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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
one a scale of one to conifer needles, stump rot, burnt lichen, fungi spores-How PNW is this book?
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
3-ish stars.
I enjoyed the book. But it was a little hard to follow. I teetered from “Oohh. I’m intrigued” to “What is going on?” And it was just really hard to keep focus with everything going on? There was a lot of things that, I felt, were unexplored?
It’s a good read, but definitely left me wondering what’s the point with some of the things going on. Some character development and motivations for staying on the island were a little muddy. I couldn’t pick up on it.
The relationships felt a little flat to me as well. I didn’t understand where they were going with it or how they occurred. There was a lot of off-the-page development and I was stuck piecing together what these relationships meant to Lucie or how they happened.
I enjoyed the book. But it was a little hard to follow. I teetered from “Oohh. I’m intrigued” to “What is going on?” And it was just really hard to keep focus with everything going on? There was a lot of things that, I felt, were unexplored?
It’s a good read, but definitely left me wondering what’s the point with some of the things going on. Some character development and motivations for staying on the island were a little muddy. I couldn’t pick up on it.
The relationships felt a little flat to me as well. I didn’t understand where they were going with it or how they occurred. There was a lot of off-the-page development and I was stuck piecing together what these relationships meant to Lucie or how they happened.
I really wanted to like this book. It's set on my home turf - the islands of the Pacific Northwest - and incorporates environmental themes (I care about the environment, of course). But I found it too heavy-handed and plodding. Three stars because it was just interesting enough to keep me reading - but barely.
"And just like that, I'm back on Marrow Island. Sister Janet leading prayer before supper. We all hold hands and bow our heads. It's not a prayer I recognise, but it's lilting like a song. It's about letting go; it's about rebirth. I open my eyes and steal glances at the others. Their cheeks are rosy from the cold, damp work outside. They look content; stoic. I close my eyes again. I smell the rich, earthy stew steaming in our bowls. The hands in mine are rough and light, like driftwood."
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
Uneven and underdeveloped, but I really love Alexis M. Smith's writing style, and - unlike some reviewers - I found her protagonist (her paralysis, her unreliability, her odd unflapability and inscrutableness [even from inside her own pov]) compelling. The book moves back and forth between present day (post- Incident on Marrow Island) and past (Incident on Marrow Island). The post-incident chapters were much better developed and much more interesting. I understood Luce's character, understood her relationship with Carey, understood the setting of the Oregon forest, the inevitable seasonal fires and grim preparation for them. But everything that happened on Marrow Island felt vague, rushed, inchoate? In concept, it's interesting, but I just could not get a real grip on what was happening, who everyone was, what roles they played, and the relationships between our protagonist and the people on Marrow Island didn't feel explored and developed enough, organically, for me to care about the dissolution of those relationships.
Almost, but not quite, good. Could have been longer and better organized.
Almost, but not quite, good. Could have been longer and better organized.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No