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diazona's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm all too used to reading the promotional blurb for a book and being pretty underwhelmed; within any given genre they all kind of sound the same after a while. After She Wrote Him is different. The teaser paragraph caught my interest, because it starts off with a really cool idea: two authors, Edward and Madeleine, each writing a book about the other one. It's a pretty cool sci-fi premise, maybe with just a touch of horror to boot (plus, we're promised a murder mystery), and I couldn't wait to see what would come of it.
It turns out the book is... not that. Instead of a story about two authors each writing about the other, it's more like a story that tries to keep the reader confused about which of Edward or Madeleine is "really" the author and which is "really" the character in the other's work. And by the end of the book I had a pretty good feeling that there's one who is supposed to be the "real" author. I guess that was the goal, and if so, well done Sulari, mission accomplished, I just feel a bit let down because I was looking forward to something different, where the plot could be built around the ambiguity between the two stories.
Anyway, the blurry line between author and character lets the book do some cool trippy things with the point of view. Like, there are times when I'll read several pages of, say, Edward's story, and suddenly there will be a bit of "narrator commentary" interjected by Madeleine, or vice versa. The narrator-as-character thing works pretty well. There are also parts where it seamlessly switches from Madeleine's point of view to Edward's or vice versa; typically we'll be in the middle of one of their stories, the other one makes an appearance as a (presumably imaginary) character in that story, and then a couple paragraphs later we're following the other one's story. These transitions were well executed, they really sneak up on you, but I found it quite confusing to be jumping back and forth between the two stories never being quite sure which one you're really in. Though again, that may have been the point - the POV transitions become more and more frequent throughout the book, giving the feeling of the two worlds becoming indistinguishable, so props to the author once more.
So, I've been saying is that this is a really interesting concept and it was very skillfully crafted. Why am I rating this book with only three stars, then? Well, despite having such a unique twist, the story neglects some of the basics. Like the plot. There are a bunch of plot threads that never really get resolved, they just trail off or get forgotten. If that's supposed to be part of the book's mystique as well, it goes too far for me. And the plot doesn't seem all that well thought out; events seem to happen arbitrarily with little purpose, which again may be intentionally part of inserting the audience into the role of the author, but the fact is it diminishes my enjoyment of the story. I came out the end of this book feeling enlightened but ultimately unsatisfied.
I'd say this is a great book to read to broaden your perspective of how an author can do some mind-bending things with nested stories and point-of-view characters. Anyone who considers themselves an author would probably find it an interesting case study. But if you want plain old entertainment value, you can do better.
It turns out the book is... not that. Instead of a story about two authors each writing about the other, it's more like a story that tries to keep the reader confused about which of Edward or Madeleine is "really" the author and which is "really" the character in the other's work. And by the end of the book I had a pretty good feeling that there's one who is supposed to be the "real" author. I guess that was the goal, and if so, well done Sulari, mission accomplished, I just feel a bit let down because I was looking forward to something different, where the plot could be built around the ambiguity between the two stories.
Anyway, the blurry line between author and character lets the book do some cool trippy things with the point of view. Like, there are times when I'll read several pages of, say, Edward's story, and suddenly there will be a bit of "narrator commentary" interjected by Madeleine, or vice versa. The narrator-as-character thing works pretty well. There are also parts where it seamlessly switches from Madeleine's point of view to Edward's or vice versa; typically we'll be in the middle of one of their stories, the other one makes an appearance as a (presumably imaginary) character in that story, and then a couple paragraphs later we're following the other one's story. These transitions were well executed, they really sneak up on you, but I found it quite confusing to be jumping back and forth between the two stories never being quite sure which one you're really in. Though again, that may have been the point - the POV transitions become more and more frequent throughout the book, giving the feeling of the two worlds becoming indistinguishable, so props to the author once more.
So, I've been saying is that this is a really interesting concept and it was very skillfully crafted. Why am I rating this book with only three stars, then? Well, despite having such a unique twist, the story neglects some of the basics. Like the plot. There are a bunch of plot threads that never really get resolved, they just trail off or get forgotten. If that's supposed to be part of the book's mystique as well, it goes too far for me. And the plot doesn't seem all that well thought out; events seem to happen arbitrarily with little purpose, which again may be intentionally part of inserting the audience into the role of the author, but the fact is it diminishes my enjoyment of the story. I came out the end of this book feeling enlightened but ultimately unsatisfied.
I'd say this is a great book to read to broaden your perspective of how an author can do some mind-bending things with nested stories and point-of-view characters. Anyone who considers themselves an author would probably find it an interesting case study. But if you want plain old entertainment value, you can do better.
ambswylie's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ifollowedthatrabbit's review against another edition
4.0
~This ARC has been gently provided in exchange for an honest review~
I chose to read this book, because the premise seemed quite interesting and original, and it didn’t disappoint me.
I’m sure that we all feel like we are able to know, see, and listen so clearly the characters in the book we are reading that it seems like they were real. If we can be so involved in the story we are reading, imagine then, what a writer must feel about their characters. That’s exactly what is depicted in this book.
Edward McGinnity is a “serious writer”, as Madeleine points out, he writes“the kind of worthy, incomprehensible stuff that wins awards”. One day, the inspiration comes to him and Madeleine d’Leon is born. The first thing he knows about her is that she is a writer too, a mystery/crime writer.
Madeleine d’Leon is in a meeting when Edward starts taking shape in her mind. There’s been a murder and he is the main suspect. In order to defend himself, he starts investigating who the murderer is.
Who has created whom? Who is the real author and who is the character? After she wrote him is a page-turner story with an original plot.
I chose to read this book, because the premise seemed quite interesting and original, and it didn’t disappoint me.
I’m sure that we all feel like we are able to know, see, and listen so clearly the characters in the book we are reading that it seems like they were real. If we can be so involved in the story we are reading, imagine then, what a writer must feel about their characters. That’s exactly what is depicted in this book.
Edward McGinnity is a “serious writer”, as Madeleine points out, he writes“the kind of worthy, incomprehensible stuff that wins awards”. One day, the inspiration comes to him and Madeleine d’Leon is born. The first thing he knows about her is that she is a writer too, a mystery/crime writer.
Madeleine d’Leon is in a meeting when Edward starts taking shape in her mind. There’s been a murder and he is the main suspect. In order to defend himself, he starts investigating who the murderer is.
Who has created whom? Who is the real author and who is the character? After she wrote him is a page-turner story with an original plot.
daijhanna's review against another edition
0.25
A great premise with the most frustrating and unsatisfying execution. Would not recommend.
serenityofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill (previously published as Crossing The Lines) is a fun and original book that takes readers on a captivating journey through the realms of meta-fiction. As a relative newcomer to this genre, I found myself thoroughly engrossed and eager to explore more.
Sulari Gentill's writing is skillful and precise, making for an enjoyable and easy reading experience. The book's clever take on crime fiction earned it the 2018 Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction. Having had the pleasure of hearing Sulari Gentill speak at events, including the recent BWF, it was intriguing to recognize glimpses of her own writing process in the characters of this novel. This added an extra layer of engagement to the story for me.
While the concept of meta-fiction may not appeal to everyone, I encourage readers to give After She Wrote Him a read. With its intriguing premise, polished prose, and well-crafted characters, it provides an enjoyable journey into the world of meta-fiction. I am grateful for its re-release, as it was an absolute joy to get lost in its pages.
Sulari Gentill's writing is skillful and precise, making for an enjoyable and easy reading experience. The book's clever take on crime fiction earned it the 2018 Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction. Having had the pleasure of hearing Sulari Gentill speak at events, including the recent BWF, it was intriguing to recognize glimpses of her own writing process in the characters of this novel. This added an extra layer of engagement to the story for me.
While the concept of meta-fiction may not appeal to everyone, I encourage readers to give After She Wrote Him a read. With its intriguing premise, polished prose, and well-crafted characters, it provides an enjoyable journey into the world of meta-fiction. I am grateful for its re-release, as it was an absolute joy to get lost in its pages.
lilac_layne's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katrinacharleston's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
epilieaspiechick's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The ending felt FAR too abrupt.