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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
I wish the story had more to do with the title, but Sara's the only one who recommends anything. That said, I found Broken Wheel full of juicy gossip and charming, interfering small town folks.
Also not sure why the narrator was adopting a southern accent for folks in Iowa.
Also not sure why the narrator was adopting a southern accent for folks in Iowa.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Minor: Death
How to evaluate a book? If we assume that the author wants to write a simple chick-lit escape, she has largely succeeded, and she should keep going! Her fans should keep reading! But then it's not for most book groups, which demand a little more of their books than chick-lit, and it's not for me. Does the author want to create a world that will draw the reader in and illuminate a time and place? In that case, the grade must be much lower. Books about books (or, as a friend calls it, "lit-lit") can be so appealing, but here references to the books and authors demonstrate no knowledge of the contents of the book (Jane Eyre excepted) or their power to change lives, just a lot of name-dropping regarding titles and authors. (To see how books-about-books can be done well, including the name-checking, look at "The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry," where the substance of the mentioned books are really relevant to the story, not just a cute recitation of the titles a book-lover might love.) The characters are under-baked. The narrative relies way too much on telling rather than showing how people feel, who they are, and what they want. I picked up this book because I know this area of the US, but the world the author paints falls far short of verisimilitude. Insight into life in a remote rural Midwestern town is totally absent. If this author did in fact visit this locale, she must have been here briefly and under sheltered conditions. To write a book about the dying towns in northeast Iowa with only the most glancing mentions of the ravages wrought by methamphetamines and opioids is like writing about US high schools in the 2010s and depicting all the characters wearing poodle skirts dancing the Lindy Hop, with just a tiny mention of unintended pregnancies. The book skates over the realities of life in this time and place in a way that cheats the reader. I can't recommend this book to anyone other than those looking for sweet romantic escape.
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Complicated
This was a slow read for me, both in how long it took me to read it (though I'm usually a fairly quick reader) & how interested I was in the story. I had trouble keeping up with which character was which. While I wanted to finish it to find out what happens, I probably would have been equally satisfied (and not surprised at all by the ending) to flip to the last chapter & call it quits.
Pub Date Jan 1, 2016
via NetGalley: Please do not review this title or post any information about this title before the pub date.
via NetGalley: Please do not review this title or post any information about this title before the pub date.
It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. The characters were cute and the setting was charming. It was, however, incredibly predictable. I knew exactly how it was going to end, almost from the very beginning.
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book Review:
What a bookworm's delight! This is well-written, sweet, and tons of fun. When Swedish visitor Sara arrives in Broken Wheel, Iowa, she finds her pen pal and fellow booklover, Amy, has died. However, the town is bound and determined that she stay and enjoy the two months she had planned to spend anyway. She decides to open up a small bookshop in the town and the project enlivens the inhabitants - and the town itself - in meaningful ways. With plenty of quirky characters, humor, small-town antics, and romance, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is perfect for those looking for a cozy, comforting book about books.
Audio Review:
This book is read very well, and I really enjoyed the overall experience. There were a few times when the narrator's Southern accent wavered, but not often enough that it really took away from the story. I liked that Amy's letters are read by a different voice actor, which adds variation and a refreshing break from the narrative.
In short, I recommend it!
What a bookworm's delight! This is well-written, sweet, and tons of fun. When Swedish visitor Sara arrives in Broken Wheel, Iowa, she finds her pen pal and fellow booklover, Amy, has died. However, the town is bound and determined that she stay and enjoy the two months she had planned to spend anyway. She decides to open up a small bookshop in the town and the project enlivens the inhabitants - and the town itself - in meaningful ways. With plenty of quirky characters, humor, small-town antics, and romance, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is perfect for those looking for a cozy, comforting book about books.
Audio Review:
This book is read very well, and I really enjoyed the overall experience. There were a few times when the narrator's Southern accent wavered, but not often enough that it really took away from the story. I liked that Amy's letters are read by a different voice actor, which adds variation and a refreshing break from the narrative.
In short, I recommend it!
I loved it because it was a light, fun read. I looked forward to getting to know the town. Yes, it is a bit predictable, but it was just what I wanted.