"Numbers" is the story of a young girl, Jem, who sees, to put it quite bluntly, when people are going to die. According to her, everyone has a "number" and it's never wrong. Quite honestly, that's about it...
I finished "Numbers" on Monday afternoon and, after putting it down, all I could think was "ehhh...". I started this book feeling incredibly intriqued at the concept and I was anxious to get into the story. I read and read and read... Still waiting to get into the story. I finally realized that I was about three quarters of the way through the book and I still hadn't found the plot. "Oh wait... This IS the plot. Oh, I see... Hmm... Okay. Well, I might as well finish."
I really couldn't decide how I felt this book. It was a toss-up between "Yeah, it was okay." and "Man, what a disappointment." It was one of those books that, while reading it, you're thinking "It's not bad.", but when you finish, you're left with "Huh... That was actually kind of boring."
Pros:
1) The idea of a girl who can see death dates was a great one that could've led to a fascinating and intelligent book or series of books.
2) The style of writing is very British and I loved that. Certain conversations and details reminded me so much of England and it gave me that wonderful bittersweet feeling that you get when you look back on good memories.
3) The book leaves you with a pretty decent message.
4) The very last sentence of the book definitely left me with this... "Hah! Sweet!"
4) The very last sentence of the book definitely left me with this... "Hah! Sweet!"
Cons:
1) It was a great idea... Spoiled. The author could have gone so many places with this, but, unfortunately, she didn't.
2) Jem's comrade, whom she meets at the beginning of the book, goes by the nickname "Spider". That... drove... me... crazy!! C'mon... You couldn't have come up with something a little less cheesy? I inwardly cringed everytime I read the name. Sorry... I guess it's just one of those little things that most people wouldn't think twice about, but bugged me.
3) No plot... Well, there's sort of a plot, but, in a really good book, it would've been shortened and where the story was just getting started.
4) The message mentioned in the pros list probably could've been summed up in a couple of pages.
4) The message mentioned in the pros list probably could've been summed up in a couple of pages.
I'll stop there... This is, obviously, my own personal opinion and I am well aware that some people really liked the story so if you've been wanting to read it, then, by all means, please go read it. It may be your just your cup of tea (note my British reference, please, and thank you). (;
For my next book, I have decided to read an old classic and favorite of mine, "Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock". This is the first in the beloved Nancy Drew mystery series. Stay tuned for my review of my own personal blast to the past.
Now go read something else! Cheers!
