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1.91 AVERAGE
1.91 AVERAGE
DNF at 25%. This book had so much potential but I could not get past the poor writing style. The writing lacked cohesiveness, maturity, development, descriptiveness and I could go on. It’s a shame, the synopsis sold a really intriguing story that, if well written, would have been a great book.
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Abortion
Moderate: Rape
Honestly I was introduced to this book only through the OnlineBookClub who paid reviewers to read and sincerely review the book, and I thought this had a very intriguing plot. From it I took for granted that the author was black, but when I found out she was white, that didn’t sit entirely well with me; so I read the reviews (something I should have done before purchasing The book and try to read it) and they are so terrible I just lost interest in continuing. Tbh, I think I’m making the right choice.
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Don’t bother. Waste of time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Vomit
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There is an interesting premise here. But every aspect of it is botched. This is one of the worst books I’ve ever read.
Basic improvements that would render this at least readable:
-Chop out nearly all the adverbs and adjectives. They are relentless and useless. Calling a character “eccentric” during their funeral is ridiculous, since they are dead.
-Lose the over explanations. If someone chokes someone else with a light cord, you don’t also need to explain that they did it by wrapping it around the neck. If a car goes off a cliff, you don’t have to describe gravity and that it went down.
-Too many pronouns. With the shifting narration style, it at times is confusing exactly who is being discussed or if they are even in the room.
-The book is also racist, so lose that, too. Straight ethnographic tourism for kicks. Also, it’s full of that good old southern revisionist history where blacks and whites had it equally bad in the South after the Civil War, and the end of reconstruction had nothing to do with anything. For example, a black woman LIVING IN JIM CROW SOUTH CAROLINA states that General Sherman never should have burned Atlanta (the same general who was fighting for her ancestors emancipation, but whatever). Another example: Migrant workers need a white woman’s help with their pay and “She gladly counted it since math and multiplication eluded them entirely.”
-Lose all the historical asides. They are inaccurate and clumsily written.
-Editing: I noticed a few spelling and capitalization errors, maybe a half dozen.
In general: The prose is odd, clunky and childish. It reminds me of stories collected from my 7th grade class. If the characters aren’t full blown caricatures, they are poorly described nothings. It’s constantly unclear who we are following, because the author’s use of Shifting Third Person Omniscient Narrator is artless and poorly transitions from one character to another.
There are sex scenes with the eroticism of sneaking an older sibling’s porn mag. What should be moments of horror feel ridiculous. The dialogue is awful. My eyes hurt from rolling so much.
I only finished it because I am being paid to do so, and rate it honestly. And I honestly, absolutely hated this garbage.
Basic improvements that would render this at least readable:
-Chop out nearly all the adverbs and adjectives. They are relentless and useless. Calling a character “eccentric” during their funeral is ridiculous, since they are dead.
-Lose the over explanations. If someone chokes someone else with a light cord, you don’t also need to explain that they did it by wrapping it around the neck. If a car goes off a cliff, you don’t have to describe gravity and that it went down.
-Too many pronouns. With the shifting narration style, it at times is confusing exactly who is being discussed or if they are even in the room.
-The book is also racist, so lose that, too. Straight ethnographic tourism for kicks. Also, it’s full of that good old southern revisionist history where blacks and whites had it equally bad in the South after the Civil War, and the end of reconstruction had nothing to do with anything. For example, a black woman LIVING IN JIM CROW SOUTH CAROLINA states that General Sherman never should have burned Atlanta (the same general who was fighting for her ancestors emancipation, but whatever). Another example: Migrant workers need a white woman’s help with their pay and “She gladly counted it since math and multiplication eluded them entirely.”
-Lose all the historical asides. They are inaccurate and clumsily written.
-Editing: I noticed a few spelling and capitalization errors, maybe a half dozen.
In general: The prose is odd, clunky and childish. It reminds me of stories collected from my 7th grade class. If the characters aren’t full blown caricatures, they are poorly described nothings. It’s constantly unclear who we are following, because the author’s use of Shifting Third Person Omniscient Narrator is artless and poorly transitions from one character to another.
There are sex scenes with the eroticism of sneaking an older sibling’s porn mag. What should be moments of horror feel ridiculous. The dialogue is awful. My eyes hurt from rolling so much.
I only finished it because I am being paid to do so, and rate it honestly. And I honestly, absolutely hated this garbage.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship
emotional
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Patricia Skipper's *Deceptive Calm* presents a compelling dive into historical fiction, set against the backdrop of the 1960s to the 1980s. The novel effectively employs dual perspectives, allowing readers to explore the nuanced lives of Vanessa and Trisha. This approach not only enriches character development but also highlights the themes of friendship and personal growth against the complexities of societal change.
Skipper's writing elicits a profound emotional response, capturing a wide array of feelings that resonate long after the last page. Vanessa’s journey, in particular, is inspiring; her quest for belonging and resilience in the face of challenges showcases the strength of female protagonists.
The narrative’s depth encourages readers to reflect on significant themes, such as social unrest and personal turmoil. *Deceptive Calm* serves as an invitation to appreciate the intricacies of historical contexts through personal stories. Overall, this book is a valuable addition to the genre, making it a worthy recommendation for those seeking an emotional and thought-provoking experience.
Trigger warnings include:
Blood
Abortion
Sexual content
Racial and sexist slurs and actions
Mention of KKK
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Abortion, War
Minor: Rape
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book had so much potential and I was let down. The characters are well developed but also so developed that you kind of lose them in all the extra details and dragged down into the story that it becomes boring and hard to read.
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was not good. The white saviorism is rampant throughout the book with how the story really focuses on Trisha rather than Vanessa. Vanessa being black also wasn’t really mentioned as much as it probably should have been, considering this book was supposed to contain her struggle to accept her white side and her black side. And that’s not to mention the overly graphic sex scenes that could make even the most experienced sex worker blush.