Helpful Score: 1
Michael O'Connor left home at the young age of fifteen when his momma held a gun to his head. A survivor, he made his living on the streets. He became a professional of robbing houses and cars and made some unsavory friends, but did manage to keep himself out of a gang. He lived reasonably and if he ran low of funds, he just robbed someone. But one day, Michael's luck ran out. After a successful robbery of a district attorney, Michael is laying low, but one of his contacts needs some quick cash. Michael gives him an unused credit card and soon finds himself in cuffs.
The court finds against Michael and he is sentenced to five years in the state prison. On the bus to the big house, a shooting occurs and Michael is shot. When he wakes up, it is four years later. He had been in a coma that whole time. And while he was in a coma, his world as he knew it changed. The government let all of the criminals go free. They thought it inhuman to keep them caged. But, they had to learn by new rules. Michael doesn't know those rules but he is about to learn them the hard way.
Wendell Cummings prides himself on his rehabilitation system. 80% of the criminals that graduate from his system are upstanding citizens. He is determined to re-learn Michael so he can join society once again. Michael wears an ankle strap that warns the public that he is a relearner, and is also bound to the house much of his day. If he doesn't sit in front of the black box with all of it's dvd's, he won't graduate to the next level of his relearning. But Michael wants to know what's going on out in the real world and makes some poor choices. When Michael gets in trouble, Wendell gets in trouble. But eventually, Michael wants to help himself to help Wendell, but the price might just be too high.
The End of Marking Time is a hypnotizing novel. It has such a unique plot line that I couldn't put it down. Granted, I really hated the ending, but if an author can raise any emotion out of a reader, it is high marks. The End of Marking Time really makes you think, long after the book is finished. Every action has a consequence and a domino effect and C.J. West takes it to the whole next level. Absolutely riveting!!
The court finds against Michael and he is sentenced to five years in the state prison. On the bus to the big house, a shooting occurs and Michael is shot. When he wakes up, it is four years later. He had been in a coma that whole time. And while he was in a coma, his world as he knew it changed. The government let all of the criminals go free. They thought it inhuman to keep them caged. But, they had to learn by new rules. Michael doesn't know those rules but he is about to learn them the hard way.
Wendell Cummings prides himself on his rehabilitation system. 80% of the criminals that graduate from his system are upstanding citizens. He is determined to re-learn Michael so he can join society once again. Michael wears an ankle strap that warns the public that he is a relearner, and is also bound to the house much of his day. If he doesn't sit in front of the black box with all of it's dvd's, he won't graduate to the next level of his relearning. But Michael wants to know what's going on out in the real world and makes some poor choices. When Michael gets in trouble, Wendell gets in trouble. But eventually, Michael wants to help himself to help Wendell, but the price might just be too high.
The End of Marking Time is a hypnotizing novel. It has such a unique plot line that I couldn't put it down. Granted, I really hated the ending, but if an author can raise any emotion out of a reader, it is high marks. The End of Marking Time really makes you think, long after the book is finished. Every action has a consequence and a domino effect and C.J. West takes it to the whole next level. Absolutely riveting!!
This is the first book of C.J. West's that I have ever read (thanks to a bookmark) --when I got it, read the back etc. it isn't a book I would have just picked up and bought! But I'm so glad he sent me a bookmark and then a book and I got to read it! I really believe it should be required reading in all schools including college!!! The drama, keeps you going but best of all it makes you really, truly think and think hard!
I didn't rush through it because it truly made me wonder about our Justice system! Also makes you wonder about our whole society! Plus I enjoyed that as Michael, the burgler, was getting his education you could tell by his writing also, you didn't just have to hear him talk ---he's telling his story to us and I was impressed with what he was going through. Michael was so logical about his decisions that at times he really had no other choice. He never actually hurt any one but he did in that he stole what wasn't his, and yet he had no family social life, little education to learn from either.
This would be great book for ANY Book Clubs! Personally I would have pushed the green button (it even has it on the back cover)! Truly a mind boggling, make you think book! I am going to re-read it now.........and look for more of CJ West's books!
I didn't rush through it because it truly made me wonder about our Justice system! Also makes you wonder about our whole society! Plus I enjoyed that as Michael, the burgler, was getting his education you could tell by his writing also, you didn't just have to hear him talk ---he's telling his story to us and I was impressed with what he was going through. Michael was so logical about his decisions that at times he really had no other choice. He never actually hurt any one but he did in that he stole what wasn't his, and yet he had no family social life, little education to learn from either.
This would be great book for ANY Book Clubs! Personally I would have pushed the green button (it even has it on the back cover)! Truly a mind boggling, make you think book! I am going to re-read it now.........and look for more of CJ West's books!
