Predictable, Dull and Slow (Rating 2 of 5)
» Charlotte Lou
For a start, I thought that Josephine Cox was meant to be quite an acclaimed author - I expected a really high standard of writing and on reading the back of 'The Loner' was looking forward to a gripping page-turner.
I was disappointed.
The writing style was so lacking energy and enthusiasm and certainly the first 2/3 of the book dragged on and on and was nothing more than an over-flowery attempt at setting the scene. In fact, by the middle of the book I was bored and willing a plane crash, hurricane, mass murder - anything to inspire me to want to read on!! It was like an episode of 'Last of the Summer Wine'.
I hate leaving a book unfinished though so I did plough on and actually, come page 350 or so it got interesting and loads happened all at once. What amazed me though was the fact that up until this point, Cox had spent 6 pages describing something as trivial as a walk in the woods, then a major event - a gruesome act of revenge was written about in half a page! It seemed like an amatuer attempt at writing to me - and I know Josephine Cox is no amatuer.
As another reviewer also picked up on, a couple of very delicate, major subject matters were touched upon and Cox totally wimped out of going into them properly, that could possibly have saved the book as well.
The title bemused me too - 'The Loner'. Davie wasn't a loner though, he just kept moving on. At no point did he try to avoid making freinds, turn down work, decline love interests, etc. Not very well thought out!
Then the end - give me strength - PREDICTABLE, TOTALLY PREDICTABLE! Just like the ending of a kids book where they all live happily ever after - I'll say no more.
I was amazed in ASDA yesterday to see a whole shelf filled with copies of this book - I couldn't believe it .... I pity anyone who wastes their money on it
The Loner by Josephine Cox I really enjoyed (Rating 4 of 5)
» Andy Capp
The Loner by Josephine Cox I really enjoyed. The central character in the book was Davie Adams who when the book began was a frightened boy due to everything that had happened to him and by the end of the book he appeared to be a strong man.
As the story begins Rita Adams (Davie's mother) is walking down the street very drunk and clinging to the wall for support, it was dark so I imagine the street lighting wasn't too good and as I read I sensed that Rita was a very frightening figure.
Davie looked on Judy (his friend) as a real support and while she had a good background family wise he didn't so her family seemed to welcome him.
What I really like about Jo's books is that she is very descriptive and in those times people rallied round and me being the reader you could imagine the characters talking and helping where necessary.
The book had surprises; Judy's friend Annie who was or we are led to believe was a very strong character but I'm not going to spoil it for anyone but you will be quite surprised at what Annie had to endure.
A good read and thanks Jo for another great book
predictable, unimaginative and lacking in substance (Rating 1 of 5)
» Mr. R. C. Park
I have never read Josphine Cox before, but "The Loner" was advertised heavily and the reviews appeared good, so I gave it a try. The writing style indicated it might have been written either by a 12 year or for a 12 year old - there was just no substance to this book. As if the situations weren't predictable enough, the author actually gave open clues as to what was coming next, which rather insulted the reader's intelligence and made the book even more tedious. One reviewer described it as "chewing gum for the mind" - agreed, but chewing gum without any flavour. If this is a sample Josphine Cox's writing, I won't be reading a novel by her again - even for a light bedtime read this really was just too soporific.
Mrs Lynne Park
A bitter disappointment (Rating 2 of 5)
» Dolly
I'd never heard of Josephine Cox when I picked up this book at the book shop. I liked the subject matter so I bought it. At first I was enthusiastic. It's nice to read a story set in England for a change. She had good strong characters and although her writing style seemed old fashioned, I was never bored.
About half way through I found myself getting increasingly frustrated with what seemed like a predictable story and a sequence of events that were unrealistic and far too convenient for the characters and for the writer. The ending was so convenient it made me want to vomit. She also tries to address some uncomfortable subjects but completely wimps out of addressing them in the end.
With her old fashioned style I sometimes felt like I was reading Mills and Boon without the romance. There's too much conversation and too much fluff. The times when felt really gripped were short lived. The book is definately not aimed for young adult readers, so if you're under 50... put it down!
Terribly written! (Rating 1 of 5)
» M. Higgins
This is possibly the worst book I've ever read. It's as though it's been written by a 12 year old and who gives a main character the name of Dave. Ugg.
I'm disappointed because I read the Beachcomber a few years back and sort of enjoyed it. Chewing gum for the mind you might say but enjoyable.
I would not recommend this book to anyone
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