I’m not sure how this book was recommended to me – for some reason I have the faint memory of it being related to the popularity of Squid Game (a show I’ve never seen). The idea of this book intrigued me, but ultimately the characters and their relationships didn’t appeal to me so I was left disappointed with this one.
The idea that I liked was that in a small town “where nothing happens” kids in the school contribute some money every year into a big pot, and then award that significant sum to the person who wins a series of games they call the “Panic”. Two people are chosen every year to organize the event, and the students compete in dangerous events until they are left with just one winner.
Part of the reason I didn’t like this book is that it is probably written for young adults who are struggling with their own issues of confidence, bravery, and also the importance of being cool and/or looking cool to their peers. There is plenty of story based on these themes, and not much on overcoming fear, which I thought would be a stronger theme.
I think there could be comparisons to the Hunger Games here, but that series had enough futuristic elements to help carry the story. This book is firmly set in a boring small town in contemporary America, with adults you can’t relate to and not much to look forward to in the future. Maybe contemporary America is dystopian enough these days, I don’t know.
So this book didn’t really grab me, and it was a bit of a chore to finish it. I guess it will be a movie or mini-series in the future, though. I don’t think I’ll be in line to see it.
Next I’m reading Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr.
