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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
Not a bad read, though maybe not as good of one as it feels like it should be.
The setting and the language used to describe it go perfectly together - Patrick paints exactly the picture she wants to and she does it expertly. The language she uses for Kay's internal monologue and the interactions between different characters are similarly well-crafted - the voices of this story are unique and feel real.
The plot, though, is intentionally murky in a way that doesn't leave the reader satisfied. It feels like the type of narrative specifically crafted to be assigned to high school students so that English teachers who hate giving away the answers can ask a million questions about "what you THINK happened" and never tell anyone that they're right because the book leaves too much to be inferred.
I know what I believe occurred, and I think it's easy enough to come up with the answer that I imagine the author intended. But with it never being explicitly spelled out, it just ends up leaving you feeling muddled and like you waded through the water for nothing.
The setting and the language used to describe it go perfectly together - Patrick paints exactly the picture she wants to and she does it expertly. The language she uses for Kay's internal monologue and the interactions between different characters are similarly well-crafted - the voices of this story are unique and feel real.
The plot, though, is intentionally murky in a way that doesn't leave the reader satisfied. It feels like the type of narrative specifically crafted to be assigned to high school students so that English teachers who hate giving away the answers can ask a million questions about "what you THINK happened" and never tell anyone that they're right because the book leaves too much to be inferred.
I know what I believe occurred, and I think it's easy enough to come up with the answer that I imagine the author intended. But with it never being explicitly spelled out, it just ends up leaving you feeling muddled and like you waded through the water for nothing.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 stars - where the Crawdads sing vibes - but the ending left me very perplexed. It was very unclear on what happened and I really hate books with unclear endings.
It’s never taken me so long to finish a book. It didn’t feel character or plot driven, and by the end it felt like I read a book about nothing. This book is recommended for fans of Crawdads, but it was nothing like Crawdads.
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
Very immersive story with thoroughly developed characters. I felt very connected to Kay, the main character, and saw much of my younger self through her. Slow pace, but I didn’t mind because the story felt very rich in spite of it. The ending is a mindf*ck that leaves the reader to fill in the gaps, recall details from the read, then theorize what happened. This normally bothers me, but it made sense for this story. I won’t be able to stop thinking about this one for a while!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Murder
As an English teacher, I’d like to think I have a good understanding of narrative structure and what a story needs to include. But this story made me doubt what I know about narratives. All in all, the word I’d use to describe my reading experience is: CONFUSED.
I honestly have no idea what the purpose of this book was. I thought it started off with good imagery, definitely Crawdads vibes like the reviews said, and there was a definite conflict and mystery set from the first page.
But as the story progressed, I felt myself feeling exactly like most other readers: tired of the annoying attitude by the main character, a 12 year old girl who just didn’t grow at all (some equated her to a modern-day Scout Finch. Um. Please.) and was so repetitive in her off-putting attitude. The mysteries that were introduced were also not solved. Like not even a bit. There were about 20 pages left and so many questions to answer within details. But nope, just like Sarah Anne’s body, they were never found.
The story definitely had potential, but there were just way too many plot holes and confusing moments for me to think this was a quality story. The writing shows promise, but I think some classes on plot would help for future publications.
I honestly have no idea what the purpose of this book was. I thought it started off with good imagery, definitely Crawdads vibes like the reviews said, and there was a definite conflict and mystery set from the first page.
But as the story progressed, I felt myself feeling exactly like most other readers: tired of the annoying attitude by the main character, a 12 year old girl who just didn’t grow at all (some equated her to a modern-day Scout Finch. Um. Please.) and was so repetitive in her off-putting attitude. The mysteries that were introduced were also not solved. Like not even a bit. There were about 20 pages left and so many questions to answer within details. But nope, just like Sarah Anne’s body, they were never found.
The story definitely had potential, but there were just way too many plot holes and confusing moments for me to think this was a quality story. The writing shows promise, but I think some classes on plot would help for future publications.
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Starts off as strong coming off age tale but then tapers off towards the end without a satisfying close.
TOO MANY SIMILIES!!! And they just don't fit. I kept feeling as though this were written by a college student who has just learned about specificity, but hasn't learned to use it judiciously.
Also, there is action going on in the background, but we never get to see it. I get it, the narrator is 12 years old, and 12 year olds don't get the details, but come on, the reader deserves something to keep going.
Also, there is action going on in the background, but we never get to see it. I get it, the narrator is 12 years old, and 12 year olds don't get the details, but come on, the reader deserves something to keep going.
dark
tense
slow-paced