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This Is How It Ends (2012)

by Kathleen MacMahon(Favorite Author)

3.15 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1847445462 (ISBN13: 9781847445469)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Sphere

review 1: Major disappointment. I expected a decent airport novel, engaging page-turner, with likeable characters, stunning Irish settings and fast-paced plot. No great literature, just some well-written fiction. No great literature, indeed. The characters are annoying, many of them implausible. Bruno is an utter irritant, through and through, I can't believe he seems to be everyone's favourite. Political and social elements? Completely out of place, considering that they actually have no bearing whatsoever on the protagonists' lives. I'd welcome a global financial crisis with open arms if it meant spending my entire days having sex, swimming in the sea, strolling with my dog on end, and visiting relatives all over Ireland. All that, of course, with still plenty of time and money le... moreft to sit in a library and have an occasional meal in a restaurant. All I wanted to say to these characters was: "Oh, stop whining about your unhappy childhood, or broken relationships that don't bother me a bit, and get a job!" On top of all the cheesy plot and flat characters there are cheap quotes. On a positive note, the literary style and language are quite solid, however the author does falter, I don't think I've ever read a novel with so many passages where each and every sentence starts with 'she'. If this was supposed to be a touching story, I couldn't care less. If it was to sound convincing, I am an non-believer. But yes, it reads quickly.
review 2: I found this an interesting and quick read at the time, but afterwards the story didn't hugely stay with me. I did try to ignore the hype surrounding the book but it's difficult not to have expectations going into it. I think the book wasn't quite sure where to pitch itself - commercial or literary, and perhaps ended up falling between two stools. Quite a different voice, though, and I'll will be watching out for the next book from this author, and look forward to reading it. less

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