The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for The Last Stop
Because The Last Stop was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
Ekta Kumari
The book is the author's memoir of the experience of losing her son to drug addiction. The book recollects the author's perspective as well as her son's perspective through journal entries. I felt touched by the blurb but wouldn't have read the book based on its genre and themes. The thing I did like the most is the format of the book and the way the text is divided into different segments. I also like how raw and honest the author is in her recollection in spite of the nature of what she experienced. I did see an official OBC review before sampling. I wouldn't read the whole book as I'm not into the genre. I wouldn't recommend anything for improvements based on what I read so far. And I didn't see any editing errors, so I would rate the book as professionally edited.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 6:49 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Manang Muyang
I mistook the book for a thriller because of the title and cover (I must say they're very striking). The subtitle "A Memoir" gave away the true contents. The blurb explains that the book is about David and his addiction to heroin and how his family suffered with him until he died, and even after. The OBC review is all praises for the book, but the complimentary review wouldn't have convinced me to sample the book outside of the program. I am avoiding sad stories these days. The sample pages were what I expected: melancholy. The author was successful in making me feel her pain; she is a wonderful writer and her words were piercing. The scene where her terrier led her home brought me to tears. I regret that the world lost a talented author when David passed away. I do not have any major improvements to suggest, but I do not intend to finish the whole book. As I mentioned, I am not open to sad tales for now. I spotted a few errors: At 12%, "I lay there and think and think" should have used "lie" for tense consistency. At 26%, "which set the stage for close knit friendships" needed "close-knit." "On a Saturday afternoon in November, 1989" at 29% shouldn't have had the comma. I guess those wayward errors may need to be addressed. Nonetheless, the errors do not diminish the compassion that I feel for Patricia and her Street boys.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:58 am by Manang Muyang.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Alice Heritage
When I first saw the cover and title I thought this was a thriller and wouldn't have sampled it outside this programme on that basis. However, when I saw from the Bookshelves page, Amazon description and comprehensive, complimentary customer reviews, I was interested in sampling it because I find addiction interesting. The idea of incorporating David's writing so that he also tells the story appealed to me, and I am touched that his mother honoured his life in this way. I have therefore downloaded a copy from Scribd - good that it was on there as the Kindle price was a little high - and will read it when possible because I am interested to learn more, perhaps even about ways forward in reducing people's exposure to opiates. I liked the way the account moved me emotionally, especially when the mother thought about counting David's toes as an infant when the doctor recommended amputation after an accident. This seems a polished work with no particular room for improvement - my main suggestion would be to correct the minor errors I saw. These were mostly in material quoted from journals but could be corrected without altering the substance. Examples are "T-Shirt" which should not have a capital "S", and "gotten3" instead of "gotten", and a lower-case "q" heading a section. I wonder if one of these represented the "one" typographical error found by the OBC reviewer? The review was not crucial to my decision, which was based on the more emotionally striking reviews on Amazon as well as the sample. I also found the misspelling of the author's name in the OBC review distracting.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:57 am by Alice Heritage.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Dzejn_Crvena
Outside this program, I'd have sampled this book because the cover is soothing to my eyes and it looks intriguing. The OBC review and the sample convinced me to buy and read it when I learned that it's a memoir, a genre I enjoy reading. It's about the author's life as she narrates her son's addiction to drugs and their way to cope with it. I like the author's dedication to writing about her son's experience to connect with other families who can relate to their struggle, and I'm looking forward to reading about her son's short stories. The book seems professionally edited, and I don't have suggestions for improvements.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:55 am by Dzejn_Crvena.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Stellah Chege
Based on the OBC and customer reviews, I would have read this book outside the first ten program because I am interested in reading about the journeys of addiction since I am a health educator. I did not see a blurb but it's absence did not affect my decision. The cover page is cleverly designed to show a lonesome figure, which can be a result of addiction. After sampling the first ten pages, I empathized with David's mum and would love to read the whole book. She states that there were nights she couldn't sleep not knowing how her son slept. What I loved most in the sample is that she acknowledges that addiction is like a disease and it's not always a deliberate choice. I did not find any errors and I believe it is professionally edited. I would only suggest that the disclaimer and prologue be in italics or bold to make them different from the main text. I will buy and read this book.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:49 am by Stellah Chege.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Mutai Marshal
I liked the message relayed by this memoir. Addiction is a menace that most people grapple daily. Since it is a pertinent and relevant issue that I like reading about, I will complete reading this book. The editing was done professionally as I didn't flag any objective grammatical errors. The OBC review was beautifully written; it invigorated my desire to find out more about the author’s son addiction problem. I am confident that I would have read this book even without sampling it because the title suggested that it is a memoir, a genre that I relish. Lastly, I didn't notice anything that warrants improvement in the book.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:38 am by Mutai Marshal.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Gabriella H
This was definitely not what I was expecting based on the cover. The title, coupled with the cover, made me curious. After reading the OBC official review and finding out that this book is about addiction, I sympathized with Patricia and her family, but I also wondered if I would want to read this book. It sounded deep and disturbing. It sounded like a book that would linger in my mind and refuse to leave, like a book that would make me sad. I was right. The first ten pages already have me thinking, which I don't like, because I'm an overthinker. However, I know I can learn from this book, and I feel David's story deserves to be read. Therefore, I will complete this book. I didn't see any errors in the first ten pages, so I believe they were professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. If I weren't a part of this program, I wouldn't have sampled this book after reading the blurb and reviews because it seemed depressing. My decision to read this book wasn't influenced by any editorial reviews or by customer reviews.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:38 am by Gabriella H.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rodel Barnachea
Following my reading of the book’s Amazon page and official OBC review, I opted not to acquire the memoir. I cannot relate to the author because none of my loved ones is a drug addict who needs help and saving. I am also not fascinated by what the author has to go through in dealing with her son and trying to help him. I am also not intrigued by the collection of fictional short stories, essays, and poems that the author’s son wrote and is included in the second part of this book. Poring over its sample did not change my mind. I would not acquire it because nothing in the text had me wanting to peruse the remaining pages of the title. I believe the non-fiction story is not my cup of tea. The first ten pages contain a prologue and some pages of the first chapter. My favorite part is when the author admitted that she was, at first, in denial that her son was a drug addict. I did not identify any errors in the text; I believe the book is professionally edited. I have no advice to offer to the author.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:34 am by Rodel Barnachea.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
va2016
The title "The Last Stop" and the cover that shows a person against sunlight do not convey the theme of the book, although the subtitle says that it is a memoir. There are only eight Amazon customer ratings, which is not a sufficient number for me to decide to sample the book. The Amazon summary states that the book is about someone's addiction to heroin. As I am not interested in this theme, I would have skipped sampling the book if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found narration in which the author explains the background of this memoir book. As I am not interested in this theme, I am not going to read this book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. I didn't find any grammatical or mechanical errors in the sample. What I liked most about the book is its nice narration. I don't have any recommendations for the improvement of the book. Although I found one OBC review of the book, my decision to not to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:31 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Shrabastee Chakraborty
Based on the official OBC review and other published reviews, I realized this would be a heartrending book, which made me hesitate. After reading the first ten pages, I am sure I would not be able to read the book. I found no errors in the first ten pages. The author talked about her younger son's heroin addiction. She described how it started with morphine doses from a hospital stay and went through numerous cycles of withdrawal and relapse before culminating with his untimely death. These pages touched my heart and the palpable grief made me cry. I had no suggestions for improvement and would recommend the book. However, the premise was too dark for me to bear right now, so I decided not to read this myself.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 4:27 am by Shrabastee Chakraborty.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Vidhi Adhikari
I liked the colour scheme for the cover design, along with the detailed description about the memoir. Since I like reading autobiographies based on loss and issues like addiction, I was ready to read the sample despite the lack of customer and OBC reviews. There were some awkwardly framed sentences in the sample which should be looked at ('Where I have been unable to remember fully or where I lack complete documentation, l have allowed my insights and experiences to fill in, using my best judgment.'). That said, since I loved the honesty with which the book has been written, I will be finishing this book. I have no suggestions as everything was up to the mark.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 2:55 am by Vidhi Adhikari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sou Hi
Even without this program, I would have sampled this. The ratings on Amazon, the official review from OnlineBookClub, and the blurb look fine. The genre is also my cup of tea.
I like Patricia's bravery when she decided to face the truth that her son was an addict. Sharing her perspective along with his gives the readers a more detailed view of an addict's life and thoughts. However, I think another round of proofreading is needed. I will wait until this issue is resolved to buy the book. For now, I won't buy it.
Error example: Real life events reflected in David's writings are footnoted. -> There should be a hyphen between "Real" and "life"
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 1:59 am by Sou Hi.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Owuamanam Eberechukwu
David, David, David. What a sweet child. The first few pages were heartwarming and focused on David’s life as a child and how he lost some toes due to an accident at a nursery with a Bobcat. The book is a memoir that looks at David’s travails. I like the narration and how the author begins with David’s childhood story. I don’t like that the author from the first page mentioned the death of David. It made the book lose its power of suspense. The pages I read were exceptionally well edited. I will not buy and read the book based on the cover design and title alone. The cover design is bland and carries ordinary emotions. One cannot feel the sorrow present in the book by the cover. On the whole, I will buy and read this book because I want to understand how David turned into a drug addict and what signs to watch out for in a child that signal drug intake. This is my personal thoughts and was not influenced by reviews, comments, or blurbs on OBC or not.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 1:58 am by Owuamanam Eberechukwu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Jennifer Garcia 555
The title and cover of this book are interesting. It made me curious to find out what the book was about. Upon discovering that it was a non-fiction story about a man struggling with addiction, I realized that this is not the type of book I usually enjoy reading. I would not pick this book to read. I read a good official OnlineBookClub review and the sample pages, and I was impressed by the author’s ability to draw the reader into the story. I really like the addition of writings by David and the email added from David’s childhood friend. It made me feel more personally connected to the story. I saw no editing errors, so this book seems professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvement. This book may help people who have drug addiction problems in their lives. Although I enjoyed the writing style, the sample and review did not change my mind about continuing this book. I do not like to read sad non-fiction stories. I will pass on this book.
First Ten review added on June 20, 2022, at 12:05 am by Jennifer Garcia 555.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Annelore Trujillo
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover, title, editorial reviews, and customer reviews. I don’t usually read non-fiction, and this memoir about addiction didn’t seem to be for me. After reading the first ten pages, I won’t be finishing this book. I like the author’s vulnerability and the work put into this book. It took years to compile David’s writings. However, I thought the prologue was a little disorganized. It started talking about David at 17 then switched to David in his 30s. It really threw me off. This organization could use some improvement since it’s the first part people read. The book did seem to be professionally edited.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 11:35 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Jorge Leon Salazar
The cover and title look in keeping with the story about David. The cover image conveys melancholy and the feeling of wandering aimlessly. I think many interested readers should be attracted. In general, I like memoirs that include life lessons. The blurb indicates the first part of the book is a memoir about the loss of a son, David, to heroin addiction. Through David's letters, scenes from an addict's lifestyle are exposed in vivid, raw, and real detail. The blurb also expresses that part two is a collection of his fictional short stories, essays, and poetry. Most of the customer reviews are flattering. Based on these comments, I might give this book a try. What is narrated in the first ten pages is heartbreaking as it shows how a son falls into drug addiction affecting the whole family. The storytelling is striking in that it shows the perspectives of both mother and son. The author refers to several of David's writings, like his iPad's notes. Also, the author expressed a strong regret for not having noticed in time that David became addicted to opioids with the first shot of morphine administered to him in the hospital. In particular, I thought there was little she could do even if they had followed the doctor's recommendation of amputating all but the big toe of his foot. I found the letter from David's childhood friend touching, as she portrays him as an excellent friend. What I read in these first pages was distressing since everything that Patricia and her son suffered makes me very sad. Therefore, I would prefer not to read the rest of the book. The official OnlineBookClub review highlights that drug addiction is a complicated problem that affects not only the abuser but the entire family and related people. Plus, it indicates that the author hopes to help addicts and their families to face their own battle against drugs. The editing looks outstanding since I did not see any detail to comment on. Overall, I didn't see anything that I believe could be improved. In summary, I will not read the rest of the book.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 10:13 pm by Jorge Leon Salazar.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Mariana Figueira
Before reading the book's first pages, I wasn't interested in it because nothing on the cover or the title got my attention. After sampling the book, I don't want to continue reading it because I don't like non-fiction. I like that the author went through her son's devices and Facebook account to write the book, that's dedication right there; also, I'm not surprised her son died from heroin addiction, I know that's a drug that's particularly difficult to quit and very dangerous as well. This book seems professionally edited, I didn't see any typos; plus, it has an official OnlineBookClub review. I didn't see anything that needed improvement. Neither the blurb, customer reviews, nor editorial reviews affect my decision not to read the book.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 9:17 pm by Mariana Figueira.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Diana Lowery
The title and the cover make the book seem depressing. The Amazon blurb mentioned the opioid crisis. The OBC review mentions how honest the book is. Neither the blurb nor the review made me want to read the book. I think I relate too much to the mother in this story, and there are things about my children's lives that I don't want to know about because it will make it real. I did not find any errors in the pages that I read. I am not going to keep reading this book because I am not ready to know the things that it talks about. I do not have any suggestions for the author.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 6:41 pm by Diana Lowery.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
MsH2k
Based on the subject, genre, and blurb, I would not have sampled this book if I were not part of this program. I appreciate the author’s story and her perspective on her son’s life and addiction, but I do not want to relive the memories, neither happy nor sad. The sample pages outlined the book well and gave an engaging introduction to David. It was touching that the author also included some of her son’s “unfinished collection of fictional short stories, poetry, and essays” in the book. There were a few commas that could have been unnecessary, but I noticed no countable errors. The book appeared professionally edited, and I have no suggestions for improvement. Neither the featured OnlineBookClub review nor any other editorial reviews or customer reviews influenced my decision. The title and cover had no bearing either.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 4:17 pm by MsH2k.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kaitlyn Canedy
If The Last Stop hadn't been the OnlineBookClub's book of the day, I would have read the sample because it was a memoir. I enjoy reading memoirs, and I knew it was one due to the customer reviews and the description on Amazon.com. As hard as it is to tell the story of an addicted child, Patricia does so honestly; this is what I liked most when I read the first ten pages. There were no grammatical errors in them, and I could not think of anything that needed improvement. Because I enjoy memoirs and want to see the perspective of someone who has dealt with addiction, I have decided to finish reading the book. An official OnlineBookClub review exists for this title, but I did not need to read it to make a decision. Readers who enjoy memoirs and do not mind discussions about drug addiction may like this one.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 3:28 pm by Kaitlyn Canedy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chelsy Scherba
The introduction of this book is heartbreaking. I can feel this mother’s pain as she grapples with understanding David’s addiction and sees his specter everywhere she goes. The description of the dog is what really got me. Her grief is palpable, but I do like how she included whatever she could find that her son had written as well. The book is exceptionally well-edited without noticeable errors, and seems like a loving tribute to her loved one. I also like the title and cover image. I honestly haven’t had to deal with any of the issues besides grief that she mentions, so I wouldn’t have discovered this book outside of the program. I have no suggestions for improvements. The Amazon reviews and editorial reviews really describe how deep and emotional this book is. The OBC review was also informative. I didn’t really notice any blurbs. I probably won’t read it today, but I’ll add it to my list for a time when I’m in the mood.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 1:42 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Sanju Lali
It was evident from the cover and the title that this is a memoir. I read the OBC official review of this book to understand the meaning of the last stop. The OBC official review gave me the idea that this book is about David, who lost his life to addiction. This idea inspired me to read the first ten pages sample of this book. After reading the first ten pages, I realized that this book was not professionally edited because I found some grammatical errors in the sample. For example, the sentence, "He’s late for work so he borrows my T-Shirt." The sentence could be as follows. "He’s late for work, so he borrows my T-Shirt." In this sample, I liked David's idea of avoiding being confined to a single prescriptive way of doing things. Sadly, I lost interest in reading further because the author did not explain how David shifted from morphine to heroin addiction. My suggestion to the author is to go for a round of professional editing and to provide the necessary details, as mentioned above. Therefore, I decided not to purchase and read this book today until the author considers my suggestions.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 11:14 am by Sanju Lali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Soraya Bayah
I cannot even think about the pain this young man's family felt after his death. I see that such books will help make society a more acceptable place that helps and does not judge. Although I enjoyed the sample and the ideas it talked about, I do not feel inclined to read this entire book about David's life right now. I enjoy fiction, but I will consider completing the book in the near future when I am looking for a meaningful memoir. I would not pick up this book from the title, cover, genre, and reviews like OBC. I did consider it after reading the sample. I did not find any errors and found that the way the book was organized is commendable, with different fonts related to different people. The letter that David wrote to the judge was surprising. I did not think he would clearly declare that he is indeed manipulative. I can see how he was granted a ticket out of jail multiple times after this. I think nothing could be bettered, as I believe the introduction is clear, well written, and organized. As I stated earlier, I will pick it up when I am up to a memoir, but that is not right now. Truly, well written!
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 6:06 am by Soraya Bayah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Yvonne Monique
The book cover is beautiful and reflects the book's content well as it has a sad feeling to it. I would probably pick this book up if I would see it in a bookstore. However, the customer reviews, blurb and OBC review do not make me want to read the sample as I do not like memoirs nor stories about drug addiction. The first ten pages are well edited. By reading the introduction and the author's journal entry, I immediately felt sad for what the author had to go through. I am a mother myself and would never want to have to worry so much about my child. Therefore, I commend the author for writing this book and sharing her story. Personally, I will not read this book as I would empathise too much. I have no suggestions for improvement.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 5:40 am by Yvonne Monique.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Harsh Soni 3
After looking at the cover and title, the book seems like a serious non-fiction that I, generally, love to read. Then, I read the Official OBC review of the book (after that I don't need any other blurb or review) which further increased my first impression, as the book is a memoir about drug addiction through the perspective of a drug addict and his family. After reading the sample, I found that the author tries to put a different perspective from the general one that we know by quoting the exact and filter less words and expressions of David. That was my favourite thing about the book, as it makes the book unique and authentic from other books out there. So, I will buy and read this book because of the reasons mentioned above. I found no errors in the book. I have no suggestions.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 5:12 am by Harsh Soni 3.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Rita Nuncia
The Last Stop by Patricia Street is an inspirational and informative memoir recounting the author’s experience during the period her son, David, was suffering from heroin addiction. We also get to look into the mind of David through his letters, emails and journals. The book began with the author’s explanation on why she decided to write this book. I would have read it without the First Ten program because I have always been curious to understand how the life of an addict is like. The few pages that I read are actually captivating and seem interesting, and I will like to buy and read the whole book. This is because I have always been curious to see what goes on in the mind of an addict and how their families handle it. This book seems professionally edited as I did not notice any grammatical or typographical errors while reading the available sample pages of the book. I like mostly that the author did not write this book in such a way that it was boring to read. I do not see anything that needs to be improved as I did not notice any fault in the few pages I read. I read an OnlineBookClub official review and it gave me an insight into what to expect from the book.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 4:58 am by Rita Nuncia.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Catherine Hsu
The cover art is so beautiful and the blurb sounds really touching. If I had not read this book as part of the First Ten program I would have read the book for sure. After reading the sample, I have not changed my mind. I really liked the mix of more objective discussion about resources that are available now and the more personal stories about David. I think naming chapters with time periods and starting from David as a child was also really interesting as we got to see all the different factors that would factor into his story. It was professionally edited. The official review did not change my mind; while I would also recommend it to parents of addicts, I would also show this book to readers of memoirs.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 3:57 am by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Ari Martinez
If it wasn't for this program, I wouldn't sample this book based on its title, cover, genre, blurb, or Official OnlineBookClub review because I don't usually like reading memoirs. Also, drug addiction is not something I have ever experienced in my family, so it is not a topic I am too interested in. After reading the first ten pages, I will not continue reading the book because of the same reasons mentioned previously – I was not captivated enough to change my mind. My favorite part of the sample was the author's honesty. I liked it when the author mentioned that knowing about drug addiction "made it real" because that feeling is something I have experienced. The book appears professionally edited, and I don't think it needs improvement.
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 1:58 am by Ari Martinez.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Damian Keyes
Opiates have become one of the top abused drugs in the United States. From reading the official review on the OBC website and after sampling the book through Amazon, I knew I wanted to buy this book. I love the fact that the author's son journaled his experience through addiction because it gives the audience signs and a look at people who are addicted. I didn't know what this book was about at first but the cover shows someone in a hoodie walking down a street. I'm glad that I delved deeper and came across this memoir that shows how a family loves and help their loved one who's addicted to drugs. I did not find anything I disliked in my reading. I can tell that this is a well-written book with a powerful message. I cannot wait to get this book!
First Ten review added on June 19, 2022, at 12:05 am by Damian Keyes.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Chinazo Anozie
I knew I wouldn’t be interested in this book from the title, cover, description, genre, customer reviews, and the official OnlineBookClub review. I’m not a fan of non-fiction, so I will not buy and read this book. However, I applaud the author for sharing David’s story and what she went through dealing with a son who was an addict. The only issue I had that could be improved was that some of the journal entries were in a font that was difficult to read. This book seems professionally edited because I didn’t notice any errors.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 11:59 pm by Chinazo Anozie.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
KafeliKe
Patricia Street's The Last Stop sounds like a good read. The author writes about her son's heroin addiction in this memoir. The author also shows the difficulties that families face as a result of drug addiction. The book also aims to identify and help the families that have been affected. The most appealing aspect of this book to me is how authentic it is. After reading the first ten pages, there was nothing about this book that I didn't appreciate. Furthermore, while reading the sample, I found no errors. This indicates that the book has been edited by a professional. The book is OK and needs no modification. I'm a big fan of memoirs, so I'll have to buy this one and finish reading it. On OnlineBookClub, there is a well-written review that provides an overview of the book. It wasn't because of the customers' comments, the title, or the cover that I decided to finish reading the book; it was because of the genre.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 11:04 pm by KafeliKe.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Sushan Ekanayake
The Last Stop by Patricia Street belongs to non-fiction genre. The title and the cover page is not much revealing, but the subtitle "A Memoir" says what is the content of the book, which I do not prefer to read. A blurb was nowhere to be found. But the book had many editorial and customer reviews that spoke highly about the book. But I would not have chosen this to read based on the above facts because I do not like to read memoirs.
Then I read the first ten pages. I liked how the author portrayed the development of the character of her son which leads him to what he became at the end, from the beginning of the book. From what I heard about the book, I liked the way the author portraying frankly what she went through because of her son's addiction, which makes the book relatable to anyone who is facing similar kind of issues. But reading the first ten pages did not change my mind from my original guess, and I will not choose to read this one as I do not prefer to read memoirs.
Based on what I read, the book seems like it was professionally edited, and I found no errors. I found no areas that could be improved.
The book had an official OBC review, which gave a clear idea about the book. But it did not change my mind, and I will not choose to read this one.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 9:50 pm by Sushan Ekanayake.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Verna Coy
The cover of this book grabs the attention of readers. Because it’s a memoir, and also because the body language of the person on the cover so effectively mirrors the story. I do enjoy this genre and the blurb and reviews of the book encouraged me to read it. I don’t plan to read the whole book, however, and that is mainly due to the fact that my family is recovering from the loss of not one, but two young men like the one featured in this novel, within a month of each other. A friend also recently lost a grandson in a similar fashion, so it’s a little too close to home for me to read in full right now. I do appreciate the advice related by the author in this book. What I liked most is how she tells the absolute unvarnished truth, and I know that will help readers apply it to their own lives.
I found nor reasons for improvement to this novel. It seems to be exceptionally edited. I saw neither flaw nor error in what I sampled today. I congratulate the author on a job well done and on the 4-star review that I read by the Online Book Club.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 8:19 pm by Verna Coy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
markodim721
I would choose to read a sample of this book because of the title and cover. I read the Official OnlineBookClub review, customer reviews, and the blurb but they did not influence my decision. The editor review written by Asher Syed influenced my decision because it further emphasized the author’s sincerity and depth of emotion. The title of the book represents the essence of the book in a great way. The cover of the book fits well with the title. I will not read the book because I am not currently interested in reading memoir-type books. While reading the sample I did not notice any errors or typos and the book seems like it is professionally edited. Reading the sample did not change my mind from my original guess. I like how David titled his collection of writings “Constructs of a Feeble Human Intellect” because it seems very modest and sincere but also provocative. I don't think anything needs to be improved in the book.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 5:58 pm by markodim721.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Emy Katherine
In all honesty, both the cover and the title caught my attention, and I also found the Amazon blurb informative. However, without this program, I would not have read the book based on the genre. I am not interested in reading non-fiction books; furthermore, reading the sample and the OBC review helped me realize that this book is too intense for me to read. Throughout her memoir, the author shares how she embarked on a heartbreaking journey with her son as he dealt with alcohol abuse, drug addiction, and legal issues caused by his addiction. I liked the author's honest tone as she explained how addiction changed her son's personality. She also highlighted how important it is for families and friends of drug addicts to seek help. The only thing I disliked was that I found some errors that were quite distracting; because of that, I would suggest another round of editing. For example, it should be written "driver's license" in the following sentence: "He was pulled over because his girlfriend’s drivers’ license had expired." (location 367 of 684 • 49%) Considering the book has received many positive editorial reviews and customer reviews, it sounds a must-read for those interested in reading touching, thought-provoking memoirs about addiction.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 4:11 pm by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kajori Sheryl Paul
'The Last Stop' is a book written by Patricia Street. Patricia Street writes the story of her son, David, a talented young man who could not live a normal life due to his addiction. David's addiction started when he was given morphine after an accident at the age of fifteen. I like how Street includes the writings of David in the book. It gives us David's perspective. The editing is good. Nothing is in need of improvement. I would have skipped this book based on the cover, title, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews as I am not in the mood to read memoirs. However, I have decided to read this book after reading the first ten pages as I would like to know David's story despite its tragic ending. He seems to have been a highly intelligent man.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 3:48 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Laura Ungureanu
I love the colors on this cover. I would definitely want to know more after seeing such a beautiful cover. After checking the blurb and OBC review, I changed my mind because I'm not into books about addition. The book seems to have extensive editorial reviews on Amazon, which makes me think it's well-written. I'm also not a fan of memoirs, so I was reticent, but I sampled it because of the First Ten program. The journal entry is very touching, but I didn't like the font because it's hard to read. I'm impressed that a mother would be so dedicated to her son because not all mothers would stand by their children for 15 years of addiction. Writing David's memoir is the best tribute I can think of. Publishing his writings, which he titled "Constructs of a Feeble Human Intellect," honors him in a way that makes him live on. I loved all the references to other books, especially about the opioid crisis. The first pages of this book made me feel very emotional. I can't think of anything I disliked about this book. However, I don't enjoy reading about addiction because it's such a painful subject, so I won't read any further. There were no editing errors that I could notice, so the sample seemed professionally edited.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 3:33 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
What a great cover! I have no idea, just by looking at the cover of the topic of the book, but it caught my attention and made me want to know more. I also like the blurb, though I'm not sure what kind of stories are comprised in Part 2. I recently watched the "Dopesick" documentary, and I'm interested in learning more about this addiction. The ratings are mostly high so, adding it all up, I would've bought the book based on my first impressions.
I have mixed feelings about the first ten pages. On the one hand, they're both moving, fascinating, and thought-provoking. I was so touched by little David claiming his mom can "fix anything," or how "He slipped five dollars into this young boy’s backpack on the school bus in eighth grade because the boy lived in a small, dilapidated house." I also find thought-provoking the idea that David's addiction started with that first shot of morphine. In my opinion, the problem was the "button." Many countries, such as mine, use morphine or other opioids for severe pain but don't allow the patient to control the dosage, neither they use them as a long-term "solution." There's no button. The patient gets a safe dosage just a couple of times. On the downside, I question how ethical it is to use your son's personal texts without his consent. I understand he wanted to be an author, but that's hardly the same as publishing his personal thoughts. But what's done is done, and I found the book interesting, so I'll buy it. I didn't find editing mistakes. My main suggestion is to change the font used for the diaries. I get it wants to convey the idea of a handwritten text, but it's very hard to read. The official OBC review furthered my interest in this book.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 2:32 pm by María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Hazel Arnaiz
Drug addiction is not my favorite topic. Based on the cover, title, genre, and blurb, I will skip this book outside the program. Customer reviews are enthusiastic. After sampling, I like the approach of presenting different perspectives. It gives fresh insights into the reality of a family struggling with drug addiction. Visually, it uses a creative way of identifying the standpoints. The storytelling is also engaging and effective. It is heartbreaking to read about one crisis after another. However, sampling did not change my mind. The topic is not my area of interest, which will not make me finish the book. I have no suggestions for improvement. Also, I did not encounter editing issues. The official OnlineBookClub review has helpful insights. But I will pass on this one.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 2:08 pm by Hazel Arnaiz.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Stephanie Runyon
I would not have sampled this book because it is a memoir. The cover shows a lone person in a hoodie walking with the sun behind them and would not have persuaded me to sample the book either. I like how the letters written by David are included in the book. The perspective from family and an addict is a refreshing way to look at a dark situation. I didn't encounter any errors in what I read. There is nothing I would want to suggest for improving the book. The OBC review didn't influence me to read the book further. I didn't read anything online to influence my choice. I found the memoir drew me in. As a former addict, I feel that reading this book may be enlightening enough to recommend it to my recovery counseling group. I am hopeful it will help others to understand how family members are affected by our addictions.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 2:02 pm by Stephanie Runyon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Patty Allread
If I were not part of the Online Book Club program, I would not have sampled this book. The title and cover art alone do not direct my attention to what the book may be about. The Amazon reviews, both editorial and by customers, and the Online Book Club Review gave me that data. Those reviews were very good, but I would not choose this book. I do not read many memoirs, and I do not feel I am in the target audience for the book and its subject. After reading the first ten pages, I still didn't want to read the rest of the book for the same reason--not the intended audience, so not motivated to read it.
I only found a single error in the first ten pages. It is in the section called "Disorderly Conduct" where it says, "I had not gotten[3] upset. The number three is out of place. I liked the down-to-earth writing style. The author is brutally honest about how things went with David, what he said and did and what she, his mother, thought and did. I most liked the excerpts from emails and posts written by David or his friends. They seemed utterly unfiltered and delivered a reality that could not be told another way. I would have liked to sample part two, so I could read some of David's writing. I did not find anything I disliked and have no improvements to suggest other than perhaps adding a subtitle to communicate what the book is about at first glance and giving us a photo of David.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 12:46 pm by Patty Allread.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Bertha Jackson
I enjoy reading some memoirs, and the serene cover gives me a calm feeling, as does the title. For these reasons, I would have checked out this book. The blurb discouraged me from reading the book because it is about the death of a son. The customer reviews, editorial reviews, and the OnlineBookClub review did not influence my decision not to read this book. I like the author’s honesty in revealing her feelings about David’s addiction and her use of David’s journal entries and emails in telling this story. Many people do not understand how an innocent event like using morphine in a hospital to stop pain can start an addiction and how it affects everyone around them. The first ten pages appear to be professionally edited, but I did find an error in this sentence at 36% of the sample: “I had not [gotten3] (gotten) upset yet.” I have no recommendations for the author. I will not purchase and read this book because I am not in the mood to read about the death of a son.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 11:22 am by Bertha Jackson.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
AntonelaMaria
Even reading just the sample I could tell that this is a very heartbreaking and emotional book. Official OnlineBookClub reviews and other Amazon reviews confirm that this is an excellent book on an important topic. The blurb is interesting, and I like the genre. However, after reading the sample, I am not continuing with the book. It is too emotionally draining. I think the author did a fantastic job of honoring her son and helping others' families deal with addiction while also grieving herself. As she mentioned, we often forget who the person was before they became addicted. I didn't notice any errors, and I wouldn't change anything about the book. I think this is a very special book, and I might give it a chance in the future.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 10:49 am by AntonelaMaria.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Ayomikun Babalola
I would not have chosen to read or sample this book. I like the book's cover and title. The cover is aesthetically pleasing. The book's blurb felt raw and honest. It was really well written. Though this book seems like a good book, the problem is that I am not a fan of this book's genre. The editorial and customer reviews did not influence my opinion. I was not going to purchase this book. This is because I do not like to read memoirs. The first ten pages did not change my opinion of this book.
I found at least one instance of an error while reading this book. On page 9, the sentence reads, “Then, he would relapse back into what he called 'full blown heroin addiction.' ” To give this sentence more clarity, the word “a” should be placed either before or after the opening quotation mark. The words “full blown” should also be hyphenated. I loved how raw and honest this book feels. I love that this book is a way for her to cope with her grief, as well as to help others with their own. Furthermore, I feel that this book should be edited once again in order to remove any errors that are in this book. I did not see an official Onlinebookclub review.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 10:09 am by Ayomikun Babalola.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Timothy Rucinski
The cover was intriguing. The imagery would have been enough for me to take a closer look. However, the Official OBC Review pretty much sealed it for me that I wouldn't read this book. I don't care for memoirs, and I especially don't care for memoirs about addiction. I read no other reviews or blurbs. After reading the first several pages, I was convinced I would not continue. There wasn't anything that I disliked about the book, particularly since it is very well written, but I do not enjoy the genre. What I liked most was the author's ability to put into writing the horror of the emotions she felt. I particularly liked her revelation that she didn't want to know about her son's addiction because knowing something made it real. I believe that the book was professionally edited, as I found no errors or typos, but I still think the book should be proofread one more time since there are distracting formatting issues. For example, the typeface keeps changing, as seen at 41% in the Amazon sample. Certainly, the author has decided to make various quoted notes and social media entries into a different typeface. But the typefaces aren't consistent, sometimes smaller than the text of the story, sometimes larger. It's distracting. Other than looking at the formatting issue, I have no other recommendations for improvement.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 9:41 am by Timothy Rucinski.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Theresa Moffitt
The cover art of this book is intriguing. It makes me curious about the man walking alone. The title doesn’t tell me what the book it about. However, it states that it is a memoir. I like reading interesting memoirs, so I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. I haven’t read any customer reviews or blurbs. The onlinebookclub.org review that I read gave the book 4 out of 4 stars. It noted that the book was about heroine addiction. I wasn’t aware of that from the cover. It also recommended the book to people struggling with addition. Since I don’t fall into this category, the OBC review made me less interested in the book. The OBC review also stated that it was impeccably edited. I agree with that statement because I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages. So, I believe the book was professionally edited. I also didn’t see any area that the author could improve upon. The first ten pages begin with the author describing her son, David. He died at 39 as a result of heroine addiction. She described how he was first introduced to opiates due to an injury. He tried several times to stop using but always went back to it. The book will include the author’s story and writings that her son left behind after he died. It sounds like it will be a very sad book. Since the OBC review recommended this book to readers struggling with addiction and I don’t fall into that category, I will not finish reading this book. I also don’t believe the subject is something I would enjoy reading about. So, based on the first ten pages and the OBC review, I will not finish reading this book.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 9:38 am by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No
Kira Bonita Reece
This book showcases the life of an addict and what they go through daily. I would choose to read it based on the amazing official OnlineBookClub review, the cover, blurb, title, genre, and the positive customer reviews. What I liked most about this book was that it was unfiltered. Patricia tells the story of her addicted son without sugarcoating anything.
The sample was professionally edited and the book needs no improvements. Families going through similar situations will find this book quite beneficial. I will be reading this one because the sample has intrigued me and I would like to know what goes on in the mind of an addict.
First Ten review added on June 18, 2022, at 9:31 am by Kira Bonita Reece.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!
Total ~ 36%
The Last Stop earned a score of 36%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 36% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
Go to main Bookshelves page for The Last Stop
