Review of Final Notice

OTrain Disene · Post by **OTrain Disene** » 01 Feb 2022, 10:30

[Following is a volunteer review of "Final Notice" by Van Fleisher.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Imagine receiving a notification from your smartwatch that in less than seven or thirty days, you are going to die. What are you going to do? Are you going to make amends with those you have wronged? Are you going to make sure that you make up for the lost time with those you have not been in contact with for a long time? Maybe you are going to do that one last thing you were scared of, which is bungee jumping or skydiving. But not all people might think like you. While you may think of the positive things to do one last time, some people might think of negative and extreme things like murder, for instance. They would rather kill than fix broken past relationships. Final Notice by Van Fleisher is a sci-fi that explores the theme of mortality in a very beautiful way. The book focuses on different characters who almost look like they have nothing in common except that they all own a certain wristwatch.

In Pasadena, California, we meet the character by the name of Vince Fuller, who has just turned seventy. While at the mall, Vince got pushed by one man, and he wasn’t that hurt, except something deep inside of him like his ego. He felt weak and taken advantage of by this young man. He returns home, and he doesn’t let out much to his wife. Later on, he is watching TV with his wife, and the channel he is tuned to, they are interviewing Dwayne, who is working for the National Rifle Association. He encourages people, especially older people, to start carrying arms to protect themselves, as they are becoming targets. Vince is still unsure about getting the gun.

In Quincy, Massachusetts, we are introduced to Vijay Patel, who came to the USA from India to study at MIT. Vijay has developed a watch that can read blood pressure, temperatures, and such and be able to predict death. Because it’s still a new product, his company decides to start with a limited rollout, so the customers can get its feel about it.

But when murders are happening at an alarming rate, the FBI gets involved, and it gets a little messy. Did this watch, in any way whatsoever, push these people to commit murder? Did Vijay just invent something that would do more damage than good? What about Vince? At his age, would he be able to handle a gun? Is NRA even right to be encouraging people to arm themselves? Answers to these questions are in between the covers of this book.

Amongst many things, this book raises a lot of questions about gun violence, especially in the United States. Are guns really the answer to personal safety? Do guns really solve the problem? Should guns be this accessible to just anyone, especially elders? These are the few questions that will roam around your mind when you read this book.

The author wasn’t taking sides in this issue, so if you are for people to be carrying guns, rest assured that you won’t feel disrespected or anything of that nature. But you will rather feel questioned and uncomfortable. And this is what I like because I believe stories, especially fictional ones, must leave us questioning ourselves so we can be better. Stories must mirror our actions, so we can see ourselves in these characters, and if they don’t, then they are really not worth our time.

The author didn’t lean too much into this controversial issue. Best believe, the watch was in the centre of the story. That’s what I loved about it. The characters were well-introduced. I got to know them first before the book climbed to its climax. Their backstories made them relatable and realistic. I love the pace it was moving in. It was steady in the beginning, then picked up in the middle, then slowing down in the end. It made perfect sense.

I didn’t dislike anything from this book. The ending had a convincing conclusion that tied all the loose ends up but managed to leave a little room for a sequel.

I am happy to rate this book four out of four stars. I saw few errors, although it seemed to be professionally edited. The themes, the pace, the characters, and the tone, as I have stated in great detail in the above paragraphs, made me give it this perfect rating. There is a use of profanity that might turn off sensitive people. But other than that, it doesn’t discriminate, and it would be perfect to be read by anyone who is into politics and science-fiction.

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Final Notice
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Ellylion · Post by **Ellylion** » 06 Feb 2022, 06:36

I believe it's a great read that allows to look deeper into the human souls. I would say that gun violence problem, unfortunately, haunts not only Americans. Thank you for this great and insightful review!

Walter R · Post by **Walter R** » 07 Feb 2022, 10:34

This seems like quite an intriguing storyline. Would definitely love to have this one on my shelf. Great review.

NancyDrew12 · Post by **NancyDrew12** » 09 Feb 2022, 06:27

The plot of this book is very interesting. I would like to learn more about Vince and what he does about feeling weak. Thank you for your outstanding review!

Edet Joy · Post by **Edet Joy** » 09 Feb 2022, 07:50

Great and compelling review. I'll be sure to give this book a tryout!

Amiczy Heaven · Post by **Amiczy Heaven** » 09 Feb 2022, 08:17

I’ll prolly give no attention to it. Nice book and nice review.

Raluca_Mihaila · Post by **Raluca_Mihaila** » 09 Feb 2022, 16:08

Guns are a sensible subject that provoke heated arguments. I am not from America, so I clearly see things differently. However, the book seems to touch many interesting topics, so you have convinced me to give it a try. Great job with the review!