulet--the Eye of Tnahsit--that is a huge part of the curse and that their father gave to her the day of the tragedy.
Mary's friends have not-very-good but typically teenage reasons for disliking her: she stole one's boyfriend, one made a clumsy pass at her she rejected while drunk, she told her boyfriend's mom about his heavy drug use. Ellen also ropes in her only friend Dylan, who resents Mary because he blames her for keeping Ellen from committing to him, and uses Mary herself as one of the seven "minions" whose hatred will destroy her. So Ellen is perceptive enough to know her sister hates herself, but can't put together the clues about the ritual or feel any empathy.
Mary develops a kind of crazy Stockholm Syndrome as she sees the day through her friends' eyes. After she sees her boyfriend's memory that his mother cut him off without a cent after the drug revelations, she thinks "I just screwed him over for no reason." Except for the very valid reason that he's using insane amounts of drugs and alcohol and his parents are enabling him. By the end she thinks "It doesn't matter what they did to me....I deserved all of their rage; I brought it all on myself." Mary is thoughtless and selfish, but that's not unusual for someone her age. It hardly justifies a plot to traumatize her and drive her to suicide.
By the end, Mary is selfless enough to sacrifice her life to save her sister, who is supposed to perish as a penalty for casting the spell. Since Mary achieved enlightenment, her reward is apparently sharing the body of her sister. Given that Ellen is stupid and craven, this seems more like a punishment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2011
Mary ist 17, beliebt, hübsch und reich. Sie ist die Nummer 1 ihrer Schule, kann sich vor Freunden kaum retten, hat mehr als nur eine beste Freundin und einen ebenso wohlhabenden Freund, obwohl sie sich vor Dates kaum retten kann.
Die Story beginnt dort, wo Marys Gedächtnis wieder einsetzt. Sie findet sich in einem Möbelhaus wieder, nackt in einem Vorführbett. Sie weiß nicht, wie sie dort hingekommen ist und nicht, was sie dort soll. Sie erinnert sich nur daran, dass heute ihr 17. Geburtstag ist und daran, was sie gestern Abend noch getan hat. Verwirrt zieht sich los durch die Stadt, nach Hause und zur Schule. Doch all ihre Mitmenschen verhalten sich ihr komisch gegenüber. Keiner gratuliert ihr wirklich, in der Schule beachtet sie niemand und dann dreht auch noch ein Mitschüler durch, der ihr Warnungen entgegen rief. Mary weiß nicht, was passiert ist und gerade passiert und so durchlebt sie ihren Geburtstag ganz anders, als sie es sich je erträumt hat...
Die Beschreibung bei amazon geht noch etwas weiter auf den Inhalt ein, welchen ich hier allerdings nicht wiedergeben möchte, denn man muss es einfach selbst erleben. Dieses Buch beginnt ziemlich verwirrend, denn als Leser weiß man nicht mehr als Mary, und dies ist in diesem Fall sehr wenig. Man ist also genauso verwirrt und muss zusammen mit ihr die Story entdecken. Immer mehr Fragen werden aufgeworfen und der Leser wird sofort in die komplexe Story rund um das beliebteste Mädchen der Schule gesogen.
Mary war mir anfangs sehr unsympathisch. Sie wirkt arrogant und eingebildet, prahlt mit ihren Markenklamotten und Hightechgeräten. Wie sie ihre Umwelt behandelt war ebenfalls alles andere als nett und so wunderte es mich kaum, dass sie an ihrem Geburtstag ignoriert wurde. Sie macht sich über recht lapidare Dinge viele Gedanken, die für mich nicht wirklich so schwerwiegend sind, dass man sich dort wer weiß wie viele Gedanken drüber machen muss. Doch immer wieder erfährt der Leser, dass scheinbar mehr hinter Marys Glamourleben steckt, als sie allen zeigt.
Nach und nach entwickelt sich die Story sehr mystisch weiter und ich konnte mit dem Lesen nicht mehr aufhören. Das Buch habe ich binnen nicht einmal 2 Tage verschlungen, da vor allem auch der Schreibstil sehr packend war. Die beiden Autoren haben es geschafft, ein sehr spannendes, actionreiches und geheimnisvolles Jugendbuch zu schreiben, welches die Geschichte super leicht in Kopfkino verwandeln ließ. Das Tempo der Geschehnisse nimmt immer mehr zu, sodass man total gefangen wird und nicht mehr aufhören kann.
Die Charaktere rund um Mary haben mir recht gut gefallen. Die einen waren sympathischer, die anderen weniger. Das meiste ist natürlich aus Marys Sicht geschrieben, jedoch bekommen die Protagonisten auch ihre Chance, mehr von sich dem Leser zu präsentieren.
Bis zur Hälfte des Buches bin ich nur so durchgerauscht und habe es verschlungen mit vielen Fragenzeichen, denn der Leser wird in viele Rätsel integriert, welche bis etwa zur Hälfte noch ungeklärt sind. Ich möchte hier an der Stelle wirklich nicht zu viel verraten, daher kann ich nur ans WEITERLESEN appellieren, denn die 2. Hälfte des Buches gibt noch einmal richtig Gas und der ganzen Story einen genialen Zusatz. Hier haben die Autoren es geschafft, etwas für mich völlig neues zu kreieren. Die amazon Beschreibung geht darauf schon etwas ein, dennoch möchte ich hier zu nichts weiter erwähnen.
Das Buch wird als Thriller bezeichnet, was auch stimmt. Jedoch beinhaltet das Buch für mich auch einige Fantasyaspekte, welche dem Leser nach und nach aufgezeigt und auch deutlich werden. Daher ist dieses Buch für mich ein Mix aus Jugendthrill und Jugendfantasy.
Der Altersempfehlung des Verlages (14-16) kann ich nur halb zustimmen. Dieses Buch ist wahrlich nichts für jüngere Leser und ich würde es keinem 14jährigen zum Lesen geben. Ab 16 sollte dieses Buch doch schon mindestens sein. Ich bin ein großer und begeisterter Psychothrillerleser und brauchte für einige actionreichen Szenen doch schon starke Nerven, da der Schreibstil der beiden Autoren eben sehr bildlich ist und man sich alles sehr gut vorstellen konnte.
Ich bin von dem Buch „Seven Souls“ sehr begeistert und kann daher eine Kaufempfehlung an alle aussprechen, welche auf mysteriöse, gruselige und Actionreiche Jugendbücher stehen, welche einen Zusatz Fantasy mitbringen.
Die Story beginnt dort, wo Marys Gedächtnis wieder einsetzt. Sie findet sich in einem Möbelhaus wieder, nackt in einem Vorführbett. Sie weiß nicht, wie sie dort hingekommen ist und nicht, was sie dort soll. Sie erinnert sich nur daran, dass heute ihr 17. Geburtstag ist und daran, was sie gestern Abend noch getan hat. Verwirrt zieht sich los durch die Stadt, nach Hause und zur Schule. Doch all ihre Mitmenschen verhalten sich ihr komisch gegenüber. Keiner gratuliert ihr wirklich, in der Schule beachtet sie niemand und dann dreht auch noch ein Mitschüler durch, der ihr Warnungen entgegen rief. Mary weiß nicht, was passiert ist und gerade passiert und so durchlebt sie ihren Geburtstag ganz anders, als sie es sich je erträumt hat...
Die Beschreibung bei amazon geht noch etwas weiter auf den Inhalt ein, welchen ich hier allerdings nicht wiedergeben möchte, denn man muss es einfach selbst erleben. Dieses Buch beginnt ziemlich verwirrend, denn als Leser weiß man nicht mehr als Mary, und dies ist in diesem Fall sehr wenig. Man ist also genauso verwirrt und muss zusammen mit ihr die Story entdecken. Immer mehr Fragen werden aufgeworfen und der Leser wird sofort in die komplexe Story rund um das beliebteste Mädchen der Schule gesogen.
Mary war mir anfangs sehr unsympathisch. Sie wirkt arrogant und eingebildet, prahlt mit ihren Markenklamotten und Hightechgeräten. Wie sie ihre Umwelt behandelt war ebenfalls alles andere als nett und so wunderte es mich kaum, dass sie an ihrem Geburtstag ignoriert wurde. Sie macht sich über recht lapidare Dinge viele Gedanken, die für mich nicht wirklich so schwerwiegend sind, dass man sich dort wer weiß wie viele Gedanken drüber machen muss. Doch immer wieder erfährt der Leser, dass scheinbar mehr hinter Marys Glamourleben steckt, als sie allen zeigt.
Nach und nach entwickelt sich die Story sehr mystisch weiter und ich konnte mit dem Lesen nicht mehr aufhören. Das Buch habe ich binnen nicht einmal 2 Tage verschlungen, da vor allem auch der Schreibstil sehr packend war. Die beiden Autoren haben es geschafft, ein sehr spannendes, actionreiches und geheimnisvolles Jugendbuch zu schreiben, welches die Geschichte super leicht in Kopfkino verwandeln ließ. Das Tempo der Geschehnisse nimmt immer mehr zu, sodass man total gefangen wird und nicht mehr aufhören kann.
Die Charaktere rund um Mary haben mir recht gut gefallen. Die einen waren sympathischer, die anderen weniger. Das meiste ist natürlich aus Marys Sicht geschrieben, jedoch bekommen die Protagonisten auch ihre Chance, mehr von sich dem Leser zu präsentieren.
Bis zur Hälfte des Buches bin ich nur so durchgerauscht und habe es verschlungen mit vielen Fragenzeichen, denn der Leser wird in viele Rätsel integriert, welche bis etwa zur Hälfte noch ungeklärt sind. Ich möchte hier an der Stelle wirklich nicht zu viel verraten, daher kann ich nur ans WEITERLESEN appellieren, denn die 2. Hälfte des Buches gibt noch einmal richtig Gas und der ganzen Story einen genialen Zusatz. Hier haben die Autoren es geschafft, etwas für mich völlig neues zu kreieren. Die amazon Beschreibung geht darauf schon etwas ein, dennoch möchte ich hier zu nichts weiter erwähnen.
Das Buch wird als Thriller bezeichnet, was auch stimmt. Jedoch beinhaltet das Buch für mich auch einige Fantasyaspekte, welche dem Leser nach und nach aufgezeigt und auch deutlich werden. Daher ist dieses Buch für mich ein Mix aus Jugendthrill und Jugendfantasy.
Der Altersempfehlung des Verlages (14-16) kann ich nur halb zustimmen. Dieses Buch ist wahrlich nichts für jüngere Leser und ich würde es keinem 14jährigen zum Lesen geben. Ab 16 sollte dieses Buch doch schon mindestens sein. Ich bin ein großer und begeisterter Psychothrillerleser und brauchte für einige actionreichen Szenen doch schon starke Nerven, da der Schreibstil der beiden Autoren eben sehr bildlich ist und man sich alles sehr gut vorstellen konnte.
Ich bin von dem Buch „Seven Souls“ sehr begeistert und kann daher eine Kaufempfehlung an alle aussprechen, welche auf mysteriöse, gruselige und Actionreiche Jugendbücher stehen, welche einen Zusatz Fantasy mitbringen.
February 15, 2022
Seven souls
non è quello che definirei un "grande romanzo". Preferirei piuttosto etichettarlo come un passatempo vagamente gradevole. Non mi ha convinto del tutto e sono stato in grado di trovare qualcosa che mi ha infastidito. Bisogna ammettere che io trovo quasi sempre qualcosa che mi irrita o che non condivido o che a mio parere stona, ma se nel complesso il libro mi piace sorvolo con il cuore in pace; in questo caso no. A tutti i lettori che possono riscontrare nelle mie le loro stesse pretese, non consiglio questo libro.
Una grande colpa è da attribuirsi alla casa editrice italiana e originale statunitense: nella sinossi ufficiale, gran parte della trama è rivelata senza tanti complimenti. Io leggo sempre la sinossi (come mi pare giusto che sia; è stava pubblicata in retrocopertina per quello scopo) e questo spoiler gratuito ha portato riscontro nel mio scontento. Lo posso dire senza sentirmi in colpa, a questo punto: la protagonista muore perchè portata da qualcuno che la odia a essere vittima di una maledizione egiziana e rivive il suo ultimo giorno sulla terra per scoprire chi è l'artefice dell'omicidio - o, per essere precisi, chi ha avuto l'idea di scagliare l'anatema che arriva dalla terra delle piramidi, che in teoria la odio (e proprio tanto, direi). Adesso che si conosce questo dettaglio, si può leggere il libro sapendo cosa ci si può aspettare proseguendo con le pagine.
La protagonista deve essere una ragazza molto viziata e segretamente perfida, perchè sul subito non si direbbe che sia così malvagia anche se l'evento previsto conduce a pensarla così. E, stando a come la penso io, non lo è nemmeno avanzando tra i capitoli: al contrario lo sono i suoi amici - che amici di sicuro non sono.
La storia è ambientata a New York è la prosa dei due autori non è imprecisa o superficiale, ma per tutto l'arco della vicenda l'ho sentita fredda e non mi ha fatto appassionare come desidero da un libro. Mi ha intrigato perchè volevo sapere come si sarebbero districati i fatti, questo sì. Adesso non lo vorrei sapere più, ma tant'è.
Non riesco a capire come questo libro abbia ricevuto i complimenti che gli hanno attribuito. Certamente a ognuno può piacere il libro che vuole e ogni opera è un capolavoro per qualcuno; non metto in dubbio questo. Ogni libro merita di essere letto e amato da persone di buona volontà.
Ma, per quanto mi riguarda, se la protagonista deve essere rappresentata come una vera stronza senza cuore e meritevole di morte violenta (una ragazzina può essere destinataria di tanto astio?), perchè le motivazioni delle sei persone che più la odiano mi sono sembrate sciocche? O meglio, alcune non sono cause di rancore, altre non lo sono di desiderio di vendetta così estrema.
Poi è certo che se una di queste persone inizia la maledizione e le altre vengono coinvolte, un motivo bisogna pur trovarlo, no? NO!
Il finale non l'ho compreso. Secondo me è confuso oppure senza un vero senso.
Ecco il mio pensiero.
Una grande colpa è da attribuirsi alla casa editrice italiana e originale statunitense: nella sinossi ufficiale, gran parte della trama è rivelata senza tanti complimenti. Io leggo sempre la sinossi (come mi pare giusto che sia; è stava pubblicata in retrocopertina per quello scopo) e questo spoiler gratuito ha portato riscontro nel mio scontento. Lo posso dire senza sentirmi in colpa, a questo punto: la protagonista muore perchè portata da qualcuno che la odia a essere vittima di una maledizione egiziana e rivive il suo ultimo giorno sulla terra per scoprire chi è l'artefice dell'omicidio - o, per essere precisi, chi ha avuto l'idea di scagliare l'anatema che arriva dalla terra delle piramidi, che in teoria la odio (e proprio tanto, direi). Adesso che si conosce questo dettaglio, si può leggere il libro sapendo cosa ci si può aspettare proseguendo con le pagine.
La protagonista deve essere una ragazza molto viziata e segretamente perfida, perchè sul subito non si direbbe che sia così malvagia anche se l'evento previsto conduce a pensarla così. E, stando a come la penso io, non lo è nemmeno avanzando tra i capitoli: al contrario lo sono i suoi amici - che amici di sicuro non sono.
La storia è ambientata a New York è la prosa dei due autori non è imprecisa o superficiale, ma per tutto l'arco della vicenda l'ho sentita fredda e non mi ha fatto appassionare come desidero da un libro. Mi ha intrigato perchè volevo sapere come si sarebbero districati i fatti, questo sì. Adesso non lo vorrei sapere più, ma tant'è.
Non riesco a capire come questo libro abbia ricevuto i complimenti che gli hanno attribuito. Certamente a ognuno può piacere il libro che vuole e ogni opera è un capolavoro per qualcuno; non metto in dubbio questo. Ogni libro merita di essere letto e amato da persone di buona volontà.
Ma, per quanto mi riguarda, se la protagonista deve essere rappresentata come una vera stronza senza cuore e meritevole di morte violenta (una ragazzina può essere destinataria di tanto astio?), perchè le motivazioni delle sei persone che più la odiano mi sono sembrate sciocche? O meglio, alcune non sono cause di rancore, altre non lo sono di desiderio di vendetta così estrema.
Poi è certo che se una di queste persone inizia la maledizione e le altre vengono coinvolte, un motivo bisogna pur trovarlo, no? NO!
Il finale non l'ho compreso. Secondo me è confuso oppure senza un vero senso.
Ecco il mio pensiero.
June 9, 2014
Mary wakes up in a strange bed and beyond display naked for the world to see. It's her birthday and she can't remember how she got there and who she was with last night. The rest of the day none of her friends remember her birthday, her bf breaks up with her and to top it off she has some strange marks on her back of three lines moving diagonal. Also Mary keeps seeing weird shadows and visions of a house.
Later Mary is surprised by her bf with a surprise party that soon turns scary and deadly. One of the guys brings a guy and is asked to leave the party, which her bff leaves with. Mary soon receives a text from her bff Joon to help her. When Mary arrives at the location Joon is at with her other BFF Amy she realizes this is the place she has been seeing all day in her visions. Someone is out to get Mary but before Mary can figure out who it is she is shot in the head.
Mary wakes up, but as someone else. Scott whom she uses to get homework answers from, she relives the day she dies but from Scotts perspective. She also learns that in Scotts bag she had tape and rope that was used to hang Joon that deadly night. Is Scott the killer?
Mary wakes up as Joon, Dylan, Patrick herself and Ellen (her sister). These people are all apart of a ritual of 7 souls that take part in humiliating, betraying and ridding their life of this person. In this case it's Mary, she learns about how she affected the people she once thought of as close friends and family and how much they truly hate her. To Mary surprise she learns how to be selfless and help the people she has affected most in her life.
The ending is not what you would expect, what happens to Mary started 10 years ago when her father died and their lives changed forever. SPOILER ALERT!!! Ellen is the person that shoots Mary in the head and was also the ring leader for the scheme.
Later Mary is surprised by her bf with a surprise party that soon turns scary and deadly. One of the guys brings a guy and is asked to leave the party, which her bff leaves with. Mary soon receives a text from her bff Joon to help her. When Mary arrives at the location Joon is at with her other BFF Amy she realizes this is the place she has been seeing all day in her visions. Someone is out to get Mary but before Mary can figure out who it is she is shot in the head.
Mary wakes up, but as someone else. Scott whom she uses to get homework answers from, she relives the day she dies but from Scotts perspective. She also learns that in Scotts bag she had tape and rope that was used to hang Joon that deadly night. Is Scott the killer?
Mary wakes up as Joon, Dylan, Patrick herself and Ellen (her sister). These people are all apart of a ritual of 7 souls that take part in humiliating, betraying and ridding their life of this person. In this case it's Mary, she learns about how she affected the people she once thought of as close friends and family and how much they truly hate her. To Mary surprise she learns how to be selfless and help the people she has affected most in her life.
The ending is not what you would expect, what happens to Mary started 10 years ago when her father died and their lives changed forever. SPOILER ALERT!!! Ellen is the person that shoots Mary in the head and was also the ring leader for the scheme.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2011
This is going to take some time as I parse out everything I want to say about this novel. (I have such a difficult time beginning reviews. They feel like analytical essays I am writing. Boo for essays.)
Okay, let’s plunge into it. First, I enjoyed this novel. It had some very serious problems but writing and pacing weren’t one of them. The characterizations were believable and there was a lot of excitement and movement in the story that leads me to believe that were the scriptwriters able to find a way to express the “possession” part of novel, it would make a really good movie. The kind that both boyfriends and girlfriends can watch and love. I haven’t heard anything about the authors and very little information is given about them on Goodreads but the calibre of this book is sufficient to convince me to read their next work. Good, so far?
Moving on then, (and this is where I will tell you to stop and come back when you have read the book because it’s going to get distinctly spoilery) let’s talk about what bothers me about this book. What bothers me so much that I have been thinking about it possibly nonstop. Okay fine, not nonstop but more than I want to think about a book that I have already read (and which is not on the syllabus).
The ending of the novel sucked and to me, it brought up such questions that answering them would collapse the entire foundation the novel is built on. If you have read the synopsis, you will know that Mary has to see herself through the eyes of seven people (this is not limbo, folks) and until she has done so, she will not be able to “pass on” or um, save herself.
Mary is not a nice person or so the book would have you believe. However, she doesn’t come off as a horrible bitch at all. In fact, throughout the entirety of the book, even when you are seeing her behave badly through someone else’s eyes, you still find yourself liking the character enough to hope that she makes it through. Regains her life, so to speak. Mary is one of those beautiful people who is selfish and manipulative and yet, entirely unaware that she has those qualities. She takes advantage of people and uses them but there’s no malice in it. If the authors had made her sincerely horrible, I would have accepted the ending better.
It turns out that Mary was one of the participants of the curse that her father put on her mother when he found out that she had been having an affair with another man while still being married to him. Under the influence of the curse, Mary leaves her mother trapped in some hole and the little sister sees all this happening. After the curse is over (only lasts for a day and this time, the dad died and the cursed, the mom, remains alive), Mary forgets everything. Skip about 7 or 8 years, the sister puts that same curse on Mary with the intent to kill her at the end.
Okay, we are supposed to like the sister. We are supposed to empathize with her, suffering as she is, living in the shadow of the selfish sister. However, when you think about it, Mary does everything she can to save a friend who is supposedly kidnapped and then in the end, she sacrifices her own life so that the sister may live. Considering Mary’s actions, the sister seems decidedly more evil. And I keep on wondering why Mary would do such a thing. Save someone who wants to kill her. You see the logic? If Mary is that selfish and horrible, she would save HERSELF and let the sister go to hell where she most certainly belongs. But she’s not, so she lets herself die so the sister (the sistericide committing one) can live.
말이 돼? Which basically means, does this make sense? It doesn’t to me. There are times when you can make the gray area so gray that your logic is subsumed by it. But that is not all, as a consolation prize, we are told that Mary’s spirit remains in Ellen’s (the sister’s) body so yay? Really?
Also, the mythology aspect is clumsily handled. Questions such as how the father got the books, why he was so knowledgeable about curses and why won’t anyone smack the adulterous mother remain unanswered. So while the reader may enjoy the novel while he or she is reading it, it is when the last page has been turned and some reflection has been done that he/she will realize that the feeling in their stomach? It’s dissatisfaction.
Okay, let’s plunge into it. First, I enjoyed this novel. It had some very serious problems but writing and pacing weren’t one of them. The characterizations were believable and there was a lot of excitement and movement in the story that leads me to believe that were the scriptwriters able to find a way to express the “possession” part of novel, it would make a really good movie. The kind that both boyfriends and girlfriends can watch and love. I haven’t heard anything about the authors and very little information is given about them on Goodreads but the calibre of this book is sufficient to convince me to read their next work. Good, so far?
Moving on then, (and this is where I will tell you to stop and come back when you have read the book because it’s going to get distinctly spoilery) let’s talk about what bothers me about this book. What bothers me so much that I have been thinking about it possibly nonstop. Okay fine, not nonstop but more than I want to think about a book that I have already read (and which is not on the syllabus).
The ending of the novel sucked and to me, it brought up such questions that answering them would collapse the entire foundation the novel is built on. If you have read the synopsis, you will know that Mary has to see herself through the eyes of seven people (this is not limbo, folks) and until she has done so, she will not be able to “pass on” or um, save herself.
Mary is not a nice person or so the book would have you believe. However, she doesn’t come off as a horrible bitch at all. In fact, throughout the entirety of the book, even when you are seeing her behave badly through someone else’s eyes, you still find yourself liking the character enough to hope that she makes it through. Regains her life, so to speak. Mary is one of those beautiful people who is selfish and manipulative and yet, entirely unaware that she has those qualities. She takes advantage of people and uses them but there’s no malice in it. If the authors had made her sincerely horrible, I would have accepted the ending better.
It turns out that Mary was one of the participants of the curse that her father put on her mother when he found out that she had been having an affair with another man while still being married to him. Under the influence of the curse, Mary leaves her mother trapped in some hole and the little sister sees all this happening. After the curse is over (only lasts for a day and this time, the dad died and the cursed, the mom, remains alive), Mary forgets everything. Skip about 7 or 8 years, the sister puts that same curse on Mary with the intent to kill her at the end.
Okay, we are supposed to like the sister. We are supposed to empathize with her, suffering as she is, living in the shadow of the selfish sister. However, when you think about it, Mary does everything she can to save a friend who is supposedly kidnapped and then in the end, she sacrifices her own life so that the sister may live. Considering Mary’s actions, the sister seems decidedly more evil. And I keep on wondering why Mary would do such a thing. Save someone who wants to kill her. You see the logic? If Mary is that selfish and horrible, she would save HERSELF and let the sister go to hell where she most certainly belongs. But she’s not, so she lets herself die so the sister (the sistericide committing one) can live.
말이 돼? Which basically means, does this make sense? It doesn’t to me. There are times when you can make the gray area so gray that your logic is subsumed by it. But that is not all, as a consolation prize, we are told that Mary’s spirit remains in Ellen’s (the sister’s) body so yay? Really?
Also, the mythology aspect is clumsily handled. Questions such as how the father got the books, why he was so knowledgeable about curses and why won’t anyone smack the adulterous mother remain unanswered. So while the reader may enjoy the novel while he or she is reading it, it is when the last page has been turned and some reflection has been done that he/she will realize that the feeling in their stomach? It’s dissatisfaction.
February 22, 2011
Mary Shayne wakes up on the day of her birthday, butt-naked, in the display window of a Soho furniture store. Not the best start to the day. . . but things only get worse and weirder from there. Mary has no memory of the last 24 hours. She has mysterious scratches on her back. Her boyfriend has just dumped her and her Upper East Side best friends are completely blanking that today is her birthday. Her pudgy study-buddy is screaming at her that she’s in mortal danger, and her little sister’s scruffy best friend is asking her out on dates.
Mary’s perfect world is spiralling out of control. She is experiencing the worst day of her life and learning some uncomfortable truths. Things like this shouldn’t happen to girls like Mary. She’s beautiful and popular and all the boys want her and all the girls want to be her.
Only one thing is certain on this day of days; Mary Shayne is about to have one killer birthday.
I was surprisingly enraptured by this book from writing team Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando. I will warn that the book is deliberately hectic and confusing – hieroglyphics on the cover and a strange opening quote about the powers of death and the powers of life. All of these supernatural clues seem at odds with the opening chapter of party-girl Mary waking up from an all-night-bender . . . all I can say is ‘persevere’.
Miller and Orlando layer mystery upon conundrum and keep Mary spiralling out of control ... ‘7 Souls’ is constantly set at a fast and frenzied pace, and it’s brilliant. The helter-skelter plot and constant confusion actually lend a lot of heightened feeling and delicious tension to the book. So even while you’re scratching your head and wondering where the storyline is going, you can’t help but be sucked in and strung along for the duration. . .
At first the novel seems to be all about teen angst as the perfectly popular princess, Mary, learns a thing or two about being knocked off her pedestal. . . The novel is set in New York and Mary’s clique is the requisite Upper East Side darlings; her penthouse boyfriend and designer-clad besties.
But then things take a turn for the weird . . . Mary takes the old adage ‘walk a mile in someone else’s shoes’ to heart, with disastrous consequences.
Mary was crying again. “It’s the worst day of my life; it’s sucked since the moment I woke up. Everyone’s been out to get me, all day!”
“You sound paranoid,” Dylan said. He was shaking his head, looking more confused with each passing second. “There can’t be – ”
“I'm not paranoid!” Mary yelled. Her throat ached with the strain.
I am in gob-smacked awe at Miller and Orlando’s twisted plot. I spent the whole book trying to guess what was around the corner and the ‘whodunit’ mystery at the centre of it all. I was not prepared. I wasn’t even close to figuring it all out . . .
‘7 Souls’ is a cross between ‘Gossip Girl’, ‘Scream’ and ‘Jawbreaker’. This is a paranormal tale with a strong moral compass. Mary is the perfect protagonist and somewhat unreliable narrator – she’s a girl with a lesson to learn (even if she has to choke on her comeuppance). You will never guess the ending to this twisted tale, but you’ll love picking apart the pieces of the puzzle.
Mary’s perfect world is spiralling out of control. She is experiencing the worst day of her life and learning some uncomfortable truths. Things like this shouldn’t happen to girls like Mary. She’s beautiful and popular and all the boys want her and all the girls want to be her.
Only one thing is certain on this day of days; Mary Shayne is about to have one killer birthday.
I was surprisingly enraptured by this book from writing team Barnabas Miller and Jordan Orlando. I will warn that the book is deliberately hectic and confusing – hieroglyphics on the cover and a strange opening quote about the powers of death and the powers of life. All of these supernatural clues seem at odds with the opening chapter of party-girl Mary waking up from an all-night-bender . . . all I can say is ‘persevere’.
Miller and Orlando layer mystery upon conundrum and keep Mary spiralling out of control ... ‘7 Souls’ is constantly set at a fast and frenzied pace, and it’s brilliant. The helter-skelter plot and constant confusion actually lend a lot of heightened feeling and delicious tension to the book. So even while you’re scratching your head and wondering where the storyline is going, you can’t help but be sucked in and strung along for the duration. . .
At first the novel seems to be all about teen angst as the perfectly popular princess, Mary, learns a thing or two about being knocked off her pedestal. . . The novel is set in New York and Mary’s clique is the requisite Upper East Side darlings; her penthouse boyfriend and designer-clad besties.
But then things take a turn for the weird . . . Mary takes the old adage ‘walk a mile in someone else’s shoes’ to heart, with disastrous consequences.
Mary was crying again. “It’s the worst day of my life; it’s sucked since the moment I woke up. Everyone’s been out to get me, all day!”
“You sound paranoid,” Dylan said. He was shaking his head, looking more confused with each passing second. “There can’t be – ”
“I'm not paranoid!” Mary yelled. Her throat ached with the strain.
I am in gob-smacked awe at Miller and Orlando’s twisted plot. I spent the whole book trying to guess what was around the corner and the ‘whodunit’ mystery at the centre of it all. I was not prepared. I wasn’t even close to figuring it all out . . .
‘7 Souls’ is a cross between ‘Gossip Girl’, ‘Scream’ and ‘Jawbreaker’. This is a paranormal tale with a strong moral compass. Mary is the perfect protagonist and somewhat unreliable narrator – she’s a girl with a lesson to learn (even if she has to choke on her comeuppance). You will never guess the ending to this twisted tale, but you’ll love picking apart the pieces of the puzzle.
November 18, 2010
I really wish that Goodreads would invest in half stars...cause if so, I would totally rate this 4.5.
So, here's the deal....without giving away too much detail...here is my little review:
This is a story of Mary, a totally cool teenage girl who has everything (at least, on a social level). Mary's home life, however, is not as great. But who cares?? Because Mary and her friends just drown themeselves in partying, buying cool clothes, and just generally doing whatever they please, whenever they want.
We join Mary on the morning of her 17th Birthday when she wakes up naked in a Crofts and Barrow window display for all Manhatten-ites to see. The next half the book is Mary going through the events of the rest of the day. What's cool about this is that Mary turns out to be what I think is called an "unreliable narrator." Lots of weird things have happened and continue to happen, and Mary doesn't seem to remember how any of it fits together. The gaps in her knowledge are frusterating to say the least.
The second half of the book is Mary discovering the missing pieces of her puzzle through the eyes of her friends. I won't give any more detail so I don't ruin anything for anyone...but overall the writing is good and it was a very interesting read....I stayed up all night reading it, after all!! Even if I didn't like the ending. :)
So, here's the deal....without giving away too much detail...here is my little review:
This is a story of Mary, a totally cool teenage girl who has everything (at least, on a social level). Mary's home life, however, is not as great. But who cares?? Because Mary and her friends just drown themeselves in partying, buying cool clothes, and just generally doing whatever they please, whenever they want.
We join Mary on the morning of her 17th Birthday when she wakes up naked in a Crofts and Barrow window display for all Manhatten-ites to see. The next half the book is Mary going through the events of the rest of the day. What's cool about this is that Mary turns out to be what I think is called an "unreliable narrator." Lots of weird things have happened and continue to happen, and Mary doesn't seem to remember how any of it fits together. The gaps in her knowledge are frusterating to say the least.
The second half of the book is Mary discovering the missing pieces of her puzzle through the eyes of her friends. I won't give any more detail so I don't ruin anything for anyone...but overall the writing is good and it was a very interesting read....I stayed up all night reading it, after all!! Even if I didn't like the ending. :)
January 31, 2013
Talk about original! I just finished reading this book, and I'm speechless. When I read the last page, I just sat there in silence, soaking in everything. In the beginning, I was confused, - as confused as Mary (the main character) had been, and as she started to figure out what was happening, I also started to piece things along. I can tell you it's not even close to what I expected it to be. And is it possible to love and hate the main character at the same time? Because, Barnabas sure pulled it off. I liked the ending, and hated it too, mainly because I'm a sucker for happily ever afters. Nonetheless, I recommend this book, and beware, do not read this when you have other things to do (considering I read this for three hours straight when I should have been sleeping)
So enjoy!
xo
Amira
So enjoy!
xo
Amira
December 27, 2010
It's hard to write a review for this without including spoilers, but I will try.
The premise of this sounded a lot like Before I Fall (which I LOVED) so I was really excited to read this - and it certainly didn't disappoint! Filled with twists and turns, I couldn't put this book down once I started. The book jacket tells us Mary is murdered, but that doesn't even happen until over halfway through. But once it does, you have to keep reading to find out why Mary has holes in her memory and who killed her.
All in all, an excellent read.
The premise of this sounded a lot like Before I Fall (which I LOVED) so I was really excited to read this - and it certainly didn't disappoint! Filled with twists and turns, I couldn't put this book down once I started. The book jacket tells us Mary is murdered, but that doesn't even happen until over halfway through. But once it does, you have to keep reading to find out why Mary has holes in her memory and who killed her.
All in all, an excellent read.
August 7, 2016
For a more detailed review, please check out my review below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
July 20, 2011
An amazing book. A story with loads of twists and turns, most of which I totally didn't expect. It started a bit slow but really picked up pace after Mary died. From there I just couldn’t put down the book. I had to finish it; I had to know what happened, who really killed her.
I expected the book to be good but it was just amazing! Officially my favourite purple book of all time! =)
I expected the book to be good but it was just amazing! Officially my favourite purple book of all time! =)
January 2, 2013
Heute Nacht noch fertig gelesen. Das Buch hat mich so in seinen Bann gezogen. Für einen Jugendthriller spitzenmäßig. Auch die Idee dahinter fand sehr interessant. Dieses Buch verdient einfach viel mehr Aufmerksamkeit! Lesen!
June 26, 2016
Originally Read February 23-25.
Reread June 2016
Reread June 2016
April 2, 2012
bad language, no morality.
November 9, 2020
5+2. IL NUMERO DEL NOSENSE
«Forse posso fermare tutto questo. Forse posso cambiare quello che è successo»
"7. Il numero maledetto" è un thriller con un paio di elementi dei generi horror e paranormale; lo spunto della storia è davvero interessante (peccato sia quanto di meglio il romanzo abbia da offrire ai suoi lettori): nella prima parte del volume, una ragazza viene assassinata in circostanze misteriose, mentre nella seconda la vediamo rivivere alcuni momenti del suo ultimo giorno attraverso gli occhi dei suoi potenziali assassini.
Nelle vesti di questa detective spettrale troviamo la neo diciassettenne Mary Shayne, ragazza newyorkese molto avvenente ed inguaribile festaiola. La mattina del suo compleanno si risveglia nello showroom di un negozio d'arredamento senza abiti e ferita; la giornata continua in modo sempre più strano fino a culminare con la sua morte. In una sorta di moderno contrappasso -che a tratti riporta alla mente anche l'incontro con i fantasmi del Natale di Ebenezer Scrooge- Mary si ritrova ad "indossare" i corpi delle persone a lei più vicine e, attraverso dei flashback
«Un intero, dettagliato ricordo le era appena passato per la mente, proprio nel momento in cui il portiere aveva usato quella frase. Qualcosa le aveva rammentato un evento passato e aveva ricordato l’intera esperienza, all’improvviso.
Ma era un ricordo di Scott.»
decisamente anticlimatici, capisce di aver avuto spesso un comportamento detestabile e che tutti loro avevano dei (non sempre) validi motivi per odiarla.
Con queste premesse, il libro aveva a mio avviso un grande potenziale che però viene sprecato in una storia piena di contraddizioni e buchi di trama; giusto per iniziare, come può la protagonista indigente permettersi di frequentare una scuola per ricconi, senza neanche una borsa di studio?
La parte più assurda arriva però con il personaggio della madre. Riguardo al suo stato di salute sappiamo che
«Prima che le ragazze uscissero per andare a scuola, con il buono o con il cattivo tempo, la mamma doveva prendere i farmaci broncodilatatori per il suo enfisema [...]. Aveva bisogno che le portassero tutto a letto, insieme al pacchetto di Virginia Slims che teneva nella cassettiera, agli antidepressivi e stabilizzatori dell’umore per il disturbo bipolare e all’OxyContin e vitamina B12 per la sindrome da stanchezza cronica.»
e nonostante la malattia, le dipendente e il suo non essere autosufficiente (a parte la scuola, non la lasciano mai sola), le hanno permesso di cresce da sola le figlie per dieci anni. Ma dove sono i parenti e gli assistenti sociali? A me non pare assolutamente credibile, e devo anche dire che per questa totale assenza di adulti responsabili questo libro mi ha ricordato parecchio "Tredici" di Jay Asher, con il quale condivide -ironia della sorte- anche il titolo numerico.
Vogliamo parlare poi della terrificante maledizione egizia? Vi consiglierei di leggere il libro solo per arrivare a quel punto e farvi delle grasse risate, ma senza dilungarmi troppo mi chiedo soltanto come questo incantesimo potesse provare che un corpo non ha sette anime. Ma lo dice Horus, quindi mi fido.
In linea con la trama, i personaggi sono delle contraddizioni viventi, oltre ad essere monocaratteriali nel migliore dei casi. Dell'intero gruppo di haters mi sento di salvare solo Amy, perché tutti gli altri potevano semplicemente mollare Mary se la odiavano a tal punto; in particolare è assurdo il caso di Dylan... la detesta perché non si è potuto fare la sorella?
I peggiori sono però la famiglia Shayne e, per quanto ci venda dipinta come stronza, Mary nel complesso ne esce come la migliore. Abbiamo infatti: una madre che, trascurata dall'amato marito, decide di tradirlo e non si occupa delle figlie se non dopo morte; una sorella che progetta vendette assurde, ha informazioni che non dovrebbe conoscere e trascura un passaggio non solo fondamentale, ma anche ripetuto due volte; un padre psicoterapeuta che, come tutti i medici seri e professionali, scoprendosi tradito pensa di risolvere tutto con una (inutile) maledizione egizia.
Per quanto riguarda il target, il romanzo si rivolge al mercato young-adult, con un cast composto quasi esclusivamente da adolescenti, ma per i modelli che propone non mi sentirei di consigliarne la lettura ad un pubblico di ragazzi. Vediamo ad esempio il grande classico della protagonista belloccia che giudica chiunque non si vesta alla moda
«Non è carina come me, pensò Mary. [...] Ma ha assolutamente qualcosa di buono, se solo cercasse di rendersene conto...»
o che fa spesso riflessioni sessiste e fuori contesto.
«Di norma, Mary dava per scontate cose del genere: è ovvio che sia il ragazzo a pagare il taxi.»
Dall'altro lato vediamo questi ragazzi condurre delle vite da adulti; l'esempio più lampante è Patrick "Trick" che prima viene cacciato di casa e poi vive in un albergo -sperperando in alcool e droga- a spese dei genitori. Ma che razza di punizione sarebbe?
Purtroppo neanche lo stile si salva, tra un utilizzo indiscriminato dei puntini di sospensione e ripetizioni fastidiose,
«[...] all’improvviso le si formò in mente un’immagine. Un’immagine CUPA, FOSCA E IRRICONOSCIBILE, le passò per la testa proprio in quell’istante.»
ma l'aspetto più seccante (e ironicamente, facile da risolvere) è la narrazione in terza persona, perché essendo così confusa e caotica sarebbe stata molto più indicata la prima persona dal punto di vista di Mary.
Così almeno i continui riferimenti alle marche di abiti ed accessori avrebbero trovato una motivazione.
«Forse posso fermare tutto questo. Forse posso cambiare quello che è successo»
"7. Il numero maledetto" è un thriller con un paio di elementi dei generi horror e paranormale; lo spunto della storia è davvero interessante (peccato sia quanto di meglio il romanzo abbia da offrire ai suoi lettori): nella prima parte del volume, una ragazza viene assassinata in circostanze misteriose, mentre nella seconda la vediamo rivivere alcuni momenti del suo ultimo giorno attraverso gli occhi dei suoi potenziali assassini.
Nelle vesti di questa detective spettrale troviamo la neo diciassettenne Mary Shayne, ragazza newyorkese molto avvenente ed inguaribile festaiola. La mattina del suo compleanno si risveglia nello showroom di un negozio d'arredamento senza abiti e ferita; la giornata continua in modo sempre più strano fino a culminare con la sua morte. In una sorta di moderno contrappasso -che a tratti riporta alla mente anche l'incontro con i fantasmi del Natale di Ebenezer Scrooge- Mary si ritrova ad "indossare" i corpi delle persone a lei più vicine e, attraverso dei flashback
«Un intero, dettagliato ricordo le era appena passato per la mente, proprio nel momento in cui il portiere aveva usato quella frase. Qualcosa le aveva rammentato un evento passato e aveva ricordato l’intera esperienza, all’improvviso.
Ma era un ricordo di Scott.»
decisamente anticlimatici, capisce di aver avuto spesso un comportamento detestabile e che tutti loro avevano dei (non sempre) validi motivi per odiarla.
Con queste premesse, il libro aveva a mio avviso un grande potenziale che però viene sprecato in una storia piena di contraddizioni e buchi di trama; giusto per iniziare, come può la protagonista indigente permettersi di frequentare una scuola per ricconi, senza neanche una borsa di studio?
La parte più assurda arriva però con il personaggio della madre. Riguardo al suo stato di salute sappiamo che
«Prima che le ragazze uscissero per andare a scuola, con il buono o con il cattivo tempo, la mamma doveva prendere i farmaci broncodilatatori per il suo enfisema [...]. Aveva bisogno che le portassero tutto a letto, insieme al pacchetto di Virginia Slims che teneva nella cassettiera, agli antidepressivi e stabilizzatori dell’umore per il disturbo bipolare e all’OxyContin e vitamina B12 per la sindrome da stanchezza cronica.»
e nonostante la malattia, le dipendente e il suo non essere autosufficiente (a parte la scuola, non la lasciano mai sola), le hanno permesso di cresce da sola le figlie per dieci anni. Ma dove sono i parenti e gli assistenti sociali? A me non pare assolutamente credibile, e devo anche dire che per questa totale assenza di adulti responsabili questo libro mi ha ricordato parecchio "Tredici" di Jay Asher, con il quale condivide -ironia della sorte- anche il titolo numerico.
Vogliamo parlare poi della terrificante maledizione egizia? Vi consiglierei di leggere il libro solo per arrivare a quel punto e farvi delle grasse risate, ma senza dilungarmi troppo mi chiedo soltanto come questo incantesimo potesse provare che un corpo non ha sette anime. Ma lo dice Horus, quindi mi fido.
In linea con la trama, i personaggi sono delle contraddizioni viventi, oltre ad essere monocaratteriali nel migliore dei casi. Dell'intero gruppo di haters mi sento di salvare solo Amy, perché tutti gli altri potevano semplicemente mollare Mary se la odiavano a tal punto; in particolare è assurdo il caso di Dylan... la detesta perché non si è potuto fare la sorella?
I peggiori sono però la famiglia Shayne e, per quanto ci venda dipinta come stronza, Mary nel complesso ne esce come la migliore. Abbiamo infatti: una madre che, trascurata dall'amato marito, decide di tradirlo e non si occupa delle figlie se non dopo morte; una sorella che progetta vendette assurde, ha informazioni che non dovrebbe conoscere e trascura un passaggio non solo fondamentale, ma anche ripetuto due volte; un padre psicoterapeuta che, come tutti i medici seri e professionali, scoprendosi tradito pensa di risolvere tutto con una (inutile) maledizione egizia.
Per quanto riguarda il target, il romanzo si rivolge al mercato young-adult, con un cast composto quasi esclusivamente da adolescenti, ma per i modelli che propone non mi sentirei di consigliarne la lettura ad un pubblico di ragazzi. Vediamo ad esempio il grande classico della protagonista belloccia che giudica chiunque non si vesta alla moda
«Non è carina come me, pensò Mary. [...] Ma ha assolutamente qualcosa di buono, se solo cercasse di rendersene conto...»
o che fa spesso riflessioni sessiste e fuori contesto.
«Di norma, Mary dava per scontate cose del genere: è ovvio che sia il ragazzo a pagare il taxi.»
Dall'altro lato vediamo questi ragazzi condurre delle vite da adulti; l'esempio più lampante è Patrick "Trick" che prima viene cacciato di casa e poi vive in un albergo -sperperando in alcool e droga- a spese dei genitori. Ma che razza di punizione sarebbe?
Purtroppo neanche lo stile si salva, tra un utilizzo indiscriminato dei puntini di sospensione e ripetizioni fastidiose,
«[...] all’improvviso le si formò in mente un’immagine. Un’immagine CUPA, FOSCA E IRRICONOSCIBILE, le passò per la testa proprio in quell’istante.»
ma l'aspetto più seccante (e ironicamente, facile da risolvere) è la narrazione in terza persona, perché essendo così confusa e caotica sarebbe stata molto più indicata la prima persona dal punto di vista di Mary.
Così almeno i continui riferimenti alle marche di abiti ed accessori avrebbero trovato una motivazione.
February 25, 2018
Puh! Von dem Buch hatte ich schon viel Gutes gehört und konnte daher kaum abwarten, es zu lesen. Jetzt bin ich fertig und weiß echt nicht so ganz, was ich davon halten soll.
Zuerst kam ich überhaupt nicht in die Geschichte rein. Der Schreibstil ist etwas abgehakt und man braucht ein wenig um sich daran zu gewöhnen, gerade wenn man vorher ein sehr flüssiges Buch gelesen hat. Der Lesefluss wird auch im Verlaufe des Buches noch von vielen Anmerkunden in Klammern unterbrochen. Entweder man löst sowas durch Nebensätze oder lässt es ganz weg, denn viele Bemerkungen unterstrichen einfach nur offensichtliche Tatsachen und rissen einem aus dem Satz heraus. Die Hälfte des Buches erlebt man aus Mary Shaynes Perspektive während sich noch lebendig ist und mir wären weit mehr als sieben Gründe eingefallen, um sie zu hassen. Sie ist oberflächlich, arrogant, unverschämt, frech, benutzt die Menschen um sich herum und ist dabei vollkommen von sich eingenommen. Die Betonung in den Beschreibungen liegt hierbei sehr auf Designerklamotten, Marken und Luxus. Es wird allerdings nicht nur einmal erwähnt, dass Marys Freund Patrick eine TAG Heuer trägt, sondern gleich mehrmals im gesamten Verlaufe des Buches. Aus Marys Perspektive erschien es mir noch plausibel, doch später ist das ein sehr unwichtiges Detail, dessen erneute Erwähnung sich mir nicht so ganz erschlossen hat.
Am Anfang kommen dann noch so einige Unstimmigkeiten in der Geschichte auf, sodass ich das Buch schon nach kurzer Zeit wieder weggelegt hab. Ihre beiden besten Freundinnen werden zum Beispiel seltsam beschrieben. Zum einen haben wir da Amy, mit der Mary schon seit ihrer Kindheit befreundet ist. Amy ist unsicher, hat wenig Selbstbewusstsein und überhäuft Mary mit Komplimenten. Wie kann so jemand in Marys Welt überleben? Selbst wenn die beiden seit Kindheitstagen befreundet sind, Amy würde mit so vielen Selbstzweifeln doch niemals von den anderen Leuten akzeptiert werden und das würde sie doch weiter kaputt machen oder nicht? Na wie auch immer, Marys andere beste Freundin Joon ist gleichzeitig die Ex-Freundin von Marys Freund Patrick (wir erinnern uns, der mit der teuren Uhr!). Wer tut denn bitte sowas seiner besten Freundin an? Beziehungsweise wie können die beiden danach noch befreundet sein? Offensichtlich lauert hier der erste Grund um Mary zu hassen, doch ich würde dann lieber gar nichts mehr mit besagter bester Freundin zu tun haben wollen, anstatt ihr wie im Buch hinterherzulaufen.
Nun gut, neben dem Lesefluss sieht es auch mit der Sprache nicht immer so rosig aus. Die Jugendsprache ist viel zu überzogen und ich habe noch nie ein Buch gelesen, in dem öfter die drei Punkte ... vorkamen. Irgendwann gewöhnt man sich daran, doch besonders am Anfang hab ich mich doch gefragt was die Autoren mir dadurch mitteilen wollen.
Nach ca. 130 Seiten kommt dann endlich mal Spannung auf, aber dann gleich so richtig. Marys Tod wird ja schon im Klappentext angekündigt und bis sie nach ca. 200 Seiten stirbt, folgt eine sehr hektische, undurchsichtige und verwirrende Beschreibung der wirklich merkwürdigen Ereignisse und ich kam mir kurzzeitig vor wie in einem Horrorfilm. Das soll jetzt allerdings nicht so negativ rüberkommen, denn nach einem Viertel des Buches war ich zum ersten Mal von der Geschichte gefesselt und konnte das Buch dann auch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen obwohl ich solchte Startschwierigkeiten hatte.
Dank dem im Klappentext erwähnten Fluch erlebt Mary den Tag dann nochmal (allerdings nicht "immer wieder" wie der Klappentext sagt, sondern tatsächlich nur noch einmal) und schlüpft dabei nacheinander in die Körper ihrer Freunde. Dabei kommen jedes Mal persönliche Erinnerungen der Person hoch, welche Mary vor Augen führen, warum ihre Freunde bzw. ihre Freundinnen sie so sehr gehasst haben. Bei manchen ist dies durchaus plausibel, bei anderen ein wenig an den Haaren herbei gezogen, damit man auch sieben Gründe zusammen kriegt. Außerdem klärt sich nach und nach die verwirrende Geschichte rund um ihren Tod auf. Während man aus Marys Perspektive noch etwas perplex zurückgelassen wurde, klärt sich das Rätsel dann immer weiter auf je öfter sie den Körper wechselt.
Auch dieser Teil der Geschichte ist durchaus spannend und ich konnte das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Die Auflösung rund um den Fluch fand ich ziemlich verworren und damit hätte ich nie gerechnet. Die Seiten 130-330 (grob geschätzt) hab ich wirklich zitternd verfolgt und war durchaus mehrmals positiv überrascht.
Was dann wieder abfiel, war das Ende. Viele Dinge sind dann hervorsehbar und werden von den Autoren total ausgeschlachtet, sodass es fast langweilig wurde. Die Nebencharakter, also Marys Freunde, ihr Freund, ihre Schwester und ihre Mutter waren mir allesamt unsympathisch. Sie alle haben ihren Teil zu Marys Tod beizutragen und ich war wirklich ein wenig entsetzt wie skrupel- und herzlos man sein kann, auch wenn ich Mary Shayne ebenfalls nicht sympathisch fand. Die Ideen der beiden Autoren fand ich teilweise schon sehr krass. Im letzten Kapitel des Buches schaltet sich dann doch noch die Mordkomission ein, da man es hier ja mit Marys Leiche zu tun hat. Mir war überhaupt nicht klar, warum Mary nicht schon viiiiel früher die Polizei oder sonst jemanden verständigt hat. Im heutigen Zeitalter sollten Teenager mit einer TAG Heuer (tut mir Leid, ich muss das erwähnen! :D) wohl ein Handy besitzen und bei den teils wirklich grausigen Ereignissen hätte ich keine Sekunde gezögert um einen Notruf und die Polizei zu rufen. Wie auch immer, der Detective, der sich dann einschaltet, ist eine Flasche. Er stellt ein paar halbherzige Fragen, lässt sich dann von zwei Jugendlichen eine Lügengeschichte auftischen, die sich ganz offensichtlich spontan erfunden haben, und meint dann "Ja, wenn das von den Fingerabdrücken so passt, dann ist der Fall wohl abgeschlossen!" Da musste ich dann wirklich kurz auflachen, denn das war eindeutig der größte Flop im ganzen Buch. Obwohl es auch eine schöne Szene gab, wo ein blutverschmierter Jugendlicher ein Taxi zu einem Hotel nehmen wollte anstatt ins Krankenhaus und der Taxifahrer nicht einmal mit der Wimper dabei gezuckt hat.Dass gleich zwei Autoren an diesem unrealistischen Mist beteiligt waren ist umso schlimmer.
Fazit
Das Buch war definitiv ein Auf und Ab. Der Anfang war ziemlich schleppend, doch obwohl mir niemand in diesem Buch auch nur annähernd sympathisch war, hatte es mich dann doch gefesselt. Die Geschichte rund um Marys Tod und dessen Auflösung fand ich ziemlich gut gelungen und trotz einiger Logikfehler konnte man sich durchaus auf das Buch einlassen. Das Ende übertraf dann sogar den Anfang an Lahmheit. Insagesamt war es okay. Man kann es lesen. Zwischendurch macht es sogar etwas Spaß. Theoretisch würde in der Stelle 3 Sterne vergeben. Aber dann muss ich sagen, dass ich einfach geschockt bin über die Brutalität von Jugendlichen(!) und es macht mich sehr wütend, dass diese ganze Fluch- und Racheaktion an der gehassten Mary nicht einmal am Ende als Fehler dargestellt wird. Der Polizist schluckt die megadämliche Geschichte und alle sind fein raus. Ich frage mich, was die Autoren den wohl selbst jugendlichen Lesern hier vermitteln wollen. Für mich hat das Buch keine "Moral der Geschicht", obwohl hier so viel Gewalt und Hass vorkommt. Man kann viele Gründe haben, jemanden zu hassen, aber deswegen muss man ihn nicht umbringen und das auch noch für korrekt halten. Deswegen gibt es nur 2 Sterne, weil ich das Buch für junge Leser (Empfehlung lag bei 14-16 Jahren) für moralisch nicht vertretbar halte. Im Endeffekt muss das wohl jeder für sich entscheiden, deswegen kann ich hier auch nicht klar sagen, ob es eine Leseempfehlung ist oder nicht ;)
(Juni 2012)
Zuerst kam ich überhaupt nicht in die Geschichte rein. Der Schreibstil ist etwas abgehakt und man braucht ein wenig um sich daran zu gewöhnen, gerade wenn man vorher ein sehr flüssiges Buch gelesen hat. Der Lesefluss wird auch im Verlaufe des Buches noch von vielen Anmerkunden in Klammern unterbrochen. Entweder man löst sowas durch Nebensätze oder lässt es ganz weg, denn viele Bemerkungen unterstrichen einfach nur offensichtliche Tatsachen und rissen einem aus dem Satz heraus. Die Hälfte des Buches erlebt man aus Mary Shaynes Perspektive während sich noch lebendig ist und mir wären weit mehr als sieben Gründe eingefallen, um sie zu hassen. Sie ist oberflächlich, arrogant, unverschämt, frech, benutzt die Menschen um sich herum und ist dabei vollkommen von sich eingenommen. Die Betonung in den Beschreibungen liegt hierbei sehr auf Designerklamotten, Marken und Luxus. Es wird allerdings nicht nur einmal erwähnt, dass Marys Freund Patrick eine TAG Heuer trägt, sondern gleich mehrmals im gesamten Verlaufe des Buches. Aus Marys Perspektive erschien es mir noch plausibel, doch später ist das ein sehr unwichtiges Detail, dessen erneute Erwähnung sich mir nicht so ganz erschlossen hat.
Am Anfang kommen dann noch so einige Unstimmigkeiten in der Geschichte auf, sodass ich das Buch schon nach kurzer Zeit wieder weggelegt hab. Ihre beiden besten Freundinnen werden zum Beispiel seltsam beschrieben. Zum einen haben wir da Amy, mit der Mary schon seit ihrer Kindheit befreundet ist. Amy ist unsicher, hat wenig Selbstbewusstsein und überhäuft Mary mit Komplimenten. Wie kann so jemand in Marys Welt überleben? Selbst wenn die beiden seit Kindheitstagen befreundet sind, Amy würde mit so vielen Selbstzweifeln doch niemals von den anderen Leuten akzeptiert werden und das würde sie doch weiter kaputt machen oder nicht? Na wie auch immer, Marys andere beste Freundin Joon ist gleichzeitig die Ex-Freundin von Marys Freund Patrick (wir erinnern uns, der mit der teuren Uhr!). Wer tut denn bitte sowas seiner besten Freundin an? Beziehungsweise wie können die beiden danach noch befreundet sein? Offensichtlich lauert hier der erste Grund um Mary zu hassen, doch ich würde dann lieber gar nichts mehr mit besagter bester Freundin zu tun haben wollen, anstatt ihr wie im Buch hinterherzulaufen.
Nun gut, neben dem Lesefluss sieht es auch mit der Sprache nicht immer so rosig aus. Die Jugendsprache ist viel zu überzogen und ich habe noch nie ein Buch gelesen, in dem öfter die drei Punkte ... vorkamen. Irgendwann gewöhnt man sich daran, doch besonders am Anfang hab ich mich doch gefragt was die Autoren mir dadurch mitteilen wollen.
Nach ca. 130 Seiten kommt dann endlich mal Spannung auf, aber dann gleich so richtig. Marys Tod wird ja schon im Klappentext angekündigt und bis sie nach ca. 200 Seiten stirbt, folgt eine sehr hektische, undurchsichtige und verwirrende Beschreibung der wirklich merkwürdigen Ereignisse und ich kam mir kurzzeitig vor wie in einem Horrorfilm. Das soll jetzt allerdings nicht so negativ rüberkommen, denn nach einem Viertel des Buches war ich zum ersten Mal von der Geschichte gefesselt und konnte das Buch dann auch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen obwohl ich solchte Startschwierigkeiten hatte.
Dank dem im Klappentext erwähnten Fluch erlebt Mary den Tag dann nochmal (allerdings nicht "immer wieder" wie der Klappentext sagt, sondern tatsächlich nur noch einmal) und schlüpft dabei nacheinander in die Körper ihrer Freunde. Dabei kommen jedes Mal persönliche Erinnerungen der Person hoch, welche Mary vor Augen führen, warum ihre Freunde bzw. ihre Freundinnen sie so sehr gehasst haben. Bei manchen ist dies durchaus plausibel, bei anderen ein wenig an den Haaren herbei gezogen, damit man auch sieben Gründe zusammen kriegt. Außerdem klärt sich nach und nach die verwirrende Geschichte rund um ihren Tod auf. Während man aus Marys Perspektive noch etwas perplex zurückgelassen wurde, klärt sich das Rätsel dann immer weiter auf je öfter sie den Körper wechselt.
Auch dieser Teil der Geschichte ist durchaus spannend und ich konnte das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen. Die Auflösung rund um den Fluch fand ich ziemlich verworren und damit hätte ich nie gerechnet. Die Seiten 130-330 (grob geschätzt) hab ich wirklich zitternd verfolgt und war durchaus mehrmals positiv überrascht.
Was dann wieder abfiel, war das Ende. Viele Dinge sind dann hervorsehbar und werden von den Autoren total ausgeschlachtet, sodass es fast langweilig wurde. Die Nebencharakter, also Marys Freunde, ihr Freund, ihre Schwester und ihre Mutter waren mir allesamt unsympathisch. Sie alle haben ihren Teil zu Marys Tod beizutragen und ich war wirklich ein wenig entsetzt wie skrupel- und herzlos man sein kann, auch wenn ich Mary Shayne ebenfalls nicht sympathisch fand. Die Ideen der beiden Autoren fand ich teilweise schon sehr krass. Im letzten Kapitel des Buches schaltet sich dann doch noch die Mordkomission ein, da man es hier ja mit Marys Leiche zu tun hat. Mir war überhaupt nicht klar, warum Mary nicht schon viiiiel früher die Polizei oder sonst jemanden verständigt hat. Im heutigen Zeitalter sollten Teenager mit einer TAG Heuer (tut mir Leid, ich muss das erwähnen! :D) wohl ein Handy besitzen und bei den teils wirklich grausigen Ereignissen hätte ich keine Sekunde gezögert um einen Notruf und die Polizei zu rufen. Wie auch immer, der Detective, der sich dann einschaltet, ist eine Flasche. Er stellt ein paar halbherzige Fragen, lässt sich dann von zwei Jugendlichen eine Lügengeschichte auftischen, die sich ganz offensichtlich spontan erfunden haben, und meint dann "Ja, wenn das von den Fingerabdrücken so passt, dann ist der Fall wohl abgeschlossen!" Da musste ich dann wirklich kurz auflachen, denn das war eindeutig der größte Flop im ganzen Buch. Obwohl es auch eine schöne Szene gab, wo ein blutverschmierter Jugendlicher ein Taxi zu einem Hotel nehmen wollte anstatt ins Krankenhaus und der Taxifahrer nicht einmal mit der Wimper dabei gezuckt hat.Dass gleich zwei Autoren an diesem unrealistischen Mist beteiligt waren ist umso schlimmer.
Fazit
Das Buch war definitiv ein Auf und Ab. Der Anfang war ziemlich schleppend, doch obwohl mir niemand in diesem Buch auch nur annähernd sympathisch war, hatte es mich dann doch gefesselt. Die Geschichte rund um Marys Tod und dessen Auflösung fand ich ziemlich gut gelungen und trotz einiger Logikfehler konnte man sich durchaus auf das Buch einlassen. Das Ende übertraf dann sogar den Anfang an Lahmheit. Insagesamt war es okay. Man kann es lesen. Zwischendurch macht es sogar etwas Spaß. Theoretisch würde in der Stelle 3 Sterne vergeben. Aber dann muss ich sagen, dass ich einfach geschockt bin über die Brutalität von Jugendlichen(!) und es macht mich sehr wütend, dass diese ganze Fluch- und Racheaktion an der gehassten Mary nicht einmal am Ende als Fehler dargestellt wird. Der Polizist schluckt die megadämliche Geschichte und alle sind fein raus. Ich frage mich, was die Autoren den wohl selbst jugendlichen Lesern hier vermitteln wollen. Für mich hat das Buch keine "Moral der Geschicht", obwohl hier so viel Gewalt und Hass vorkommt. Man kann viele Gründe haben, jemanden zu hassen, aber deswegen muss man ihn nicht umbringen und das auch noch für korrekt halten. Deswegen gibt es nur 2 Sterne, weil ich das Buch für junge Leser (Empfehlung lag bei 14-16 Jahren) für moralisch nicht vertretbar halte. Im Endeffekt muss das wohl jeder für sich entscheiden, deswegen kann ich hier auch nicht klar sagen, ob es eine Leseempfehlung ist oder nicht ;)
(Juni 2012)
October 7, 2020
I wasn't sure if I was gonna like this book. The cover looked sorta cheesy and the first chapter started out really slow. But as the story progressed I really like how the author wrote the story. All the pieces came together in way that really shocked me but made a lot of sense. Mary was the main character and I had conflicting feelings about her. She is obviously really toxic but you can definitely tell throughout the story that she grows as a person and regrets the person she was before. For this reason I feel her death at the end was sad but made complete sense. And I liked how the author made it so Mary was still with Ellen. I really liked how the author told the readers how the day would turn out and then later went back and explained why and how. Amy's storyline shocked me. At first I thought she was just gonna be the main characters best friend but then you get more of her story. As a reader I found out that she was in love with Mary and how Mary's actions led Amy to hating her. I didn't really like Amy's character after it was revealed she gay. Simply because the author made her into a creepy lesbian with a weird creepy crush on her best friend. This portrayal of gay people is just not good and I especially didn't like how she had naked photos of Mary and kissed her when Mary was like black out drunk. A character that I was really unsure how to feel about was Dylan. At first he seemed fine and then he asked Mary out right after she got dumped. Ofcourse I later found out that he was told to do so and I liked his character again. He seemed like a smart, nurdy, guy. But then when it showed his memory of why he hated Mary he just came off as creepy. He seemed like he only cared about Ellen in a sexual sense and insinuated that he had asked her out multiple times even after she said no. And then he started looking at her neck and his commentary was just weird to me. But the author still tried to write him off as a good guy so it was weird. Other than that the character were fine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2021
Yup still holds up after several rereads. cant wait to revisit this again when im out of uni
my past self would have undoubtedly rated this a 5, but i think the writing was a bit of an issue in the beginning (although purposeful!), but yes i do still love the plot and premise. The pacing was beautiful too. Absolutely gripping, and thats from someone who already knows whats going on. To sustain the suspense and confusion for that long, and with the pay-off absolutely worth it as you make sense of the events unfolding as you go, topping it off with a ambiguously ambiguous ending (i cant decide whether thats an open ending or not!! it's going to drive me insane for the next few days),,,, to make all of that work together is absolutely masterful. Again, the only issue i have is with the writing, and probably with the inaccurate, very Hollywood-movie portrayal of New York teenagers, but if anyone needs a nice underrated plot-driven magical realism story, i would recommend this one.
Also two of my favorite bands were mentioned. This book was definitely written for me, so as much as i try to be objective in my ratings, do know that i am aware i am the target audience for this novel hahahaha
my past self would have undoubtedly rated this a 5, but i think the writing was a bit of an issue in the beginning (although purposeful!), but yes i do still love the plot and premise. The pacing was beautiful too. Absolutely gripping, and thats from someone who already knows whats going on. To sustain the suspense and confusion for that long, and with the pay-off absolutely worth it as you make sense of the events unfolding as you go, topping it off with a ambiguously ambiguous ending (i cant decide whether thats an open ending or not!! it's going to drive me insane for the next few days),,,, to make all of that work together is absolutely masterful. Again, the only issue i have is with the writing, and probably with the inaccurate, very Hollywood-movie portrayal of New York teenagers, but if anyone needs a nice underrated plot-driven magical realism story, i would recommend this one.
Also two of my favorite bands were mentioned. This book was definitely written for me, so as much as i try to be objective in my ratings, do know that i am aware i am the target audience for this novel hahahaha
March 5, 2023
This book is a mystery from the first page on. I loved how we got to experience each character and how it all fit nicely into the puzzle at the end. I will say that I wasn't sure about this book in the beginning. I think the author went WAY overboard with the way he described things, like this for example:
"the road was as flat and glossy as a satin ribbon, and flanked by trees that flowed past the car like the black ink that a deep-sea squid sprays into the icy ocean right before it comes after you and kills you."
I mean seriously?!?! Thank God for part two that saved this book and in the end I really liked it! It seemed the author got more comfortable (or someone else wrote it) as the story got more juicy.
"the road was as flat and glossy as a satin ribbon, and flanked by trees that flowed past the car like the black ink that a deep-sea squid sprays into the icy ocean right before it comes after you and kills you."
I mean seriously?!?! Thank God for part two that saved this book and in the end I really liked it! It seemed the author got more comfortable (or someone else wrote it) as the story got more juicy.
February 6, 2018
Mary’s having a rough birthday. For a girl who always has all the attention, literally everything goes wrong, and the day just goes from bad to extremely intensely wrong. But Mary gets a unique opportunity to see the day through the eyes of those closest to her and see what was actually happening, including how it ties into her past.
Very interesting read. Mary’s day did not make me feel any sympathy for her, but then as we delved a little deeper, I understood why. Enjoyed the concept. Also teenagers are the worst.
Very interesting read. Mary’s day did not make me feel any sympathy for her, but then as we delved a little deeper, I understood why. Enjoyed the concept. Also teenagers are the worst.
October 16, 2024
My sister recommended this book to me, she even loaned me her copy. Of course I went online and found a digital copy so I could use read aloud, and it's a good thing I did. If I'd been trying to sit and read this, it would have ended in DNF. The book isn't bad, but it's a drag up until Mary dies and fairly convoluted to boot. After she dies things start to make sense and the plot picks up. In the end, I was glad I had stuck to it, things did get pretty good but those first few chapters probably turned off more than one reader.
August 7, 2017
This was a really good story. I read all in one sitting. It teaches how ones actions can be misinterpreted and cause other to wrongly think negatively about you, it also warns you to keep an eye out for how you treat others, to always check the motives and reasoning behind your actions.
February 4, 2019
This was fast paced and fun, though you have to suspend a LOT of disbelief. Go along for the ride and it is crazy and has a few twists and turns.
March 13, 2020
2,5 -3 Sterne, ganz gute Grundidee, aber nicht mein Fall
May 28, 2020
Libro molto carino, pieno di stranezze e colpi di scena
Read
January 31, 2021*DNF
Leider überhaupt nicht meins ...
Leider überhaupt nicht meins ...
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