Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I was intrigued by the concept of this book - how exactly would 40+ writers collaborating on a single story work? And it turns out that, because this book is episodic in nature, it just about works. You can see where the joins are in the narrative, but in some ways it doesn't matter because the stories are so interesting. Some characters are much more developed than others, but the concept of neighbours coming together during a Covid lockdown is a solid one, and the ensemble works. I did see the twist at the end coming, but that didn't make it any less poignant.

I loved the premise of this book - so many acclaimed authors collaborating, but at the end of the day it was still a series of short stories; some I liked better than others.
Unlike other reviewers, for me the best bit was the framework that the short stories were hung from telling of a group of people isolating from Covid in the apartment block, communing (six feet apart) on the buildings rooftop on an evening to tell their stories.

If you think about it, it was quite an achievement to get so many great authors to contribute to this project. I have been tryin gto avoid stories based during this time bvecause we all lived it, and it feels a little too soon to relive history. But having said that, I enjoyed the stories from the people in this building. I will say however some of the writing was imbalanced and was stronger in places. However overall I really enjoyed it.

I read 2/3 of this book and just could not finish it. I found the writing to be lazy and didn’t connect with the characters. There isn’t any direction to the story. It seems to be written as a slice of life and takes place during Covid times in NYC in an apartment building.

I’m afraid my hopes were dashed.
Two very well established authors working together on this book? Oh yes please (I thought)

The blurb sounded better than the book!

I was expecting different tenants to join bit by bit conversations and get to know each other, some fun, some gossip. Nice little stories.

No, it was very disjointed and didn’t marry up well.
It was more like anecdotes which weren’t even seamlessly put together.

I know I’m harsh with my one star but I expected more from these two strong authors.

I liked the idea of this, a group effort by the Authors Guild, a modern Decameron.
Sadly I DNFed it at 34%.

Looking forward to stories in distinctive, different voices, the stories felt more like anecdotes that flowed on too seamlessly. The nicknames created an unnecessary distance to the characters. The Covid backdrop is jarring to me with all its updates on numbers of death that were relevant at the time.

I couldn't get into this book, I didn't enjoy the 1st person narrative where it feels, like they're talking to you. And when I skipped ahead it's written in this one voice telling you other people's stories. I prefer to read the action unfold. The first story read like a report and didn't grip me.
It's a shame because I loved the idea of the story with lots of writers tales weaved together. I thought it'd be in the viewpoint of different characters and it just isn't for me

Thank you for allowing me to review this book, unfortunately it didn't really live up to my expectations. I thought it would be interesting to read these stories by the different authors, however I found it difficult to follow. Set in USA, with constant updates of the numbers with Covid, deaths etc seemed just extra filler. The characters had strange nicknames and I wasn't really clear how the narrator knew who was who. I'm afraid that I skipped some parts that were particularly slow going. When I read the final pages then it all, made more sense.

I had super high hopes for this after seeing the author list, but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. There were too many characters referred by nicknames, instead of their actual names, making it difficult to keep up with who was who. It just felt a bit haphazard and messy. The ending felt a little rushed to try and make sense of what was going on and didn't have the impact I thought it was. Slightly disappointing.

Fourteen Days is an impressive achievement. It is also unlike any book I have ever read, it has been a few hours since I have finished reading it and I have no room in my head for anything else. The note from the authors describes it best

"...the Italian word 'novella' to describe a story that was not the reworking of a familiar tale, myth or Biblical parable, but something new, fresh, savage, amusing and surprising.

Fourteen Days meets that definition. It is a collaborative novel that is startling and original - you might even call it a literary event."

It is written by thirty-six American and Canadian authors from all different backgrounds and genres but somehow it managed to flow effortlessly. There were some stories I enjoyed more than others but they all belonged.

"Above all, Fourteen Days is a celebration of the power of stories."

I couldn't agree with this more, whatever you are looking for in a story I would argue you can find it in this book.

Fourteen Days is about the occupants of a'decaying' New York building trapped by the Covid-19 pandemic. The primary narrator is the Super of the building who finds herself in possession of a 'bible' left behind by the previous Super. When the other residens of the building start to join her every night on the roof this is when we begin to get to know them all properly.

"It was packed with stories and anecdotes, asides and riddles, factoids and flatulences, and quips.He had given everyone a nickname. They were funny and cryptic at the same time."

The Super is a woman who took on the job because she was desperate for money and to escape from the guilt she felt after having to put her beloved father in a care home due to his advancing dementia. Shortly after taking the job the pandemic hit and she hasn't been able to contact the sub-standard care facility since.Her father was also a Super and she used to come along with him on his jobs when he was younger.

I felt Fourteen Days was incredible at capturing the full range of emotions we all experienced during the course of the pandemics and the lockdown measures. In fact, one of the reasons I found this book to be so hard hitting is because of this very thing.

"Everything happened so quickly. One day the coronavirus was something going on in Wu-who-the-hell-knows-where-han, and the next thing you know, we're in a global pandemic right here in the US of A."

Some parts of the book were harder to read than others, the parts that dealt directly with the traumatic process of a loved one's death during the pandemic, were especially difficult to read.

"This damn coronavirus wasn't just stripping away our ability to be together in life but also to be together at the moment of death, to say our goodbyes.A terrible thought passed through my mind before I could stamp it out: a wish that my father had died before this pandemic hit at all."

Fourteen Days is a rich and colourful novel, one which has introduced me to a whole new range of authors, authors I may never have picked up without this extraordinary book.

If you’re still not quite sure if you’re ready for pandemic fiction, this could be the book which changes your mind. A collaborative work created by thirty-six authors including Margaret Atwood, Dave Eggers, John Grisham, R. L. Stein, Emma Donoghue and Celeste Ng, Fourteen Days is effectively a connected anthology of short stories, all told on the rooftop of a dilapidated apartment block in Manhattan during the spring of 2020, where the inhabitants – left behind by their more affluent neighbours yet equally desperate for air and space – have broken onto the roof and now meet every evening to share stories. Socially distanced, of course. Our guide to this world is 1A, the building’s new superintendent, who had only just arrived in the block before lockdown hit: she has taken possession of the previous super’s apartment which contained a mysterious guide to the building’s inhabitants, with clues to their personalities and backstories – so when they start sharing tales on the rooftop, 1A is uniquely aware of any falsehoods being told beneath the city’s skies and begins piecing together the truth. Each of the tales told by the apartments’ inhabitants is short, and (as you would expect from such a varied cast of authors) is completely different in tone - so if you don’t enjoy one, another narrator will be along in a few moments. It is very like those early days of lockdown: you truly are trapped on a rooftop alongside the building’s residents, with no entertainment other than the story being told at that moment. Each author’s identity is concealed and only accessible via a list at the end of the book, so you can choose if you want to discover who is behind which of the tales: making this a great way to discover the work of new authors as well as read pieces by more familiar voices. Proceeds from this book go to The Author's Guild, an American organisation which supports writers of all kinds, at all stages of their careers: the thirty-six authors are all members and part of the advance for the book went to help support writers during the pandemic. This book would be the perfect accompaniment to a week-long holiday or other retreat from the world – but perhaps during a lockdown you’ve chosen for yourself, rather than one mandated by the government.

Featured in the February issue of Cambridge Edition Magazine – digital edition linked below

I love the premise of this book, it’s an amazing idea, and I feel proud to have read a book involving so many outstanding authors and with proceeds going to the Writers Guild. The writing was collaborative, and seamless.

There were some ‘stories’ I enjoyed more than others and I was keen to know which authors had written them. It was a surprise to find that this information was provided at the end.

I had questions throughout the book - why are they living here? But that was answered at the end.

I did enjoy the book, I felt some stories went on a little long. I also lost my way with the nicknames and would have preferred people to have been called by their actual names.

That aside, I would recommend and I felt that the book gave an accurate perspective on Covid-life for all of us.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest, independent review.

Set on the rooftop of a tenement in Lower East Side during the early days of lockdown, residents come together to share stories. As the lockdown progresses, more neighbours join in, each with their own tale to tell.

What sets this story apart is that it has been crafted by over 30 literary legends, including Margaret Atwood and R.L. Stine, with the reader left guessing the authors of each chapter until the very end.

The central themes of the book revolve around the pandemic, community, and storytelling, but the characters explore a wide range of topics such as adoption, death, love, and racism, reflecting the diversity of the characters themselves.

The book took me a while to get into – I think this was due to there being so many writing styles, changing from chapter to chapter, and I was uncertain if it was meeting my expectations.

However, as the story progressed, my interest was piqued, especially in trying to decipher the authors behind each chapter.

The narratives range from heart-warming to shocking, making for an interesting read.

The book includes writing from: Charlie Jane Anders, Margaret Atwood, Joseph Cassara, Jennine Capó Crucet, Angie Cruz, Pat Cummings, Sylvia Day, Emma Donoghue, Dave Eggers, Diana Gabaldon, Tess Gerritsen, John Grisham, Maria Hinojosa, Mira Jacob, Erica Jong, CJ Lyons, Celeste Ng, Tommy Orange, Mary Pope Osborne, Douglas Preston, Alice Randall, Ishmael Reed, Roxana Robinson, Nelly Rosario, James Shapiro, Hampton Sides, R.L. Stine, Nafissa Thompson-Spires, Monique Truong, Scott Turow, Luis Alberto Urrea, Rachel Vail, Weike Wang, Caroline Randall Williams, De’Shawn Charles Winslow, and Meg Wolitzer.

This was a great experiment but it didn't really work. First of all, it came too late - people don't want to read about the early days of the pandemic right now. Secondly I feel like the book felt simultaneously disjointed and preachy and it was a giant miss for me.

Fourteen Days is a collaborative novel, in essence a collection of fourteen short stories by a number of award-winning authors including Margaret Atwood, Celeste Ng and Emma Donaghue.
Set during lockdown, I was excited to read this.
However, it didn't really live up to my expectations. Whilst the the general setting (an apartment block) worked , the stories themselves didn't flow particularly well and some of them seemed lacking.
The overall vibe was disjointed and I almost considered not finishing. However, I ploughed on, only to find the ending (don't want to give spoilers) a little predictable and I almost groaned out loud as I read it.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fourteen Days is an engaging book that although written by multiple authors reads as a seamless whole, weaving narratives into a memorial to a significant trauma in recent history - the Covid pandemic.

Cleverly using a single apartment block and it's isolated (and socially distanced) inhabitants to tell stories in the oral tradition of bygone eras, Atwood et al have created a complex web of interconnectedness.

The themes of the tales told are multifaceted like their characters and authors providing a real sense of America and it's melting pot of humanity.

Definitely a marmite read that will definitely have its audience out there. A group of amazing authors add to a collaborative story that will really draw you in.

This collaborative novel is set in a tenement building in New York during the recent pandemic and subsequent lockdown. The tenants meet each evening on the rooftop and tell stories. As the group grows, the tenants get to know each other, many of them had never spoken to each other before. It almost becomes party like as they enjoy drinks and food sitting on their mis matched and often broken chairs as they talk while socially distancing. Everyone has a story and each of them tell theirs over the fourteen days.
This book has some wonderful names from the literary world including John Grisham, Margaret Attwood, Emma Donoghue, Celeste Ng and Tess Gerritsen and there is a section at the end where it is explained who has written each section. There were thirty six authors involved in this work, so it is hard to identify any of them from this work. Some of the stories were wonderful and a lot were not so much. I don't think this type of writing actually worked. I was really looking forward to reading it and was left a little disappointed.

I think this will be a bit of a marmite book. Considering the vast number and range of genres of authors who collaborated on this work, I thought it gelled well but know others feel differently. Congratulations must go to Preston and Atwood for creating what I’m convinced will become a classic depiction of life during the Covid lockdown. At times a hard and challenging read, but all in all a readable book of short stories.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

I like what I read of this but I am afraid I couldn't get involved. I am not ready to read about lockdown it was too hard. The writing was good but the subject matter is too raw.