Rating: 
Summary: Reality Farce: 24/7 by Jim Brown
Review: "To win your heart's desire, you must face your greatest fear."The catchy slogan of the latest show in reality television with death being the ultimate outcome in this terrible debut novel from news anchor, Jim Brown. Vassa Island is the stage for twelve contestants bidding for two million dollars and their heart's desire. With 638 cameras arranged around the island and twelve contestants, the race is on to be the final contestant. Dana Kristen is the last contestant added and if she wins, she just might save her own child's life and get her into a medical study in Switzerland. Her daughter, Jenna, is slowly dying from a form of Muscular Dystrophy and a new possible drug is being studied in Switzerland. More than the money, Dana desperately wants to get her into that study. She soon regrets fighting so hard to be one of the twelve when just minutes into their live world wide broadcast, the host and entire broadcast team collapse and die horrible screaming deaths in front of them. They are informed by an electronic voice that he is now in control and that each day the world will vote for one of them to die. The others will live on, after receiving an injection to control a designer Ebola virus circulating in their bloodstreams for another twenty-four hours. The game will continue as before but now instead of just losing, they face the prospect of losing their life. And whoever is in charge now has managed to make the viewing public accomplices to murder. What does it say about a society that will judge twelve contestants and knowingly vote to execute them one by one? Unfortunately that question and others that this novel raise are never addressed in any way, shape or form. While full of action that really moves the story along, there is little substance behind this novel. The characters are stereotypical, the writing is average at best and the sequence of events is predictable. The "twists" that fill the last fifty pages are of the kind one finds in a really bad movie of the week. Instead of condemning the reality television concept, Jim Brown seems to raise various societal questions and then swat them away as he profits off the concept. As such, he becomes part of the problem he seems to condemn. All he needs is some catchy theme music that would play as the novel was opened and he would have a sure winner on his hands. No doubt the action filled computer game and new series can't be far behind.
Rating: 
Summary: Well
Review: Action, suspense, drama, this book has it all. I was immediately drawn to the lead female, Dana a strong, independent working class mom who goes toe to toe with the men and proves a female characters can be sexy and smart without being a lawyer or FBI agent or the like.
The surprises and twist are not stop right up until the end.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't remember the last time I loved a book this much.
Review: I loved this book. The pace is astonishing fast and the characters riveting, especially the lead a single mother who will do anything for her daughter. The plot lines are unique, enthralling and amazingly, all tie together in the end. The premises is a live reality show that turns deadly when the contestants are infected with a virus lethal in 24 hours. Each day there will enough injections for all but one. The person who dies is decided by on line voted. Using just around the corner technology Brown creates a program that cannot be taken off the air. The nation is both enthraled and appalled. And the Navy, forced to blockade the island to ensure the virus doesn't spread, has been given a time limit after which they will blast the entire facility to bottom of the sea. Meanwhile the contestants must continue to play the game but with deadly consequences.
And that's just the beginning. Once you start reading it's hard to stop. Brown should be commended for writing a book that is compelling and at the same time, layered. It's only after you close the book and begin to think about what you've read (and you will think about it) that you realize how deeply layered the story truly is. What, on the surfaces is a fun, rollicking novel also contains profound social commentary and sounds a disturbing warning we all should hear. I haven't been excited about a new writer since Judy Mercer and I can't wait to see what Jim Brown's next book.
Rating: 
Summary: talented writer, poorly drawn characters
Review: I thought the book was fast moving and interesting. But my complaint is not one of the characters moved me. There were too many and by necessity....each was given a stereotypical generic backstory with as much psychological complexity as befits a third grade mentality. Dana, the generic single mother, put me to sleep. And her love interest, too. Boring, boring, boring..... They were meant for each other...two generic fictional non-entities.. Of course, you knew from the beginning they'd end up in good shape and with each other..but I never really cared....which is a death knell for a novel...Even complex dark evil characters....I can be drawn to...and grow to find fascinating.....if they're complex and delineated enough and come to life......Mr. Brown's characters were cookie-cutter...Which is why the plot was so busy and filled with piled over-the-top incidents...
When I finished it...my conclusion was how busy and intricate the plot was...the ending was ridiculously stagey and unbelievable.....and I thought how shadowy and undeveloped the characters..And in a week's time, I forget all about it, because the characters aren't "alive" for me...Sort of like junk food, when I crave gourmet...something that lingers...
Rating:
Summary: It's time to leave, the tribe has spoken......
Review: If I could give this book 0 Stars, I would. I'm a HUGE fan of the show Survivor. When I heard about this book, I went to many book stores and libraries to find it. I finally did and was very excited to read it. I was very disappointed in t his books. This is nothing like Survivor or "reality shows". It alomst seems like the "reality" aspect was just an afterthought. What this is really about bioterrorism. The characters are so weak, and flat, its' not funny. They act in away that makes the characters unreal. The dialouge is flat people just dont' talk that way. I suggest that if you like shows like Survivor then stay away from this 24/7. *hold paper with 24/7 on it. It's time to leave, the tribe has spoken.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: If you find it hard to flip the channel when a reality show is on, you will find it just as hard to put this book down. Sure, the premise is "out there", but that is what makes the book fun.
Definitely a page turner.
Rating:
Summary: WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD
Review: Jim Brown's 24/7 was predestined; in the wake of those horrendously unreal series like "Survivor" "Paradise Hotel" "Big Brother" and such, it would take a former newscaster to bring us back into the real world.
The plot has been discussed in both the synopsis and by other reviewers, but what really makes this book so believable is Brown's epilogue in which he reminds how "real" reality tv can be. And where its limits will extend.
Already we see people sleeping together, tricking and deceiving each other; and in one case, a contestant on "Big Brother 2" pulled a knife on one of his housemates. And the most terrifying aspect of this well-written, fast-paced shocker, is that we the audience are what makes the shows successful. And in this one, the audience tunes in and votes--not merely to exile the person from the island---but to decide who should DIE. (Death comes from a designer virus that kills in a horribly ebola-like fashion). There a lot of subplots, but some really interesting characters including the seemingly unheroic Tyler Thorn. His newsphotographer/reporter role feeds the reader with the solution to many of the puzzles. The islanders themselves are stereotypical, balancing between the likeable (Dana, Justin and Nerine) and the despicable (Foster, Brandon, Renee). It's a tense read and fun, but ultimately sad because we become the real murderers.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Rating:
Summary: WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD
Review: Jim Brown's 24/7 was predestined; in the wake of those horrendously unreal series like "Survivor" "Paradise Hotel" "Big Brother" and such, it would take a former newscaster to bring us back into the real world.
The plot has been discussed in both the synopsis and by other reviewers, but what really makes this book so believable is Brown's epilogue in which he reminds how "real" reality tv can be. And where its limits will extend.
Already we see people sleeping together, tricking and deceiving each other; and in one case, a contestant on "Big Brother 2" pulled a knife on one of his housemates. And the most terrifying aspect of this well-written, fast-paced shocker, is that we the audience are what makes the shows successful. And in this one, the audience tunes in and votes--not merely to exile the person from the island---but to decide who should DIE. (Death comes from a designer virus that kills in a horribly ebola-like fashion). There a lot of subplots, but some really interesting characters including the seemingly unheroic Tyler Thorn. His newsphotographer/reporter role feeds the reader with the solution to many of the puzzles. The islanders themselves are stereotypical, balancing between the likeable (Dana, Justin and Nerine) and the despicable (Foster, Brandon, Renee). It's a tense read and fun, but ultimately sad because we become the real murderers.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Rating:
Summary: Terror in the Tropics
Review: Man what a book! Stayed up all night trying to finish it. Didn't, so I stayed home from work to finish this book. What a wild ride. Will this happen some time soon? Maybe. Would you watch it? Yes. But would you Vote? Kind of makes you think about yourself. Have you ever watched a reality show and realy dislike someone on it? Jerrie comes to mind but could you realy vote to kill her? The commintary in the back was a real eye opener. I didn't know that happened on Big Brother 2. So this was what it was like in Rome 1800 years ago. Thumbs up or Thumps down. Read this book then take a long look at yourself.
Rating: 
Summary: Descriptive and Riveting
Review: Reality television is perhaps one of the most controversial forms of entertainment going on today. Shows like Survivor and Big Brother, shows that you either love to watch, or love to hate. It was only a matter of time before someone took the bull by the horns and showed the world what humanity can really be like. Jim Brown is the man who did it, with this incredible mystery/thriller that won't let you sleep until you have reached the last page. Then, you won't be able to sleep due to the implications racing through your mind.
It would be hard enough to live in the public eye for 24 hours, much less longer. No privacy whatsoever, everything being scrutinized by hundreds of strangers around the world. There are those who enjoy being the center of attention to that extent, but the majority of the population would rather watch than "perform." Let's face it, we are a civilization of voyeurs. Sadly, the worse a situation, the more we want to get a good look at it... gruesome car accidents always hold a sick fascination for the public. Admit it - you have slowed down or stopped to get a good look!
When the tables are turned on a new game, things become computerized and the challenges are lethal! Twelve contestants stranded on a lush and inviting tropical island, an island with a haunted and ugly past, face the unknown and their own mortality. This isn't what they signed on to do; however, there is no escape from Vassa Island. There's only two ways off. Die, or win the game. The prize is a whopping two million in cash, and the dream of a lifetime fulfilled. The stakes weren't so high before the final contestant arrived on the island, just the usual ones of surviving being voted off by the public. Simple.
It is incredible how well portrayed the general public is - slavering beasts awaiting the death of another person, viewed online or via cable. A person whom the general public vote for, and literally condemn to death. The contestant with the highest number of votes is exiled from the Island, and that means a horrific and disfiguring death of extreme pain. A death that is wanted every day, a death which thousands vote for, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop the terror.
Jim's writing is descriptive and riveting, it pulls you along like an undertow. You don't want to read anymore, but you just can't help yourself, because you know that someone else is soon to be voted off and will die. There are innumerable mental challenges along the way for the readers as well as the contestants, you don't just read this work of genius, you get to live it in a surreal manner. 24/7 is the next logical step for a sociopath who loves reality television - if this doesn't scare you silly, nothing will. It could happen... and that is the scariest aspect of all.
Review Originally Posted at http://www.linearreflections.com
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