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3.08 AVERAGE
3.08 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a miss for me. I wanted very much to like it and was struggling with some things that were very much me being nitpicky (a male narrator reading a teenage girl’s POV in certain situations gives me the icks but this is by no means a reflection on the narrator, just my brain / teenage POVs that seemed out of touch / etc). But then… the transphobia. It was rough y’all. Like 1990’s movie era rough. So much so that I checked to see when this was published and was surprised to see it was 2013. There are definitely better Allende books out there and I would recommend giving this one a hard pass.
I have long been a fan of Allende's writing, but I did not think this book was well written. It was full of disjointed plot lines, two-dimensional characters, and the disconnect between the murder mystery and the day-to-day lives of the characters was severe. Additionally, adding the killer's point of view while taking away Indiana's right at the end of the book felt sloppy. Additionally, the killer's story felt cliched and lacked depth.
I am increasingly disappointed by Allende's recent writing attempts. Ripper and Maya's Notebook are making me reconsider reading any future writing attempts.
I am increasingly disappointed by Allende's recent writing attempts. Ripper and Maya's Notebook are making me reconsider reading any future writing attempts.
I'm not into murder mysteries, but this was pretty good. Lots of complexities, twists and turns. I disliked the murderer explaining their life story and motive at the end to the final victim. Oh please.
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
While I thought this was a really good story, I could have done without a few of the characters who really didn't were not relevant.
Not nearly as terrifying as it first sounds and yet riveting with details of war, shame, abuse, and love. I feel like I know San Francisco better having read this than living in the Bay Area for five years.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I agree with many of the other reviews I've read - this book is super heavy on character development/exploration. I listened to it as an audiobook so I think that helped in some ways because I would normally skim all of the in-depth analysis of the characters. Overall, however, I found the book pretty enjoyable.
I don't know, friends.
A complicated plot with a complicated story with a teen who acts like she's forty...what's the point of having her as a teen? Nancy Drew for the wrong target audience - and it's got a lot of ...I don't know how else to say it but complications. And not interesting ones.
I don't know. I guess I feel like some editor along the way should have said, "If you're going to write about teens that act like adults...why not just make them adults?" ugh. frustrating.
A complicated plot with a complicated story with a teen who acts like she's forty...what's the point of having her as a teen? Nancy Drew for the wrong target audience - and it's got a lot of ...I don't know how else to say it but complications. And not interesting ones.
I don't know. I guess I feel like some editor along the way should have said, "If you're going to write about teens that act like adults...why not just make them adults?" ugh. frustrating.