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2.89 AVERAGE
2.89 AVERAGE
This was the dumbest book I've ever read. And I've read all four twilight books.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Thank you to William Morrow for my advanced reader's edition of Wildalone, by Krassi Zourkova.
I have so much to say about Wildalone that I really don't know where to begin.
So I'll begin with what got me interested in the novel in the first place - the promotions describing this debut as a "bewitching blend of Twilight, The Secret History, Jane Eyre, and A Discovery of Witches."
This description confused the heck out of me, because I was not a fan of Twilight. On the other hand, I loved The Secret History, when I read it 10 years ago. The gothic darkness of Jane Eyre tempts me, and A Discovery of Witches was one of those books that theoretically I should have loved, but which just didn't compel me.
To me, the novels above all seem very, VERY different, and like they would appeal to distinct audiences.
The second thing about Wildalone which interested me is that Krassi Zourkova is from Bulgaria, and includes the myths of her country in this novel. I love reading about cultures I am unfamiliar with, so this aspect of Wildalone intrigued me.
The first several chapters of Wildalone in fact mirror Krassi Zourkova's own life, in that she attended Princeton, and shares the main character Thea's interest in art history. I was fascinated by the cultural aspect of Wildalone...seeing things through the perspective of someone newly arrived in the US, at just about the same time I was going to college.
I was also especially interested in the narrator's insights, because I had a Bulgarian acquaintance in high school. Many of Thea's thoughts were in alignment with those I recall hearing from my high school friend, and so for me, Wildalone had a sort of authentic, nostalgic, resonance.
However, I will say that this was one book in which I thought an awful lot about the author/narrator crossover...how much is this really Thea talking, and how much is actually Krassi? In a way, this made reading the story difficult for me when Thea began to behave in ways that I found frustrating, or expressed opinions which I had issues with.
If I had thought of Thea as clearly a fictional character, it would have been easier for me to place her in a literary world and not feel like her views were being shoved on me. But as it was, some of the opinions she expressed about romance, stalking, and relationship dynamics made me uncomfortable.
Okay, so, now, to the nitty-gritty of the plot, the good and bad, without giving away any spoilers!
Wildalone begins with our heroine, Thea, arriving in Princeton on a music scholarship. She leaves two loving parents back in Bulgaria, and, in coming to Princeton, is following in the footsteps of another Bulgarian girl, who attended the university 15 years earlier, and was found dead on campus. I'm being specifically vague here, as a big part of the mystery revolves around this girl, and what she means to Thea.
In short order, Thea meets two men, who both fall madly, instantly, passionately in love with her.
Here's the Twilight part of the novel; we've got Rhys, gorgeous, obsessive, moody, with a potential for violence, and we've got Jake, gorgeous, obsessive, quiet, gentle. Who will Thea choose? Also, there is Ben (who I was secretly rooting for) the balanced, steady, sweet, friend who is always there for Thea, until she runs away from him to have passionate adventures with Rhys or Jake.
Also, Thea is searching for what really happened to the Bulgarian girl who looks just like her, and who disappeared 15 years before.
Also, Thea is investigating this weird mystery involving Greek legends, Orpheus, daemons, maenads, and the Underworld. This is encouraged by her art history professor, Giles, who to my mind is inappropriate in his interest in Thea.
Also, Thea, as an uber-talented pianist, is practicing Chopin, and then Albeniz, for major recitals that she is (somewhat inexplicably) given the opportunity to perform in.
And did I mention that this whole time, Thea is going to parties with her RA and new college friends, traveling to the Hamptons with Rhys, and taking a full load of classes? She's a very busy girl.
What I guess I'm trying to say is that, ultimately, for me, Wildalone was just TOO MUCH. There was beautiful description, but there was so darn much of it.
The best things about Wildalone for me were:
1. The interesting cultural perspective that Thea had regarding attending Princeton, as well as the insight she shared into life in Bulgaria.
2. Some of the description. There's no doubt that Krassi Zourkova can create a sense of place. I also really enjoyed her descriptions of Chopin and Albeniz...giving new perspective to interpretations of music. Except that it kept going, and going....
What frustrated me about Wildalone:
1. The characters. This, for me, was the Twilight part... basically picture Bella, Edward, and Jake, a few years older, and with a lot more sex, and you've got Wildalone.
2. The attitudes towards sex, romantic relationships, true love, obsession, stalking. In brief, Thea tells us that in Bulgaria, there is not a word for stalking, and that what her concerned RA sees as worrying behavior from Rhys seems romantic to her. I tended to agree with the RA.
I would never, ever, date Rhys. I would probably never date Jake. Also, I would never, ever have dated Edward in Twilight. So I guess, depending on your preferences/viewpoints, you may either find the romance in Wildalone sexy and passionate, or it may just make you angry.
3. The too-muchness. There was everything in this novel. Music, art (painting, pottery, architecture), poetry, Greek myths, Bulgarian myths, astronomy and how it related to myths, secret codes in old texts and how it related to myths. I love each of these things, but they were all happening together, all over the place. And it was all described at length. It made everything lose impact, because it seemed like everything was gorgeous, there were no rules, anything at all could, and did happen. When everything is happening, then nothing really seems that incredible.
4. So I got tired. I got tired of the constant beauty, riches, sex, perfection.
5. And, when the book finally ended at page 374, I thought, "wait a sec!? Is this the first in a series?!!!" Because Wildalone did not end with any kind of a real resolution. There was a bit of explanation, inexplicably offered by one character at the end of the novel. But the action itself, and primarily, Thea's love life, was not resolved. I didn't even understand what she was doing at the end.
Wildalone left me lost. And worn out. There were a lot of things to enjoy about it, but ultimately, I was left with a feeling that nothing had really made much sense, that I really disliked several of the main characters, that I disagreed with the main character's ideas, and that I had been shown a lot of flash, but not a lot of brilliance.
I have so much to say about Wildalone that I really don't know where to begin.
So I'll begin with what got me interested in the novel in the first place - the promotions describing this debut as a "bewitching blend of Twilight, The Secret History, Jane Eyre, and A Discovery of Witches."
This description confused the heck out of me, because I was not a fan of Twilight. On the other hand, I loved The Secret History, when I read it 10 years ago. The gothic darkness of Jane Eyre tempts me, and A Discovery of Witches was one of those books that theoretically I should have loved, but which just didn't compel me.
To me, the novels above all seem very, VERY different, and like they would appeal to distinct audiences.
The second thing about Wildalone which interested me is that Krassi Zourkova is from Bulgaria, and includes the myths of her country in this novel. I love reading about cultures I am unfamiliar with, so this aspect of Wildalone intrigued me.
The first several chapters of Wildalone in fact mirror Krassi Zourkova's own life, in that she attended Princeton, and shares the main character Thea's interest in art history. I was fascinated by the cultural aspect of Wildalone...seeing things through the perspective of someone newly arrived in the US, at just about the same time I was going to college.
I was also especially interested in the narrator's insights, because I had a Bulgarian acquaintance in high school. Many of Thea's thoughts were in alignment with those I recall hearing from my high school friend, and so for me, Wildalone had a sort of authentic, nostalgic, resonance.
However, I will say that this was one book in which I thought an awful lot about the author/narrator crossover...how much is this really Thea talking, and how much is actually Krassi? In a way, this made reading the story difficult for me when Thea began to behave in ways that I found frustrating, or expressed opinions which I had issues with.
If I had thought of Thea as clearly a fictional character, it would have been easier for me to place her in a literary world and not feel like her views were being shoved on me. But as it was, some of the opinions she expressed about romance, stalking, and relationship dynamics made me uncomfortable.
Okay, so, now, to the nitty-gritty of the plot, the good and bad, without giving away any spoilers!
Wildalone begins with our heroine, Thea, arriving in Princeton on a music scholarship. She leaves two loving parents back in Bulgaria, and, in coming to Princeton, is following in the footsteps of another Bulgarian girl, who attended the university 15 years earlier, and was found dead on campus. I'm being specifically vague here, as a big part of the mystery revolves around this girl, and what she means to Thea.
In short order, Thea meets two men, who both fall madly, instantly, passionately in love with her.
Here's the Twilight part of the novel; we've got Rhys, gorgeous, obsessive, moody, with a potential for violence, and we've got Jake, gorgeous, obsessive, quiet, gentle. Who will Thea choose? Also, there is Ben (who I was secretly rooting for) the balanced, steady, sweet, friend who is always there for Thea, until she runs away from him to have passionate adventures with Rhys or Jake.
Also, Thea is searching for what really happened to the Bulgarian girl who looks just like her, and who disappeared 15 years before.
Also, Thea is investigating this weird mystery involving Greek legends, Orpheus, daemons, maenads, and the Underworld. This is encouraged by her art history professor, Giles, who to my mind is inappropriate in his interest in Thea.
Also, Thea, as an uber-talented pianist, is practicing Chopin, and then Albeniz, for major recitals that she is (somewhat inexplicably) given the opportunity to perform in.
And did I mention that this whole time, Thea is going to parties with her RA and new college friends, traveling to the Hamptons with Rhys, and taking a full load of classes? She's a very busy girl.
What I guess I'm trying to say is that, ultimately, for me, Wildalone was just TOO MUCH. There was beautiful description, but there was so darn much of it.
The best things about Wildalone for me were:
1. The interesting cultural perspective that Thea had regarding attending Princeton, as well as the insight she shared into life in Bulgaria.
2. Some of the description. There's no doubt that Krassi Zourkova can create a sense of place. I also really enjoyed her descriptions of Chopin and Albeniz...giving new perspective to interpretations of music. Except that it kept going, and going....
What frustrated me about Wildalone:
1. The characters. This, for me, was the Twilight part... basically picture Bella, Edward, and Jake, a few years older, and with a lot more sex, and you've got Wildalone.
2. The attitudes towards sex, romantic relationships, true love, obsession, stalking. In brief, Thea tells us that in Bulgaria, there is not a word for stalking, and that what her concerned RA sees as worrying behavior from Rhys seems romantic to her. I tended to agree with the RA.
I would never, ever, date Rhys. I would probably never date Jake. Also, I would never, ever have dated Edward in Twilight. So I guess, depending on your preferences/viewpoints, you may either find the romance in Wildalone sexy and passionate, or it may just make you angry.
3. The too-muchness. There was everything in this novel. Music, art (painting, pottery, architecture), poetry, Greek myths, Bulgarian myths, astronomy and how it related to myths, secret codes in old texts and how it related to myths. I love each of these things, but they were all happening together, all over the place. And it was all described at length. It made everything lose impact, because it seemed like everything was gorgeous, there were no rules, anything at all could, and did happen. When everything is happening, then nothing really seems that incredible.
4. So I got tired. I got tired of the constant beauty, riches, sex, perfection.
5. And, when the book finally ended at page 374, I thought, "wait a sec!? Is this the first in a series?!!!" Because Wildalone did not end with any kind of a real resolution. There was a bit of explanation, inexplicably offered by one character at the end of the novel. But the action itself, and primarily, Thea's love life, was not resolved. I didn't even understand what she was doing at the end.
Wildalone left me lost. And worn out. There were a lot of things to enjoy about it, but ultimately, I was left with a feeling that nothing had really made much sense, that I really disliked several of the main characters, that I disagreed with the main character's ideas, and that I had been shown a lot of flash, but not a lot of brilliance.
This just didn't hang together for me, and I couldn't stand the love triangle.
Wow this is problematic. Painfully, unreadably problematic. If you like 50 Shades/twilight, you'll probably looooooooove this.
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was an enjoyable read and the mythology stuff was definitely interesting but the romance was just annoying. It was a love triangle between brothers and they were very demanding and stalkerish. One was continually referred to as "my stalker" at first. I just thought the main character, Thea, was really stupid. She let everything happen to her and didn't make any decisive decisions. She'd supposedly break up with one of them or say she would and then he'd come begging or whatever and they'd make up or she'd cave and go back to him and I was just like stop he's bad news. And the ending was really unsatisfying. I don't think she really even chose anybody. It was just weird. It could've been a fantastic book if it didn't have such a disappointing and all-consuming love triangle. The other stuff was fantastic but there was just too much focus on the romance (and you know I don't say that lightly because I enjoy romance so).
Things I liked: The musical and mythological references.
Things I didn't like: The ending, the brooding male characters, the stereotypical Twilight-esque love triangle/protagonist.
The book started off quite promising, but petered out towards the end. The wide-eyed ingenue grows old quite fast, and maybe I'm just a grumpy person but I don't understand the Edward Cullen type creepy possessive man appeal.
Things I didn't like: The ending, the brooding male characters, the stereotypical Twilight-esque love triangle/protagonist.
The book started off quite promising, but petered out towards the end. The wide-eyed ingenue grows old quite fast, and maybe I'm just a grumpy person but I don't understand the Edward Cullen type creepy possessive man appeal.
I was pleasantly surprised by this. It's packaged as a little bit of Jane Eyre, Twilight, A Discovery of Witches, and The Secret History (which I haven't read), and it's true! Jane Eyre for the gothic elements and a bit of Rochester, Twilight for the "love triangle" plus the supernatural element, and the mysterious history of daemons and maenids add the bit of A Discovery of Witches. I was drawn in by the writing and by how deftly Zourkova weaved together so much, from Bulgarian myths of the Samodivi, the ivy lure of Princeton, the sexiness of the competing love rivals who just so happen to be brothers, the disappearance of a girl, all swept together into one gorgeous novel. There's going to be more and I can't wait!
I own this and I am ashamed that I do...
I haven't read Twilight or Fifty Shades (for obvious reasons) but if those two had an incestuous abusive relationship that resulted in demonic retarded offspring then this would probably make my list of guesses as to which books can claim that heritage.
I mean, the writing is terrible, the plot is flimsier than Rhys's jean zipper and the dialogue, oh the dialogue... If the phrase "So bad that it's good" was a loop and doing one loop took you from bad to good and vice versa then this is a perpetuum freaking mobile cuz it just can't stop upping the terribleness.
I could go on and on about how shit and non-existence the quality of this book is but you really only need to look at one thing... The fucking title.
Wildalone
Wildalone
WILDALONE
Fucking Wildalone? It's a real show of quality book writing when the author can't properly translate the fucking god-damn title. Rename it to Wood Nymph for fuck's sake, wildalone isn't a word.
*notices Wildalone Sagas #1*
NO!
I haven't read Twilight or Fifty Shades (for obvious reasons) but if those two had an incestuous abusive relationship that resulted in demonic retarded offspring then this would probably make my list of guesses as to which books can claim that heritage.
I mean, the writing is terrible, the plot is flimsier than Rhys's jean zipper and the dialogue, oh the dialogue... If the phrase "So bad that it's good" was a loop and doing one loop took you from bad to good and vice versa then this is a perpetuum freaking mobile cuz it just can't stop upping the terribleness.
I could go on and on about how shit and non-existence the quality of this book is but you really only need to look at one thing... The fucking title.
Wildalone
Wildalone
WILDALONE
Fucking Wildalone? It's a real show of quality book writing when the author can't properly translate the fucking god-damn title. Rename it to Wood Nymph for fuck's sake, wildalone isn't a word.
*notices Wildalone Sagas #1*
NO!