Small Game

by Blair Braverman | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 006306619X Global Overview for this book
Registered by mrsjones of Hamilton, Ohio USA on 11/12/2024
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by mrsjones from Hamilton, Ohio USA on Tuesday, November 12, 2024
I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as I enjoyed Braverman's WELCOME TO THE GODDAMNED ICE CUBE. Perhaps that's because I always find truth stranger than fiction and her memoir was much better than this novel.

The premise reminded me of Survivor, Alone, and other wilderness-survival shows. I didn't find it to be that enthralling or memorable. I would like to read other books by her in the future. For now, I'll send this out as a wishlist tag.

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, November 22, 2024
The wishlist-tag book arrived safely today; many thanks! (I suspect I might prefer Braverman's non-fiction to her fiction too, but I did want to give this one a try.)

Later: I actually did enjoy this one - partly for its deconstruction of the whole reality-TV concept, and partly for the all-too-believable circumstances that the protagonists had to face. (The author notes at the end that this was inspired by her own experiences on a reality show - though in her case she says the production crew were very helpful and respectful, leading her to wonder how the experience might have gone if they were... not.) The premise: a handful of people are tapped to participate in a cooperative-survival show, where they'll be plunked down in the middle of nowhere and challenged to find a way to survive for six weeks. (Since everyone who successfully completes those six weeks wins a prize, the goal is to work together instead of cutting people out - a nice touch, as I don't like the backstabbing style of contest.)

Our main character Mara was reared by parents who dreamed of returning to the beauty of the wilderness without having a clue as to what it was really like. She wound up leaving home and working at a survival school, so she definitely has the skills needed for the challenge. She's not that great at working with strangers, though, and takes a while to settle in to the new dynamic.

But - as noted on the cover-blurb - things go wrong: the camera crew and support team (whom the contestants can only interact with under very strict conditions) fail to turn up one day, leaving our heroes to wonder whether this is another twist in the game, or if something worse has happened - speculating on everything from a global war or pandemic to a more localized but logical plane crash. The latter would mean that someone would turn up soon; with the other options, they just don't know...

The story follows them as they cope with this new situation, as well as the ongoing struggles to find enough food to keep going. Psychological problems pop up too, though for the most part they handle things better than one might expect.

I found myself appreciating the ups and downs of the character interactions, and the decisions they had to make in their own best interest. I even rather liked the resolution, though I found parts of that a bit of a stretch. Still, overall, an enjoyable read.

Other novels featuring reality-TV plots that I've enjoyed include:

The Last One by Alexandra Oliva - this one's quite dark, as it deals with the competitors being stranded when a global plague shuts the world down.

Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst: this one features a TV show that's a kind of "Amazing Race"/scavenger-hunt type, and the novel focuses on the personal relationships of the various teams.

Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White: this one is of the "reality TV used as anodyne for a dystopian future" plots, and I really enjoyed it.

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall: this is the fluffiest of the lot, though it does have its tense moments. It's the first of Hall's books centered on a British baking show, and has a lot of fun with the characters and the whole behind-the-scenes aspect.

Journal Entry 3 by wingGoryDetailswing at Billerica Town Common in Billerica, Massachusetts USA on Sunday, January 12, 2025

Released 1 mo ago (1/12/2025 UTC) at Billerica Town Common in Billerica, Massachusetts USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

I left this book, bagged against the elements, on a bench in the Billerica town common, just across from the library. Hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

Released for:

** 2025 CLEAN START for the New Year challenge **

** 2025 52 Towns in 52 Weeks challenge. **

** 2025 Keep Them Moving challenge. **

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