The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Final Notice

Manang Muyang

The title and the cover can only belong to a thriller. The blurb confirmed my assumption, with its mention of killing and revenge and an extraordinary watch that predicts death. A thriller junkie, I would have sampled the book outside of the program. I had in fact read and enjoyed this book around five years ago: it had unrelenting action. It also made me all the more supportive of gun control. I also liked that Vince and Trudi had friends from different cultures. I noted a few minor grammar glitches: "The furniture had been recovered and reupholstered" on page 4 needed "re-covered" to prevent confusion. "A million, armed seniors?" on page 9 didn't need the comma. Aside from the minor errors, there was nothing I would have changed in the bit I read. The official OBC reviewer gave the book full marks and influenced me to read the book.

First Ten review added on February 27, 2023, at 4:59 am by Manang Muyang.

Gabriella H

From the book cover and title, the book seemed like a crime thriller, which is a genre I enjoy. So I would've sampled this book without this program. The OBC blurb and official review increased my interest in the book. So I was looking forward to sampling it. I think the book started well. Although I felt bad for Vince, who was bullied because of his age, I don't think getting guns and killing people is the way to go. Getting guns because someone knocks you down is like saying anytime someone offends you, you should just kill them—just like that. Like human life doesn't have value anymore. I'll be completing this book, as I'd like to see what Vince eventually decides, how the people who are notified of how many days they have left react, and why Stan's father killed those people. My decision was influenced by the above factors. The customer and editorial reviews didn't influence this decision. I believe the first ten pages were professionally edited because I saw no errors in them. I don't have any suggestions for improvements.

First Ten review added on February 27, 2023, at 3:33 am by Gabriella H.

Owuamanam Eberechukwu

The book opens with Vince, a seventy-year-old man entering his house in Pasadena. The author gradually introduces the wife, Trudi, and their Corgi Miles. An unfortunate occurrence happened that afternoon, and Vince was unhappy. The book began in a seemingly suspenseful manner, and I liked it. The pages I read were exceptionally well-edited. The cover design and title are a perfect fit and good enough to make me buy and read the book. However, I will not buy and read this book because its contents are not in line with my current reading interests. This is my opinion and was not influenced by comments, blurbs, or reviews on OBC.

First Ten review added on February 27, 2023, at 2:32 am by Owuamanam Eberechukwu.

Sou Hi

Even without this program, I would have read this. The ratings on Amazon are not very good, but the official review from OnlineBookClub, the cover, and the blurb are fine. The book's premise is also my cup of tea.

I like the way the author describes the elders' lives. The danger of guns is also addressed well. The editing is fine, and I have no suggestions for improvement. Since the plot is interesting enough, I will buy the book. The OBC review was helpful in making my decision.

Error example: They had watched their neighborhood change over time as families moved in and out, generally white middle class leaving and ethnic upper-middle-class moving in. -> I think it should be "upper middle class" or "upper-middle class" instead.

First Ten review added on February 27, 2023, at 12:53 am by Sou Hi.

Mayang Bature

What I liked best about this book's sample were the author's concise descriptions. Within the first few pages, I was acquainted with Vince, Trudi, and even some of their friends. I liked how the descriptiveness made each character appear distinct and real. I would have loved to read this book if I hadn't been in this program. I enjoy such genres, and when I read the description, I was completely captivated. The official OBC review had nothing negative to say about the book, and neither do I. I didn't dislike anything about the book, and I didn't notice any errors while reading. I'd like to read this book eventually because I'm curious to see how the story ends. It has a lot of potential for thrills, and I wouldn't want to miss out on that.

First Ten review added on February 26, 2023, at 1:06 pm by Mayang Bature.

Christell Lindeque

Even though I am a participant in this program, I have no intention of reading this book. I've attempted to read it before, but the subject matter and style just weren't appealing to me.

The first ten pages previously told me I wasn't going to like the book, but I gave it another read-through to catch any mistakes. I was unable to locate any errors.

The topic is engaging and relevant to modern life. Within the first ten pages, I found nothing to enjoy. Within the first ten pages, Vince and Trudy are already sitting in front of the TV. The idea of selling guns to the elderly for self-defense was discussed on national television. Vince found this to be completely absurd. A while later, it was reported that an 89-year-old man had killed 12 people in a retirement home with guns.

I already knew, even before I read the OBC review, that I wouldn't read it because I tried reading it once before to possibly review it and couldn't get through it. Thus, I shall not be reading this book.

First Ten review added on February 26, 2023, at 9:52 am by Christell Lindeque.

Surabhi Rani

Had I not been part of this program I would not have read or sampled this book based on any of the following: cover, tile, genre, blurb, editorial reviews, and customer reviews, thinking it was a fictional story of violence. After reading the first ten pages, I am going to read the whole free book, because I liked the author's writing style. Also, I wanted to learn about the latest developments in science and technology. I noticed an instance of a missing comma before 'because' in a sentence ending with an independent clause in the book. For example,'...because I was impatient to see how each character who received a final notice would react.' In the aforementioned part of the sentence on the very first page of the book, (Location 10 of 19912 - 1%), the comma before 'because' was missing.

The plot of the story about the invention of a new device that could predict the final days of a human life reflects the author's vision of life and death. I loved the theme of the story about the realization of death in human life. I hated to learn about the extreme disadvantages of the new invention, for example, the incidents of killing and mass shootings taking place in society. The OBC review of the book emphasized the positive points about the author's work. On the basis of the information gained through the review, I concluded that the book was a wholesome read and worth reading for me.

First Ten review added on February 26, 2023, at 4:33 am by Surabhi Rani.

Pauline Parnell

I would have read the sample pages of this book even if I hadn't been participating in this program. I found the title and the blurb to be intriguing. After reading the first ten pages, I would definitely buy and read the entire book. The opening events caught my interest. The issue with gun ownership was definitely food for thought. On page three, an error was found. It read as follows: "They had watched their neighborhoods change over time as families moved in and out, generally white middle class leaving and ethnic upper middle class moving in; but Vince couldn't figure out how anyone could afford to buy a house at today's prices.’  It should be read as follows: "They had watched their neighborhood change over time as families moved in and out, with the generally white middle class leaving and the ethnic upper middle class moving in, but Vince couldn't figure out how anyone could afford to buy a house at today's prices." I love the uniqueness of the storyline. When the timing of death is known, it is interesting to see how people behave with that knowledge. The author must be commended for using that perspective. I understand that age is one of the story's premises, but I dislike how age, particularly in its later years, is depicted. Old age is seen in a negative light, and those who qualify for such distinction seem to be on the edge. The OBC evaluation assisted me in my decision.

First Ten review added on February 26, 2023, at 3:16 am by Pauline Parnell.

Jennifer Garcia 555

I like the genre, title, cover, description, and the official OnlineBookClub review I read. This sounds like a unique idea for a story. I would probably pick this book to read. I read the sample pages and saw no editing errors, so this book seems professionally edited. I like that Vince talks about feeling embarrassed when he gets knocked to the ground. It’s probably hard to get older and feel disrespected by younger people. I have no suggestion for improvement. I enjoyed the sample and wanted to continue reading, so I will buy and finish reading this book.

First Ten review added on February 26, 2023, at 1:09 am by Jennifer Garcia 555.

Kendal Low

I really enjoyed Final Act, another book in this series, so I believe I would’ve sampled this book even if I was not a part of this program. The blurb was also very interesting to me, and the OBC review made the book sound very entertaining. I found no errors in what I sampled of the book, and nothing that I disliked or felt needed improvement. I really like how the author started off the story by describing Vince and Trudi so well, making the audience feel connected to them and care what happens to them.

First Ten review added on February 26, 2023, at 12:58 am by Kendal Low.

Ari Martinez

If it hadn't been for this program, I wouldn't have sampled this book based on its title, cover, genre, blurb, OnlineBookClub review, or other reviews because I wasn't sure how the topic of gun control would be explored, and I don't tend to enjoy books with political undertones. After reading the first ten pages, I will not continue reading the book because I just wasn't interested in the topic of gun control. I wished the book would've started with the invention or use of the device/watch. From what I read, my favorite part was Vince's inner turmoil about being knocked down. I think most people have been in a similar situation at least once – feeling helpless and wondering for hours how they should have reacted. I don't think the book needs to be improved. On page 3, there shouldn't be a space in the word "pre- packaged" ("He had been searching for a coffee maker that could make espresso, coffee, and lattes without using pre- packaged products.").

First Ten review added on February 26, 2023, at 12:37 am by Ari Martinez.

Anna_Hernandez

If I had not been part of this program, I don't think I would have picked up this book based on its cover image featuring a gun. Although I don't oppose guns, the prominent display of a weapon on the cover would have discouraged me from exploring the book further. However, I'm grateful for the chance to read the first ten pages, which presented intriguing and controversial topics that sparked my curiosity. Nonetheless, I ultimately decided not to finish the book since the initial topics discussed were too politically focused for my taste. I appreciated the author's ability to present complex ideas in an engaging manner, and did not find any errors in the first ten pages. Therefore, I see no need for any improvements in this section of the book, including the cover image featuring guns, which are a significant aspect of the story.

The Official Featured Review of ‘Final Notice’ by Van Fleisher on OBC didn't influence my decision to stop reading the book. The review provided a better understanding of where the story was heading, which was beneficial considering the first ten pages mainly focused on laying the foundation of the novel. The review also shed a different light on the book, highlighting its sci-fi elements rather than politics, which was the main focus of the first ten pages.

First Ten review added on February 25, 2023, at 11:38 pm by Anna_Hernandez.

Kelsey Roy

I was initially intrigued by the cover and title of “Final Notice.” These details promise action and potential crime. The blurb listed the genre as a political thriller, a genre I always enjoy. The blurb and OBC review discuss the topic of a watch that can accurately predict the timing of a person’s natural death. This topic sounds interesting, and I love the action in this book.

I found no errors in the sample pages. I don’t agree with the political stance in the beginning chapters about gun control. Aside from this difference of opinion, I found nothing to dislike about this book. The sample didn’t get into the science of the watch or much of the action, but I enjoyed how the author set the scene by discussing violence against seniors. I would love to continue reading this book to discover more about the final notice. I have no recommendations for the author.

First Ten review added on February 25, 2023, at 9:35 pm by Kelsey Roy.

Mariana Figueira

Before reading the book's first pages, I wasn't interested in it because nothing on the cover or the title got my attention. After sampling the book, I don't want to continue reading it because the story didn't captivate me. I like that the premise of the story, and how it started with the idea of giving guns to seniors. This book seems professionally edited, I didn't see any typos; plus, it has an official OnlineBookClub review, but that didn't affect my opinion about not reading the book. I didn't see anything that needed improvement.

First Ten review added on February 25, 2023, at 8:37 pm by Mariana Figueira.

Olga Markova

But for the First Ten, I would have sampled this book because of the intriguing combination of its title and the cover featuring a hand holding a gun. Having sampled this book, I found no errors. But the pace of the action was too slow for me, I felt bored reading the transcript of the TV interview about the care home massacre by John Mason, a wheelchaired 89-year-old resident, and I lost the thrill once I connected it with his son's findings at his home and the seemingly unrelated invention of a death-predicting smartwatch. The OBC review of the book was very intriguing, and I felt swayed to read the book until I reached the warning about a forthcoming episode of a shooting at a school. Eventually, I decided not to read this book because I felt that it had more massacres than I could bear.

First Ten review added on February 25, 2023, at 6:32 pm by Olga Markova.

Rodel Barnachea

After reading the title’s Amazon page and official OBC review, I opted not to acquire the political thriller. I am not intrigued by this new device that can predict the final days of a person's life as long as their death is connected to old age or sickness. I am not fascinated by the science and technology that were needed by the group of doctors that invented this death-predicting device. I am not interested in learning how the different characters in the novel will react to the news that they will die in a few days or weeks. Perusing its sample did not change my mind. I would not purchase it because nothing in the text compelled me to pore over the rest of the title. The first ten pages cover a prologue, Chapter One: In the Beginning…, and a few pages of Chapter Two: The NRA Discount. My favorite part is when Trudi told Vince that Alma and Ahmed are going to have them over for dinner to catch up with each other. I could not note any errors in the text; I believe the book is professionally edited. I have no advice to offer to the author.

First Ten review added on February 25, 2023, at 4:23 pm by Rodel Barnachea.

Nemanja Jankovic

Because of the book's title and cover, I would pick it up and read it. While the book's cover is connected with danger, the title is intriguing and captures the essence of the novel. I read the customer reviews, editor reviews, and the Official OnlineBookClub review, but none of them affected my decision. I made my decision in part because of the book's blurb, which informed me that it combines political satire and black humor. Because I'm not in the mood to read political fiction right now, I won't be reading the book. As I couldn't locate any typos or errors, the book seemed to have undergone thorough editing. I like the jokes that Sean tells Dwayne because it seems like a genuine part of the television program. Nothing in the book, in my opinion, needs to be improved.

First Ten review added on February 25, 2023, at 3:12 pm by Nemanja Jankovic.

Sushan Ekanayake

Final Notice by Van Fleisher belongs to the C/T/M/H genre, which I love to read. The title and the cover page immediately caught my attention. The blurb revealed that this was a fiction on human reactions after getting to know when they will die. The editorial reviews and the customer reviews spoke highly about the book. Based on the above facts, I would have sampled this even if I had not been a part of this program.

Then I read the first ten pages, which included a short prologue and the first chapter that described a typical day of the old aged couple Vince and Trudi. I would like to give credit for his writing style. But the slow start of the book caused me to loose all my interest. So I decided not to read the rest of the book after reading the first ten pages.

After going through the first few pages, I did not come across any mistakes or did not notice any areas for enhancement. I also read the official review from OBC which praised the book, but it was not convincing enough to alter my opinion.

First Ten review added on February 25, 2023, at 12:45 pm by Sushan Ekanayake.

Tara D Morgan

I enjoy thrillers and seeing that this book has good reviews on Amazon, I would probably have bought it. The first ten pages are well-written and interesting; I found no errors. I felt Vince's dilemma over the gun situation and his anger at being knocked over by a lout. However, the review on OBC and the first ten pages clarified that the book has areas where gun sales are promoted, and there are senseless killings, etc. There are too many reports on the news of the needless deaths of people in America because guns are so readily available. As this makes me very angry this book is not one I will be reading.

First Ten review added on February 25, 2023, at 12:26 pm by Tara D Morgan.

This book appears to have been Book of the Day more than once. Only responses from the most recent Book of the Day focus group are shown. Older responses have been hidden by default to avoid confusion. If you would like to also view the older first ten responses, you can unhide them by clicking the button below.

Show Older Responses