Numbers by Rachel Ward
Paperback, 336 pages
2010, The Chicken House
ISBN: 0545142997
Series: Book 1 in the Numbers series
Synopsis
Ever since she was child, Jem has kept a secret: Whenever she meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die. Burdened with such awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. The two plan a trip to the city. But while waiting to ride the Eye ferris wheel, Jem is terrified to see that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today's number. Today's date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem's world is about to explode!
Review
I wanted to like Numbers and I really wish it had been better. Numbers was an okay story. Someone seeing the date of a persons death by just looking into their eyes is a great idea, but I found the telling a little too dull and was never drawn into the plot. I could have put it down at any time and not regretted picking it back up.
I would have liked if Jem saw the numbers more often. The numbers were the catalyst for the entire story, but as I got farther along in the book, the numbers weren't mentioned as often. The story diverged from an original science fiction tale and became about the love story between Jem and Spider.
Jem was a highly unsympathetic character. She's had a hard life and her rude attitude makes sense, but I couldn't care about her at all. I don't mind cursing. Often, I don't notice it at all, but Jem's cursing was constant and needless. It was as if she was trying too hard to be tough.
I didn't care about Spider either. Both were outcasts looking for acceptance, which they found in each other. Still, I couldn't see them together. She was astoundingly negative and he was gross. She often mentioned how unattractive he was and that he smelled as though he didn't shower often, yet she ultimately ends up sleeping with him.
The ending was an unnecessary glorification of teen pregnancy, showing that a baby is a great way to hold onto a physical piece of boy. It sent the wrong message. While I completely support the author's right to write the story however she sees fit, I didn't feel that it added anything beneficial to the already mediocre story.
Rating
I'm glad I'm not the only one that didn't like this! Thanks for the great, honest review. :)
ReplyDeleteI gave up on this one. I thought the premise showed some promise, but I just didn't connect with any of the characters.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, I have this book sitting in a box. I cheated and read the back and thought it to emotional for me to read. Im a little scarred to read it for different reasons but I won it so I have to.
ReplyDeleteI've read reviews that loved this book or hated it. I'm not sure if I will like it or not.
ReplyDeletewow really i adored this book, and if anything the ending gave me hope, and i thought having a child was rather nice to an already bittersweet ending, i read it a while back i guess thats how i remember it though, good honest review :P
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.....I have entered a giveaway to win this book. Maybe I had better rethink that!
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of what you said here. Especially about Spider being gross. Body odour literally makes me feel sick and the constant description of it made me want to gag. I did like it while they were on the run though but the beginning and ending were lame.
ReplyDeleteI've heard less than stellar things about this book. Thanks for your honest review!
ReplyDeleteInteresting review I'm currently reading it so I now can work out based on what you've said what will happen. I've hit a point that it has become slow where before I breezed through the story. I don't find excessive swearing myself but Spider and his body odor comes up so often in the story that I wonder what the point of it is. Not an appealing character point. Now that I know the direction the story is heading and what can be expected I think I'm going to give up on it and move on to something else.
ReplyDeleteboo, I've been wanting to read this book, too, but it really sounds like Death Note gone wrong.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review! Now I'll have to think if to read it or not.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being honest in your review! I have heard very mixed things about this particular book--so I am still debating if it goes on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI liked this book a little more than you did, but I agree that the characters were hard to like at times. And what the heck was with the ending?
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame this book didn't work for you. YA paranormal novels are really hit or miss for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading this one now, and can totally understand your comment about Spider. The beginning didn't really capture me, not enjoying it very much.
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