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A review by trogdor19
Crave by J.R. Ward
4.0
I always enjoy JR Ward, and I've read everything she's written (under that name, not her Jessica Bird stuff). I think this book in particular is better than the first one in the Fallen Angel series. Having read so much of her writing, I'd like to say a few things about themes and techniques I've noticed in her writing
-First and foremost, please get over your phobia of question marks. I'm pretty sure there was one in this book. I consider that a start. At first, I thought it was a way to make questions sound tough and unemotional coming from these warrior-male characters. Then all the characters started talking that way, all the time. If she had Oliver Twist in her book, even he would say (tough and unemotional), "Please sir, may I have some more."
Question Marks. Use them.
-My other comments are more positive, because I truly do think Ms. Ward is terribly talented, both naturally and technically. One of the techniques I've noticed from a psychological perspective is that she tends to use just parts of common sayings, which draws you into her writing and engages you in a more active role in the reading than you would normally take to fiction. I think this is deliberate, and possibly brilliant. Her colloquial style in general gives her writing a lot of personality and though it is too gritty to be to my taste, somehow I always enjoy it anyway.
-Across the board, Ward appears to have a unique way of portraying love. On the side of the male character, it always crosses over into more than just an emotion, but more of a visceral, unbreakable vow. A force of nature that is very nearly worshipful instead of just loving. This makes for a fantastic read, though I suspect in a 30 year marriage it wouldn't last long in just that form. Still, great fiction.
-First and foremost, please get over your phobia of question marks. I'm pretty sure there was one in this book. I consider that a start. At first, I thought it was a way to make questions sound tough and unemotional coming from these warrior-male characters. Then all the characters started talking that way, all the time. If she had Oliver Twist in her book, even he would say (tough and unemotional), "Please sir, may I have some more."
Question Marks. Use them.
-My other comments are more positive, because I truly do think Ms. Ward is terribly talented, both naturally and technically. One of the techniques I've noticed from a psychological perspective is that she tends to use just parts of common sayings, which draws you into her writing and engages you in a more active role in the reading than you would normally take to fiction. I think this is deliberate, and possibly brilliant. Her colloquial style in general gives her writing a lot of personality and though it is too gritty to be to my taste, somehow I always enjoy it anyway.
-Across the board, Ward appears to have a unique way of portraying love. On the side of the male character, it always crosses over into more than just an emotion, but more of a visceral, unbreakable vow. A force of nature that is very nearly worshipful instead of just loving. This makes for a fantastic read, though I suspect in a 30 year marriage it wouldn't last long in just that form. Still, great fiction.