Is a deus ex machina a unimaginative or poor device to tell a story?

Funny, I saw your question, having not come across this term until you mentioned it, then I started reading some Amazon reviews, and straight away I see that this reader has used this term in a negative sense (2nd para) in his review of Khaled Hosseini's first novel, 'The Kite Runner', 2003.



AMAZON REVIEW:

...Kite Runner is a deeply intense book, capturing the insanity of a region amok with fanatacism and destruction. At its core, we have a haunting story of two childhood soulmates torn apart by society, burdened by the stigma of hierarchical rank and various factions of a larger (and increasingly violent) power struggle. Khaled Hosseini does this very well, the Afghan backdrop is convincing and terrifying.



My concern, which may not be anyone else's concern, is that the characters seem rather one dimensional. Hassan is too pure and resolute while the protagonist is too flawed, doomed to be weak and regretful until by some magical stroke of vigor, saves all his bravado for the grand finale. Unreal. Certain plot elements also felt forced, deus ex machinish, and this reader can only willingly suspend his disbelief for so long if the narration is taking literary shortcuts.



But then, what can I say... often, reality appears to be unreal. Hence the three stars for ambivalence. I did not quite enjoy the writing style as much as some have. In any case, please read and decide for yourself. You may like the book as many, many others have.Is a deus ex machina a unimaginative or poor device to tell a story?
Ok

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