What do you think?
Rate this book
The Baldwin Hotel
Past and future collide in this mind-bending plunge into choices and consequences, when a young video game designer meets his new boss, who not only has a connection to the young man's past, but a pivotal role in determining his future!
Game designer Theodore Trumbull understands the addictive allure of video games; the chance for unlimited do-overs until you achieve your goal! As a young boy, Theodore was granted a cosmic do over and chose a different outcome to spare his best friend a brutal thrashing, though his choice resulted in another boy's death. Theodore had glimpsed the future or changed the past, he would never be sure, but the event destroyed his childhood.
It’s 1979 and Theodore is about to be given another opportunity to choose a different outcome, to save someone he loves. But this time there’s another player in the game, his boss, president of DreamCo, Frank Cantwell, a corporate gladiator with an insatiable appetite for wealth, and a dangerous fixation on the paranormal.
Through a disturbing synchronicity, Theodore and Cantwell are flung back together to explore their haunting connection to each other, one that stretches across two thousand miles and nearly two decades, all the way back to The Baldwin Hotel.
Game designer Theodore Trumbull understands the addictive allure of video games; the chance for unlimited do-overs until you achieve your goal! As a young boy, Theodore was granted a cosmic do over and chose a different outcome to spare his best friend a brutal thrashing, though his choice resulted in another boy's death. Theodore had glimpsed the future or changed the past, he would never be sure, but the event destroyed his childhood.
It’s 1979 and Theodore is about to be given another opportunity to choose a different outcome, to save someone he loves. But this time there’s another player in the game, his boss, president of DreamCo, Frank Cantwell, a corporate gladiator with an insatiable appetite for wealth, and a dangerous fixation on the paranormal.
Through a disturbing synchronicity, Theodore and Cantwell are flung back together to explore their haunting connection to each other, one that stretches across two thousand miles and nearly two decades, all the way back to The Baldwin Hotel.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 19, 2023
Twelve year old Theodore Trumbull somehow found himself in a time shift while staying at the Baldwin Hotel in St. Louis. The one shift sends him back a year in his life, and so he’s able to prevent the tragic beating of his friend Woody, but the assailant dies instead. At age 28, now a video game developer, he applies for a job at DreamCo, When he arrives for the interview, he finds the revolving doors from the Baldwin Hotel have been installed as the entrance to the company. DreamCo is headed by the obnoxious Frank Cantwell, who seems o have it in from the start for Theodore, yet has some kind of connection to him from the events of sixteen years ago.
While there’s a great premise here, I found the story to be poorly developed, and confusing. The characters to me were one dimensional, especially Cantwell, who at times appears to be a caricature of a cartoon villain. Our hero’s mother just comes across as a cartoonish overbearing Mom. I almost gave up on the book,twice, but managed to finish it.
My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the novel.
While there’s a great premise here, I found the story to be poorly developed, and confusing. The characters to me were one dimensional, especially Cantwell, who at times appears to be a caricature of a cartoon villain. Our hero’s mother just comes across as a cartoonish overbearing Mom. I almost gave up on the book,twice, but managed to finish it.
My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the novel.
June 5, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I am fascinated by time travel and the concept of parallel worlds so I was curious to find out what The Baldwin Hotel was all about. I was immediately hooked by this interesting take on alternate realities and I also really liked the main character Theodore. The story had great attention to details and a really good ending. I would definitely recommend this book. 4 stars.
January 27, 2023
If you could change the past - would you? That's what Theodore struggles with so much that it impedes his daily living. The past and present collide with a very interesting conumdrum. I enjoyed reading this and maybe you will, too.
January 16, 2023
The description for this novel captured my imagination and I had high hopes for it.
When Theodore Trumbull was 10, he and his family visited St. Louis and stayed at The Baldwin Hotel. During this visit, Theodore, a fan of quantum physics, has a strange and life-changing incident when he uses the elevator and steps into a parallel universe where he sees things that haven't happened yet in the other version of his life. When he returns, he isn't believed by his parents and is subjected to ECT and dubious treatment by psychiatry. This teaches him to stay quiet about what he knows, but doesn't change his belief in it. Theodore uses the existence of the parallel universe to try to change outcomes in his life and prevent terrible things from happening to people he loves. But every action has a reaction and sometimes the changes have unforeseen consequences. As an adult Theodore becomes a video game designer and when he is hired by DreamCo, he thinks he has finally made it. But there at DreamCo is the same facade from The Baldwin Hotel and inside...the same elevator. The president, Frank Cantwell, acts very strangely towards him and seems to know Theodore already. Have their paths crossed before? And what will happen if Theodore ventures into the parallel universe again?
It is a great concept for a novel and I really liked the ethical questions that it poses for the reader. Is it acceptable to prevent harm to someone you love by harming someone else, even if that person is a criminal? It is wrong to take advantage of the knowledge one could gain by entering a parallel universe - for example lottery numbers or occurrences in the stock market? What about if your actions prevent one type of harm but result in a different kind of harm to other people, or more people?
However the execution does not live up to the promise. Where the novel falls very short is in the character development. Because we have so little insight into their motivations, backgrounds and desires, it is difficult to be invested in them. I found some of them quite baffling - for example, Theodore's brother Linus is very unlikeable and strangely antagonistic toward Theodore until we get to understand him slightly better at the very end of the novel. Likewise, the character of Frank Cantwell comes off as simply unhinged, talking to himself and with an unexplained venom and hostility toward Theodore.
The flow of the novel is problematic, as it is very disjointed and choppy. As the storyline flips back and forth between the two worlds, it is clear that Theodore struggles to keep track of what was said and done in each one, as one bleeds into the other. This is an interesting point, however it should never be that confusing to the reader!
As previously noted, I really did want to like this one, however there were too many issues with the execution. Many thanks to NetGalley for the copy to read and review.
When Theodore Trumbull was 10, he and his family visited St. Louis and stayed at The Baldwin Hotel. During this visit, Theodore, a fan of quantum physics, has a strange and life-changing incident when he uses the elevator and steps into a parallel universe where he sees things that haven't happened yet in the other version of his life. When he returns, he isn't believed by his parents and is subjected to ECT and dubious treatment by psychiatry. This teaches him to stay quiet about what he knows, but doesn't change his belief in it. Theodore uses the existence of the parallel universe to try to change outcomes in his life and prevent terrible things from happening to people he loves. But every action has a reaction and sometimes the changes have unforeseen consequences. As an adult Theodore becomes a video game designer and when he is hired by DreamCo, he thinks he has finally made it. But there at DreamCo is the same facade from The Baldwin Hotel and inside...the same elevator. The president, Frank Cantwell, acts very strangely towards him and seems to know Theodore already. Have their paths crossed before? And what will happen if Theodore ventures into the parallel universe again?
It is a great concept for a novel and I really liked the ethical questions that it poses for the reader. Is it acceptable to prevent harm to someone you love by harming someone else, even if that person is a criminal? It is wrong to take advantage of the knowledge one could gain by entering a parallel universe - for example lottery numbers or occurrences in the stock market? What about if your actions prevent one type of harm but result in a different kind of harm to other people, or more people?
However the execution does not live up to the promise. Where the novel falls very short is in the character development. Because we have so little insight into their motivations, backgrounds and desires, it is difficult to be invested in them. I found some of them quite baffling - for example, Theodore's brother Linus is very unlikeable and strangely antagonistic toward Theodore until we get to understand him slightly better at the very end of the novel. Likewise, the character of Frank Cantwell comes off as simply unhinged, talking to himself and with an unexplained venom and hostility toward Theodore.
The flow of the novel is problematic, as it is very disjointed and choppy. As the storyline flips back and forth between the two worlds, it is clear that Theodore struggles to keep track of what was said and done in each one, as one bleeds into the other. This is an interesting point, however it should never be that confusing to the reader!
As previously noted, I really did want to like this one, however there were too many issues with the execution. Many thanks to NetGalley for the copy to read and review.
January 20, 2023
Primeiramente, gostaria de agradecer à NetGalley, à BooksGoSocial e ao autor, Lonnie Busch, por cederem uma cópia digital deste título em troca de uma resenha honesta.
De imediato, não sabia exatamente o que esperar desse livro. A promessa de uma história misteriosa sobre realidades alternativas, passados ou presentes alterados e um protagonista que me parecia pouco confiável me mantiveram instigada, mas cautelosa pela pouca experiência que tenho com literatura de ficção científica e temas de realidades paralelas. Acreditei que poderia se tornar uma leitura maçante e pesada com uma facilidade enorme, mas foi o exato oposto que encontrei.
A escrita do Lonnie é muito rápida, e sinceramente de um certo conforto. Desse tipo de escrita que te suga para um mundo diferente e faz parecer que dois parágrafos foram dois capítulos inteiros, tamanha carga emocional e de ambiência que cada descrição dele traz. Uma riqueza de detalhes sem soar exagerado, que me permitiu entrar de cabeça na ambientação do mundo e da realidade do protagonista, o Theodore.
Que, aliás, de raso não teve nada. Tive algum receio pela pressa nas descrições que foram apresentadas no primeiro capítulo; acreditei que pudesse ser uma história mais rasa, sem atenção aos detalhes. Que bom que estava enganada, já que a construção dos personagens mais relevantes é feita com muito cuidado, apresentando mais de um lado de cada personalidade sem deixá-los bidimensionais, sem sal.
As mazelas que o Theodore enfrenta nas diferentes fases da própria vida me angustiaram por demais e a irritabilidade à flor da pele me contagiou por todo o livro. É angustiante ouvir sobre os tratamentos de choque, sobre o distanciamento dos colegas de trabalho, sobre as relações familiares quebradas.
Outra personalidade que muito me agrada é a do Kent. Desde o início, com a insistência em acreditar no projeto do Theodore, já percebi um carisma enorme no personagem. Toda a resistência em simplesmente abrir mão do protagonista e seus sonhos me deixou de coração quentinho, torcendo sempre por ele também. Gostaria de ter descoberto mais sobre ele, no entanto.
A leitura me tomou alguns bons dias, mas não pela obra em si. Especialmente mais ao fim, com capítulos mais curtos que deixaram a experiência muito mais dinâmica. Não queria parar de ler em nenhum momento, mesmo quando precisava fazê-lo. O único ponto negativo da leitura foi a dificuldade de entender os conceitos de realidade paralela aqui empregados (mas aí é burrice minha, mesmo). Mesmo no final ainda tive a sensação de que não tinha todas as informações que precisava para um entendimento pleno do plot. Mas, novamente, talvez seja uma dificuldade minha em reconhecer e conectar todas as pistas espalhadas pela leitura.
Sem mais, uma leitura divertidíssima, que me entreteve por todo o tempo que levei para chegar até o final. Recomendadíssima, e espero poder conhecer mais do trabalho desse autor que considero tão talentoso desde já.
De imediato, não sabia exatamente o que esperar desse livro. A promessa de uma história misteriosa sobre realidades alternativas, passados ou presentes alterados e um protagonista que me parecia pouco confiável me mantiveram instigada, mas cautelosa pela pouca experiência que tenho com literatura de ficção científica e temas de realidades paralelas. Acreditei que poderia se tornar uma leitura maçante e pesada com uma facilidade enorme, mas foi o exato oposto que encontrei.
A escrita do Lonnie é muito rápida, e sinceramente de um certo conforto. Desse tipo de escrita que te suga para um mundo diferente e faz parecer que dois parágrafos foram dois capítulos inteiros, tamanha carga emocional e de ambiência que cada descrição dele traz. Uma riqueza de detalhes sem soar exagerado, que me permitiu entrar de cabeça na ambientação do mundo e da realidade do protagonista, o Theodore.
Que, aliás, de raso não teve nada. Tive algum receio pela pressa nas descrições que foram apresentadas no primeiro capítulo; acreditei que pudesse ser uma história mais rasa, sem atenção aos detalhes. Que bom que estava enganada, já que a construção dos personagens mais relevantes é feita com muito cuidado, apresentando mais de um lado de cada personalidade sem deixá-los bidimensionais, sem sal.
As mazelas que o Theodore enfrenta nas diferentes fases da própria vida me angustiaram por demais e a irritabilidade à flor da pele me contagiou por todo o livro. É angustiante ouvir sobre os tratamentos de choque, sobre o distanciamento dos colegas de trabalho, sobre as relações familiares quebradas.
Outra personalidade que muito me agrada é a do Kent. Desde o início, com a insistência em acreditar no projeto do Theodore, já percebi um carisma enorme no personagem. Toda a resistência em simplesmente abrir mão do protagonista e seus sonhos me deixou de coração quentinho, torcendo sempre por ele também. Gostaria de ter descoberto mais sobre ele, no entanto.
A leitura me tomou alguns bons dias, mas não pela obra em si. Especialmente mais ao fim, com capítulos mais curtos que deixaram a experiência muito mais dinâmica. Não queria parar de ler em nenhum momento, mesmo quando precisava fazê-lo. O único ponto negativo da leitura foi a dificuldade de entender os conceitos de realidade paralela aqui empregados (mas aí é burrice minha, mesmo). Mesmo no final ainda tive a sensação de que não tinha todas as informações que precisava para um entendimento pleno do plot. Mas, novamente, talvez seja uma dificuldade minha em reconhecer e conectar todas as pistas espalhadas pela leitura.
Sem mais, uma leitura divertidíssima, que me entreteve por todo o tempo que levei para chegar até o final. Recomendadíssima, e espero poder conhecer mais do trabalho desse autor que considero tão talentoso desde já.
May 22, 2023
A lot of time, authors will arrange the story in such a way to mimic the content of the novel; we might see a parts that are slow being told with unhurried, expansive prose or parts told out-of-order in order to create suspense, build tension, or create confusion for the reader that parallels the chaotic mind of a character.
Busch does a really good job of creating chaos in the story; the first chapter drops us smack dab in the middle of the plot and bounces us around across multiple timelines and states of consciousness of the main character, Theodore. So much of the story takes place only in Theo's mind that it is difficult to keep track of what is real and what is imagined. As stated earlier, I think this is done on purpose in order to make us feel the same madness that Theo is experiencing. However, I am not the biggest fan of books that don't conclude in a way that feels unresolved and Busch definitely employs this plot device. I don't mind questioning what I'm reading so long as the author concludes the novel in such a way that I feel some sort of resolution. I finished this book and found myself thinking, "What the heck did I just read?" and I spent days afterward trying to make the pieces of the story fit together.
I had a hard time rating this book, but I've decided to go 4 stars. I think that the concept was engaging and original. I think that Busch showed great skill as a writer in his execution of this novel. If it had a conclusion that made some of the rising action make sense, I would probably give it 5 stars. But because I don't like stories that end this way, I'm going with 4 stars. If you enjoy a story that is going to stay in your head long after you've finished it, I think you'll love "The Baldwin Hotel". If you prefer a tidy ending, read at your own risk.
Busch does a really good job of creating chaos in the story; the first chapter drops us smack dab in the middle of the plot and bounces us around across multiple timelines and states of consciousness of the main character, Theodore. So much of the story takes place only in Theo's mind that it is difficult to keep track of what is real and what is imagined. As stated earlier, I think this is done on purpose in order to make us feel the same madness that Theo is experiencing. However, I am not the biggest fan of books that don't conclude in a way that feels unresolved and Busch definitely employs this plot device. I don't mind questioning what I'm reading so long as the author concludes the novel in such a way that I feel some sort of resolution. I finished this book and found myself thinking, "What the heck did I just read?" and I spent days afterward trying to make the pieces of the story fit together.
I had a hard time rating this book, but I've decided to go 4 stars. I think that the concept was engaging and original. I think that Busch showed great skill as a writer in his execution of this novel. If it had a conclusion that made some of the rising action make sense, I would probably give it 5 stars. But because I don't like stories that end this way, I'm going with 4 stars. If you enjoy a story that is going to stay in your head long after you've finished it, I think you'll love "The Baldwin Hotel". If you prefer a tidy ending, read at your own risk.
March 22, 2023
ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest - I couldn't finish this book. I kept putting it on and off: I read through some sections while skipping others althogether and pausing my reading for weeks at a time. I wouldn’t consider it finished at all, I tried to delay my review, too - and now I'll just list what I can and can't remember, be it a good or bad thing.
The story revolves around Theodore Trombull who, at about age eleven, enters the doors of the titular Baldwin Hotel and finds himself a year back to his life - either time travelling or skipping through a parallel universe. This experience changes his life forever, influencing his future actions as well as bringing repercussions on his mental wellbeing. He literally cannot escape from his “past”, especially since he finds the same doors that brought this conundrum in his new life…
It’s interesting to see how ethics and moral codes could be applied to this sort of case – should he change the course of his actions? Will trying to save someone truly change the outcome and the final body count? Is money made already knowing what you’re investing in any different than blood money?
In theory, it would’ve been great. But the execution was lacking. As was lacking the characterisation: one-dimensional and not very well-developed, they felt more like caricatures than characters; we have so little insight into their motivations, backgrounds and desires, it is difficult to be invested in them. The women in particular are disturbingly over-described without contributing much to the plot.
I think it would've been a great concept - were it executed and developed differently.
I'll be honest - I couldn't finish this book. I kept putting it on and off: I read through some sections while skipping others althogether and pausing my reading for weeks at a time. I wouldn’t consider it finished at all, I tried to delay my review, too - and now I'll just list what I can and can't remember, be it a good or bad thing.
The story revolves around Theodore Trombull who, at about age eleven, enters the doors of the titular Baldwin Hotel and finds himself a year back to his life - either time travelling or skipping through a parallel universe. This experience changes his life forever, influencing his future actions as well as bringing repercussions on his mental wellbeing. He literally cannot escape from his “past”, especially since he finds the same doors that brought this conundrum in his new life…
It’s interesting to see how ethics and moral codes could be applied to this sort of case – should he change the course of his actions? Will trying to save someone truly change the outcome and the final body count? Is money made already knowing what you’re investing in any different than blood money?
In theory, it would’ve been great. But the execution was lacking. As was lacking the characterisation: one-dimensional and not very well-developed, they felt more like caricatures than characters; we have so little insight into their motivations, backgrounds and desires, it is difficult to be invested in them. The women in particular are disturbingly over-described without contributing much to the plot.
I think it would've been a great concept - were it executed and developed differently.
January 21, 2023
The Baldwin Hotel by Lonnie Busch is described as a scifi mystery but there wasn't anything mysterious about it. The story centers on Theodore Trumbull, who at age 11, seems to have an experience of time travel or intradimensional travel that influences the rest of his life. He grows up feeling disconnected from others and is described as though he is often trapped inside his own head. He stumbles into adulthood and seeks out a job in a video game industry. Unfortunately he discovers that the building where he is working houses the same revolving doors as the hotel where he experienced his time shift.
The story's idea of time shifts and quantum physic was a creative one. However, it was lost in the confusion and the repetitiveness of the plot. How many times do we have to read about his waking up to roaches or his going to work?
The characters were one dimensional, with stale dialog. Every conversation with Theodore was boring and the same conversations were had over and over again. For example, everyone kept asking him if he was listening or if he was alright. Theodore was described as an odd, lanky, bald, introvert with zero personality. Yet he managed to have two beautiful women interested in him. It didn't seem to fit.
I liked the idea that Theodore tried to change time for the betterment of others versus Cantwell trying to change for the betterment of himself. I liked the idea of the science. I just thought that the characters and plot could be developed in a way that was more exciting to the reader.
Thanks to Netgalley and UBiq Press for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
The story's idea of time shifts and quantum physic was a creative one. However, it was lost in the confusion and the repetitiveness of the plot. How many times do we have to read about his waking up to roaches or his going to work?
The characters were one dimensional, with stale dialog. Every conversation with Theodore was boring and the same conversations were had over and over again. For example, everyone kept asking him if he was listening or if he was alright. Theodore was described as an odd, lanky, bald, introvert with zero personality. Yet he managed to have two beautiful women interested in him. It didn't seem to fit.
I liked the idea that Theodore tried to change time for the betterment of others versus Cantwell trying to change for the betterment of himself. I liked the idea of the science. I just thought that the characters and plot could be developed in a way that was more exciting to the reader.
Thanks to Netgalley and UBiq Press for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
January 26, 2024
Rating: 3/5 Stars
•
I did it, after being on my NetGalley list for over a year I finally sat down and read this one. The concept of this story is really cool and it’s what, talking about parallel universes and being able to change your destiny via a type of time travel of sorts. I was really vibing with this idea, I mean I was getting some serious Dr. Strange vibes) but the execution was where this one lacked that oomph for me.
•
The story in and of itself felt a bit too choppy, there was a little bit of confusion at points for me. I will say though I think that the story was wrapped up nicely, mostly everything that was brought up throughout the book was explained in the end (except for a few minor things that I didn’t really care that much about). The characters were a bit one dimensional and I didn’t really care for most of them. I did like Theodore to a degree – I really think he is about the only character that had much growth throughout the story.
•
For the most part I would say that The Baldwin Hotel is a slow burn. There are parts that are a little bit of a faster pace which helps with the momentum of the story. Once I got going with this one, I was, again, very interested in the whole concept of alternate reality and parallel universes that I really wanted to see where this went. This had some dark entities to it which made me like it more. I enjoyed the ending; I think this brought some great thought-provoking questions to mind. Overall, a different read and one that I would say I enjoyed.
•
The Baldwin Hotel was released on 12/27/2022. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Lonnie Busch and BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
•
I did it, after being on my NetGalley list for over a year I finally sat down and read this one. The concept of this story is really cool and it’s what, talking about parallel universes and being able to change your destiny via a type of time travel of sorts. I was really vibing with this idea, I mean I was getting some serious Dr. Strange vibes) but the execution was where this one lacked that oomph for me.
•
The story in and of itself felt a bit too choppy, there was a little bit of confusion at points for me. I will say though I think that the story was wrapped up nicely, mostly everything that was brought up throughout the book was explained in the end (except for a few minor things that I didn’t really care that much about). The characters were a bit one dimensional and I didn’t really care for most of them. I did like Theodore to a degree – I really think he is about the only character that had much growth throughout the story.
•
For the most part I would say that The Baldwin Hotel is a slow burn. There are parts that are a little bit of a faster pace which helps with the momentum of the story. Once I got going with this one, I was, again, very interested in the whole concept of alternate reality and parallel universes that I really wanted to see where this went. This had some dark entities to it which made me like it more. I enjoyed the ending; I think this brought some great thought-provoking questions to mind. Overall, a different read and one that I would say I enjoyed.
•
The Baldwin Hotel was released on 12/27/2022. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Lonnie Busch and BooksGoSocial for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 7, 2023
First up, if I saw one of the first reviews for an arc was a four or five star score, I would assume the reviewer was known to the author. This is not the case so please see this as the totally unbiased review that it is.
It can feel a bit risky to commit to an arc which has no or few reviews. But the premise enticed me and I have found winners in such situations before. My instincts with this book were justified, as I was totally engrossed from the get go and my interest never waned.
This book delivers on two counts: it's easy to read and entertaining yet at the same time it has the reader really thinking and questioning.
Strangely I have just watched a movie about parallel universes and it is a popular scenario but it is always fascinating. This version is written in a way that really let me get inside the main character's head and made it easy to get a feel for what he was going through. There was plenty of tension and drama as well as a cast of interesting characters. The author dropped hints about parts of the puzzle at a good pace and events didn't all pan out as the reader might assume.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five as I'd really like readers to give this a whirl. It reminded me of Scarecrow Has a Gun by Michael Paul Kozlowsky which also raised questions about science while being thoroughly entertaining.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
It can feel a bit risky to commit to an arc which has no or few reviews. But the premise enticed me and I have found winners in such situations before. My instincts with this book were justified, as I was totally engrossed from the get go and my interest never waned.
This book delivers on two counts: it's easy to read and entertaining yet at the same time it has the reader really thinking and questioning.
Strangely I have just watched a movie about parallel universes and it is a popular scenario but it is always fascinating. This version is written in a way that really let me get inside the main character's head and made it easy to get a feel for what he was going through. There was plenty of tension and drama as well as a cast of interesting characters. The author dropped hints about parts of the puzzle at a good pace and events didn't all pan out as the reader might assume.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five as I'd really like readers to give this a whirl. It reminded me of Scarecrow Has a Gun by Michael Paul Kozlowsky which also raised questions about science while being thoroughly entertaining.
I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 6, 2023
This book is very original, and for a 'time travel,' it's approached uniquely. The erudite author shines through in their writing right from the beginning, leaving me to wonder if this was something I wanted to tackle mentally.
However, The Baldwin Hotel left me confused, unfulfilled, and wanting. This strange little book mixed time travel, mental illness, serial killers, and unreliable narrators into one messy jumbled package.
I found the flow of the story to be disjointed and often wondered if what I was reading was "real life" or the MC's internal conversations with himself.
The characters were all unlikeable. The characters made to be likable had so little development that I could not connect with what happened to them. Some parts were designed to be moving and emotional, but I didn't have the connection to the plot or characters to be affected by it.
I was hoping things would shake out, and I would get all the pieces to fit finally, but that never happened. Why include a serial killer? Why even name them if they have no involvement in the story beyond a marker in time? Who was the random "bad man" that Sarah had over at her house? Why did Edward/Theo/Theodore seem to have developmental limitations that were never addressed or mentioned, for that matter? How did "Theo" kill his dad? Did he even kill his dad? I don't know what I was reading, but I had to sit there while it happened to me.
2 Stars for the unique ideas. -3 for the poor execution.
However, The Baldwin Hotel left me confused, unfulfilled, and wanting. This strange little book mixed time travel, mental illness, serial killers, and unreliable narrators into one messy jumbled package.
I found the flow of the story to be disjointed and often wondered if what I was reading was "real life" or the MC's internal conversations with himself.
The characters were all unlikeable. The characters made to be likable had so little development that I could not connect with what happened to them. Some parts were designed to be moving and emotional, but I didn't have the connection to the plot or characters to be affected by it.
I was hoping things would shake out, and I would get all the pieces to fit finally, but that never happened. Why include a serial killer? Why even name them if they have no involvement in the story beyond a marker in time? Who was the random "bad man" that Sarah had over at her house? Why did Edward/Theo/Theodore seem to have developmental limitations that were never addressed or mentioned, for that matter? How did "Theo" kill his dad? Did he even kill his dad? I don't know what I was reading, but I had to sit there while it happened to me.
2 Stars for the unique ideas. -3 for the poor execution.
February 5, 2024
Review: The Baldwin Hotel ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ | 2.5 ☆
Author: Lonnie Busch
Publication Date: 27 January 2022
Publisher: Books go Social
Mystery & Thrillers | Sci Fi & Fantasy
I received this book from Lonnie Busch and Books Go Social, as an advanced eArc for my honest review any opinions that come from this review are my own. Thank you to both the Author and the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
I want to be honest in my review after several attempts to read this book I just could not get into it. The flow of the story didn't work for me it felt choppy and the character development was really weak. The book itself was confusing and I found myself going back and fourth between pages to make sure I didn;t miss anything and that's saying a lot because I am not a fast reader at all.
Author: Lonnie Busch
Publication Date: 27 January 2022
Publisher: Books go Social
Mystery & Thrillers | Sci Fi & Fantasy
I received this book from Lonnie Busch and Books Go Social, as an advanced eArc for my honest review any opinions that come from this review are my own. Thank you to both the Author and the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
I want to be honest in my review after several attempts to read this book I just could not get into it. The flow of the story didn't work for me it felt choppy and the character development was really weak. The book itself was confusing and I found myself going back and fourth between pages to make sure I didn;t miss anything and that's saying a lot because I am not a fast reader at all.
February 8, 2023
I read the description of the book and was hooked, I wanted to read it. I received the review copy and tried so hard to really get into the book but just could not. I did push myself to finish it, but it was honestly a struggle. I found that character development was lacking to such a point that the story seemed weak. Not understanding a character's motives and feelings or even where they are coming from or why they are the way they are makes it difficult. Further more flipping back and forth between worlds/times is so confusing for the reader.
I honestly think the idea behind the book and story was good but maybe needed to be developed a bit more before print.
I honestly think the idea behind the book and story was good but maybe needed to be developed a bit more before print.
February 22, 2023
The Baldwin Hotel falls Short
I was given a copy of this book as an ACR though Goodreads. When I read the synopsis, prior to entering to win, I was very excited to read this book. However, I found that the book fell way short. I forced myself to read until the end because I absolutely loathe not completing a book I start. But, I found the book to be disjointed and chaotic, much of it not making any sense to the overall story. I found the characters to be one dimensional and not very well developed. I really did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it.
I was given a copy of this book as an ACR though Goodreads. When I read the synopsis, prior to entering to win, I was very excited to read this book. However, I found that the book fell way short. I forced myself to read until the end because I absolutely loathe not completing a book I start. But, I found the book to be disjointed and chaotic, much of it not making any sense to the overall story. I found the characters to be one dimensional and not very well developed. I really did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it.
March 26, 2023
I really loved the Baldwin Hotel and its Chaotic plot starting in the very first chapter we are sucked into the chaos of Theodore's mind and time travel and the Baldwin Hotel and something having to do with a girl named Sarah. Boy was this a mind bender of a book that i enjoyed very much it read like a scifi film and i really like those. Lonnie has a very unique voice that i would like to read more of.
February 4, 2023
This book was not one of my favorites. The main character Theodore Trumball has lots of social and psychological issues. The book was hard to follow as it went from the past to the future. The past and future collide in this mind binding plunge into choices and consequences. Theodore’ new boss ,who has a connection to his past. The boss has a pivotal role in deterring his future.
November 15, 2023
This was an excellent book. I think the author should write more along this vein. While reading this book I could imagine being in the scenes. I read this book pretty consistently as to reach the end.
Shelved as 'dnf-graveyard'
January 23, 2023you can tell this book was written by a man, because every woman is described in fascinating detail during each scene :/
August 30, 2023
Reading this book was like riding a roller coaster, only instead of going up, down, and around, I found myself getting deeper into the mind of Theodore Trumbull, the thrill of the ride was wondering how and when we'd be let loose. One minute I'd feel sorry for him, another I'd be upset with him, and the next I'd be rooting for him to get to where he was going. The cantankerous Mr. Cantwell seemed to always be there, sometimes encouraging, but mostly the stimulus Theo needed to keep going.
I loved the 'inner thoughts' Theo had and sometimes wondered if what he thought was because it happened, or because it could happen, or because he was trying to prevent it from happening.
I highly recommend this book if you like a psychological thriller/coming of age/revenge/do-over kind of book.
I loved the 'inner thoughts' Theo had and sometimes wondered if what he thought was because it happened, or because it could happen, or because he was trying to prevent it from happening.
I highly recommend this book if you like a psychological thriller/coming of age/revenge/do-over kind of book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews