Overall rating and opinion of "Final Notice" by Van Fleisher

Christina Rose · Post by **Christina Rose** » 03 Mar 2018, 01:07

cristinaro wrote: ↑02 Mar 2018, 06:29 What I like most about Van Fleisher's novel is the challenging topics it addresses. Gun ownership with its many pros and cons is one of them and the other would be the threat and implications of death foretelling. I have read the begging of the story and Vince's realistic description as well as the authenticity of the domestic scenes between Vince and Trudi made a good impression on me. I have every intention of continuing to read the novel because it triggers my curiosity to see how different people react to the knowledge of their upcoming death.

I agree that the author wisely chose challenging and controversial topics to discuss in his novel. Even outside of the two main topics, the author addresses various forms of discrimination - another hot topic in this day and age.

Christina Rose · Post by **Christina Rose** » 03 Mar 2018, 01:12

azerikaj wrote: ↑02 Mar 2018, 15:14 Makes me sad to think that so many people may have cold-blooded murders on their bucket lists...not that I'm totally immune to the thought. I watch Mafia dramas all the time...still.
Also, some of the time reading this, I felt like I was in an Apple commercial. I get that he was trying to show ordinary details but I felt it veered close to product-placement at times.

I'm really enjoying this novel so far, but I have to admit that your product-placement comment does kind of ring true, lol.

Lg_99 · Post by **Lg_99** » 03 Mar 2018, 01:15

I have not read the book yet, so I do not have an "opinion" of it. However, I decided to give this book a try because I find interesting the themes it focuses on. I enjoy reading stories that touch real life issues and problems. I'll start reading it soon, so we'll see how it goes.

HouseOfAtticus · Post by **HouseOfAtticus** » 03 Mar 2018, 05:19

I found the book a bit of a drag. I did, however, loved the issue it was addressing.

azerikaj · Post by **azerikaj** » 03 Mar 2018, 12:31

Mostly, I like it too, but I probably would have written something like "Searches were really fast on the zippy new laptop." which might be less-specific, but not quite as proprietary.

azerikaj · Post by **azerikaj** » 03 Mar 2018, 12:51

Guess that's one way of solving your staffing issues(Which are also a real problem, even as my quip seems callous.

GOTOLA GOTOLA · Post by **GOTOLA GOTOLA** » 03 Mar 2018, 16:05

Am still reading through this book. It's interesting how Vince reacted when he opened out his situation to his wife. My adrenorine levels increased like Vince when he was watching fox news.

Zeeeenahhh · Post by **Zeeeenahhh** » 03 Mar 2018, 18:38

Christina Rose wrote: ↑03 Mar 2018, 01:01
Hephzi Lolami wrote: ↑01 Mar 2018, 22:26
lori_parker2003 wrote: ↑01 Mar 2018, 09:26 Had trouble getting through the few pages they give to check out the book. Found it slow and I am a pro-gun person so this biased my view I think. Probably will not buy the book to read in full.
I would advise you to read the book. For me, i think its interesting and you should give it a tryout. Maybe the part given wasn't fascinating but if you're truly a pro-gun person as you said, I would advice you to check it out.
I agree that it would be beneficial to try to read more of the novel. I haven't finished it yet, but is has already made me pause a few times to think - not just the parts about guns and our access to them, but also the parts about the Final Notice option. Don't get me wrong, if you really can't stand the book, or the ideas of the author, then forcing yourself to read it isn't going to accomplish anything positive. There's definitely nothing wrong with having a strong opinion about issues that matter to you. I am pro-2nd amendment, and am reading with an open-mind. I think there is a happy medium that can be reached if we listen to each other.

Alright. Of course there is nothing wrong in that. Being yourself and open-minded is the most important thing. Thanks for replying.

Libs_Books · Post by **Libs_Books** » 04 Mar 2018, 15:38

I've just finished reading the book. I really wanted to love it because, as far as I'm concerned, the writer's heart is in absolutely the right place on all the topics mentioned in this book. However, the writing style is a bit pedestrian. I agree with a comment made above that the relationship between Vince and Trudy (not forgetting Miles!) is genuinely touching, but the writer explains and elaborates everything - there's nothing left for the reader today. And pretty much everybody in the book talks to each other in the same way.

I found the basic idea of the watch implausible, but I liked the way that the tech company people were seen as honest and genuinely concerned about what might be happening with their product.

In the end, I'm glad I stuck with the book - it starts to get genuinely gripping towards the end, and I found the finish rewarding (not sure if spoilers are allowed here, so I won't go into details.

Rating? Hmmm... tough one. If I could give it 2.5 out of 4 stars, I would. I need more time to think.

melissy370 · Post by **melissy370** » 04 Mar 2018, 15:45

azerikaj wrote: ↑02 Mar 2018, 15:14 Makes me sad to think that so many people may have cold-blooded murders on their bucket lists...not that I'm totally immune to the thought. I watch Mafia dramas all the time...still.
Also, some of the time reading this, I felt like I was in an Apple commercial. I get that he was trying to show ordinary details but I felt it veered close to product-placement at times.

I agree with your statement on Apple. I actually said the same thing in my review for this book. Too many needless details!! My rating for it was 2 out of 4 stars.

azerikaj · Post by **azerikaj** » 04 Mar 2018, 16:29

There is a fine line between creating characters that live in a branded world(i.e.: drinking Coke from time to time) and stopping the action like in those insurance commercials.

Cristina Chifane · Post by **Cristina Chifane** » 04 Mar 2018, 16:52

Christina Rose wrote: ↑03 Mar 2018, 01:07
cristinaro wrote: ↑02 Mar 2018, 06:29 What I like most about Van Fleisher's novel is the challenging topics it addresses. Gun ownership with its many pros and cons is one of them and the other would be the threat and implications of death foretelling. I have read the begging of the story and Vince's realistic description as well as the authenticity of the domestic scenes between Vince and Trudi made a good impression on me. I have every intention of continuing to read the novel because it triggers my curiosity to see how different people react to the knowledge of their upcoming death.
I agree that the author wisely chose challenging and controversial topics to discuss in his novel. Even outside of the two main topics, the author addresses various forms of discrimination - another hot topic in this day and age.

You're perfectly right about that. You'd think that living in the 21st century would be enough to make people more open-minded and ready to accept difference, yet reality proves us wrong time and again. More needs to be done for people to rule out prejudice and misconceptions.

Ashiyya Tariq · Post by **Ashiyya Tariq** » 05 Mar 2018, 01:17

The plot of this boom is interesting. As the book put forward a new innovation, a watch that can count your life days. I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. What i like the most is that, this book covers an important issue of gun control policy. So i would recommend it to readers interested in anti-gun policy.

thelittlelibrary · Post by **thelittlelibrary** » 05 Mar 2018, 07:07

I haven't read this one yet but reading through all of these comments is helping me to consider reading it! What were the best parts/worst parts of this book?

Haute_Coffee · Post by **Haute_Coffee** » 05 Mar 2018, 08:45

thelittlelibrary wrote: ↑05 Mar 2018, 07:07 I haven't read this one yet but reading through all of these comments is helping me to consider reading it! What were the best parts/worst parts of this book?

To me, the most interesting aspects of the book were the imagined state of society. Without getting too "spoilery," the NRA has targeted a particular group that feels powerless and is promoting gun ownership to them and offering a special discount. Open carrying is now commonplace and there are laws allowing anyone who feels threatened to be allowed to "brandish" their weapon even in public to protect themselves. To me, I thought it was way too easy to imagine life becoming like this. I thought it was a really good look at what things could be like if gun laws went in this direction.

I also thought a lot about the way people felt a loss of control or power in their lives and how holding a gun gave them back that sense of power. It made me do a lot of thinking, tbh.