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[[deleted user]]

Yeah, that google car made me read it over again until I realized what was meant.

And I was Google -ing pretty much throughout the whole book. The research for this book must have been massive. It kinda overwhelmed me with all the genetics stuff.

[Tasha]

lol. Yeah, I do skim through the genetic info, just take it in as a whole and an idea of what it all means. This kind of story is much more on the lines of horror, for me, than an actual horror story, lol. I'm enjoying it but really freaked out about it as well.

[Tasha]

I'm still in Ch 8 but this is where is gets really freaky (view spoiler)[ when Logan is talking about these people in Glascow being in the first battle of this gene stuff. "The Battle of Glascow wasn't a war of armaments. It was a war of genes and mutations. A war with natural selection." I know I keep saying this but this is really too plausible at some point, there is already so much gene stuff going on in the world, for good and bad, but this shows how wrongly it can go! (hide spoiler)]

This is a fascinating story.

[[deleted user]]

I agree, but all of Blake Crouch books have done that. They all have just enough of a touch of reality that it makes you think.

Dark Matter really blew me away too

[Tasha]

Yes with those I've read I agree, which I think is part of what makes him an interesting writer. I have Dark Matter on my tbr. The only other book of his outside of the Pines series I've read is Recursion which I gave 5 very strong stars!

[Elyse]

I only read one chapter yesterday (Ch 4) and will probably only read one chapter today, halfway through Ch 5.

@Tasha 41% spoiler (view spoiler)[Yeah I was not expecting his sister to rescue him and then thought she was already working with their mom but she's not! (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

I didn't get much reading done yesterday but when I checked my kindle, I'm at ch 11 so I guess I did read a bit more than I thought, lol.

Elyse, so much has happened since where you are, can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Up THRU ch 10. (view spoiler)[ Logan's sister is not so badass anymore, lol, now she is just evil, but I guess she is acting in fear of humankind being destroyed but she really has no concern for those who she is playing genetics with at all. Man these guys move fast! These fights scenes are really interesting. (hide spoiler)]

[Elyse]

Tasha wrote: "lol. Yeah, I do skim through the genetic info, just take it in as a whole and an idea of what it all means. This kind of story is much more on the lines of horror, for me, than an actual horror sto..."

KarenK2 wrote: "Yeah, that google car made me read it over again until I realized what was meant.

And I was Google -ing pretty much throughout the whole book. The research for this book must have been massive. I..."

I also just skim over the too science-y stuff. I don't need or want to understand it to enjoy what I'm reading. lol. I don't want to be bogged down with research.

[Elyse]

KarenK2 wrote: "I agree, but all of Blake Crouch books have done that. They all have just enough of a touch of reality that it makes you think.

Dark Matter really blew me away too"

I haven't given less than 4 stars on any of his books I've read so far. He's just a really interesting writer! I definitely want to get to some of his lesser known books like Snowbound.

[[deleted user]]

I didn't find Snowbound as captivating as his other stories

[Elyse]

KarenK2 wrote: "I didn't find Snowbound as captivating as his other stories"

Good to know! I think his older novels are less science-y? Like with Dark Matter, he really found his science niche and he's keeping rolling with it. I don't remember Wayward Pines trilogy being wicked science-based. Good Behavior definitely not. And I haven't read anything older than those yet.

[Tasha]

Wayward Pines wasn't science heavy but it did have some general science stuff, not like this one.

I am just about done, I'm in at 89%, so will finish today for sure. I'm wondering if this is going to be a stand alone or if this is set up for a series? I'm still hoping he gives us another book from Wayward Pines too. ;)

[[deleted user]]

I wondered about the series thing too

[Tasha]

It feels like a lot of set up to me but then I guess he needs to explain a lot for us to get what's going on in such a short time. I haven't reached the end yet so don't know if we are left with a cliffhanger.

[Tasha]

Finished, 4 stars. I'm not sure the ending left much to follow up as a series read. It felt like a good ending and a good place to stop. The epilogue seemed to wrap things up both from the present POV of the story and going into the future. I enjoyed this one but I did like the Wayward Pines series more. Maybe bc this one had a lot of science talk although overall it wasn't really all that distracting.

[Elyse]

I finished the book on Friday. I gave it 3.5 stars but rounded up. Haven't written my review yet. (view spoiler)[I didn't like that Nadine betrayed him. I didn't like that he made contact with his family again. (hide spoiler)] I don't think there will be a sequel though it is open-ended. (view spoiler)[I actually kind of hated the ending. Because did it really end? No, not really. There are still overpowered human beings running around. He would have to go so far beyond Glasgow and the scope would be huge. (hide spoiler)] I didn't like it nearly as much as Recursion and Dark Matter. I'm a bit disappointed. I mostly skimmed last 25% as I didn't like where it was going.

My review

[Tasha]

Elyse, I can agree with your thoughts. Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as Wayward Pines or Recursion either. Your comments made me think that (view spoiler)[ I also didn't like that he met with his family and I think I did sort of do a 'double take' but I can see his pull towards them so I guess I just didn't think much more about it.

I do think the ending was a little neat with him developing that injection to lessen the upgrades but I do see your point about these people still being out there. (hide spoiler)]

I think I already mentioned that I didn't think there would be a sequel either.

[Thereadingbell]

I hope now I can start tomorrow ugg I had to get some other ones done that I got from library.

[Kristie]

Thereadingbell wrote: "I hope now I can start tomorrow ugg I had to get some other ones done that I got from library."

I fell super behind with my reading again, so I'll still be reading with you.

[Tasha]

Looking forward to what you guys think about it. :)

[Vicki Willis]

I just started this one too.
It grabbed my attention right away.
I am at about 10%.
I am hoping to read some more tonight

[Thereadingbell]

Finally started this one and so far I am intrigued by it which is good sci-fy books usually are either a hit or miss for me. Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[The GPA agency and what happen with the ice bomb in chapter 2 that was interesting to me/(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

That was an interesting part, Threadingbell. I am also not a big ci-fi reader but I do really enjoy this author.

[Thereadingbell]

I guess so far I am the only who really loved this book. I gave it 5 Stars. I felt it was believable and heart pounding until the finish. I really just enjoyed it more than I thought I would because truly I am not a sci-fy fan but Mr Crouch can spin a believable tale. That's why I think it is worthy of 5 stars it is not overly complex with the science part it is easy to follow along.

[Thereadingbell]

From my experience a lot of sci-fy writers get to tied up in the science that it loses readers unless that is your thing. When a story becomes to complex to follow along it becomes boring but like I said I felt like upgrade was not overtly complex to understand what is going on.

[Kristie]

I struggle with that. My problem is that I need to understand it and I analyze it. So, if it doesn't make sense or there are inconsistencies it really bothers me. But also, it takes me out of the story while I process the information.

For example, I didn't love The Martian, which was very popular, because of all the math and science bits. I know a lot of people just skimmed over them, but I processed them. That made the story very slow for me. So, the overall story was good, but much math/science for me to be absorbed in it.

I really enjoyed Recursion, but it had the issue of having some blatant inconsistencies to me. Dark Matter was also very good, but had some things Crouch couldn't explain away.

I think I just tend to be too analytical of a person for a lot of sci-fi. I have to make an attempt to not try to overthink it and just let it be. Which is weird, because I can suspend my disbelief with other genres. I think the problem may be when they try to over-explain it sets my analytic part in motion.

[Vicki Willis]

I am about half way through this one - 49%

My question is this (view spoiler)[ why did his sister try to kill him? (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I couldn't explain that either (view spoiler)[so I put it off to their mother 'issues' and mental health problems. (hide spoiler)] lol

[Tasha]

I think because (view spoiler)[ she knew he didn't want to follow thru with his mother's wishes to continue her DNA plans and would be a hindrance, if I am remembering correctly. Didn't the mom ask them to continue on with her vision to upgrade others? At least that's how I remember it. But to be so heartless to actually kill your brother, esp since you just saved him is really harsh, obviously, lol. The sister was also upgraded, like Logan, so she was already altered at the time when she was trying to kill him. So I assume this had a large impact on her thought process and her ability to try to kill Logan. (hide spoiler)] Hopefully I'm making sense, I just got up!

[Elyse]

Tasha wrote: "I think because [spoilers removed] Hopefully I'm making sense, I just got up!"

I agree with that, Tasha. (view spoiler)[She wanted him on her side to go forth with their mother's plans but he didn't want to and she knew he would try to stop her. Because they were both upgraded, they both were thinking one step ahead, more than a normal human being. And then later when she tried to kill him again in the cabin, well, she had upgraded AGAIN and basically turned her emotions off completely. (hide spoiler)]

[Elyse]

Thereadingbell wrote: "I guess so far I am the only who really loved this book. I gave it 5 Stars. I felt it was believable and heart pounding until the finish. I really just enjoyed it more than I thought I would becaus..."

I did not think the science was easy to follow. lol. But I don't have to understand it to enjoy the story so like Kristie said some people do, I just skimmed those parts. I'm one of those people. lol. I get the gist, I don't need to get the actual science, especially because it's science FICTION. It's not possible/real anyway (YET. EEP!), it's basically pseudoscience.

[Tasha]

Elyse wrote: "Tasha wrote: "I think because [spoilers removed] Hopefully I'm making sense, I just got up!"

I agree with that, Tasha. [spoilers removed]"

Elyse, exactly, you explained it perfectly. :)

[Tasha]

I also am on the same page as you and Kristie in regards to skimming through the science. I don't think it needs to be fully understood for the story to make sense. But if you do understand it, I'm sure it's even more fascinating!

[[deleted user]]

Well, it seems like everyone enjoyed (is enjoying) reading this book.

[Tasha]

Yeah, I think we are all Crouch fans, lol. :)

[Kristie]

I am back at this one! I put it aside during the buddy read and never got back to it. I have restarted it and am hoping to finally get really engaged. I think it's a good story and the writing is good, I just haven't been in the mood for the genre.

[Tasha]

I hope you end up enjoying it. :)

[Vicki Willis]

Good luck with this one!

[Kristie]

Thanks, ladies. I going to try to find a chunk of time to get into it. I feel like it may be better that way.

[Kristie]

I made it past 50% and I think it is starting to pick up for me. Seems I'm the only one that had this problem with the book, but I felt like there was just too much detail and blah, blah, blah during the first half of the book.

I had the same problem with The Martian. Everyone loved it and I just couldn't get past all the detail of the math and science. I think it might make it more believable, but at the same time I find myself bored by it and it pulls me out of an otherwise good story.

[[deleted user]]

At first, I got hung up on looking at the words to see if it was real or made-up. I spent alot of time googling stuff. The words were real, the science is real and waayy above my head.

Then I decided it didn't really matter too much and got involved with the actual story. I like Crouch's storytelling and chose to focus on that.

[Kristie]

Thanks, Karen. Yeah, it took me a while to get into the story. I'm hoping it moves along better now.

[Tasha]

I think I skimmed through the more sciency stuff as well, over my head too. I had a similar experience with The Martian too, Kristie.

[Kristie]

Thanks, Tasha. I'm felling like science fiction is probably just not my best genre. The concept is interesting, but I just don't love the execution with all the details, even with quality writing.

[Tasha]

I'm not a big sci-fi reader either but I would try another by this author.

[Kristie]

This is my fourth by Crouch and I generally enjoy his writing. I think I must just have to be in a certain mood for it.

[Tasha]

I can understand that.

[Kristie]

Ok, so it ended up being better than I expected after the first half. I just really struggled with getting engaged. I think for my enjoyment of the book it would be three stars, but the book itself was well-written and I really think it was just me, so I rounded my 3.5 up to four stars.

my Upgrade review

I also didn't agree with the thought process behind the story at first. (view spoiler)[ I felt the same way Logan did. If you just increase everyone's intelligence that doesn't solve the problem. People are still who they are. Some will be greedy and cruel, etc. You will create really intelligent bad people. So, it bothered me that the rational of this super intelligent person was so flawed. I was so happy when he pointed that out to his sister, but frustrated that she couldn't see it and wasn't even open to discussion that there may be another way.

I was also annoyed by Logan in the end deciding to increase everyone's empathy. Ugh. He's making the same mistake everyone else made. He thinks he knows what is best and is altering people without their consent. Some people are naturally more empathetic than others. There will be some people who can't deal with that increase. Although it's a better idea than his sister's, I still don't think it's really acceptable.

I don't know... I don't have the answers the either. (hide spoiler)]

[Tasha]

Great review, Kristie. I think you presented a good picture and readers have a better idea now what they are getting into. I'm glad you ended up enjoying it more though than at the start.

RE: your spoiler
I don't remember the details but I think your comments make complete sense and I do remember not really feeling like the ending worked as well for me either.

[Vicki Willis]

It was a brain buster for sure!