Our Endless Numbered Days in Around the World in 80 Books

Oct 13, 2015 Micha rated it it was ok

Shelves: uk, books-2015, more-typical-than-i-expected, wilderness-stories

This book is a good, quick read. It is interesting because the protagonist is taken from a young age, so her perspective of what it is like to live in a forest is a bit like a game and a bit like an archaic spook story (such as Henry James). While the book itself is not necessarily intended to be a horror or to thrill, it does have a bit of a stirring aspect to it and there are definitely horrific elements as well. As I enjoy survivalist stories, I wanted to read more about how Peggy and James w This book is a good, quick read. It is interesting because the protagonist is taken from a young age, so her perspective of what it is like to live in a forest is a bit like a game and a bit like an archaic spook story (such as Henry James). While the book itself is not necessarily intended to be a horror or to thrill, it does have a bit of a stirring aspect to it and there are definitely horrific elements as well. As I enjoy survivalist stories, I wanted to read more about how Peggy and James would endure the wilderness and find out what happened in the woods, however it was a bit more … typical than I at first imagined which was a bit of a letdown.

By the end of the book, I basically felt like I had been waiting for the author to confirm what I had guessed at ages ago. It’s pretty disturbing for a lot of people and I might recommend that those who are squeamish about sexuality to read the spoilers other reviewers have included because it could be traumatizing for some) either those whom have has experienced it themselves or via other loved ones). It is pretty obviously hinted at early on, but the confirmation can be pretty sickening. I wasn’t left feeling moved or intrigued, just slightly perturbed and wishing I had enjoyed the prose more.

As it was I had a difficult time feeling anything but pity for Peggy and anger at the complete lac of accountability for any adult in the story. I’m not sure if I wished there had been something a bit more whimsical or venturing about it but I wanted more of a connection to the characters than I felt at the end. Claire Fuller did not write poorly, I liked reading her work, but something fundamental was lacking and left me feeling ultimately unfulfilled by the end of the book.

Overall, I might suggest a pass on this one. Until Ms. Fuller develops a bit more as a writer, I probably wouldn’t read another of her works, because while this one wasn’t bad, it was a bit too gimmicky for me with not enough meat on the bone to justify the tactical “morality shock value” ending. ...more

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Oct 11, 2018 Susan rated it really liked it

Slow paced, well written, disturbing premise. An 8 year old girl is taken by her survivalist father from a comfortable life to a crumbling cabin in isolated woods, where she spends nearly a decade believing that a global apocalypse has completely destroyed the rest of the world and everyone in it.

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Sep 04, 2015 Anna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is one of the most original pieces of fiction I have come across in a very long time and I enjoyed every page.

My full review is on my blog: http://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogspo... ...more

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