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This was a pretty good story about a quirky, kooky character until about the last quarter of the book. Then the story became far fetched and the ending was rushed and unbelievable. I mean it's good if you're not looking for anything too demanding and just need something easy to read to unwind.

I see all the 4 and 5 stars for this book, but I'm sorry... this is not good.

This was readable. The writing was good, the characters interesting, the story compelling.

BUT...

The whole thing kind of disintegrated in sensationalism and was so over the top it became almost laughable. It would have been much better as a character study. It would have been more enjoyable had it been realistic and hadn't just gone for the cheap thrill. The big reveal and twist at the end, OMG!!! I'm not really into that kind of thing. I'm not sure if that is this author's particular shtick; I haven't read Gone Girl and don't plan on it. But it's a waste of talent if it is.

Truthfully, between 2 1/2 and 3 stars.

I liked this more than I originally thought I would when I started reading the book.

But...

I'm not reading any more young adult novels. This is it. I am way too old! I cannot relate, at all. Being a young adult, HIGH SCHOOL-ER, no less, is so far in my past that I can no longer recall the angst of those days. So, I'm done with YA. I'm sure I won't really miss out. They serve a purpose don't get me wrong. I don't mean to come off like a snob. It's just... nah.

This was kind of the typical YA book as far as the old trope of kids not knowing what they want to be when they grow up yada yada. Then there was the awkwardness of trying to fit in with the crowd consensus of what is cool, what music to like, how to dress and the stress of friendships and schoolwork. blah blah. What almost ruined the book for me was it felt like the author had a master list of cool and current trends she wanted to shoehorn into the story (shoehorn, now there's a word young whippersnappers probably don't even know what it means/is/have used). Like, okay, just off the top of my head, a bi-racial protagonist who is also bi-sexual, check. Friend who is a youtube influencer, check. Friend who is in a gay relationship but also considers them-self asexual, check. Non hetero normative people, check. High school-ers drinking (in bars, uh, definitely not America) check. Being afraid to stray too far from the crowd in how one dresses, what one likes because they might be seen as a weirdo, check. Social media, check. Texting and the ubiquitous phone, check. On and on. I mean, sure this is the reality for the zoomer crowd, but it was pretty blatant and obvious and became kind of silly. People are more than characteristics or descriptions or trends.

Anyway, yeah, it was kind of interesting how the zoomers are coming of age in this high tech, socially accepting age but truthfully, all the sturm und drang of adolescence and young adulthood has been the same old same old since the caveman days. yawn.

But you know, kiddos, rock on. It gets easier, I promise you.

uhhhh, hmmm. 2 1/2 stars

Judging by all the 4 and 5 star ratings for this book, I expected to be blown away. Or at least maybe, somewhat... fulfilled, satisfied, impressed (?)... I don't know, I expected to feel something positive, because of the superlatives lavished on this book and this author, by just about everyone, but, eh, I just ain't feeling it.

The main problem I had with the book, and it's a BIG problem because there are only 3 main voices telling the story, is that there was no difference in the "voice" between the 3 narrators. A few times I got confused because I thought I was still reading the thoughts of one of the other characters. And, I mean, there should be a huge difference between the inner voice of the young drug addicted mother Leonie and her 13 year old son, JoJo and/or a young uneducated black youth from, what, the 1950s? But there really wasn't much difference at all. In addition, they didn't speak true to their character's place in life (poor, rural black folks); they sounded too educated and insightful for the reality of the setting of their lives. These 3 characters weren't really brought to life for me which was a real shame because, uh, they are the whole friggin' point of the book. They remained flat and 2 dimensional and it was difficult to feel the emotional connection I need to really get into the story - to feel I understand what motivates that particular character and why they are acting in the way that they do. I don't need to like the character, I need to understand them.

The whole car ride didn't make sense because I couldn't stop thinking "this mother doesn't really care about these kids on a good day, why the fuck is she insisting on taking them on a god-awful road trip across the state, to a prison to pick up her man, the only person she actually loves???" (well, and do a drug deal along the way, wtf ? with her co-worker and fellow druggie seemingly along for the ride, why?) It did not ring true one bit. I couldn't get that thought out of my mind especially since the mom basically ignored the kids the whole trip and couldn't be bothered even though the toddler was sick and puking all over the place. IDK, whatever. It was pointless. Or maybe the author wanted to really hammer home the idea that this was a crappy mom? Yeah, we get it. Or, OR?, major plot device? Clunkily executed. You decide.

The mom inadvertently takes an overdose of meth and that whole interlude didn't ring true either. I've done some drugs back in the day (ahem) and I have, unfortunately, one time, taken too much meth and uh... I don't think it went down quite as depicted in this book. I'll spare the gory details. Then after all that, everyone covered in puke, kid still sick, everyone a little tense and on edge, especially Leonie, (ha) they finally arrive back home and immediately go to visit her man's family, right that minute, because, why not? Even though they hate her and her kids and are huge racists and never acknowledged her or the kids in the past. She didn't say "No baby, not today. I ain't feeling too hotsy right now. Let me at least go home and take a shower. Clean up the kids. Make a good impression." uh, nope.

I feel this could have been better. There was a story here. The ghosts did not bother me, which was surprising as I don't usually enjoy magical realism, but I can go there if it's done right. That wasn't the issue here. I knew it would be a major part of the story going into this. I was willing to accept that part of the story, no problem. It was these other issues, I've laid out, that had me shaking my head.

This kind of seemed like a mess of a book to be honest. It had a potential it didn't reach as far as I'm concerned. Too bad. For me, I guess, as all of the rest of you all loved it, omg.

This was an excellent book. It was also, at times, a difficult book to get through. You will be disgusted, infuriated, heartbroken seemingly all at the same time. It's probably not a book for everyone as the subject matter will be repugnant to most people. But at the same time, as a realist, I know that terrible, life altering things happen to young girls all the time in ways big and small. Here is a story of a teenage girl who has something BIG happen to her while she is away at boarding school. Something she thinks she wants and does not necessarily realize is a bad thing. Something she doesn't realize changed the trajectory of her life. Something that haunts her and taints her relationships well into adulthood. It takes her many years to break free of the poisonous entanglement. She must come to terms with what happened to her and see it as the abuse and betrayal it was before she can grow and change as a human. It's a powerful testament to the human spirit, to growth and forgiveness of self.

Eh, I don't know about this one.

It started out good, then got kind of kooky. It didn't really work for me. The ending seemed rushed. I think this could have been better had the author worked at it. But idk, it seemed sloppy; events didn't seem to flow organically. Like driving down a long bumpy dirt road, in a SNOWSTORM to throw away some DQ drink cups? I mean, come on. I know you needed to move the plot forward but this just seemed lazy. It takes you out of the story when characters suddenly do inexplicable, unbelievable things just to service the plot. This is just one example.

It was ok. It gets one extra star because it WAS creepy and unsettling in some parts. It's short. It's worth a read.

Between 3 1/2 and 4 stars.

Kind of long. But I guess Elton John's life and career are too. Seemed kind of sanitized. If you're a big Elton John fan you'll probably love it. I'm more of a casual old school fan so I wasn't exactly hanging onto his every word. He seemed to be quite often either throwing some kind of tantrum or bursting into tears, two things I never do. So along with that and not being a gay man I couldn't always relate, lol. It had nice pictures. I don't know why people don't add more pictures to their autobiographies to be honest. Is it the cost associated with the printing or what? All autobiographies should be at least 1/4 pictures in my opinion.

Anyway worth a read if you grew up in the 70s and every other song on the radio was Elton John's.

I really enjoyed this book. It had most of what I personally enjoy in a horror book. Great character development, a story that moves along and doesn't get too mired down in unnecessary descriptive writing or trying to keep the suspense building at the expense of keeping one interested, a plot that I don't have to really work at suspending my disbelief. But ultimately I have to remove a star because I wasn't completely blown away... and that's what I require for my 5 star reviews. Not that this wasn't a lot of fun to read... really clever and imaginative story here folks, so if like me you haven't already read this (I don't know what took ME so long truthfully) give it a go. If you like Stephen King, you'll like this. Imagine that!

What kind of disappointed me and hence resulted in my removal of a star is the villain of this tale, Charles Manx, as despicable and amusing as was, wasn't quite explained enough so that I got an understanding of what he was, and why Christmasland. What was Christmasland really? Why the vampire-like children with the teeth? Why were his daughters there? What did he need them for after the draining of their life force? I didn't get it and maybe I missed something. And I kind of didn't like the ending. So like father, like son? haha

3 1/2 stars

Kind of conflicted about this rating to be honest. It was an enjoyable read, for the most part... as far as the end of civilization can be enjoyable. It was also disconcerting to be reading about a virus that is the demise of mankind when there is a real time virus raging through the planet and though it probably won't be the demise of mankind, nobody knows what the long term ramifications on society will be. Not to mention the extent of the economic fallout. Or, ya know, if I'll actually survive it once I inevitably contract it. I ain't getting any younger.

This is a long book first of all. And it starts slow. The characters are cardboard cutouts and very stereotypical. You know, we've seen them over and over again. The self-righteous scientist. The weakling man of god. The bigoted, right-winger asshole gun nut. The contrary, stubborn teenager. None of them are particularly compelling nor likable. The love stories are poorly done and not believable. The whole political thing completely transparent and truthfully could have been left out all together. Sounds like I hated it doesn't it?

There is a good story here even if flawed. I liked the world building even though I kind of hated the world, lol. I don't really know why I liked this but it keeps you turning the pages. Sometimes that's all I ask for. Sometimes. And you know. Not to experience end times.