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Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - so very behind!'s Reviews > The Passengers
The Passengers
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What an inventive, exciting, and unique thriller from John Marrs! I have to say going into this book I had a completely different idea on how it would play out and a very different impression of the basic framework of the book itself, but the thought of self-driving cars trapping their owners and holding them hostage immediately caught my attention, and from there this plot goes completely sideways!
Marrs gives us an interesting cast of characters, from an aging Hollywood star, to a expectant mother, to a couple celebrating their ten year anniversary, and several others, yet this seemingly disparate group has one thing in common: the AI in their automated vehicle tells them they are being re-routed from their previous destinations....and they will die in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Without giving too much away, this book definitely was multi-faceted, and a great deal of it actually focuses on social commentary surrounding the consequences of self-driving cars and the importance we place on one person or one attribute vs. another. There are still plenty of twists for the thriller lovers, but when Marrs says he spent a lot of time researching this book, I believe it! It really made me reflect on the role technology plays in my life and how much control I would be truly willing to give up...and how much I would cling to for dear life!
This was another great read from John Marrs, and due to the references I've seen mentioned in some other reviews, I am even more excited to dig into Marrs' The One!
4 ⭐️
Marrs gives us an interesting cast of characters, from an aging Hollywood star, to a expectant mother, to a couple celebrating their ten year anniversary, and several others, yet this seemingly disparate group has one thing in common: the AI in their automated vehicle tells them they are being re-routed from their previous destinations....and they will die in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Without giving too much away, this book definitely was multi-faceted, and a great deal of it actually focuses on social commentary surrounding the consequences of self-driving cars and the importance we place on one person or one attribute vs. another. There are still plenty of twists for the thriller lovers, but when Marrs says he spent a lot of time researching this book, I believe it! It really made me reflect on the role technology plays in my life and how much control I would be truly willing to give up...and how much I would cling to for dear life!
This was another great read from John Marrs, and due to the references I've seen mentioned in some other reviews, I am even more excited to dig into Marrs' The One!
4 ⭐️
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Lisa-Anne
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rated it 5 stars
Jul 02, 2020 04:31PM
Great review Catherine. This is on my TBR. The One is the first book I read of John Marrs. Its great as well. ☺
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Lisa-Anne wrote: "Great review Catherine. This is on my TBR. The One is the first book I read of John Marrs. Its great as well. ☺"Thanks Lisa-Anne!! I am definitely looking forward to the One, especially before it hits Netflix! 😊 What Lies Between Us was incredible, but I really enjoyed this book too, he is such a creative author!
What a great review, Catherine!! Our Book Club read "The One" (recommended by Graeme who has the website, www.orderofbooks.com). It was our first John Marrs read and we were so pleased and what a discussion! I think I may nominate this one because we love lively discussions and reading out of our "comfort zones". Marrs has such a unique and fresh writing skills.
Marcia wrote: "What a great review, Catherine!! Our Book Club read "The One" (recommended by Graeme who has the website, www.orderofbooks.com). It was our first John Marrs read and we were so pleased and what a d..."That’s great to hear, Marcia!! This one would be wonderful for a Book Club, they had some great discussion questions in the back too! 😊
Good review, Catherine! I enjoyed this too! What a CRAZY ride.
Thank you Oscar!! Yes, crazy doesn’t begin to cover it!!! I am NEVER getting in a self-driving car now! 😂
Yesss! This was a great book, glad you enjoyed, and I will be following along for your review of he one when you get to it, as I loved that too! Yeah self driving cars aren't that attractive anymore are they?!
preoccupiedbybooks wrote: "Yesss! This was a great book, glad you enjoyed, and I will be following along for your review of he one when you get to it, as I loved that too! Yeah self driving cars aren't that attractive anymor..."Yes, it was so good and a page-turner (which I’m guessing is the norm for Marrs after my second one!) but I’m just grateful I have the One already so I don’t have to wait for the library 🥳 I hate driving so that always seemed like a great idea, but now I have 0% desire to ever try the self-driving car! I think if I even see one, I’m RUNNING the other way! 😂
Great review, Catherine! This reminds me of Stephen King's Christine but with a modern day spin. Sounds just as scary, if not more, considering the role of technology today!
Donna wrote: "Great review, Catherine! This reminds me of Stephen King's Christine but with a modern day spin. Sounds just as scary, if not more, considering the role of technology today!"Thanks, Donna!! 😊 that’s a really great comparison...probably something King never thought would be a reality back when he wrote that book in the 80s!! 😯
Terrific review! I enjoyed this one too! 💕
Jayme wrote: "Terrific review! I enjoyed this one too! 💕"Thank you, Jayme!! 😊💕 I’m looking forward to The One even more now!
Great review, Catherine! I'm curious...is the book preachy? I definitely like books with some social commentary, but I tend to stay away from ones where I feel like I'm being preached to.
Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** wrote: "Great review, Catherine! I'm curious...is the book preachy? I definitely like books with some social commentary, but I tend to stay away from ones where I feel like I'm being preached to."Thanks Mirjana! 😊 great question...I really don’t think it is preachy at all, more of just a “what-if” exploration with some subtle digs at social media and how flippant people can be on Twitter, etc. I don’t think it’s anything that would deter from the reading experience at all! 👍
Catherine wrote: "Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** wrote: "Great review, Catherine! I'm curious...is the book preachy? I definitely like books with some social commentary, but I tend to stay away from ones where I fee..."Great! I've been in the situation too many times where an author turned observations and commentary into a snowball of pages and pages of preaching about a subject matter. To the point where it pulls you out of the story because now the pages are focused on other things the author is trying to educate the reader on. Glad that's not the case here! I look forward to reading this one!
p.s. I recently read a book where the author spent about 40(ish) pages throughout the book talking about the need for parents to talk to their kids of about safe sex (which I agree with), but it had absolutely nothing to do with the plot of the book.
Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** wrote: "Great review, Catherine! I'm curious...is the book preachy? I definitely like books with some social commentary, but I tend to stay away fro..."Oh I agree, that is the worst!! Especially when it gets really repetitive...🙄 we get it already! lol If I want that sort of education on anything, I’m probably going to be basic nonfiction anyway!
Ps-What is the name of that other book so I can avoid it? 😂
Catherine wrote: "Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** wrote: "Great review, Catherine! I'm curious...is the book preachy? I definitely like books with some social ..."Yes, exactly!
The book I mentioned was a contemporary romance (Dance Away with Me)
Thanks Mirjana! Definitely staying far away from that one!!
Great review dear, now I have to read it, thank you!!!
Pam wrote: "Great review dear, now I have to read it, thank you!!!"Awww thank you Pam! 🥰 I hope you really enjoy it, it’s quite a unique read!!
Great review!I didn't read the synopsis and you mentioned it focused on technology and it's impact in our lives.
This is on my TBR and I'm pushing it up a little farther ahead now.
Alyssa wrote: "Great review!I didn't read the synopsis and you mentioned it focused on technology and it's impact in our lives.
This is on my TBR and I'm pushing it up a little farther ahead now."
That’s great, Alyssa!! I really like how he approached the topics in a subtle way...you’ll definitely be reflecting on what you would do if you were in that situation! 😮
Michelle wrote: "Excellent review, Catherine! 💛"Thanks so much, Michelle!! 💚
Fabulous review! Glad you loved it too! Hurry up and read “The One”! The Minders is coming out in March! 💕
Jayme wrote: "Fabulous review! Glad you loved it too! Hurry up and read “The One”! The Minders is coming out in March! 💕"Thanks so much Jayme!! 💖 you are absolutely right, I forgot the Minders is coming out so soon, I’d better get cracking! 😂
Terrific review Catherine!🤩
Kay ⋆☘⋆ wrote: "Terrific review Catherine!🤩"Thanks so much, Kay!! 🥰
So interesting C ! I have added and thank you for this nice intro to the book !
It does sound interesting. Glad it delivered, Catherine! Nice review
Ohh, this sounds so intriguing! Definitely something I'd be interested in! 😊 Great review Catherine! 💖
Jaidee wrote: "So interesting C ! I have added and thank you for this nice intro to the book !"You are so welcome J, it's an eye-opener for sure!! 👀
Jen CAN wrote: "It does sound interesting. Glad it delivered, Catherine! Nice review"One I would definitely recommend! NEVER trying a self-driving car though, you couldn't pay me enough! 😂 thank you, Jen!!
Amina wrote: "Ohh, this sounds so intriguing! Definitely something I'd be interested in! 😊 Great review Catherine! 💖"It's super good Amina, I'll be curious to see what you think! Thanks so much! 💞
That’s an enticing review Catherine 👏
Excellent review, Catherine! 💜 Glad to know this was a good read. I've yet to read this author.
Great review Catherine! Glad to see you liked this one!
Fabulous review, Catherine! I am glad this book took you on an unexpected journey.
Maureen wrote: "That’s an enticing review Catherine 👏"Thanks so much, Maureen! 💖 it was a fascinating and exciting read!!
Sujoya wrote: "Excellent review, Catherine! 💜 Glad to know this was a good read. I've yet to read this author."Thank you, Sujoya! 💞 he is wonderful although there have been a couple of misses for me…these futuristic thrillers are so unique and fun to read!
Great review, Catherine! 💙 Glad you enjoyed this. I love the concept of this one.
Ginger wrote: "Great review Catherine! Glad to see you liked this one!"Thanks very much, Ginger! 💖 his take on the futuristic world is scary…because it all is very possible! LOL
Meredith (Slowly Catching Up) wrote: "Fabulous review, Catherine! I am glad this book took you on an unexpected journey."Thanks so much, Meredith! ♥️ It definitely showed me the kind of people I would not want to sit with in a self driving car, that’s for sure!! LOL
Carol wrote: "Fantastic review, Catherine ❤️!!! Glad you enjoyed!!"Thank you much, Carol! 💞 it was a great (albeit scary!) ride and I had fun with it!!
Rosh wrote: "Great review, Catherine! 💙 Glad you enjoyed this. I love the concept of this one."It’s a fabulous concept (and I think it would make a great movie too!!) lots of action but also food for thought. I hope you’ll get a chance to check it out someday and you’ll feel the same, thank you much Rosh!! 💖
Laurie wrote: "Tempting review. Thanks!"It's a good one Laurie (although you won't ever want to be in a self driving car after you read it! LOL) Thank you!! 💖
