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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
I've debated over even reviewing this novel, but I feel just giving stars doesn't really sum up my mixed feelings. If the novel had ended half way through or been edited down it could have easily been four or five stars. I loved the poetic prose and the angsty feeling of being on the verge of something important. However, nothing much does happen. And the main character began to grate my nerves with her one or two word responses no matter the situation. At first, I found that a bit mysterious and a result of an overly observant character who would rather watch than comment, but it did lose its charm after a while. I really wanted to love this novel and I almost did.
I was excited about this book when I first heard about it, however, it didn't live up to my expectations. I found Eveline to be incredibly passive and dull.. While her observations of the world are intricate and beautiful, she stays completely flat as a character and doesn't really seem to grow at all. She seemed disconnected with everyone she encounteres, except for Harrison. This book is described as a coming-of-age story, but to me, it's only about a girl who cannot seem to get over an older man and then tries to fill the void by dating other older men and suffering. Not my kind of book. At times her descriptions of her surroundings or what she's feeling at the time were very enjoyable and moving, and that's what kept me reading.
I'm definitely wrestling with how I feel about this book. The writing was excellent - beautiful language, vivid description, interesting and real metaphors, highly dimensional characters. Hamann frequently described little things that said a lot about her characters - like when Eveline describes how as a child her stuffed animals were all tied to together in pairs with ribbons and string so that they'd be buddied up if they needed to be thrown out the window in a fire.
That said, Eveline was so silent throughout this book - she didn't have a voice in her life until the last 50 pages. This is the point of her story, so really Hamann did an excellent job, but her silence drove me crazy. I knew everything she was thinking and feeling (the narration spends all its time in her head) but she rarely *did* anything. She allowed everyone around her to decide things for her, including who she should love and be with. She didn't even physically move herself a lot of the time - she's constantly being picked up, pulled, preened, hugged, led by the hand, etc...
Anyway, the novel is about Eveline's path to acceptance of authority over her own life (and the risk inherent therein), and maybe I would have enjoyed this story more 4-6 years ago, when my own life felt a little more like it was out of my control. But reading this novel now, I just felt frustrated that Eveline wouldn't act! And at 608 pages, it was a long time to feel frustrated.
I think that this just wasn't the right time for me to read this book, though I would probably recommend it to a female college student.
That said, Eveline was so silent throughout this book - she didn't have a voice in her life until the last 50 pages. This is the point of her story, so really Hamann did an excellent job, but her silence drove me crazy. I knew everything she was thinking and feeling (the narration spends all its time in her head) but she rarely *did* anything. She allowed everyone around her to decide things for her, including who she should love and be with. She didn't even physically move herself a lot of the time - she's constantly being picked up, pulled, preened, hugged, led by the hand, etc...
Anyway, the novel is about Eveline's path to acceptance of authority over her own life (and the risk inherent therein), and maybe I would have enjoyed this story more 4-6 years ago, when my own life felt a little more like it was out of my control. But reading this novel now, I just felt frustrated that Eveline wouldn't act! And at 608 pages, it was a long time to feel frustrated.
I think that this just wasn't the right time for me to read this book, though I would probably recommend it to a female college student.
I understand why people like this book, but after halfway through, I just found myself utterly incapable of caring. I don't think that's a poor reflection on the book. I just don't like moody, cerebral books and found this one overlong.
My original review;
I thought I would love this book for a lot of reasons but I just couldn't get into it.
This time I finished it but it took a long time. It's a big book. I almost gave up twice. I guess I'm glad I read it? It has some lovely language and interesting characters. But I can't think of anyone I'd recommend it to.
I thought I would love this book for a lot of reasons but I just couldn't get into it.
This time I finished it but it took a long time. It's a big book. I almost gave up twice. I guess I'm glad I read it? It has some lovely language and interesting characters. But I can't think of anyone I'd recommend it to.
I really, really enjoyed reading this. I think being able to draw some parallels to parts of the story is what made me like it so much. I loved how Hamann wrote; the way she described Evie's feelings for Rourke translated so well that I practically felt them. Every one has that one person in their life they are drawn to. Those feelings are hard to put into words, but she does a pretty damn good job of it.
For a 600 page book, it doesn't really tell you anything. I made it 150 pages (of forcing myself to read) before I gave up. Life's too short for bad (and boring) books.
I was torn between giving this book 3 stars or 4 stars. I'm not intimidated by the size of the book, that's the not problem. When you get into the thick of the book it gets ramble-ey and long. I was about halfway through the book and I had a hard time sticking with it it. There's a lot of middle-plot that honestly, I don't think is super necessary in order to get us to the ending. It's a lot of back-story, a look into Evie's history. How and Why she's acting the way she is. It gets repetitive. But then I finished the book and then I appreciated all the middle stuff. I don't think it added to the ending but it certainly didn't take away from it. I probably could have gotten there sooner but I didn't hate that I had to wade through it. The ending picks up and I'm happy with where Hamann left her characters. There's characters I hated, and I mean truly couldn't stand, but not in a way that made it so I couldn't read the book.
This novel is a commitment. It has it's highs and it has it's lows, but if you're willing to sit through it I truly think it's worth it.
This novel is a commitment. It has it's highs and it has it's lows, but if you're willing to sit through it I truly think it's worth it.
Can we all just say hallelujah that's over with!! I didn't think it was ever going to end. It started off great and just became more and more painful to finish.
I loved this book. LOVED IT!
The build up of sexual tension in the first half was extraordinary, both for how long Hamann manages to keep it going and for how delicious it is.
Hamann also uses the first-person narration as a subtle tool in her characterization of Eveline. It is rare that you actually hear Eveline say anything. She thinks a lot, and then other characters talk back to her. You just assume that she is talking to them---as she must be--but this technique goes a long way in creating her as a passive, introspective, sad girl. It is so cool and so effective and I'm so jealous I never thought to do anything like it before.
I thought this book was beautiful and scary and accurate. I wonder if boys would like it? Girls who were in any way aware of their sexuality in high school (which is to say, ostracized) will certainly relate.
The build up of sexual tension in the first half was extraordinary, both for how long Hamann manages to keep it going and for how delicious it is.
Hamann also uses the first-person narration as a subtle tool in her characterization of Eveline. It is rare that you actually hear Eveline say anything. She thinks a lot, and then other characters talk back to her. You just assume that she is talking to them---as she must be--but this technique goes a long way in creating her as a passive, introspective, sad girl. It is so cool and so effective and I'm so jealous I never thought to do anything like it before.
I thought this book was beautiful and scary and accurate. I wonder if boys would like it? Girls who were in any way aware of their sexuality in high school (which is to say, ostracized) will certainly relate.