Customer Reviews

Bright Young Things

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read this book on a plane and it was honestly so brilliantly frightening that I had to put it down once and just regroup. This and Mr. Y are tied as my favorite Scarlett Thomas books.

I realize that one reviewer did not like the way this book ended. Just FYI, if you continue to read Scarlett Thomas' other works, you will find a reference to the fate of the characters in Going Out. It won't give you all of the answers you want, but it hints at the author's intended direction after the book ends.

The way this book was written (open-ended) makes me think of it often - long after I finished reading it. Frustrating? Yes. But for me that was a great tension.

Scarlett Thomas lets us know in this book that the darkest places in our minds can become frighteningly real. So why would she give us a hard and fast ending? This whole book is about the danger of our imaginations. She gives us a gift with the ending - the gift to let the imagination loose and see where it goes. A little sadistic, a LOT brilliant!

This is my fifth novel by the author, and I must say I'm impressed. This book and The End of Mr. Y are my favorites, although all her novels are pretty good. I thought this novel was perfect from beginning to end, and it kept me turning pages in the early morning hours. I'd tell myself "just one more chapter" several times while staying up late reading this engrossing novel.

It has it all: well-drawn characters, great observations about our culture, and an interesting set-up. I loved reading all the different conversations that the characters had, which could range from talking about soap operas to the meaning of life. If you like character and idea-driven novels, with some scary elements thrown in for good measure, you'll probably love Bright Young Things.

Highly recommended!

Here is how I would rate the five novels I've read by this author (from favorite to least favorite):

The End of Mr. Y (5 stars) - My favorite. If you've never read Ms. Thomas, start here or with BYT.
Bright Young Things (5 stars)
Our Tragic Universe (4 stars)
Going Out (4 stars)
PopCo (3 and a 1/2 stars)

A great book - my third Scarlett Thomas, and I intend to read everything she's written. Clever plot, and great characters... once again. She's a genius! Book arrived in good condition and didn't take too long to arrive.

This is quite a good story about six young people who apply for an add for Bright Young Things Wanted For Big Project, attend the interview then wake up on a deserted island with no idea how they got there or what is planned for them. It does drag on in a few scenes for too long but the worst and unforgivable factor is that the story does not end and key plot facts the reader was anticipating having answered by the conclusion are not.
I can't really explain this without giving away the plot so if you haven't read the book don't continue reading this review, just be warned the book does not give you closure.

We never find out exactly why these six were brought to the island at all. Were they there to be murdered after their nightmares had been played out by the guy who gave them coffee at the interview? Was the guy in the attic actually the kidnapper or was he part of the project and murdered by the kidnapper or just there to monitor the situation and take notes before the actual kidnappers or owners of the company arrived? What did he actually die of, was it really a heart attack that a few of them suspected or was it more sinister? Was there actually really a job at the end of it for one of them after the experiment was over or were they all to be killed? Was he there to actually torture them with their worst fears or help them overcome them? Was the boat with his corpse ever found? Were they ever rescued or did they starve to death when the food ran out? Did they start to go insane when the food supply got low and kill each other? Did the others ever find out Jamie did not attach the note to the corpse and did they kill him when they realised they would die because of him? So many questions that go unanswered, you could understand if this was part one and there is a sequel but this is not mentioned anywhere in the book.

It is so frustrating that you turn the last page and have no idea what happens to them or the true reason why they were taken there that I will never bother investing my money buying another Scarlett Thomas novel or energy into reading another one as I do not know if her other novels do not give closure either. If you want to read an excellent novel about sinister things happening to people who apply to job advertisements read the masterpiece the Ax by Donald E Westlake.