Em

“The Speed of Falling Objects” is an upbeat contemporary novel, with a stunning thriller feel to it. I was interested in the main character, Danny almost instantly, with the dramatization of her childhood injury of losing her eye. Paired with her father “abandoning” her, she certainly had a fair share backstory. 

As soon as the book opens, the drama doesn’t stop coming. Danny, who claims betrayal from her mother, goes on a trip with her father, despite her mom’s growing concerns. Thrown into the spotlight for her dad’s tv show, the seventeen year old puts up with a lot. 

If you think that is when Fischer cuts the dramatic details out, there is still more she has left to share. Nearly 100 pages in, our main characters end up in a horrific plane accident, which propels the main plot of the story. 

I enjoyed the contemporary side of the story much more than the thriller side, which is unusual for me. I feel like the characters had excitement as well as intrigue, and I feel like that is what drove my feelings. Sometimes, however, the plot was so slow the commentary from the characters would be the only thing to keep me going. 

One key aspect that I really appreciated is Fischer’s depiction of Danny’s invisible disability of only having one eye. Because Danny has a fake eye, many are not aware of her disability. The way Fischer wrote about Danny’s struggles in everyday life, and the extreme symptoms she describes will truly stick with me for a long time. 

Overall, I very much enjoyed this story apart from the occasional plot dragging, and how much drama there was which got to quite a bit repetitive. I rate it three point five  out of five stars. 

M

Nancy Richardson Fischer offers an exciting and beautifully written fiction novel with her latest book, “The Speed of Falling Objects.” The book is told from the perspective of high schooler Danielle, “Danny” Warren, and readers follow her story as she journeys through high school life and the aftermath of a horrific accident in the Amazon rainforest.

Fischer’s pacing throughout the book allows for suspense without boredom. She immediately captures the reader’s attention with a breathtaking description of the plane crash. Immediately following this mysterious flashback, Fischer then delves into a regular day at school for Danny, leaving the reader intrigued with anticipation. 

The book also follows Danny as she builds a relationship with her father, a famous celebrity with a TV show called “Cougar”. In an attempt to make up for his absence, he invites Danny on a trip to the middle of the Amazon rainforest for an episode of his show. Although, excited to be with her dad, she struggles to reconnect with her estranged father. 

Throughout the novel the plot consistently remains suspenseful and detailed. Fischer also uses creativity to write a riveting novel, while maintaining many interesting and complex characters. 

The majority of the story is spent when Danny and her dad are stranded in the Amazon forest. But I thought that as a survival story, “The Speed of Falling Objects,” was lacking. Towards the end  of the characters become oddly mean and while that might be expected, it felt to me like the author took it a little too far, to the point where you’re not rooting for anyone really.

While Fischer’s novel does include some unlikable characters, her imaginative style works perfectly with the mysterious jungle setting the book takes place in. Overall, I thought that it was a very compelling book and would give it four out of five stars.