I just finished Insomnia. I almost didn't read it because of some of the reviews. While it seemed a bit repetitive, I eventually realized why. I actually loved the book. I am one who's always said that almost everyone that seems insane....actually are just more in tune with things that us "sane" people are not. And I think the author captured that. This was my first book by the author. I definitely want to read more of her work.
Really glad you enjoyed it! You're right, she did capture that element well. As I said in my review, I think her other work is better, so hopefully you'll enjoy it even more
I've just listened to this book. I agree, it's no where near as good as Behind her Eyes, but I did like the ending with the husband and little boy Adam coming into Emma's office about a divorce. I always wondered (and worried) about what would happen to Adam with that crazy person inhabiting his mothers body. A lot of what happens in Insomnia I've seen before too, like the whole middle class mum drinking too much, life falling apart bit. It's like that went on for too long. The teenage daughter annoyed me too, what a brat she was. If you haven't read The Death House by this author I would recommend it. Starts off a bit slow, but well worth reading in my opinion. I wonder if this story would actually work better on the screen than in a book, I think visually it might have more of an impact... we can only wait and see I guess.
Yeah it relies on so many of the modern thriller tropes that it felt a bit lazy to me at times. I haven't read The Death House but will check it out. Agree that this might work better on screen, I guess we'll find out soon enough! Thanks for watching and commenting :)
I am writing this after I finished the book. The last parts are very strong. Her end & back story are brilliant. I am happy a lot of my disappointments are diminished. It looks like unlike all other writers that focus on the first line or first chapters, Pinborough puts all of it to her ending. It's risky & takes a lot of skills. I still think the same about the flaws I mentioned in my first message especially in regards to the depiction of Patricia 's condition, etc.
I'm about to return this book to the library unread....I read some spoilers and I'm glad I didn't waste my time. Your review has solidified my decision lol
I am at page 205. I picked this book because of having read her previous two books. I think it will be always an issue when an author has a masterful like Behind Her Eyes. Because we will always compare her new works with that. But there are a few basic writing flaws that I don't expect from her. She keeps saying her mother was mad as if we are in Jane Eyre era & we have no clue what was wrong with that poor wife. She was just mad. What was her diagnosis? People just don't go mad at a certain age. There are so many genetic analysis they could have done. She goes to uni becomes a lawyer and not even once wanted to check her genetic risks with a doctor? Repeating a song's line or those numbers, .. I find all these flaws but I will still keep reading...
Yeah I do think the shadow of Behind Her Eyes looms large over this one. And yes, the treatment of mental illness did feel dated and lacking in any kind of nuance. Thanks for watching!
I just finished insomnia today and the ending just fell flat for me. Like whattt....... I don't know, I just didn't like it one bit! I was so confused I'm not sure if it was just me or what
Yes the twist missed cohesion with the rest of the book. I feel the element of fantasy was used to tie loose ends that in my opinion weren't truly tied. This wasn't hard to get through because I looked forward to the end. I was very disappointed.
I watched Behind Her Eyes and found out later it was a book too. I thought the end was weird, but maybe I'd like it more if I read the book. I think I'll read Behind Her Eyes before this one to see if I like it.
I’ve read four or five of her books. Behind Her Eyes was very good with that twisty end, so was her first novel The Hidden which also had a cruel twist. There rest were so so to the disappointing Breeding Ground.
I've never heard of Sarah Pinborough. I'll have to look up Behind Her Eyes, since this one fell flat. I really hate twists which come out of left field and don't fit.
That's a shame. I have it on order from the library. I will still give it a go😊 I have read 13 Minutes and Cross Her Heart (both 4 stars for me). I have also read Behind Her Eyes and can still distinctly remembering coming to the twist and being mind-blown 🤯
I hated this book, some of the worst dialogue I've ever seen, a plot twist that made no sense no matter how much she tried to push the whole "seeing the future in the past" thing. It wasn't suspenseful it was just repetitive, and Caroline's evil speech at the end gave me second hand embarrassment. It's like the author wrote off of how she thinks crazy murderers talk. Here's an actual line from the book: "I'm the teenager" Chloe said. "Im supposed to be dysfunctional one." What teenager talks like that? This is a line out of a poorly written movie, the equivalent of "That just happened."
Also she had plot holes in her story, Emma shows up to Caroline's house after an argument, without even realizing it. She is there and sees Caroline leave her house, Caroline doesn't see Emma somehow, but that's not the issue. The issue is how a person who has no car drives off, that's an actual thing in the book, she drives off???
I just finished Insomnia. I almost didn't read it because of some of the reviews. While it seemed a bit repetitive, I eventually realized why. I actually loved the book. I am one who's always said that almost everyone that seems insane....actually are just more in tune with things that us "sane" people are not. And I think the author captured that. This was my first book by the author. I definitely want to read more of her work.
Really glad you enjoyed it! You're right, she did capture that element well. As I said in my review, I think her other work is better, so hopefully you'll enjoy it even more
I've just listened to this book. I agree, it's no where near as good as Behind her Eyes, but I did like the ending with the husband and little boy Adam coming into Emma's office about a divorce. I always wondered (and worried) about what would happen to Adam with that crazy person inhabiting his mothers body.
A lot of what happens in Insomnia I've seen before too, like the whole middle class mum drinking too much, life falling apart bit. It's like that went on for too long. The teenage daughter annoyed me too, what a brat she was. If you haven't read The Death House by this author I would recommend it. Starts off a bit slow, but well worth reading in my opinion.
I wonder if this story would actually work better on the screen than in a book, I think visually it might have more of an impact... we can only wait and see I guess.
Yeah it relies on so many of the modern thriller tropes that it felt a bit lazy to me at times. I haven't read The Death House but will check it out.
Agree that this might work better on screen, I guess we'll find out soon enough!
Thanks for watching and commenting :)
Great review!
Thank you!
I am writing this after I finished the book. The last parts are very strong. Her end & back story are brilliant. I am happy a lot of my disappointments are diminished. It looks like unlike all other writers that focus on the first line or first chapters, Pinborough puts all of it to her ending. It's risky & takes a lot of skills. I still think the same about the flaws I mentioned in my first message especially in regards to the depiction of Patricia 's condition, etc.
Glad you enjoyed it in the end! For me the ending fell flat, but really pleased to hear you liked it
I'm about to return this book to the library unread....I read some spoilers and I'm glad I didn't waste my time. Your review has solidified my decision lol
Yeah if you’ve had the ending spoiled it’s DEFINITELY not worth reading
I am at page 205. I picked this book because of having read her previous two books. I think it will be always an issue when an author has a masterful like Behind Her Eyes. Because we will always compare her new works with that. But there are a few basic writing flaws that I don't expect from her. She keeps saying her mother was mad as if we are in Jane Eyre era & we have no clue what was wrong with that poor wife. She was just mad. What was her diagnosis? People just don't go mad at a certain age. There are so many genetic analysis they could have done. She goes to uni becomes a lawyer and not even once wanted to check her genetic risks with a doctor? Repeating a song's line or those numbers, .. I find all these flaws but I will still keep reading...
Yeah I do think the shadow of Behind Her Eyes looms large over this one. And yes, the treatment of mental illness did feel dated and lacking in any kind of nuance.
Thanks for watching!
I haven’t read anything by this author. Sounds like behind her eyes may be the one to pick up!! Thanks for the review!
Thanks! Yes that's definitely the one I'd go with
I just finished insomnia today and the ending just fell flat for me. Like whattt....... I don't know, I just didn't like it one bit! I was so confused I'm not sure if it was just me or what
Yeah I was exactly the same!
Yes the twist missed cohesion with the rest of the book. I feel the element of fantasy was used to tie loose ends that in my opinion weren't truly tied. This wasn't hard to get through because I looked forward to the end. I was very disappointed.
Sorry it was a miss for you too, Angelica!
I watched Behind Her Eyes and found out later it was a book too. I thought the end was weird, but maybe I'd like it more if I read the book. I think I'll read Behind Her Eyes before this one to see if I like it.
I really liked Behind Her Eyes, not sure what it would be like reading it knowing the twist but I think it would still be really readable.
I’ve read four or five of her books. Behind Her Eyes was very good with that twisty end, so was her first novel The Hidden which also had a cruel twist. There rest were so so to the disappointing Breeding Ground.
I’ve not tried The Hidden so I might look that up
I've never heard of Sarah Pinborough. I'll have to look up Behind Her Eyes, since this one fell flat. I really hate twists which come out of left field and don't fit.
Behind Her Eyes is really cool - I think you’d enjoy it 😊
That's a shame. I have it on order from the library. I will still give it a go😊 I have read 13 Minutes and Cross Her Heart (both 4 stars for me). I have also read Behind Her Eyes and can still distinctly remembering coming to the twist and being mind-blown 🤯
Hopefully you’ll like it more than I did. I may well be completely wrong 😁
And yeah, that Behind Her Eyes twist was insane
I've not read Behind Her Eyes either, but between that book and this I'd probably read Behind Her Eyes.
I’d definitely recommend BHE
I have Behind Her Eyes, but I haven't read it yet! Maybe I should move it up on my list lol.
You should! It’s really good
Am I the only one that wants the song from this book to for real exist
You may be! That would be far too creepy for me!
This book was a big disappointment.
Agreed!
I hated this book, some of the worst dialogue I've ever seen, a plot twist that made no sense no matter how much she tried to push the whole "seeing the future in the past" thing. It wasn't suspenseful it was just repetitive, and Caroline's evil speech at the end gave me second hand embarrassment. It's like the author wrote off of how she thinks crazy murderers talk.
Here's an actual line from the book:
"I'm the teenager" Chloe said.
"Im supposed to be dysfunctional one."
What teenager talks like that? This is a line out of a poorly written movie, the equivalent of "That just happened."
I honestly think from the technical writing stand point, good job to her, well paced, but in the actual story element it was bad.
Also she had plot holes in her story, Emma shows up to Caroline's house after an argument, without even realizing it. She is there and sees Caroline leave her house, Caroline doesn't see Emma somehow, but that's not the issue. The issue is how a person who has no car drives off, that's an actual thing in the book, she drives off???