Review: Could have been great...but...
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 11, 2014
There's a lot to like about this book.  It's an interesting concept, with some interesting characters and situations, and very good description of the devastation caused by the Yellowstone eruption.  However, there's equally a lot of very annoying factors that compel me to write a review when I'm 63 percent through the story, because I'm getting really annoyed, and which reduces my feedback to three stars.First of all, do away with the pictures; all of them.  I don't think the author realises that part of the interaction between a reader and a story is the huge and significant role played by imagination.  The author paints the story and his or her words provide the images that our imaginations flesh out in our mind.  It's very frustrating to have just read a very in-depth description of the destruction of a landmark or area, have it in your mind's eye courtesy of your imagination and the written words, and then come crashing back to reality with a picture of the location/landmark in pristine condition.  No.  Just, no.  Also, do away with the maps and diagrams.  Please.  This is a work of fiction; it doesn't require graphic illiustrations.  It's not a presentation of a real situation and it just in the end detracts from the story.  We don't need a whole lot of background information on particular buildings or landmarks either.  After a while, the story starts to drag because of them.Please, find a good editor.  There are far too many typos and errors in this book, and it's very irritating.This had the potential to be a very, very good read, but due to the above, in the end it becomes somewhat pedestrian, and that's a shame.  It's clear the author has done a great deal of research, and that's to be lauded.  However, it doesn't have to be shared in its entirety with the reader.  Detail is a great thing; too much detail and what could and should be a cracking good read stalls.