Review of Book- take 4567

[Janet Kimetto]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Book- take 4567" by Eilis NiEidhin.]

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1 out of 4 stars

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Book- take 4567 by Eilis NiEidhin consists of two stories and a middle part titled "Rhyming Mash" containing "rhymes," all of which have a touch of feminism. The first story features several gods, with The God of Design at the top. He has a long-time plan that's about to be, but something gets in the way of it. He is confused. Mother Earth, on the other hand, is amused. Even though she is all but forgotten, Mother Earth worked with The God of Design (in the days past) to create a woman, Glitch, who is essential to the plan. She takes advantage of this to make him agree to her demands. He has to save his plan at whatever cost, after all.

The second story is about a woman, Daphne. She cast a spell to awaken all animals. In this reality, animals have been sentient (and talking) for a few months, and the world is still adjusting to that shift. And that's not even the strangest thing to happen yet. Daphne thinks it would be much better if machines were sentient too. The world will adjust.

I didn't find anything to like about this book. Its ideas surprised me, though. And I even thought the first story could work as a premise to create a great fantasy story. Unfortunately, nothing was expounded on or developed. Chapter ten, for instance, is only one sentence long (eight words).

The book has a lot going on for such a short read (47 pdf pages). As a result, it is too confusing. Some characters, like Ulsa, are only mentioned once. I don't know her part in the story. She would have been an interesting character, but we don't see her again. After her introduction, though, there's a summary (an outline, if you will), and I can't help but wonder if that was supposed to be her life (story).

The second story is a little more straightforward but less plausible. The idea of animals being sentient is not that hard to believe, but the story starts right in the thick of things, and a lot of it is hard to believe. In one instance, a hedgehog family had tea with a tiger, and the tiger left with a recipe for carrot mash. The idea of a carnivore becoming a vegetarian is hard to believe, as is the idea of machines awakening without the use of science. I'd say this story still needs a whole lot of development.

In addition to that, the note Daphne left at the end was written in the author's voice. It did not sound like the character's voice at all; so maybe the ideas could have been a part of the story, but in a different (seamless) way; in a way that the reader doesn't doubt it as being a part of the story. Also, a big part of the note was included in the rhymes, word for word, before we met Daphne (a repetition).

I do not understand the title, but since this book is described as "a historical fiction projected into a fictive future universe," 4567 is probably used to represent the year. If it were up to me, though, I'd categorize it as other fiction.

Lastly, I believe this book hasn't gone through any editing. I encountered way too many errors. Overall, I think that maybe it is still a work in progress. I give it 1 out of 5 stars. I do not recommend it to anyone because it still needs a lot of work.

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Book- take 4567
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[Anna_1203]

While reading your review, I felt that this book is still unfinished. The cover and title need to be refined, the storyline needs to be developed, and the book needs to be edited... Thank you for your honest review.

[Chinazo Anozie]

I was already confused from the title, book cover, and the first lines of your review. It can be very frustrating to read a book that fails to live up to expectations.

[Janet Kimetto]

While reading your review, I felt that this book is still unfinished. The cover and title need to be refined, the storyline needs to be developed, and the book needs to be edited... Thank you for your honest review.

Thank you for stopping by!

[Janet Kimetto]

I was already confused from the title, book cover, and the first lines of your review. It can be very frustrating to read a book that fails to live up to expectations.

I also found it confusing. It's why I thought the book is still a work in progress; because of the title, book cover, contents, and everything else I mentioned. Thank you for stopping by, Nazzo! It's always good to see you!

[Kavita Shah]

Gliches, Ulsa, these names are nice but what's in the name? I am really confused after reading the summary, and it only reflects that the short book isn't intelligible. Thank you Janet for the review, it must've been hard work to write it.

[Faisal Kurfi]

I have to admit that I was alarmed by the book title but after reading your review, I realised that the title is the least of my concern. Perhaps the book is still under development. Thank you for finishing the book, I know it must have been frustrating.

[MsH2k]

Ouch. It does indeed sound like a work still in progress. Hopefully, the author will continue to develop these stories. Thank you for sharing your reading experience so well.

[Janet Kimetto]

Gliches, Ulsa, these names are nice but what's in the name? I am really confused after reading the summary, and it only reflects that the short book isn't intelligible. Thank you Janet for the review, it must've been hard work to write it.

It was confusing. I don't know why the book was put together the way it was. Thank you for stopping by, Kavita Shah!

[Janet Kimetto]

I have to admit that I was alarmed by the book title but after reading your review, I realised that the title is the least of my concern. Perhaps the book is still under development. Thank you for finishing the book, I know it must have been frustrating.

Yea, perhaps. Thank you for leaving a comment!

[Janet Kimetto]

Ouch. It does indeed sound like a work still in progress. Hopefully, the author will continue to develop these stories. Thank you for sharing your reading experience so well.

It does, doesn't it? I do hope the author works on it some more. I felt so bad about having to disappoint them (it's my first 1-star rating), but I hope they find my review to be helpful, if nothing else. Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind words, MsH2k!

[Not available anymore]

I can literally feel your disappointment
I like the way you didn't sugar coat anything and purely didn't recommend for anyone. I hope the author improves on the book because every story is worth telling, and what is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

[Natalie Sheph]

The plot seems rather confusing and unfinished, and I wonder why this book doesn't have a cover, or what its title means. Thanks for your honest review.