Bizarre Tale!
Written: Jun 07 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Some interesting concepts
Cons: Too many subplots, underdeveloped characters
The Bottom Line: Read Alex Cross or Women’s Murder Club series before WHEN THE WIND BLOWS and it’s sequel
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| jsmorris's Full Review: James Patterson - When the Wind Blows Books |
I’m not sure what motivated James Patterson to pursue this science fiction type of writing, but it was an interesting deviation from his normal thrillers. It’s as far away from Alex Cross or Lindsay Boxer as one can get and still be on the same planet!
Frannie O’Neill is a Colorado veterinarian who enjoys life and her surrounding isolated area. Several years before, her MIT trained embryologist husband was murdered at the hospital in which he worked in a mysterious attack. Frannie is still trying to recover and carry on with her life, while separating herself from the human race – she prefers the company of her animals. Frannie rents out one of her cabins to Kit Harrison, whom she thinks is a hunter. I found this a bit strange considering she abhors hunters yet still rented to him. Kit eventually breaks through the emotional walls she’s erected leaving them both uncomfortable. We then find out that Kit is not on vacation; he’s actually an FBI agent following a lead on a group who are trying to speed up human evolution with genetic experiments. Yes, it’s very bizarre.
This would be enough of a plot line, but Patterson throws more in the mix with the appearance of winged children – Max and Matt – who are eventually joined by others. They have broken away from the wayward lab and are running/flying for their lives. Max is found by Frannie, and so begins the journey into the bizarre world of genetic mutations.
The reader is tossed back and forth between the genetic experiments, the non-mystery of Frannie’s husband’s death, and the new relationship between Kit and Frannie. The transitions are short and choppy, leaving the reader with a case of motion sickness. There is no smoothness in this book at all, and there are few surprises. Patterson could have easily left out one of the sidelines to make for a smoother plot but instead convoluted the story with too many subplots.
Character develop was at an all time low for Patterson. We were introduced to the characters only to have that introduction stopped short before we fully understood what makes them tick. We were introduced and the direction quickly averted to other interests.
At times WHEN THE WIND BLOWS is endearing and at other times it’s just plain weird. I had a hard time grasping a few of the concepts and in a few places it was hard to understand the direction. Patterson did a good job summing up the plot and wrapping most of the things up. Overall it was an ok book, but not one of my favorites. I’d still recommend it, but would suggest Alex Cross or Women’s Murder Club series before WHEN THE WIND BLOWS and it’s sequel.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jsmorris
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Member: Susie Morris
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 682
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About Me:
Broken hearts sometimes don't mend...but life goes on.
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