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aeonianjoy 's review for:
Alone
by E.J. Noyes
5/5
Alone really resonated with me on a deep emotional level. It was quite a journey, and I have to give credit to E.J. for that. As I've read through the entire ASK, Tell series, I've noticed a pattern. One of her main characters always appears to be this super in-control, stoic type, always composed and dutiful. But beneath that facade, there's always a vulnerable person waiting to discard the "I'm totally unperturbed" act. In Ask, Tell, it was Lt. Col Rebecca Keane, and now it's Olivia Soldano. What she did with Celeste was undeniably harsh. It's cruel to give someone hope and then snatch it away, watching them suffer. However, when I take a step back and look at it objectively, Olivia isn't the monster we'd like to believe. Plus, she's far from composed and indifferent as she seems. She's deeply invested in Celeste, almost jeopardizing the entire experiment. I believe E.J. uses the logs written by Olivia to showcase her constant inner struggle, validating Olivia's redemption; otherwise, this story would have been a complete downer.
This book shares many similarities with Don't Ask, Don't Tell/If I Don't Ask. It also exudes a Kafkaesque vibe. In DADT, Sabine's favorite book was Metamorphosis, and here Celeste is trapped in her own mind, tormented by her family and friends, heading towards total despair. Celeste recognized this, which is why it was crucial for her to accept Olivia in the end.
While I appreciate the concept of slow and fast time, as a reader, it felt the opposite for me. Celeste's fast time seemed incredibly slow and dull, while her slow time felt fast-paced.
E.J.'s storytelling skills are exceptional, and this book clearly demonstrates that. The most impactful moment for me was the tree hugging scene; it brought tears to my eyes. Her ability to articulate emotions that are usually challenging to express is truly remarkable.
Now, about the intimate scenes – in my opinion, E.J. excels in writing them, and this book is no exception. Those love-making scenes were undeniably intense.
However, one aspect I didn't quite connect with was the second half of the story; it felt both rushed and dragged out simultaneously. I can't quite put my finger on it, but that's the impression it left me with.
This story deeply affected me, and I'm still engrossed in it. Perhaps later, I can articulate my thoughts on it with more clarity.
Alone really resonated with me on a deep emotional level. It was quite a journey, and I have to give credit to E.J. for that. As I've read through the entire ASK, Tell series, I've noticed a pattern. One of her main characters always appears to be this super in-control, stoic type, always composed and dutiful. But beneath that facade, there's always a vulnerable person waiting to discard the "I'm totally unperturbed" act. In Ask, Tell, it was Lt. Col Rebecca Keane, and now it's Olivia Soldano. What she did with Celeste was undeniably harsh. It's cruel to give someone hope and then snatch it away, watching them suffer. However, when I take a step back and look at it objectively, Olivia isn't the monster we'd like to believe. Plus, she's far from composed and indifferent as she seems. She's deeply invested in Celeste, almost jeopardizing the entire experiment. I believe E.J. uses the logs written by Olivia to showcase her constant inner struggle, validating Olivia's redemption; otherwise, this story would have been a complete downer.
This book shares many similarities with Don't Ask, Don't Tell/If I Don't Ask. It also exudes a Kafkaesque vibe. In DADT, Sabine's favorite book was Metamorphosis, and here Celeste is trapped in her own mind, tormented by her family and friends, heading towards total despair. Celeste recognized this, which is why it was crucial for her to accept Olivia in the end.
While I appreciate the concept of slow and fast time, as a reader, it felt the opposite for me. Celeste's fast time seemed incredibly slow and dull, while her slow time felt fast-paced.
E.J.'s storytelling skills are exceptional, and this book clearly demonstrates that. The most impactful moment for me was the tree hugging scene; it brought tears to my eyes. Her ability to articulate emotions that are usually challenging to express is truly remarkable.
Now, about the intimate scenes – in my opinion, E.J. excels in writing them, and this book is no exception. Those love-making scenes were undeniably intense.
However, one aspect I didn't quite connect with was the second half of the story; it felt both rushed and dragged out simultaneously. I can't quite put my finger on it, but that's the impression it left me with.
This story deeply affected me, and I'm still engrossed in it. Perhaps later, I can articulate my thoughts on it with more clarity.