Book reviews
This review is spoiler-free, as any plot points discussed can be learned from reading the inside of the book jacket.
I have a rule when it comes to books that I’m not buying: Don’t read the description. If I’m not paying for a book, I simply judge it by the cover. This has led to some interesting reads, mostly because I have no idea what I’m getting myself into when I open the book. The most recent of these “blind reads” was The Last One by Alexandra Oliva. I was browsing through NetGalley and saw a cover that was a person silhouetted against a sunset beneath the title The Last One. My first thought: “Ugh, Nicholas Sparks knockoff.” Then I thought that maybe I should read more sappy romance novels. Maybe I should give writers like Nicholas Sparks a chance. So, I sent a request for the book, though part of me was hoping my request would be denied. Boy am I glad I took a chance on sending that request. The Last One is absolutely nothing like a Nicholas Sparks’ novel, a fact I would have quickly realized had I even glanced at the plot description. No, the best way to gauge whether or not you might like this novel is to ask yourself the following questions: 1. Do I enjoy the competitive nature of shows like Survivor? 2. Do I enjoy the brief glimpses of the game makers and the idea of the arena in The Hunger Games? 3. Do I enjoy the paranoia that follows reading about a deadly epidemic like the one described in The Stand? If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, The Last One might just be the book for you. This book takes you inside a reality survival show called In the Dark, where all of the contestants are referred to by their occupations rather than their real names. The plot primarily follows the character called Zoo, an intelligent blonde who signed up for the show as one last adventure before settling down to begin a family with her husband. She forms and breaks alliances with several of her competitors throughout the novel, most often partnering with a survival enthusiast known as Tracker. In the real world, however, a strange illness is spreading rapidly throughout the United States, and possibly the rest of the world. With no idea what’s happening beyond the boundaries of their game, though, the competitors have no way to prepare themselves for the day they wake up alone, with no cameramen recording their every move. Assuming this is still part of the show, Zoo sets out with one goal in mind: victory. But at some point, the game and reality begin to overlap, making it impossible for her to determine what is real and what has been designed specifically for her by the show’s creators. The Last One is suspenseful from beginning to end; so suspenseful that I hope Oliva is planning to write a sequel, as the ending seemed to lack some closure. The chapters alternate between the events of the show and Zoo’s solo journey back toward the real world, giving clues as to what she might find if she survives the game. The inclusion of chat room message boards discussing the events on the show add an extra element that helps tie in the real world with the world of the competition. If you decide to give this book a chance, let me know what you think. I can’t imagine you’ll be disappointed. Unless you answered “no” to the three questions above, in which case I’m not sure why you’d read this book in the first place.
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Jacinta M. CarterProfessional Book Nerd Archives
March 2017
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