Kaya Uchimura

Kaya Uchimura asked:

what's this book about?

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Michele Is it just me or did anyone else find the main character in this book totally unlikable? It seems to me she is rude to almost everyone in the book, including the man who loves her-who happens to be the only likable character in the whole book. I just have a hard time caring about a book when the main character is rude and uncaring about everyone but herself.

Cindy I thought the exact thing. I almost wanted her to get thrown overboard!

Amy I'm on chapter 15 and can't take her. Her solution and cause for most things that occur is that she drank too much or knows she shouldn't have another but does or needs to calm down so drinks. Then she is nasty to everyone but * spoiler (but it's opening chapter) her robber. She is rude on the phone, rude to the cops, her boyfriend, and to security on the boat.
Every man on that boat also seems to be available to her charms by either being an ex boyfriend, a man about to divorce, or a man with a dying wife.
Just an aside, does a woman ever ask a stranger (or even a friend) to borrow mascara? Pffft.
I'll trudge through it to find the excitement but meh

Ann Troy Initially, I thought she was just kind of a flake, but the repeated drinking-too-much, followed by detailed serial hangovers, was boring & ultimately a real turn-off. I began to wonder if the author wrote this specifically for millennials, under an impression that they don't know when to say no to a drink, or if she's in recovery & was using memories of her drinking days. I also didn't care for the way she spoke to others -- or didn't speak when she should have. I got tired of her erratic bouncing between snappish reactions & gnawing self consciousness & self-doubt, depending on who she was with. I didn't care, either, what happened to her -- but skipped to the end to see what the author had done to wrap up the plot. Feh --

Meg Michelle-
She is so whiny, unlikable, and a drunk- reminds me of The Girl on the Train.....the same flake that drinks too much and doesn't figure out how to solve problems. Makes the book bad when you really don't care if the main character dies or not.

Jenna Totally not just you. I'm a little more than halfway through and the character is still driving me crazy. I want to root for her. I truly do, but she keeps getting more and more ridiculously pathetic.

Vicky Livermore stone I did not care for this book. I agree with that the main character seemed rude and unlikable. It seemed to take a while for anything to really happen, and then when it did it was an unbelievable plot. Didn't care for any of the characters in the book at all.

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Robert B. Spalding Nothing except the boring life of a very unexceptional woman who is so into herself there is no room for a story.

Christen Buck Michele, I completely agree with you! I had a very difficult time with both characters. At the end, when everything panned out, I just didn't even care!

Corrie In defense of the main character, she struggles with anxiety. It definitely makes you live in your head a lot, and sometimes you're so wrapped up in your own world and your own problems that the outside world comes as a surprise when it interrupts your own.

Having said that, it did seem to be a little shallow in its portrayal of anxiety. Many people with mental illnesses still care deeply about others, and some concern for anyone other than herself would have gone a long way towards making her more likable.

Cardmaker It's definitely not just you! I'm on page 113 and I can't stand this girl. I'm tempted to stop reading because I find her so unlikeable. She's one of the worst main characters I've come across in a long time.

Joanne Cinquemani I found her rather stupid as opposed to unlikable. These 2 traits do go hand in hand, but most of her decisions left me shaking my head.

Beth Donahue She is awful. Rude and unintelligent. Also a function of how poorly written this book is.

Kathy Agreed. In the beginning she sounded like an immature girl in her early 20's. Then we find out she's 32! Her boyfriend sounded like a great guy. Don't understand why he wanted to stay with her.

Sidney Lock I really detest her

Rosie I didn't care for her much, but the story was good. I had to know what was going on on that crazy ship! I kept yelling at her at the end, but I think that's what makes a good book.

Sylvia No, it isn't just you. I finally stopped reading the book because I found the main character totally unlikable and had no sympathy for her drinking and hangovers and nasty demeanor towards others.

Amanda Furgason The problem is, she doesn't like herself. She doesn't respect herself.

Cassie For a majority of the novel I couldn't tell if she was just imagining everything that was going on due to her lack of sleep and drinking problem. Her lack of knowledge drove me absolutely crazy.

Michelle Baughman Honestly, she wasn't my favorite character either. As many of you have said, I wanted to cheer her on, but she kept getting in the way. I don't want to give anything away, but, I think this experience could actually change her for the better in the long run. I hate to say that but I think she grew up a lot towards the end.

Charlsa I felt the same way. She was completely unlikable. I found her cold, selfish, and at times crass. The story was not engaging. The author failed to establish the bond between her and her boyfriend, so even though he was portrayed as a caring person, it was hard to see them as a couple. This is the worst book I've read since The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend.

Nancy I agree! And does it seem that all the recent books about "the girl . . ", "the woman . . ," etc., are about women who seem to have a drinking problem???

Mimi Not just you. I liked her about as much as the main character in The Girl on The Train. It's ok to not like the characters but at some point I was hoping this was a ghost story where the person doesn't know they're dead yet. Can't figure out why either book is so popular.

Asteropê Did you not read the blurb? Or are you asking for further details?

LYDIA ADAMS It's not you. By the way, I found the main character not only to be rude, but most of her thoughts and actions are unbelievable. She comes off a bit too dumb, too drunk, and her head hurts too much. I don't think the novel was well crafted. It's slow moving and oten times it's repetitive. What a bore.

Katia totally agree with Michele and Cindy! I was turned off by this character who is an alcoholist.
Almost felt like quitting the book half way through.

Candace Not just you. I'm 100 pages in, and I can't stand her. She's rude and uncaring like you said. I also find her really annoying as well. She's always complaining.

Frances Scott I'm listening to this book and I'm right there with you. I think she is a COLOSSAL BITCH! I can't remember if I've ever disliked a book's narrator more than this witch.

I'm also having trouble with the pace of this book. It's supposed to be suspense, right? But we had to slog through Lo and the security guy asking every stinkin' crew member if they're the person who was in Cabin 10? Boring. This could have been a short story. Way too much filler. Pace and protagonist are driving me crazy.

Carol Elliott Too start off a business trip consuming that much liquor, for whatever insecurities, barely possible. Did she ever take notes or do any form of work while onboard? Yes Michele, I agree. Methinks a novel should have a main character with varying likes or dislikes. Perhaps a dislike three-fourths of the way through the book, then, new details are revealed or a behavior change and you then begin to cheer for her, embrace her. Or, a vice versa approach to writing. With the pro reviews and hype, I think some thought it was going to be an A. Christie novel. Downgrade that good storm to a, "Girl on a Train." I think downgrade it to something that utilized good character development for the word count, but how much trouble can you possibly make for yourself and how many people can you push out of your life and be rude to everyone?

Connie Kult I saw her as being a bit paranoid and undergoing some ptsd from her recent burglary. Drinking too much didn't help her at all.

Jamie I agree! I found her unlikeable and frustrating in everything she did.

Jen It's definitely not just you!

Dorothy I agree, she is a pain in the butt with her paranoia.

Angel Schur I totally agree. This is a book club novel or I would likely have just set it aside after Part 2.

Michelle Edge Very "Girl on the Train" (I also couldn't stand Rachel Watson). There are not many thrillers where you actually want the main character to be extinguished by the murderer...

Alisa I did not like her either! I did like the gist of the book, but found Lo extremely annoying.

Teshai yup..can't finish it

Lori I am about 3/4 through this book and I do not like the main character at all. I'm reading it to finish it....perhaps there will be a strong ending?

Fran So glad that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I'm only at 10% of the book and already she sounds like a whiney, self-centred person. It's hard to keep reading if you don't like the protagonist at all. This book is hovering on my "Deserted" shelf, ready to share space with "In A Dark Dark Wood."

Sara Yes! I did dislike this character very much.

Lucy Yes, I could not keep all the characters apart, and got bored with the book.Not her best! Yes, she seems rude

Susan Yep, I felt the same way. So much so that I gave up on the book halfway through.

Hannah Rose Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…

Kay No, it's definitely not just you. Awful book.

L. C. Aldrich So far, the book focuses too much on a tube of mascara.

Helen Flynn I have to agree that the main character is unlikeable. She is whiney, unstable, and ungrateful. She is oddly clumsy, and has poor communication skills for someone who has enjoyed some success as a writer for a travel magazine. If I can't connect with a character and usually don't enjoy the book. I have read other Ruth Ware books that I did enjoy and I can't include this one on the list.

Pricejen I thought she was more annoying than rude. I just kept thinking get your crap together lady.

Sosaidh I have to agree with all these comments four years later! I persevered till the end but I couldn’t empathise with any of the characters except maybe Judah and as so many have already said, in the end I am afraid I didn’t really care what happened to Lo. With a good riveting novel you do need to have some emotional connection with the main character I think.

Liz Yes for sure she is rude, a drunk, very attractive to any man she encounters

Dennis McElhaney 100% agree with you.

Sharelle Agree - Lo was so awful to everyone and so nasty I was hoping for her swift demise. She was awfully weak and stupid and didn't even save herself or have any much of a plan. I pretty much figured out halfway through what was happening yet Lo struggled on clueless to the end. She didn't deserve a happy ending.

Jeanne Garwood I thought she was a clueless bimbo, how many times can you hit your head and get headaches in one week. Plus the unbelievable ending swimming, hiking running all with no show aspained ankle and a concussion, yeah right. Mad at myself for wasting my time..

Herb Sherman Agreed.... word for word.....

Kat I couldn't agree more, and it seems like after all these comments, everyone else shares the same sentiment.

Heather I absolutely agree that Lo drove me crazy most of time, but in the end, I found myself rooting so hard for Carrie that I HAD to finish the book. Regretfully, the character I liked the most had nearly all of her action behind the scenes, and although I was happy with the resolution of 'who survived and who didn't', I think I would have been more interested if there were a few more chapters inserted near the end.

Betty Conway erb I was more interested in the story line and who the culprit was than I was with the main character. I agree with many of the comments. The book would have interested me more if the main female character had a stronger and more positive role.

Dr Brown I quit halfway because the main character is so unlikeable but not in an intended way.

Caleb Edison Yes! Don't like her at all.

Michelle I felt the exact same way! I could not stand Lo at all and because of that I really did not enjoy the book. I couldn't wait for it to end.

Gail I swear, if I read one more book starring a 30 something single woman who's a drunk with multiple issues...… (Hello THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, GIRL ON THE TRAIN). It would have been just as suspenseful without the prologue about her home invasion and portrayal of her as a drunk emotional basket case. I need some sympathy for the protagonist, and Lo got none of mine.

Rosalind Kreutzer heid this is in my to-be-read pile, but now I'm wondering if I even WANT to read it! lol. Your descriptions of the main character remind me of the VERY unlikable characters in The Casual Vacancy. I couldn't even finish that one! there were LOTS of people in it, but I could not have cared less what happened to ANY of them!

Sharon B This reminded me of Girl on a Train. I know lots of people LOVED that book/movie. In fact the protagonist in this book could have been the same woman, just moved from a train to a ship. I want someone to either root FOR or AGAINST and I didn't give a crap about any of the characters. The bad guys weren't bad enough and the good guys... well were there any good guys except kinda sorta Carrie? Her drinking and whining was totally tedious.
The writing itself was smart and fast enough paced, but the character development of such obnoxious characters was just annoying.
PS: What in heck does Jude see in her? He must be a masochist.

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Lynie Yes. Couldn't stand her. Her boyfriend was stupid to like her.

L36203 Am not getting the book. The character is ok but just not your usual i guess?

Sidna I agree. I didn't like her at all in the beginning she seemed to be an alcoholic and all her neuroses drove me crazy! She was a little more likeable at the end.

Tegan Ballinger I got so sick of her - first of all because she drank too much, and had absolutely no self control. Then she seemed rude, in the way she spoke to and behaved towards people. However by the last half of the book, she was just plain stupid! Doing and saying just what she should NOT do or say (if she wanted to survive her ordeal that is). Very silly story this!

Marion The protagonist was a complete whiner. She complained about everything, drank too much, and kept making mistakes that should not happen to an intelligent woman.

Lori Couldn't agree more.

Molly I am skeptical to read another one of Ruth Ware's books because I felt the same way about the antagonist of The Woman in Cabin 10

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Anabella She's quite erratic and irresponsible with her behaviour. Drinks heavily too. I can't drink that much in one year let alone in one evening.

Michelle Desouza I agree. I am having a hard time reading this book. It seems to be plodding on endlessly through idle chit chat, tepid flashbacks to the initial break in, and descriptions of people that are only loosely tied together. There is no banter, no wit and nothing to keep me entertained in the first eight chapters. I plod on. I am starting to skim to see if it gets better.

Tricia McBride I agree that the character was unlikable but I continued to read it and enjoyed the mystery part of it. Her character reminded me of Girl on a Train, someone that you don't like, but you keep reading.

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The Woman in Cabin 10

by Ruth Ware (Goodreads Author)

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