Clever Hook, Boring Book ... After the premise -- which is clever enough -- "The Measure" completely loses steam, wallowing in a dystopia that the autClever Hook, Boring Book ... After the premise -- which is clever enough -- "The Measure" completely loses steam, wallowing in a dystopia that the author never succeeds in making credible. When we open, indestructible boxes have mysteriously appeared on people's doorsteps all over the world. How? Who put them there? Why? Guess what? You'll never find out!! Does the author even KNOW what's going on in this world she created?? Nope. She hasn't got a clue. WHAT??? Erlick's cop-out -- her incompetence -- took my breath away. She had a tiger by the tail with her premise, and then the tiger turned around and killed it. Plodding along, we follow a group of nice people, all clichéd stock characters, as they face their inevitable fates. Erlick has cynically created characters based on their current standing in popular culture -- she dutifully checks off most of the gender, ethnic, political and religious boxes. I was bored out of my mind after the first two chapters. I feel like Erlick scoured her brain for a clever "hook" and then promptly lost the plot. As mindless entertainment, this wasn't even entertaining. The weird boxes come, everyone thinks about making their lives more meaningful, there's a little crisis, then a happy ending. This is just chick lit with a twist, designed for "readers" who think every book should "celebrate love" and "be soul-affirming" -- oh, and be written at 8th grade level. I had to read this book for my book club, so I did finish it, but Jeez, it was a slog. ...more
Wonderful plotting, endearing characters and delightful humor
This book keeps you guessing with ingenious twists and turns right up to the end. The ageWonderful plotting, endearing characters and delightful humor
This book keeps you guessing with ingenious twists and turns right up to the end. The age of the characters and their own proximity to heath gives an undercurrent of pathos, but the author concedes nothing to this in his commitment to plot and humor. It's rare to find a murder mystery with a subtext celebrating friendship, tenderness and connection. I am grateful to Richard Osman for this immensely satisfying series and only wish he could be cloned so I could read a new Thursday Murder Club Mystery every week. ...more
Life is messy. You might not have experienced this?? We're all judgmental ... until life throws us something bizarre, irresistible, and destructive. TLife is messy. You might not have experienced this?? We're all judgmental ... until life throws us something bizarre, irresistible, and destructive. Then we might hope desperately for understanding, but -- according to all the nasty reviews here -- we're not gonna find it on GoodReads -- home of prissy Book Club ladies! Seriously, did you guys never have a disastrous, delusional, fucked-up sex relationship? If you haven't, my apologies. You can leave the room while I talk to the other ladies, the ones with "pasts." Peace out. ...more