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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
The writing in this is spectacular, although I felt just pretty good about the storyline.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
This book would make an excellent movie!
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
2 1/2 stars
My high expectations for this book may have ruined it a bit for me. This is the first book by Sepetys I have read, although it may be the least well-known. I had heard so many glowing reviews of the author's books, that I was expecting to love this one. I didn't. It was just OK for me. It was compulsively readable and I loved the main character, Josie, and her strength of character. I also loved the overarching moral that we are not our circumstances and that human strength can allow us to rise above.
I did not love the setting of this book. Josie is the daughter of a prostitute and spends her mornings cleaning the brothel. The place aspect of the setting was strong and tangible, but the historical time aspect was less so. I had to keep reminding myself which decade the book took place in. I also felt that the writing was disjointed at times. The dialogue felt unauthentic in places as well. There were too many backup characters cluttering the story and most of them were unsympathetic. It felt that the author was trying to do too many things with this book.
I will probably not be recommending this book to my friends.
However, I am still curious to read Sepetys' other better-known works to see if I feel any differently. I did not dislike this enough to make me unwilling to give this author another try.
My high expectations for this book may have ruined it a bit for me. This is the first book by Sepetys I have read, although it may be the least well-known. I had heard so many glowing reviews of the author's books, that I was expecting to love this one. I didn't. It was just OK for me. It was compulsively readable and I loved the main character, Josie, and her strength of character. I also loved the overarching moral that we are not our circumstances and that human strength can allow us to rise above.
I did not love the setting of this book. Josie is the daughter of a prostitute and spends her mornings cleaning the brothel. The place aspect of the setting was strong and tangible, but the historical time aspect was less so. I had to keep reminding myself which decade the book took place in. I also felt that the writing was disjointed at times. The dialogue felt unauthentic in places as well. There were too many backup characters cluttering the story and most of them were unsympathetic. It felt that the author was trying to do too many things with this book.
I will probably not be recommending this book to my friends.
However, I am still curious to read Sepetys' other better-known works to see if I feel any differently. I did not dislike this enough to make me unwilling to give this author another try.
fast-paced
This isn’t quite the solid 4 stars her other books are, but 4 stars, nonetheless. Ruta Sepety’s character development, ability to move forward story lines and ability to leave us always wanting more, is why I’m a fan. This book is no exception. I have a little hesitancy for the believability factor in this one, as the Madame of the brothel is portrayed in such a loving manner, but I’m not familiar with brothels outside of what I’ve read, so maybe. There were a few other minor doubts I had, but what I find most important was solid.
4.7 stars ~
This book depended heavily on dialogue which I LOVED. All of the women were strong willed and lovely while the majority of men were portrayed as trash--the ones that were worthy proved so in everything they did, not just here and there. Josie was an amazing protagonist and I wish we had more like her. ALSO I FEEL SHE IS SUPER ASEXUAL AND/OR AROMANTIC AND THIS SHOULD GET A SEQUEL SO THIS CAN BE EXPLORED AND HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION.
Anyway, besides the dialogue, I loved the writing style and imagery, including the random but beautiful metaphors. The characters, along with character development, were very likable. The plot wasn't hard to follow and each chapter went somewhere. The chapters held meaning and weren't just ways to take up space or explain a particular thing. In other words, they moved the story along.
Problems: There were some parts I thought could have been sped up a bit. The sudden similes/metaphors (I think it was probably only metaphors but I'm not 100% sure) made me take what was said literally at first, resulting in me having to reread the sentences. The ending was also rushed and not explained thoroughly. I wanted more Patrick explanation. I know it's Josie's story but they were so close the entire story and then it seemed like he became a distant friend which didn't make much sense. I'd love for Patrick to have his own book or novella. Also, I had no idea what happened with Willie at the end at all. The "salted peanuts" part felt like it had been said before and held meaning but I could not remember it at all and Josie barely talked about it. I also felt like Willie didn't get as much thought from Josie as Charlie did.
I know the "problems" part is longer but honestly I really did love this book. I would recommend it to anyone, boy or girl, of pretty much any age, which is saying a lot. But especially for girls and women because Josie is such a strong female character and I feel she'd make any girl proud to read about her.
It's great as a standalone but there is obvious room for a sequel, which I'd buy in a heartbeat.
This book depended heavily on dialogue which I LOVED. All of the women were strong willed and lovely while the majority of men were portrayed as trash--the ones that were worthy proved so in everything they did, not just here and there. Josie was an amazing protagonist and I wish we had more like her. ALSO I FEEL SHE IS SUPER ASEXUAL AND/OR AROMANTIC AND THIS SHOULD GET A SEQUEL SO THIS CAN BE EXPLORED AND HAVE MORE REPRESENTATION.
Anyway, besides the dialogue, I loved the writing style and imagery, including the random but beautiful metaphors. The characters, along with character development, were very likable. The plot wasn't hard to follow and each chapter went somewhere. The chapters held meaning and weren't just ways to take up space or explain a particular thing. In other words, they moved the story along.
Problems: There were some parts I thought could have been sped up a bit. The sudden similes/metaphors (I think it was probably only metaphors but I'm not 100% sure) made me take what was said literally at first, resulting in me having to reread the sentences. The ending was also rushed and not explained thoroughly. I wanted more Patrick explanation. I know it's Josie's story but they were so close the entire story and then it seemed like he became a distant friend which didn't make much sense. I'd love for Patrick to have his own book or novella. Also, I had no idea what happened with Willie at the end at all. The "salted peanuts" part felt like it had been said before and held meaning but I could not remember it at all and Josie barely talked about it. I also felt like Willie didn't get as much thought from Josie as Charlie did.
I know the "problems" part is longer but honestly I really did love this book. I would recommend it to anyone, boy or girl, of pretty much any age, which is saying a lot. But especially for girls and women because Josie is such a strong female character and I feel she'd make any girl proud to read about her.
It's great as a standalone but there is obvious room for a sequel, which I'd buy in a heartbeat.
tense
medium-paced
This was a darn good book. It sat on my shelf for months before I picked it up, and then I just couldn't put it down. There is really something about Sepetys' writing that hooks you. All of the characters were really well thought out and well-rounded. The plot was good and kept you reading. There were a couple of places where I was wondering if something was meant to be a surprise, such as Patrick's secret, which were all really easy to see coming, but that was a small complaint. This was a great glimpse into 1950s New Orleans and I enjoyed all the details and name-dropping that came with it. I'm really going to have to pick up Between Shades of Grey now!