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What Members Thought

Laura
3.5 stars. I now understand why so many people have trouble reviewing this book. It was quite a ride, and if I had it to do over again, I would still read it, but I didn't realize just how dark it would become. I'm going to boil this down to a pros and cons list:

PROS

1. The writing is very good. At times it is quite beautiful. Lots of imagery here, so if you like that, great.
2. The characters are very real. I found that the reporter's supporting cast was much more fleshed-out than he was, and I
...more
Juliane
One of the best books I have read in the last years! Thrilling, suspenseful and so much more! I liked the unknown and the mysterious. It was really catching and I was so involved in all the Cordova secret. Wow! Marisha Pessl needs to write more books!! Please!!
Lara
Apr 21, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Completely loved it. I had held off, despite loving Special Topics, because of some of the reviews I read when it was first published. But two friends read it and loved it and I'm so glad I changed my mind. Yes, she italicizes a lot, some things are overly explained, and it may go on a little longer than necessary but it is such a fully imagined and inhabited story, it is completely worth reading (and treasuring). I loved it. ...more
Jessica
Nov 08, 2013 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
I don't ordinarily care for horror as slash-'em-up violence is not my thing, but Pessl manages to bring out the sort that I find compelling - giving fright through suspense and the unknown rather than raw violence. It took me some time to realize that there's very little blood here, and what there is generally takes place out of sight. That constraint plays well with how Pessl presents Cordova and his work, and it ultimately makes the whole thing work for me. Yes, to a large extent the plot is n ...more
Kay Green
May 25, 2013 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: entwkly, set-in-nyc
I had to give this 5 stars for the uniqueness of the book and the amount of enjoyment I got in reading it. Lots of intrigue, well written chapters with clues unfolding, and then a really clever and surprising ending that kept me reading. It is a challenge because it is 624 pages but honestly it never dragged and I loved the main characters. As an audio it was narrated as a film noir - loved the narrators voice and of course loved all the NYC locations. I really look for books that are not like o ...more
Beverly
Jun 18, 2013 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Alisa
Aug 15, 2013 rated it really liked it
Tracyene
Aug 25, 2013 marked it as to-read
Gaijinmama
Aug 28, 2013 marked it as to-read
Suzanne
Sep 19, 2013 marked it as to-read
Shelves: thriller
MichelleCH
Sep 23, 2013 marked it as to-read
Stacey
Dec 09, 2013 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Susan
Dec 13, 2013 marked it as to-read
Tammy AZ
Dec 25, 2013 marked it as to-read
Shelves: owned
Devin
Oct 12, 2014 rated it really liked it
AmyAmy
Nov 21, 2014 rated it did not like it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: didn-t-finish
Sk888888
Nov 24, 2014 rated it really liked it
Kent Winward
Jan 06, 2015 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Rachel
Nov 12, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Stacy
Sep 17, 2016 marked it as to-read
Curlysue
Oct 07, 2016 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Kara
Jan 01, 2017 marked it as to-read
Phoebe
Jun 24, 2018 rated it really liked it
Denise
Dec 10, 2019 marked it as physical-tbr  ·  review of another edition