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The Passage (The Passage, #1)

Justin Cronin

Start date: June 12, 2013

Finish date: July 1, 2013

Discussion: Books of the Month

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What Members Thought

Mar 10, 2013 Logan rated it it was ok

Shelves: borrowed-library, borrowed-ebook, paranormal, dystopian-post-apocalyptic, 2013-books-read

*EDIT 3/20/13 - No sooner had I given up and returned the hardcover library copy than I received an email that my ebook library hold for this title was available. I took it as a sign to push on and see if I could finish, so I'm back into this today.

*EDIT 3/21/13 - Finished! I actually liked the ending, and I'm curious about the sequel now. I think taking a break to read something quick and fun was a good idea, because I came back to this without the boredom slowly beating me to death as before. *EDIT 3/20/13 - No sooner had I given up and returned the hardcover library copy than I received an email that my ebook library hold for this title was available. I took it as a sign to push on and see if I could finish, so I'm back into this today.

*EDIT 3/21/13 - Finished! I actually liked the ending, and I'm curious about the sequel now. I think taking a break to read something quick and fun was a good idea, because I came back to this without the boredom slowly beating me to death as before. Final verdict is: great beginning, good end, horrible middle.

ORIGINAL REVIEW 3/16/13:

Well, I made it through 540 of the 766 pages in this behemoth. What a disappointment.

The first 200 or so pages were terrific. I didn't mind the slow pace because the characters were interesting and the story was intriguing.

Once we fast forwarded to post-apocalyptic life on the Colony, however, things ground to a halt. New, bland, barely distinguishable characters live boring and uneventful lives. When exciting events do occur, we often get the action in narrative shifts that completely remove any trace of tension, such as accounts told as journal entries or memories. Most of these events could easily have unfolded as part of the regular narrative, and the distance created from these shifts made me care even less about the story.

Where was the fear in these people? They've lived for almost a hundred years in a compound to keep out the virals, and yet they never seem scared. It was mind numbingly boring to wait for something even mildly tense to happen. After 200 more pages, when they finally have an objective, they set off without hesitation or fear.

I didn't buy the cultural and linguistic changes that Cronin created for the Colony, either. After only 92 years, we've forgotten the concept of the ocean or basic geography? We're calling kids "Littles" and not just "children"? We've invented a new curse word and abandoned all others? We still know how to use stethoscopes and provide medical care, but we've stopped telling time?

Though I liked the mystery around Amy and the virus, this boring and tension-free writing made me throw in the towel. I'll wait for the movie. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2013 Rebekah rated it liked it

Shelves: genre-fantasy, genre-thriller, genre-science-fiction, genre-science-fiction-dystopia, genre-horror, genre-science-fiction-fantasy, genre-fantasy-paranormal, series, genre-apocalyptic-post-apocalyptic, genre-paranormal-vampires

This is one of the most frustrating books I have ever read. It took me over a month to power through it. I was going to give up many times. It is densely written & could have used some good editing. There are too many characters to keep straight or care about. Occasionally characters would DIE and I would have no recollection of who they even were. It is dreary and dark and depressing. And yet, I kept reading it. And reading it. Once I was about 40% in, I did not want to quit and powered through ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 17, 2010 Angela Cheney rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ebook, obtained-from-library

There have been mixed reactions to this book. I'm one who really, really liked it and am eagerly awaiting the sequel!

Although a book about vampires, it's more of an apocalypse book than the current type of vampire-romance novels. Be careful about getting attached to any of the characters! Some parts of the book drag, but there are some very intense parts which I think will probably lend themselves very well to the movie being made based on this book! The author has this very Alfred Hitchcock wa ...more

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Mar 20, 2018 Jessica rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia, popsugar-challenge-2018-complete

I love a good apocalyptic novel. Sadly, the passage was not that. I found the first third to be compelling enough, but then there is a massive time jump. I felt like the post virus world needed more setup than it got. As it was, I found myself not caring about any of the new characters, and not understanding the new world setup. I'm disappointed based on the high ratings on here, but it wasn't for me. ...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Ashley rated it it was ok

would not read this book again...ever. Way too long; not interesting enough to recommend to friends. Something different though;new take on apocalypses. Hated the ending!!!

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