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The Hole

The Hole

List Price: $12.00
Your Price: $9.00
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Decent book. Rather expensive.
Review: (Dollar amount) is a lot of money to pay for a long short-story. This should really have been a good short story rather than an ok novella.

After some advance press, I was expected the 2nd coming of Patricia Highsmith, but it's not all that.

Plus, it's easy to guess the ending.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Decent
Review: A decent start for a young author that could grow quite well if he refines himself a bit.

The story is convincing, for the most part, and it's entertaining to watch the characters interact. You could read more into it, but nothing really warrants much more of an analysis than The Breakfast Club, a moderately similar story.

Still entertaining, though. The bulk of the book is simply interaction between the characters as they're trapped, and this interaction has some neat surprises, though the characters themselves don't seem to offer as much distinction as they should.

Still, a budding author that could be one to watch. Interestingly the movie gained notoriety for a budding starlet revealing more than many expect. Stole some of the thunder from the plot I'm sure...

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Decent
Review: A decent start for a young author that could grow quite well if he refines himself a bit.

The story is convincing, for the most part, and it's entertaining to watch the characters interact. You could read more into it, but nothing really warrants much more of an analysis than The Breakfast Club, a moderately similar story.

Still entertaining, though. The bulk of the book is simply interaction between the characters as they're trapped, and this interaction has some neat surprises, though the characters themselves don't seem to offer as much distinction as they should.

Still, a budding author that could be one to watch. Interestingly the movie gained notoriety for a budding starlet revealing more than many expect. Stole some of the thunder from the plot I'm sure...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Intriguing
Review: As a first novel written by an eighteen-year-old author, The Hole is a marvel reminiscent of the old Twilight Zone television program's style of suspense. The blurb on the cover reveals most of the plot thereby indicating that the plot is not a main attraction in this psychological thriller. Character study builds the suspense, as well as, curiosity as to how the young people manage to survive the ordeal. A confusing style of writing, in which the author switches back and forth between a narrator and first person account, makes the book difficult to follow for the first few chapters. The unique twist revealed in the epilogue leaves the reader feeling intrigued because what actually happened in the hole is never disclosed - only theories are given.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Intriguing
Review: As a first novel written by an eighteen-year-old author, The Hole is a marvel reminiscent of the old Twilight Zone television program's style of suspense. The blurb on the cover reveals most of the plot thereby indicating that the plot is not a main attraction in this psychological thriller. Character study builds the suspense, as well as, curiosity as to how the young people manage to survive the ordeal. A confusing style of writing, in which the author switches back and forth between a narrator and first person account, makes the book difficult to follow for the first few chapters. The unique twist revealed in the epilogue leaves the reader feeling intrigued because what actually happened in the hole is never disclosed - only theories are given.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Incredible Book
Review: At first, I thought the dialogue was confusing to the point that I wasn't even sure who the narrator was. Then, as I read further, I became enthralled. I had it all figured out. But, with the epilogue, I found that I hadn't figured anything out, although the clues were certainly there. A masterful work by an 18 year old writer.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Lord of the Flies??? I don't think so
Review: First of all, the only reason I even read this book was because I purchased it together with "Sophie", and I figured (1) it could not be nearly as bad, and (2) I had already spent the money for it so I might as well read it. I should have quit while I was ahead, since this was two hours of my life I can never get back. I don't know who told this individual he could write; perhaps the same person who told Britney Spears she could sing. The book is dreadful, and the "surprise ending" made me want to hold a conversation with my dog, as he is much more capable of logical thought. Horrible. Don't bother.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Lord of the Flies??? I don't think so
Review: First of all, the only reason I even read this book was because I purchased it together with "Sophie", and I figured (1) it could not be nearly as bad, and (2) I had already spent the money for it so I might as well read it. I should have quit while I was ahead, since this was two hours of my life I can never get back. I don't know who told this individual he could write; perhaps the same person who told Britney Spears she could sing. The book is dreadful, and the "surprise ending" made me want to hold a conversation with my dog, as he is much more capable of logical thought. Horrible. Don't bother.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Lord of the Flies??? I don't think so
Review: First of all, the only reason I even read this book was because I purchased it together with "Sophie", and I figured (1) it could not be nearly as bad, and (2) I had already spent the money for it so I might as well read it. I should have quit while I was ahead, since this was two hours of my life I can never get back. I don't know who told this individual he could write; perhaps the same person who told Britney Spears she could sing. The book is dreadful, and the "surprise ending" made me want to hold a conversation with my dog, as he is much more capable of logical thought. Horrible. Don't bother.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A promising story with a bait-and-switch ending
Review: Five young classmates agree to be locked for three days in a cellar, which they refer to as "the hole," located beneath a seldom-used school building. Masterminded by a sixth classmate, Martyn -- known around school for his stunning pranks -- he's set the five up for more than they bargained for. After the three days, Martyn doesn't appear, then the water and electricity stop. The five begin to realize that they may never leave the whole. Or is there more to Martyn and this "prank" than they were lead to believe?

"The Hole" starts a well-crafted story that slowly builds its suspense through both the story of the five in the hole and through remembrances from a survivor. But, just when I found the conclusion to be very satisfying, an epilogue is thrown in that tossed in many confusing new questions about the reliability of the survivor and the veracity of the events I'd just read. If this ending had been hinted at throughout the book, I probably would have found the epilogue more palatable than I did. Instead, I felt cheated and disappointed.


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