Hugh Howey: The Shell Collector (2014, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform)
Published Nov. 23, 2014 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
As with most og Hugh's book - at the end you still want to continue reading the story.
Eh. You know those novels that start off great, then by the end you are forcing yourself to just finish it and get it over with? This is one of those novels. The Shell Collector starts off with us learning about an ecological disaster so massive that it has killed off many species of sea life. Thus, shells have become rare and collectible. Enter our main character, a shell collector and reporter doing a story about the life of the family believed responsible for the tragedy. Add in the FBI who are investigating "counterfeit shells" and you have a somewhat interesting story with pretty good character studies - of the main character in particular. Until the last quarter of the story where everything is rushed and glossed over because omg. The love story. The melodrama. The final chapter where everything is kittens and rainbows. Sigh.
