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wordnerdy's review
3.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2017/05/2017-book-90.html
Goodman is an author that I am generally into, though this one left me feeling a bit puzzled. It centers on an inter-related cast of characters in Cambridge, Massachusetts--a young teacher, her love interest (the titular artist), a couple of students at the school, and so on--and touches a bit on issues of class, though doesn't delve very deeply there. A lot of the action involves a new mmorpg that several characters are tied to, which is interesting. Basically, I found all the characters here compelling--though they are all very young and very dumb--and enjoyed reading this novel, but the end left me wanting something more. B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
Goodman is an author that I am generally into, though this one left me feeling a bit puzzled. It centers on an inter-related cast of characters in Cambridge, Massachusetts--a young teacher, her love interest (the titular artist), a couple of students at the school, and so on--and touches a bit on issues of class, though doesn't delve very deeply there. A lot of the action involves a new mmorpg that several characters are tied to, which is interesting. Basically, I found all the characters here compelling--though they are all very young and very dumb--and enjoyed reading this novel, but the end left me wanting something more. B+.
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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
mishale1's review
4.0
I was able to read this book early through Netgalley.
I just "found" this author last month and I just love her writing style. It feels like a very unique voice.
This book tells the story of Collin "the chalk artist", Nina who meets and falls in love with Collin and Aiden who is a very intelligent student of Nina's who is addicted to an online video game.
When Nina meets Collin, she is incredibly impressed by his artistic skill and passion about his art. He is a modern day starving artist. Nina herself is from a very wealthy family. Her father created the video game that people are obsessed with. Nina has felt guilty about her association with the game and is trying to create good in the world to counteract her father's creation. Nina feels the best way to make an impact of this size is to be a teacher.
She is at the beginning of her career as a teacher of gifted, occasionally difficult students. Aiden is one of her students and he is so smart, but so lazy. She takes him on as a personal project.
Aiden is addicted to the game Nina's father has created. It has continued to pull him away from his studies, it has caused distance with his family and his friends, and it has caused him to make some bad decisions.
I felt like Nina was practically in a battle to save Aiden's soul. I'm not trying to be dramatic on that, but everyone was clearly trying to help Aiden with his addiction. His addiction just happens to be videogames rather than drugs, but it is still a serious addiction.
Also, Nina makes a decision early on to help her boyfriend Collin with his career. She helps him get his foot in the door to be an illustrator for her father's games. This leads their relationship into some serious drama.
I have to admit that the videogame portion of the book was definitely more interesting than I expected at first. When the author described the world within the game, it made me picture something similar to Avatar. It was a very vivid description.
I enjoyed this story, the characters, and how unique the storyline was. How many books could possibly feature a storyline about a chalk artist? It felt totally new and fresh to me.
I will definitely continue to look for this author's books in the future.
I just "found" this author last month and I just love her writing style. It feels like a very unique voice.
This book tells the story of Collin "the chalk artist", Nina who meets and falls in love with Collin and Aiden who is a very intelligent student of Nina's who is addicted to an online video game.
When Nina meets Collin, she is incredibly impressed by his artistic skill and passion about his art. He is a modern day starving artist. Nina herself is from a very wealthy family. Her father created the video game that people are obsessed with. Nina has felt guilty about her association with the game and is trying to create good in the world to counteract her father's creation. Nina feels the best way to make an impact of this size is to be a teacher.
She is at the beginning of her career as a teacher of gifted, occasionally difficult students. Aiden is one of her students and he is so smart, but so lazy. She takes him on as a personal project.
Aiden is addicted to the game Nina's father has created. It has continued to pull him away from his studies, it has caused distance with his family and his friends, and it has caused him to make some bad decisions.
I felt like Nina was practically in a battle to save Aiden's soul. I'm not trying to be dramatic on that, but everyone was clearly trying to help Aiden with his addiction. His addiction just happens to be videogames rather than drugs, but it is still a serious addiction.
Also, Nina makes a decision early on to help her boyfriend Collin with his career. She helps him get his foot in the door to be an illustrator for her father's games. This leads their relationship into some serious drama.
I have to admit that the videogame portion of the book was definitely more interesting than I expected at first. When the author described the world within the game, it made me picture something similar to Avatar. It was a very vivid description.
I enjoyed this story, the characters, and how unique the storyline was. How many books could possibly feature a storyline about a chalk artist? It felt totally new and fresh to me.
I will definitely continue to look for this author's books in the future.
prathiba's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
sashi_ca's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
joellie's review against another edition
3.0
Despite what the fly leaf says, it isn’t really about Nina and Collin, except tangentially. It’s more of a coming of age story about Aidan. The Nina/Collin story line is very predictable; I wish they had spent more time on Diana and her story. She was by far the most interesting character.
stacyroth's review against another edition
2.0
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Collin is a fantastic artist who prefers working in chalk and takes a job as a waiter to pay the bills. One of his regular customers, Nina, captures his attention. Nina is the daughter of the founder of one of the most popular video games around, and she works as a high school English teacher to give back. Collin and Nina start dating. He opens her world up to different thinking, and Nina, amazed by his drawing skills, wants to introduce him to her father.
The story jumps around in third person point of view from Nina, Collin, and various other characters. Two of Nina's students, twins, also have their own story lines in the book. Despite having been a teacher myself and also enjoying video games, I had trouble getting into the story. I also disliked the characters and didn't feel anything to hope they would grow and become better people. The ending felt abrupt. This book just wasn't for me.
Collin is a fantastic artist who prefers working in chalk and takes a job as a waiter to pay the bills. One of his regular customers, Nina, captures his attention. Nina is the daughter of the founder of one of the most popular video games around, and she works as a high school English teacher to give back. Collin and Nina start dating. He opens her world up to different thinking, and Nina, amazed by his drawing skills, wants to introduce him to her father.
The story jumps around in third person point of view from Nina, Collin, and various other characters. Two of Nina's students, twins, also have their own story lines in the book. Despite having been a teacher myself and also enjoying video games, I had trouble getting into the story. I also disliked the characters and didn't feel anything to hope they would grow and become better people. The ending felt abrupt. This book just wasn't for me.
jordi__k's review
3.0
I really liked this book. Goodman’s diction is incredibly precise. It took me a while to get into the book but I think the concept was interesting and the romance was an integral part of the story without being the key takeaway. I loved how the story had different points of view but they all still managed to work together to move the story along.
sariggs's review against another edition
4.0
Four stars for being topical. I liked the social commentary on gaming. It reminded me of "Touch", because that was another book addressing what technology is doing to us.
I liked the portrayal of boy/girl twins. I liked the portrayal of the struggle to figure out what to do with your life, and then the struggle to be good at what you pick.
I liked the portrayal of boy/girl twins. I liked the portrayal of the struggle to figure out what to do with your life, and then the struggle to be good at what you pick.
shannon_magee's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
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
4.0