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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-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
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
DNF at 80%, but the 20% left was in the middle......
I decided to read Iona Iverson even after not loving Clare Pooley's [b:The Authenticity Project|55789067|The Authenticity Project|Clare Pooley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603751298l/55789067._SX50_.jpg|66283790] due to it's obvious RomCom-by-committee style. The ratings and comments were good enough for Iona that I crossed my fingers Pooley had been a little more individualistic on her newer novel. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. Again, Pooley seems to have consulted a high school creative writing teacher's list of "characters that make a fluffy novel more relevant and interesting," and crammed as many of them into one train car as she could fit. On top of that, I confess I really didn't like Iona herself. I kept wanting to tell her to "Just shut the ..... up, already!"
When I have serious misgivings about a book but am not quite ready to give up on it (this happened about about page 70 in Iona), I will sometimes jump to the end and start reading it backwards, chapter by chapter. In my odd brain, this will tell me if it's worth slogging through the parts I don't enjoy to get to the ending. I read backwards for a lot of chapters. But, I finally gave up when I realized that my dislike of Iona wasn't actually going to be my biggest issue with this book. Instead, the completely stereotypical fixing of every stereotypical character's stereotypical problem got too boring to read any further. I just did not care. So, I stopped forcing myself and picked up something else.
I decided to read Iona Iverson even after not loving Clare Pooley's [b:The Authenticity Project|55789067|The Authenticity Project|Clare Pooley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603751298l/55789067._SX50_.jpg|66283790] due to it's obvious RomCom-by-committee style. The ratings and comments were good enough for Iona that I crossed my fingers Pooley had been a little more individualistic on her newer novel. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out that way. Again, Pooley seems to have consulted a high school creative writing teacher's list of "characters that make a fluffy novel more relevant and interesting," and crammed as many of them into one train car as she could fit. On top of that, I confess I really didn't like Iona herself. I kept wanting to tell her to "Just shut the ..... up, already!"
When I have serious misgivings about a book but am not quite ready to give up on it (this happened about about page 70 in Iona), I will sometimes jump to the end and start reading it backwards, chapter by chapter. In my odd brain, this will tell me if it's worth slogging through the parts I don't enjoy to get to the ending. I read backwards for a lot of chapters. But, I finally gave up when I realized that my dislike of Iona wasn't actually going to be my biggest issue with this book. Instead, the completely stereotypical fixing of every stereotypical character's stereotypical problem got too boring to read any further. I just did not care. So, I stopped forcing myself and picked up something else.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-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:
Complicated
A bit cliche but a nice, easy, light hearted read. The characters are lovable and the pages flew by.
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
N/A
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
No
I love these large cast butterfly effect types of books. The reminder that everyone has problems, but we all can help one another just by witnessing life being lived, lending an ear, or using whatever skills we have. I LOVE that Iona is the center spoke, because it is so common for women to become invisible as they age. I love her tenacity and meddling ways. She has Vera Wong energy. This makes me wish I lived somewhere with a train.