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Jun
21
Book Review | What if…? by Steve N. Lee
Filed Under 4 stars, 50 book challenge, Reviews, Spring Reading Thing, Summer Reading, The Pub (2008)
Rating
4 stars - a book that makes you think
Description
During the Presidential election, while two billion people exist on just $2 a day, species extinctions are escalating, and climate change is threatening our very existence, Mary befriends a stranger and embarks on a life or death race against time to change the world for the better.
Why did you choose to read this book?
The author, Steve Lee, wrote to me and asked if I would review his book - previous reviewers had compared it to The DaVInci Code and the TV show Heroes so I said I would happily give it a go.
The Book Review
I was looking forward to reading this book - until it appeared in the post… The cover of the book is really bad - possibly the worst I’ve ever seen - just something about text with a drop shadow and the religious painting filled me with dread! My plea to Steve is this - if there were ever a book that the saying never judge a book by its cover was meant for it is this one. If you want people to pick this book off the shelf in the store then get a new cover artist for the paperback!
Luckily I’d promised to read the book - and I don’t go back on promises - so I sat down and started what I thought was going to be a painful exercise… but by the end of page 2 I was sucked in and more than happy to devote time to the book.
At the beginning of the novel we are introduced to Mary; a New York journalist who experiences a horrific car accident and to the surprise of witnesses and doctors alike lives to tell the tale. Before too long she hooks up with John Connolly, a vagrant who has a powerful gift, and plans to make the world a better place.
This isn’t another DaVinci Code - the characters are not on a search for the Holy Grail - instead Steve builds a fast-paced story around one man’s dream to create Utopia, a world where there is no poverty or disease, where people prosper and live in peace. While many people believe that this could become a reality and rally their support their are others who believe Connolly is some kind of Anti-Christ, sent to destroy America if not the World with his actions.
This book has all of the hallmarks of an action-packed novel; conspiracies, shootouts, double-crosses and car chases - throw in religious unrest and a presidential election and you’ll find yourself caught up in an exciting tale that also forces you to think about the way we live our lives and whether we are killing the planet with our actions.
I’ve awarded the novel 4 stars instead of 5 simply because I’m not too sure about the end - there are some details that I just can’t tie together and I’m not sure I wouldn’t have preferred for it to end differently.
That said it does not take away from the novel as a whole and I am happy to recommend it to you.
Have you reviewed this book?
If you have reviewed this book on your site please fill in the boxes below to link me up to your review - don’t forget to link to the specific post to make it easy to find:
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Comments
5 Responses to “Book Review | What if…? by Steve N. Lee”
Leave a Reply
Hi Clare,
Thanks for the four stars and for penning such a great review of my book. I must say, I never expected to see it so quickly!
I’m really chuffed you enjoyed ‘What if…?’ so much and that you’ve managed to convey a true flavour of what it’s about in your review. And I’m pleased you picked up on it being a totally different kind of thriller to ‘The DaVinci Code’ (to be honest, I’m not a big fan of that book but I can’t help other reviewers comparing mine to it).
The research for ‘What if…?’ was punishing at times - correlating all the details about what we’re doing to the world and finding interesting ways to present it so it didn’t read like a text book - so it’s an added bonus that you didn’t only enjoy the story, but found it thought-provoking, too.
In fact, the more I read this review the more I like it - so often reviewers simply fill their critique with spoilers and say nothing of the actual quality of the story or of the writing. Yes, you’ve done an excellent job.
Thanks again. Have a wonderful weekend,
Steve
P.S. I’m sorry you hated the cover so much. It was designed with a purpose - it’s one of the most famous paintings in the world, ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo, which graces the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and pictures God reaching out to Man. Many people have commented on how much they like the simplicity compared to so many books these days that have every square millimetre of the cover plastered with stuff. Still, such an honest opinion about the cover only adds to the integrity of the review itself. Thank you.
Thanks Steve - I’m glad that you are pleased with the review - and haven’t taken offense about my comments on the cover!
Hi Clare,
Offense? No. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Plus, as I said, by being honest and condemning the cover it adds extra weight to you saying how much you enjoyed the story.
If any of your readers would like to know what it was that sucked you in by the end of page 2, there are sample chapters on my website: http://www.steve-n-lee.com/chapter_1.htm
Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend,
Steve
P.S. As you point out, the book does have environmental and human rights themes - if any readers are interested in such areas they may like to check out my blog http://www.lionsledbysheep.com
Steve N Lees last blog post..Do Animals Have Souls? The Answer is…
What a great way to combine a thriller with a timely topic. I don’t know about the cover - once I buy the book I don’t really care but it does make a difference for people on the fence. However, anything to help people realize how screwed up the world is sounds like a book that I should at least give a try to. Thanks.
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I felt terrible about turning down this book as it does sound good, but I am so swamped right now with books I need to review. There’s no end in sight. It has made it onto my wish list, however, which is always a good sign! I am glad you hear you enjoyed it so much, Clare. great review.
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