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A review by blackberrydreams
The Memory Trees by Kali Wallace
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was an interesting book with a really interesting premise. The description hooked me, and I truly thought I was going to love it so, so much. Unfortunately, a few things just didn’t work for me.
One big one was the ending. This is mostly just personal, but I really couldn’t get behind the message the book was trying to end on. It just went against who I am and what I believe in.
Secondly, the pacing was incredibly odd. We’d get fast-paced progression with Sorrow’s story in the present, end a chapter on a cliffhanger, and then have to read through a chapter or two set in the past — oftentimes with no action or revelation — before getting back to the present. I don’t read books mainly for plot, but this felt like it was set out to ruin the pacing in a bizarre, unnecessary way.
And lastly, I just really wish the magical realism had been developed more. Though hints at it were present throughout, it read like pure realism imbued with child’s imagination until the last few chapters. I just wanted true magical realism, and this didn’t feel like it.
Beyond that, I did enjoy the writing, and most of the story, the emotions, and the relationships between the characters. I just wish I loved it all more.
One big one was the ending. This is mostly just personal, but I really couldn’t get behind the message the book was trying to end on. It just went against who I am and what I believe in.
Secondly, the pacing was incredibly odd. We’d get fast-paced progression with Sorrow’s story in the present, end a chapter on a cliffhanger, and then have to read through a chapter or two set in the past — oftentimes with no action or revelation — before getting back to the present. I don’t read books mainly for plot, but this felt like it was set out to ruin the pacing in a bizarre, unnecessary way.
And lastly, I just really wish the magical realism had been developed more. Though hints at it were present throughout, it read like pure realism imbued with child’s imagination until the last few chapters. I just wanted true magical realism, and this didn’t feel like it.
Beyond that, I did enjoy the writing, and most of the story, the emotions, and the relationships between the characters. I just wish I loved it all more.