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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
While not as culturally or historically important as Between Shades of Gray, this was still a page turner. Josie Moraine is a character who will sit with you for a long while. Despite an upbringing beyond dysfunctional, Josie manages to glow with intelligence, street-smarts and charm.
Best for high school readers or mature 8th graders. No language but very mature situations. Will appeal to girls who don't need an easy story but do need a happy ending.
Best for high school readers or mature 8th graders. No language but very mature situations. Will appeal to girls who don't need an easy story but do need a happy ending.
I expected more from this book. The storyline just failed to engage me properly until, perhaps the last third. It was just too little too late in my opinion
I really loved the characters in this book, and the ending did not disappoint.
Where do I start? This novel is set in 1950s New Orleans and we meet a young girl names Josie and her sad excuse of a mother who drags her into a life of Madams and whore houses.
From the moment I opened this book I was transported into Josie's world where she pretty much left to fend for herself. She is cared for by the Madam that is in charge of her mother and the men she brings home. But when a man from her mothers past comes back and reeks havoc on everyones lives, and all of a sudden a wealthy business dies unexpectedly, Josie has to make a decision. Does she believe her mother was involved or that it was all an accident like the papers said.
This story was everything I wanted and more. Josie was such a great character, she was smart, educated even though she lives in the quarter, and had the unfortunate life of a prostitute's daughter. Josie was a character that you want to root for, you want her to leave behind the mess of a life her mother created and start fresh. But that seems to easy, doesn't it? and I loved that it was portrayed as being extremely hard to leave the life of the quarter behind. The writing was not only beautiful, but real. Everything fit with the time period and it made me want to be there, in that time to see the culture and entertainment. It is amazing.
I not only loved Josies character but all of the secondary characters as well, they were the reason the setting was so accurate and why I loved this books so much. The villain was very well done, he was sleazy and rich, something Josies mother loved and chose to overlook the other...indecencies that arose. I loved that Josie loved books and reading and that her best friend was an avid reader as well. That is something you don't see much anymore in YA books, characters that love to read. I also loved Willie, the Madam that was in charge of everything. She was so hard on the outside, but you saw glimpses of a warm, and nurturing woman when Josie was around.
Overall I loved everything about this books, although the romance element that is always present in YA fiction is toned down a lot in this novel, i didn't care. The characters were so vibrant and well rounded and developed that you hardly notice. The mystery elements made me read this book exceptionally fast, I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know if Josie would the happy ever after she always dreamed about, and if she would ever escape the wrath of her mother for good. Want t find out if she does? Well read the book! You will not regret it!
From the moment I opened this book I was transported into Josie's world where she pretty much left to fend for herself. She is cared for by the Madam that is in charge of her mother and the men she brings home. But when a man from her mothers past comes back and reeks havoc on everyones lives, and all of a sudden a wealthy business dies unexpectedly, Josie has to make a decision. Does she believe her mother was involved or that it was all an accident like the papers said.
This story was everything I wanted and more. Josie was such a great character, she was smart, educated even though she lives in the quarter, and had the unfortunate life of a prostitute's daughter. Josie was a character that you want to root for, you want her to leave behind the mess of a life her mother created and start fresh. But that seems to easy, doesn't it? and I loved that it was portrayed as being extremely hard to leave the life of the quarter behind. The writing was not only beautiful, but real. Everything fit with the time period and it made me want to be there, in that time to see the culture and entertainment. It is amazing.
I not only loved Josies character but all of the secondary characters as well, they were the reason the setting was so accurate and why I loved this books so much. The villain was very well done, he was sleazy and rich, something Josies mother loved and chose to overlook the other...indecencies that arose. I loved that Josie loved books and reading and that her best friend was an avid reader as well. That is something you don't see much anymore in YA books, characters that love to read. I also loved Willie, the Madam that was in charge of everything. She was so hard on the outside, but you saw glimpses of a warm, and nurturing woman when Josie was around.
Overall I loved everything about this books, although the romance element that is always present in YA fiction is toned down a lot in this novel, i didn't care. The characters were so vibrant and well rounded and developed that you hardly notice. The mystery elements made me read this book exceptionally fast, I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know if Josie would the happy ever after she always dreamed about, and if she would ever escape the wrath of her mother for good. Want t find out if she does? Well read the book! You will not regret it!
2/5
DNF at Chapter 20, 32%
I am clearly in the minority here. I thoroughly enjoyed Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys so I was really excited about reading this book. But, it was extremely underwhelming for me. I'm not attached to any of the characters, I don't enjoy the setting (New Orleans, 1950), and I don't like the storyline.
The only redeeming factor is that Ruta is really good at creating an interesting atmosphere for a story. It's just not an atmosphere I am interested in. I've found myself skipping pages just to try and get it done.
I may revisit it in the future but right now, It's just not for me.
DNF at Chapter 20, 32%
I am clearly in the minority here. I thoroughly enjoyed Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys so I was really excited about reading this book. But, it was extremely underwhelming for me. I'm not attached to any of the characters, I don't enjoy the setting (New Orleans, 1950), and I don't like the storyline.
The only redeeming factor is that Ruta is really good at creating an interesting atmosphere for a story. It's just not an atmosphere I am interested in. I've found myself skipping pages just to try and get it done.
I may revisit it in the future but right now, It's just not for me.
Wonderful. Near-perfect characterizations across the board - everyone had depth and layers, even Jo's terrible terrible mother. Great sense of place, great dialogue...just loved it.
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my least favorite Ruta Sepetys book. I think there was too much going on for the characters to develop well. Maybe because this was Sepetys second book and the first one she didn’t have a personal connection too. So maybe she was still figuring out how she wanted to tell stories.
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-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
Ich weiß nicht genau was ich sagen soll, außer, dass ich dieses Buch liebe.
Wirklich ich liebe es, ich habe es in einem Tag verschlungen & ich habe gelacht & geweint.
Es passiert nicht viel, das Buch ist sehr langsam und fokussiert sich auf die Charaktere aber das war kein Problem, weil die Charaktere super waren.
Josie ist eine tolle, starke & sympatische Protagonistin mit der man sich super identifizieren konnte, dazu kommt Willie, die man einfach nur bewundern muss, Cookie, und Jesse & Patrick & die " Nichten" & ja jeder Charaktere war realistisch & interessant, auch wenn sie unsympathisch waren.
Ruta Sepety, kann so schreiben dass man die Atmosphäre von New Orleans spürt, man kann sich diesen Mischmasch aus Gangstern, Kleinkriminellen, Aberglaube & freudenhäusern richtig vorstellen.Und man versinkt darin . Ich finde New Orleans eh interessant, aber hier habe ich nochmal eine kleine Begeisterung dafür bekommen.
Aber was mich das Buch so hat lieben lassen war Josie. Josie hat mich an mich selber erinnert, ihr Verlangen aus ihrer Welt auszubrechen in eine andere Welt und jemand anderes zu sein, damit konnte ich mich total identifizieren und ihre Tröume & Sehnsüchte waren somit für mich einfach total real.
Und dazu kam dann Willie die ich einfach nur toll fand. Willie ist einer dieser starken Frauen, mit denen man sich nicht anlegt und die sich erst den Lippenstift nachziehen bevor sie dich um die Ecke bringen.
Ruta Sepety hat einen wunderbaren Schreibstil & sie hat mich die Charaktere lieben lassen & mich mit ihnen zum Weinen & zum Lachen gebracht . Und ja Josies Reise hat mir das Herz so sehr gebrochen & ich werde mich jetzt erstmal in die Ecke verkriechen gehen.
Wirklich ich liebe es, ich habe es in einem Tag verschlungen & ich habe gelacht & geweint.
Es passiert nicht viel, das Buch ist sehr langsam und fokussiert sich auf die Charaktere aber das war kein Problem, weil die Charaktere super waren.
Josie ist eine tolle, starke & sympatische Protagonistin mit der man sich super identifizieren konnte, dazu kommt Willie, die man einfach nur bewundern muss, Cookie, und Jesse & Patrick & die " Nichten" & ja jeder Charaktere war realistisch & interessant, auch wenn sie unsympathisch waren.
Ruta Sepety, kann so schreiben dass man die Atmosphäre von New Orleans spürt, man kann sich diesen Mischmasch aus Gangstern, Kleinkriminellen, Aberglaube & freudenhäusern richtig vorstellen.Und man versinkt darin . Ich finde New Orleans eh interessant, aber hier habe ich nochmal eine kleine Begeisterung dafür bekommen.
Aber was mich das Buch so hat lieben lassen war Josie. Josie hat mich an mich selber erinnert, ihr Verlangen aus ihrer Welt auszubrechen in eine andere Welt und jemand anderes zu sein, damit konnte ich mich total identifizieren und ihre Tröume & Sehnsüchte waren somit für mich einfach total real.
Und dazu kam dann Willie die ich einfach nur toll fand. Willie ist einer dieser starken Frauen, mit denen man sich nicht anlegt und die sich erst den Lippenstift nachziehen bevor sie dich um die Ecke bringen.
Ruta Sepety hat einen wunderbaren Schreibstil & sie hat mich die Charaktere lieben lassen & mich mit ihnen zum Weinen & zum Lachen gebracht . Und ja Josies Reise hat mir das Herz so sehr gebrochen & ich werde mich jetzt erstmal in die Ecke verkriechen gehen.