Lost boy review

This is an amazing book, i loved it. It is so well written, gently and expertly telling the story of family life through the eyes of both parents. Didnt read the blurb so ending was totally unexpected. would highly recommend to anyone

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Lost Boys

I am a great fan of Orson Scott card and he his near the top of my personal list of favourite (living) authors but this novel is not one of his greatest but still a highly enjoyable listen.

It is difficult describe what classification to put on this novel in because it is not simply a Science Fantasy as catalogued but it neither is it a crime thriller, ghost story or a moral values insight novel like to kill a Mocking Bird but it as elements of all of these.

At its core is a Mormon Family and how they hold their family and religious convictions together against a slowly tightening noose of evil influences. The characters are introduced like the current in a long winding river, some lead you into small eddies that go nowhere, others into small whirlpools that disorientate you and yet others feed out small tributaries the sweep you faster towards your final destination.

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3 people found this helpful

Mixed Views

I've listened (and read) Lost Boys twice. At first I was enthralled with the story and recommended it to a relative. We started listening to it together (my second listening) and all the time I kept saying, 'in the next chapter you'll be hooked.' Then I realised the chapter that hooks you appears after you've 'read' 75% of the book. From that point on the narrative is an emotional roller coaster and on both listenings I've choked-up.

There were discrepancies between my hard copy and the audio version and I think Card has done some revisions (My hard copy is rather old). Much of the book deals with early computer systems, the names which I remember, and this in itself was interesting. However, the actually book's synopsis paints a description of 'lurking terror,' 'danger' and suspense but these are never fully exploited.

The book has the most captivating opening, as memorable as Wyndham's, Day of the Triffids, but then you have a long wait flitting between rather mundane family life and computer 'stuff' before the roller-coaster begins.

However, the final 25% of the story are well worth the wait! In retrospect, I think much of the middle material could be removed and those elements not really exploited could be revamped. It is though this is a novel still in the making and as a Card fan I can't believe I'm being so critical.

Stefan Rudnicki is one of my favourite narrators and I think he does the book credit.

Without doubt, the last 25% is worthy of five stars but other than the opening, the middle pulls the overall mark down.

Despite this, I still feel the experience was worthwhile and would recommend listening to it.

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1 person found this helpful

Lost Boys

this is a great book and what a lovely family, Iwas very sorry to get to the end but when i did i was in tears oh so sad,but saying that i enjoyed everything about this book.

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1 person found this helpful

BRILLIANT

I've never cried at an audiobook before, but this one really got to me.

A family relocate to enable the father to work at a computer firm, the mother is expecting their fourth child and the eldest, aged seven is finding it difficult readjusting. I didn't know a lot about Mormons or religion for that matter, but this book describes the religion and doesn't shove it in your face as if trying to convert you.

The family is so close and willing to believe and help each other that you are rooting for them throughout, but you can't help but think something bad is going to happen.

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Not his best....

I agree, it's not SF....more like a Stephen King. Gripping enough, but a disappointing - almost cop-out - ending. I've re-read the Ender series more than once. I think these are absolutely outstanding books (along with the Shadow series). This doesn't come close.

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Not very impressed at all.

I think if I was living with parents like that, I'd run away from home! It would drive me crazy! They over reacted to the stupidest things in my opinion, and seemed to take a lot of things very seriously. I also didn't like the sexist way Step was at times, and De-Anne's over reactions to things which seem to be nothing. Nothing against the Morman religion of course, but if that's how men are, and women just seem to react irrationally, then I certainly couldn't do it. I'm not sure why we were given over 15 hours of family life, before the actual serious things started to happen. The narrator does this book credit, considering not much happens for a very long time.

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Tedious in the extreme

I read other reviews of this and thought I might like it (being a fan of Orson Scott Card) but here I am, more than half way through it, struggling to get enough enthusiasm up to listen to it. Card is a Mormon and in this novel, presents a clear description of Mormon duties and responsibilities... but help me, Step and Deanne are just too reasonable for words. Goodness knows when the action starts, so far all we have had is Step dragging his family across the USA to a terrible job, where people treat them terribly, and they behave in a calm and considered way. If that had been my husband, I would have walloped him by now. I assume, from other reviews things start to happen nearer the end of the book, but I really can't be bothered to struggle through for the last few chapters. I'm off to download another Audible title instead!

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2 people found this helpful

not s.f.

not a bad book but most definitly not science fiction

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