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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After reading so many glowing reviews, I was excited to pick this one up. I was drawn in at first; Vanderah didn't waste any time getting straight to the meat of the story in introducing Ursa immediately. However, as the book went on, the lackluster characters, flat plot, and bland writing style shone through. Vanderah has good ideas, but she does not execute them effectively. So much of this book was the author trying to portray something symbolic or deep, she fails at allowing her writing to do so on its own. Instead, she shoves the “deeper meaning” in the reader's face. Oh, realizing the impact of Ursa the lost child made Lacey reconsider her own actions on her little lost brother? You don't say. This book was the definition of heavy-handed. Please, Vanderah. Stop explaining everything.
The author could use a creative writing lesson and learn the value of "show, don't tell." She uses dialogue between characters in this book as a way to explain important plot points, backstory, and thematic elements, and it comes off as unbelievable and out-of-place. If only these characters had some depth, some internal monologue, or some ability to interpret the feelings of other characters based on strategically placed elements of writing, then maybe something beautiful could have come from this book. As it stands now, Jo is an empty shell, a manic pixie dream girl for Gabe to use to heal. She make grandiose statements about love and family towards Gabe, a man with tragedy and trauma in his familial past, and at no point is it at all implied that, maybe, Jo's comments are insensitive, and are NOT what a depressed person needs to hear. And, look—there's nothing wrong with having complex characters. I'm not upset with Jo's stance on the issue. However, there's absolutely no explanation as to WHY Jo has this warped worldview, and as a result, it comes out feeling unrealistic, almost satirical. If Jo was a more well-rounded character, perhaps this could have worked.
And somehow, Jo's belief that (spoiler) cheating on your wife and lying to the resulting baby is an example of true love and not a huge character flaw manages to HEAL Gabe of his depression. Gabe, therefore, is a caricature of mental illness, just waiting for the right girl to come along and shed him of his issues.
And Ursa, oh Ursa. A sad plot device existing only to demonstrate the "growth" (read: none) between the two adult characters. As the book continues, her presence becomes more and more useless; she seems to exist only to make some childlike comment to remind readers she is there. I absolutely love the idea of Ursa's existence being ambiguous, of the fact that, maybe, she really IS from the stars. Alas, the author manages to squash out any lasting bit of ambiguity from Ursa's arc by the end of the book, instead opting to cleanly tie up the story with a neat little bow. Perhaps there is supposed to still be an element of the celestial at the end, but Vanderah's wonted prose depletes the chances. Her writing is boring, and her characters are boring, so why shouldn't the end be boring, too?
By halfway through this book, I was reading it out of spite. I do not recommend this book, and I'm frankly flabbergasted by the positive reviews. What a shame, really.
The author could use a creative writing lesson and learn the value of "show, don't tell." She uses dialogue between characters in this book as a way to explain important plot points, backstory, and thematic elements, and it comes off as unbelievable and out-of-place. If only these characters had some depth, some internal monologue, or some ability to interpret the feelings of other characters based on strategically placed elements of writing, then maybe something beautiful could have come from this book. As it stands now, Jo is an empty shell, a manic pixie dream girl for Gabe to use to heal. She make grandiose statements about love and family towards Gabe, a man with tragedy and trauma in his familial past, and at no point is it at all implied that, maybe, Jo's comments are insensitive, and are NOT what a depressed person needs to hear. And, look—there's nothing wrong with having complex characters. I'm not upset with Jo's stance on the issue. However, there's absolutely no explanation as to WHY Jo has this warped worldview, and as a result, it comes out feeling unrealistic, almost satirical. If Jo was a more well-rounded character, perhaps this could have worked.
And somehow, Jo's belief that (spoiler) cheating on your wife and lying to the resulting baby is an example of true love and not a huge character flaw manages to HEAL Gabe of his depression. Gabe, therefore, is a caricature of mental illness, just waiting for the right girl to come along and shed him of his issues.
And Ursa, oh Ursa. A sad plot device existing only to demonstrate the "growth" (read: none) between the two adult characters. As the book continues, her presence becomes more and more useless; she seems to exist only to make some childlike comment to remind readers she is there. I absolutely love the idea of Ursa's existence being ambiguous, of the fact that, maybe, she really IS from the stars. Alas, the author manages to squash out any lasting bit of ambiguity from Ursa's arc by the end of the book, instead opting to cleanly tie up the story with a neat little bow. Perhaps there is supposed to still be an element of the celestial at the end, but Vanderah's wonted prose depletes the chances. Her writing is boring, and her characters are boring, so why shouldn't the end be boring, too?
By halfway through this book, I was reading it out of spite. I do not recommend this book, and I'm frankly flabbergasted by the positive reviews. What a shame, really.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jo lost her mother to breast cancer. She herself is a cancer survivor struggling to adjust back to the normal world. During surgery few of her body parts were removed to avoid the recurrence of cancer. She thinks she won't be appealing to guys anymore and to avoid such thoughts keeps herself busy with research work.
Things change when a 9-year-old girl shows up at her residence, who claims to be an alien. Good things start to happen to Jo. But is it right to keep a young alien girl without informing the police?
The first half of the book is amazing however the ending was quite average. Still, it was a good read. You can give it a try if you are into fiction.
Things change when a 9-year-old girl shows up at her residence, who claims to be an alien. Good things start to happen to Jo. But is it right to keep a young alien girl without informing the police?
The first half of the book is amazing however the ending was quite average. Still, it was a good read. You can give it a try if you are into fiction.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes