Marisha Pessl

When the daughter of famous cult movie director Stanislas Cordova is found in an abandoned warehouse from an apparent suicide, investigative journalist Scott McGrath sets out to discover the underlying details of her death. Having come to infamy in the past when researching Cordova and his film dynasty, McGrath is determined to redeem himself by finding out the truth behind Ashley's death -- was it really a suicide or was something darker happening behind the scenes? As McGrath's obsession leads him further and further into the world of everything Cordova, he must decide what he's willing to risk the second time around.

I remember this book getting a lot of hype after it was released and it's been on my radar for a while. It's a somewhat dark but very immersive novel. As a reader, you're aware that you're reading a work of fiction, but the writing is such that it puts you, the reader, right in there and once you put the book down you have to take a second to readjust to real life again. The book is long and at times I wasn't sure what the point of McGrath's investigation was. However, the story really is so immersive and well written that I found myself not caring. I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. My review of this doesn't do it justice but there are a lot of good reviews out there. It won't appeal to everyone, but I commend Marisha Pessl for creating such an atmospheric and hypnotic novel.… (more)

Le livre commençait bien, prometteur avec ces faux articles de journaux etc qui permettaient de bien s'immiscer dans l'histoire. Sauf qu'au final on a une histoire où les personnages sont assez cons.
L'enquête commence bien, ça semble intéressant, et puis ca part super en couille tout ca pour que au final a 50 page de la fin l'enquêteur pourri qu'on suit apprenne qu'en fait il s'est gourré sur toute la ligne et que c'est pas ca du tout la vérité et que s'il avait été compétent il aurait pu régler l'histoire en 50 pages!

Ça partait bien mais ça en vaut vraiment pas la peine.… (more)

“Mortal fear is as crucial a thing to our lives as love. It cuts to the core of our being and shows us what we are. Will you step back and cover your eyes? Or will you have the strength to walk to the precipice and look out?”

I'm torn on this one. It took quite a while for this one to get rolling - almost 300 pages. Then, at the 300 mark, it takes off running. The clues pile up, the adventures get more blown up and wild and the pieces start to come together. But the first 299 pages were a struggle.

It's a small cast to get to know - just the three main characters - Nora, Hopper and Scott - or so you'd assume. but there is also Cordova and his daughter Ashley. Then there is a whole cast of characters tied to each and every one of them, both through their movies and through Ashley's missing 11 days. It feels daunting and was easy to get lost in the details. I did love the added photos, emails and other styles of storytelling. It was fun, after the 300, to really flow along with the story.

I love how the end tied it all together but also left us wanting more. Great story that I wasn't so sure I would love until I realized I did - I really loved it.… (more)

Night Film by Marisha Pessl is one of those books that within the first 50 pages really packs a punch and gets you engrossed in the story.

Firstly I have to point out that for me this book did not read well on Kindle as I was constantly having to enlarge the tiny media print and therefore became a bit of a chore.

I enjoyed the beginning of this book, with its media articles and pictures and it defiantly had me hooked in way that the [b: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|2429135|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)|Stieg Larsson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327868566s/2429135.jpg|1708725] had some years ago. I wanted the suspense and intrigue to continue and eagerly turned the pages. I loved the premise of this story and thought I had found a book that was really going to be my best end of summer read.

Unfortunately while I did find the book interesting I found myself about 2/3 way through getting totally bored with the story as there is a Chapter that lasts about over 50 pages and what could have been written in 5 pages and seemed to stretch forever. Not wanting to give too much away, there was also a bathroom scene early on in the book where Ashley is in the bath, I had to read this scene numerous times as it was just not creditable. I liked the characters but they were a bit too contrived and not really sure I got to know them well enough even through the book is over 600 pages long.

I did like the last 100 pages and liked the ending but felt this book was way too long and on reflection while I loved the media clippings and the pictures and praise the author for her imagination. I am not sure the book lived up to my expectations of tension and intrigue that I felt for the first 50 pages, perhaps I will enjoy the movie more!

I liked it.................but did not love it.… (more)