**spoiler alert** I did not actually like this book at all. Predictable, overflowing with superfluous detail, and redundant. I did not like any of the**spoiler alert** I did not actually like this book at all. Predictable, overflowing with superfluous detail, and redundant. I did not like any of the characters, which made it difficult to identify with any of them.
It was extremely unbelievable. How is it that no one bothered to figure out how the little boy died? They just jumped straight to believing the developmentally disabled guy did it. No autopsy? On a suspicious death of a 6 year old?? And what's the likelihood that every single person in Bell's life has betrayed her so thoroughly? (Count them: mother, father, sister, foster parents x many, husband, and finally her best friend's husband. Really?) Not to mention the murky details surrounding her traumatic and impoverished upbringing which somehow lead to her going to college and to law school. We're supposed to believe that the friendship of Foglesong was the single driving force that instilled in her the will and ability to make it through life?
There were other things that kept jumping out at me which I found hard to overlook. The use of the word "bloody" as an expletive ("not bloody likely") by someone who routinely speaks and thinks in the same dialect and tone and manner as everyone else in this small WV town. That a 10 year old knew what "dowdy" meant but not what a taffy pull was. That in a town full of people named Tom and Ruth and Shirley and Charlie we got a "Belfa" anyway. Bell's forgiveness of her shitty ex-husband's bad behavior, and flirting with the electrician while her daughter was missing. A page-long explanation of what a snow globe was. Etc etc etc.
This is the author's first book, and I'll give subsequent books of hers a try, to see if the kinks get smoothed out going forward, but this one was really rough. ...more
What an interesting little piece of writing. It's a Kindle "single," I can hardly count it toward my 2013 Book Challenge, but I wanted to say somethinWhat an interesting little piece of writing. It's a Kindle "single," I can hardly count it toward my 2013 Book Challenge, but I wanted to say something about it anyway.
The thing I noticed most was the author's use of tense change to move between the past, the distant past, and the present. It wasn't seamless, and I found myself annoyed in places due to the changes. That said, the characters were interesting, and remarkably well-drawn given the brevity of this piece. In the end, I was happy for Nate. My favorite part was when he realized he had black teeth. It made him human in a way that the rest of the story had somehow managed to NOT achieve. Or maybe that was Russo's plan all along - no slouch of a writer, Russo, after all. The story felt like I was watching Nate move along, until the teeth moment, when I really connected with him. That is possibly also the moment he actually connected with himself.
Anyway, it's short, and a good read, so give it a shot. ...more
Quick read, and quite engrossing. Lots of interesting historical details. My favorite parts were the Scannlon parts. I loved that he was a man on a miQuick read, and quite engrossing. Lots of interesting historical details. My favorite parts were the Scannlon parts. I loved that he was a man on a mission - it was truly his chance encounter with the original crash site that brought so much closure and answers to so many people who had wondered for such a long time. ...more
Fast read. The majority of the book was not terribly exciting, but the ending was definitely one of the most intense ever. The character who died in tFast read. The majority of the book was not terribly exciting, but the ending was definitely one of the most intense ever. The character who died in this book really made me sad. I did not care for Brunetti's affection for Elettra, either. The thing is, I love these books, so I'm going to let it slide. :)...more
First, let me say that I adore Louise Penny. She is one of my favorite writers and her characters are the kind that feel like real people and like reaFirst, let me say that I adore Louise Penny. She is one of my favorite writers and her characters are the kind that feel like real people and like real friends.
This book was outstanding. It was a little short on mystery, but this was overshadowed anyway by the incredible character developments and interactions. It was an absolute gut-punch; very intense. I was not able to put the book down and in fact stayed up late last night to finish it... then sat in my bed thinking about it and FEELING about it for a long while afterward.
The dynamic between Gamache and Jean Guy is fascinating, and watching it develop in such interesting and complex ways throughout the series is very rewarding for the reader, and also for those of us who are also writers. LP is kind of a master of character development. Everyone is so fully fleshed out, and their interactions are so thoroughly believable that it is easy to understand why the series gets such acclaim and so many awards. Seeing Gamache put under a different kind of strain than we've seen before, and his reactions to it, gave us even more insight into this tremendous character.
This book in particular was a departure from LP's usual settings, in that it was set entirely in a monastery in the Quebecois wilderness, and as such was a classic "locked room" mystery. The subject matter: monks, Gregorian chants, the complex relationships of a cloistered order under a vow of silence, and the mechanics of the monastery was all extremely interesting and moving. I came to love some of the monks, and even though this book probably does not contain many characters we will see again in the future, once again they are all fully formed people in the story.
Louise Penny's latest book in this series, "How the Light Gets In" debuted at #1 on the NYT Bestsellers list this morning, and she deserves to be there. I will be waiting a while to read that book, though, because, frankly, my emotions need a break from the intensity!
The Beautiful Mystery earns five stars easily....more
I picked this up as a sample, really, to see if I would like Alex Grecians's series. I did not enjoy it - the writing style is not for me, and the diaI picked this up as a sample, really, to see if I would like Alex Grecians's series. I did not enjoy it - the writing style is not for me, and the dialogue was not believable. I understand that the main character, Pringle, is not supposed to be likable, and he wasn't. I'm keeping the Grecian novels on my to-read list, but I'm not in any hurry to get around to them....more
Really unique characters, setting was fantastic. The Romeo and Juliet of the chimera/angel war is a new story in a sea of same-old. I liked the overlaReally unique characters, setting was fantastic. The Romeo and Juliet of the chimera/angel war is a new story in a sea of same-old. I liked the overlay of character points of view... Creative and interesting way to deal with what were essentially flashbacks. It was a little too romancey for my taste, but otherwise I'm really impressed....more
I picked this up free on amazon and I am so glad I did! It's fantastic and surprisingly I loved it. I think the genius in this volume lies in the veryI picked this up free on amazon and I am so glad I did! It's fantastic and surprisingly I loved it. I think the genius in this volume lies in the very distinct voices present in the poems, all submitted by average Southerners to this collection compiled by Simms. No matter your stance on the civil war/war between the states/war of northern aggression, this compilation stands as a rather raw and moving historical document, a record of the pain and determination of the time. The poems by women were especially interesting. This isn't for the most part professional poetry, but that's why I love it. These poems are like something you find tucked into the back of the family bible, thin handwriting, thick emotion....more
Loading...
