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A review by doritobabe
Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik
3.0
Solid 3/5
Into the Jungle is a random library pick that I was attracted to because I love reading books about the Amazon, jungles in general, and living with indigenous groups of people.
This book started out very strongly and I was very attracted to it. Ferencik convinced me that her novel would be a poignant literary fiction-type of read that would leave me agonizing over beautifully constructed phrases and underlining the text in the public library's book so that future readers could agonize with me over the poetic lyricism that is the writing. At the first, Ferencik introduces us to Lily, a wayward, headstrong 19 year old girl who is impulsive and makes wrong decisions. She ran away from her obligations (and one would argue opportunities, too) in Boston to Cochabamba in Central Bolivia where, after a few months, she meets the "love of her life", Omar. After only a few months together, Lily's impulsiveness once again wins over and she follows him deep into the jungle, to his home village.
Lily is naive and impetuous and, as a character, has much potential to capitalize on these character traits making the book very interesting. However, after several chapters I felt as though Ferencik lost her literary/poetic verve and began introducing plot points into the story that didn't end up going anywhere.. All of these ideas are very cool ... if they were done correctly. To me this means not combining various plots/events into one story, but focusing on one and the affects it has on the main character and her relationship with her surroundings and her identity. (Lily attempting to discover who she really is is a major theme in the book.)
I will hand it to the author though that she is very good at planting elements of foreshadowing throughout the novel, is decent with pace, and atmospheric descriptions.
In the end - this is a fluff read attempting to be something more. I would also like to say that the accolades on the back of the book are misleading, so if you pick up this book expecting a thriller, you won't get one.
Into the Jungle is a random library pick that I was attracted to because I love reading books about the Amazon, jungles in general, and living with indigenous groups of people.
This book started out very strongly and I was very attracted to it. Ferencik convinced me that her novel would be a poignant literary fiction-type of read that would leave me agonizing over beautifully constructed phrases and underlining the text in the public library's book so that future readers could agonize with me over the poetic lyricism that is the writing. At the first, Ferencik introduces us to Lily, a wayward, headstrong 19 year old girl who is impulsive and makes wrong decisions. She ran away from her obligations (and one would argue opportunities, too) in Boston to Cochabamba in Central Bolivia where, after a few months, she meets the "love of her life", Omar. After only a few months together, Lily's impulsiveness once again wins over and she follows him deep into the jungle, to his home village.
Lily is naive and impetuous and, as a character, has much potential to capitalize on these character traits making the book very interesting. However, after several chapters I felt as though Ferencik lost her literary/poetic verve and began introducing plot points into the story that didn't end up going anywhere.
Spoiler
See: Lily being a "shaman"/having shamanistic powers; battle against the poachers; being ravaged by diseaseI will hand it to the author though that she is very good at planting elements of foreshadowing throughout the novel, is decent with pace, and atmospheric descriptions.
In the end - this is a fluff read attempting to be something more. I would also like to say that the accolades on the back of the book are misleading, so if you pick up this book expecting a thriller, you won't get one.