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Maybe in this world there are no second acts, let alone third ones. They might take some advice from Ingrid Michaelson. All the broken hearts in the world still beat. Despite the rampant heart disease our culture breeds, people get over heartbreak, find new loves, new outlets, new satisfactions. I got the feeling that the characters jumping into the game could do with a good talking-to, or an intervention. What the hell were you thinking?
Cramming 8, of them into a four day span is, well, a stretch, suggesting that it must have been a really bad week when applications were being accepted, or a big week for immigration. I imagine the selection process was probably as selective as that used by the National Geographic Society for individuals nominated for membership. Although George Bailey certainly deserves to belong. The author In addition to an excess of telling over showing, there are elements there that hint at an eagerness to gloss over problematic details.
Just think it and it is so. For example, the management of the stadium decides to make a radical change in their food service, and it is changed during a break in the game action. Modifications to significant stage elements of the stadium are likewise implemented as if by divine command. A significant computer programming re-working is done in, it seems, nanoseconds. With over twenty years as a programmer, I can say for fracking sure, no bloody way.
The romantic relationships also seemed to lack real-world substance. Ok, if, however one takes this as a piece of social commentary, it becomes possible to look past the story-telling problems and settle in to a consideration of larger issues. One can look at the heartless exploitation of the participants by corporate entities, and not have to look too far to find contemporary equivalents. In the US, how the NFL treats players is pretty close to amoral disinterest in the well-being of the workers who create the value they are selling. I am sure there are plenty of equivalents in other sports.
The entertainment industry offers many examples of people willingly putting themselves, their reputations, and maybe their health, if not their lives, at risk in order to gain their fifteen minutes in the media spotlight. The Suicide Game might be seen as an exaggeration of that reality to make a point. I do not think that major sports organizations descended to a level of exploitation where they process, package and sell bits of loser contestants.
But would you really put that past the NFL, or our major networks? One element in all this is the dehumanization of the contestants by putting them all in the same uniform and having makeup artists remove remnant individuality from their faces. This surely speaks to the depersonalization inherent in much of mass media. Outside of committed fans, can you really tell who is wearing a particular football uniform on a given Sunday?
Just as players are largely a production factor for corporate owners, parts that can be replaced as needed when they wear out, the suicide game takes the notion to an extreme, and succeeds in making a point.
My biggest gripe about the book is that the English is in need of serious repair. We are were pals on GR, that seems to have taken the leap when this review appeared and have exchanged our share of messages, so I can attest that her English is pretty good. But I cannot say whether this book was written in another language she speaks several and translated or was written directly in English. In either case, it is in great need of an editor whose native tongue is English. There are many instances in which it is possible to ferret out what the author meant, when the words used did not do that job well enough.
Turns of phrase are sometimes simply wrong. Readers are expected to read between the lines for thematic or psychological reasons, but should not have to do so in order to simply correct the text. That said, it is a readable book. Just be aware that you may have to do some extra work to figure out what is being said. If one can get beyond the language shortcomings, there is fair bit of interesting material tucked into the story. Haidji concocts an umbrella made of air alone that is pretty cool.
The notion of making diamonds of the unexpected material cited here is a real thing. The stadium design has some elements that are quite fascinating. Her governing Suicide Game council applies a very unusual voting methodology. A court case involving Big Oil is also reality-based. I have been a personal beneficiary on multiple occasions. Yes, it is legal, wiseass, and is used in medical work But it does not act in the real world as it is shown to act here.
There are some mysteries in here as well that add texture. Who is actually in charge of the whole thing? How did a baby get loose in the stadium? Will the smitten connect with the actual objects of their…um…smit? Will everyone be blown to bits? It is also clear that Haidji has a strong sense of the visual. Color and texture offer a strongly defined background against which the characters do their things.
The game logo is wonderful. Candidates are in white face, dressed in shiny black, made up to betray no emotion. The logo is painted in orange. That hare krishnas are in attendance enhances the presence of that color Ushers who clean up the bodies are dressed in gray. Makeup artists at game wear matte black, and the game Hostess wears a red femme fatale dress. Designer names for clothing and footwear are rampant, which certainly does not speak to me. I had to look up far too many of these.
But readers with more fashion knowledge pretty much everyone will have a better shot at appreciating the references. There are problems for sure with Suicide Game. It really, really needs the assistance of a professional, native-English-speaker editor. There are issues with an overly simplified view of how relationships might progress and even how things work in the world.
But if you can make a leap of faith to look past these, there are rewards to be had in the many fascinating notions that live in that world with them. You might enjoy Suicide Game , and without having to pay the ultimate price. Review posted — August 29, I received this book from the author in return for an honest review. Nov 25, Elyse Walters rated it liked it. This is 'not' "The Hunger Games"! Yet --given the popularity of "The Hunger Games" --is natural to associate similarities. While reading Haigdj's story-- its easy to imagine a huge stadium with crowds of people --A 'colorful' place Hare Krishna's in orange clothes chanting or selling lighters to give off the feeling of candle-lighting --candidates in the game -the smells of food -- suicide dogs --a baby in a mother's arm --etc.
The 7 main A fun-fast-Pony-Ride! The 7 main council members have 'colorful-names': At different times in the story --I'd pause to myself --imagine calling my daughters -or a friend -- by the name of 'yellow' or 'green'? How you doing, today, 'green'??? Then I'd take it further --and remember my daughters painting their naked bodies as children.
Its amazing the different 'visual's a book can stimulate for readers -- from our past--etc. This story feels abstract in the way a wonderful contemporary painting might be - creating images -visuals for the mind and heart. There are wonderful poems and quotes mixed into the 'Game' reflecting on love, life, and death. I would have enjoyed the character of 'Moma',[candidate ], to have been developed more. I especially found 'Moma' an interesting character but didn't get enough of him -- He had a PH. D in explosives engineering.
He was a specialist in bombing attacks. He knew how to build bombs and how to disarm them without leaving a mark. Everytime 'Moma' took a break from being in the story I missed him.
Reading "Suicide Game" in one sitting gave me the feeling of 'being part' of the -community. You'll enjoy the ride! Dec 01, Tuba Sayed rated it liked it. The author sent me a copy in exchange of my honest review. This was an okay read. I have a few issues with it, I am sure most people will enjoy this book, and my issues are something that other people might not even consider as "issues. This story unfolds a million questions, but the author kept things very vague. I want to know the people's conditions - why were they partic Rating: I want to know the people's conditions - why were they participating so willingly?
Their lives did not mean anything to them? Or the people were that poverty stricken? So they were doing it for money? There was no appropriate answer, that might actually make sense, and stop me from coming up with more questions. I am still so confused. Okay, the game was so messed up. Thank God such horrendous game doesn't exist, otherwise if this was real - I would have done anything in my power to stop it.
But if I had to participate due to any reason - I would want it to be more interesting. People were just jumping from heights. There was nothing more to the game. Nothing that might make you hold your breath. Of course I know I would die, but at least I'd want my death to be more epic, not just by jumping from a certain height. I would want to die - trying to steal a gypsy witch's crystal ball and getting cursed by the witch or in a sword fight. You know what I mean? The host's jingoistic rodomontade annoyed me.
The infelicitous chants were repeated so many times, they filled most pages of this book. What I really loved was - to see humanity effloresce in the midst of wreckage. That made up for most of the stuff: Give this book a chance and decide for yourself: I won this book a while back and finally got to it. I enjoyed this book and it is a crazy concept, as far as the games goes and to see how far people would go to ensure their happiness. It is an easy to follow book and also very fast paced. It has multiple point of view, we get a view into the council, staff of the game and some of the contestants, which was good to get the whole point of the book.
I enjoyed the individual characters and their backstories, the little we did I won this book a while back and finally got to it. I enjoyed the individual characters and their backstories, the little we did get. You can find my full review here: Dec 12, Owaiz rated it did not like it. The prose was awful.
I've read 18th century, as well as contemporary, novels but I haven't read anything like this. I have read novels by authors, whose first language is not English, do an excellent job, but this does not fall in that category. In the beginning it appeared to be a page-turner, albeit poorly executed, but that went away soon as the story turned out to be very redundant. The hostess' speech was repeated all too often without any modification whatsoever. I thought it had potential The prose was awful. I thought it had potential but as I read on I found my self skimming through the pages.
The way in which this story is told would've been good had the plot been better. I barely liked 5 sentences in over pages. If her writing style remains the same, I won't read anything else that she writes. The story can be bad but it should, at the very least, be readable. I try to be very generous with my ratings when it comes to new writers and one star is as generous as I can be with this one. Feb 09, Jola rated it it was ok Shelves: It had real potential but I don't think it was well developed. I liked the idea of the game. Maybe I missed something but I still don't know why they were organizing it in the first place.
The stories of some of the candidates helped but I still wasn't convinced about their reasons to join the game. The contest itself was very repeating. I think that if the game was more varied and if the candidates were to f Review also on: I think that if the game was more varied and if the candidates were to face different challenge with every step, I would enjoy it more. I don't think it was a bad story, cause it wasn't, it was just lacking in the mysteries, e. I liked Cassandra so I'm happy with the ending of her story. I will look forward to the next book of Haidji, I think there's some potential in her stories!
Thanks for sending me the book from Making Connections group. Dec 12, Sofia rated it really liked it. I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was expecting this to be quite similar to The Hunger Games because of the synopses, but it is nothing like it. I loved the writing and was compelled to keep reading until the very end. The book has many stories, its a puzzle.
The more intense you read it, the more riddles you will find in it. So getting to find everything inside the riddles on it, is the most fun of it: Dec 28, Nicole rated it really liked it Shelves: A while ago there was a giveaway on Haidjii's blog. And that's were I won this book. I mean, the story is pretty much about a huge game that is being broadcasted everywhere.
In the game, people jump from a very high plattform secured by wires who may or may not keep them from dying. They either survive to go into the next round or they die. This book makes you think. I finished it an hour ago and I'm still sitting here thinking 'What First things first: I finished it an hour ago and I'm still sitting here thinking 'What in the world? How crazy can you be?
But more so the fact that they could actually find candidates who were willing to throw their lives away. The whole concept behind the book is that people actually are willing to sacrifice everything for their goals and dreams, even if it means it will cost them there lives. And isn't it true?! And isn't that crazy?! What are we doing to ourselves?
Another thing that really got to me was how in the story, the people who were in charge of the games, how far they went to make profit out of the games and even the people that died during it. That's something that we see all the time, in real life too. There is so many bad things happening in the world and there are always people who use it to their advantage and make money out of it. Like this book isn't just about that Suicide Game and the characters.
It's about so much more. I didn't connect with even one of the characters but still I felt for them, cause they all had their different reasons for entering the game but at the end it wasn't about them anymore, it was about the game and how people were entertained by it. Even later, when the candidate got introduced to the audience, it still felt like it wasn't about them and their stories, they were just a tiny part in the big game. This is a book that will really stick with me for a long time. Haidji has just such a way with words that makes you really think about things. Dec 02, Giulia rated it it was amazing.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Let me just say that I really liked this book. It is so different from everything I have ever read before, and believe me I read lots and lots of books. The plot it's very unique and provocative. The author tells us about different characters who decide to enter the "Suicide Game". This particular game is for candidates who wish to die. Only one of them will win. As Simple as that. They all have different reasons to end I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
They all have different reasons to end their life and we follow chapter by chapter the stories and the thoughts of each of them. The Council runs the game and other people watch and bet on the favorite candidates. It seems that something as macabre and horrific as this "game" could never happen in our society. Actually, it is already happening. Of course it is not happening in the shape of a "game" but our society is heading towards something like that, enjoying someone's else sufferings and watching without doing anything to help. Looking it that way, we are all sadists. This book has dark humor, which I personally love and it is able to open our mind and think about important things in our lives that we usually don't consider as such.
I have read another book by Haidji Ines Words and I must admit that she is able to write everything in a beautiful way. I love her poetry and this book is blended with it. I recommend it to everybody. Please read this book, It will open your mind. This book was something; and it is NOT a hunger games rip off, i liked that it was about people having a choice in it tho how that was fun for the public to see i have no idea!
Mar 18, Art the Turtle of Amazing Girth added it. Mar 26, Boyko Ovcharov rated it it was amazing. Destiny's Game Surely this is an original book, which will not leave you indifferent. The sheer fact that readers' reactions are quite strong speaks volumes in itself. Basically, reality is not always to our taste, especially when crafted by someone else, a society of some kind.
In case of Haidji's story, the picture of the plot is presented vividly and in somewhat artis Destiny's Game Surely this is an original book, which will not leave you indifferent. In case of Haidji's story, the picture of the plot is presented vividly and in somewhat artistic way. You can feel the deep sensitivity in her style, which combines a lot of varied skills of narrative, poetry, songwriting, even fine art and painting.
I personally enjoyed all the metaphors and hidden messages in the storyline. I guess that is a subtle way of making us, readers, take a look at our everyday issues from various angles, thus helping us outline the root causes of the problems. I was impressed that the author's description somehow reflected on some specific conditions of today's society around the globe; and at the same time it seemed fairly universal.
Anyway, I suppose the unique origin of the author enriches the story and makes it truly believable. The questions raised in the book are worth analyzing and are the ones that have to be answered and resolved in a mutually acceptable way if we want to live in a peaceful and agreeable world nowadays as well as in the future. If we want to create our own destinies, we should think carefully and embark on such a grand endeavor wisely! I am glad I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Feb 04, Jessica rated it liked it Shelves: Haidji's writing style is unique, to say the least. Yes, she is a writer, but she is also an artist and her writing has a style I have never before encountered. Not only do you get an amazing story, but you get a story that is told in a beautiful, lyrical fashion. Her words paint beautiful pictures in your mind, sometimes these pictures have stories of their own. In this we read a story set in the near future. A new game has become crazy popular.
In this game the participants know they will most Haidji's writing style is unique, to say the least. In this game the participants know they will most likely not come out alive. Sound like The Hunger Games, it has some similarities, but don't go into this expecting a readalike. And the candidates jumoed, all at the same time, still hearing the echo of the bell's sounding, mas the Hare Krishna mantra started again.
In their homes, in front of the TV, holding their their mobile devices,and even in the Stadium, people jumped, standing up, caught in the adrenaline rush of the moment, as the bell rang out. After twenty meter free fall, some wires broke, and the bodies continued down, falling on the Stadium ground, where dumb screams where muffled by the sound of the Hare Krishna mantra.
Nov 12, Ems. This is unlike anything i have read, so to compare it wouldn't work, initially i did think it would be similar to the hunger games, but that was just the title. This tells the story of candidates, and those involved in "Suicide Game" The new game, The new mania. All my expectations of this book changed once i delved in, i liked to learn about those within the game, their reasons, their back stories, what brought them to this point.
Interwoven with all this is an underlying element of sci-fi and This is unlike anything i have read, so to compare it wouldn't work, initially i did think it would be similar to the hunger games, but that was just the title. Interwoven with all this is an underlying element of sci-fi and plenty of twists and turns, just when you think you have worked something out - nope, it changes.
There is plenty of deeper underlying issues to this book that if you was into that, you could spend hours delving into and discussing. I myself, mainly take books at face value, but i did find myself pondering why the characters actions were what they were. The little glimpses we got of their own life made me want to know further, that they were not just numbers in the game which is what they started as. Whilst this isnt a book i would pick myself, it made a nice change to read something out of my comfort zone and enjoy, i would recommend this to others, especially those around 17, a bit younger than me.
Feb 09, Liz rated it it was ok Shelves: In the distant future, a new, hit reality show is gripping TV audiences everywhere: Eight thousand contestants gather in an arena and walk out onto a raised platform hundreds of feet in the air. They slip into harnesses, and then leap off into thin air.
The unlucky ones plummet to their death. The lucky survivors then get to jump again, and again, until one contestant remains. Sound like The Hunger Games? Yeah, it kinda is, except for a few differences. I never felt like I was quite immersed in the world, and I never really felt like the characters evolved into their own personages. Nov 04, Paakhi Srivastava rated it it was ok. This book is about a game, where people willfully participate in the Suicide Game. The stories of the characters are well narrated.
Some portions of the book makes the reader reflect on the subtleties of life which is much appreciated. The story had a potential with respect to the characters and the game. The plot is not well developed. There were portions which were repetitive, the game was not dynamic challenge in the game I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. There were portions which were repetitive, the game was not dynamic challenge in the game was to jump off a certain height which remained same across different game levels, no other task was given to participants , and the reasons of the participants to join in the game were lame.
The book may require copy editing as a little editing will deliver the author's expressions better. I do respect the fact that the English is not her first language and the other version published in original language must be great. The author attempted to exhaust her efforts to evoke a reader's reflection on life, apprehensions about future but much is left for the reader to conclude. The books lacks to integrity and closure.
The book was a good read because the life stories of the characters were varied and some were heart-touching. The fast pace of the story with the characters' life stories interspersing the events of the game makes it an interesting read. It is a book with an original story which is worth a read. Oct 10, Miranda rated it really liked it Shelves: With youngsters increasingly consumed by the world of social media, parents and educators here are increasingly concerned about their mental well-being, especially with suicide-related content trending online. One particular game and a Netflix series prompted the Education Ministry to issue advisories yesterday on their online publication Schoolbag.
After vetting by the "curators" of the game, players are asked to complete 50 daily tasks, like cutting themselves. For the final 10 days, the player needs to wake up at a specified early-morning hour, listen to music and contemplate death. In Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, high school student Hannah Baker kills herself in despair, leaving audiotapes for those she holds responsible - among them, her rapist, fickle friends and bullies.
Student Laurel Tan, 14, who watched the series, admitted the show had given her ideas on how to take her own life. With suicides among to year-olds at a year high, the Samaritans of Singapore SOS is concerned about this "new wave of negative media influence concerning suicide". Earlier this year, inter-agency taskforce NurtureSG, which comes under the auspices of the ministries of Health and Education, released a slew of recommendations to address mental health issues like suicide. This includes setting up a multi-agency research workgroup to study suicides and suicidal and self-harming behaviour among children and individuals up to 35 years old.
Touch Family Services manager Chong Ee Jay says his phone has been buzzing with worried texts from parents and educators who have read resurfaced articles linking the Blue Whale game to suicides. Educators say they have heard students talking about the game in school and parents are concerned that their kids could be easily manipulated by it. Mr Chong told TNP: I'm concerned about the emotionally- or socially-marginalised group. They may not be in the best state of mind, and can easily fall prey to what the mainstream may perceive as a silly game.