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A review by raisingself
In the Land of the Long White Cloud by Sarah Lark, D.W. Lovett
2.0
The story starts strong with great potential. Two brave women embarking upon a great adventure with great risk. The detail about the supporting characters is incredible and it had the potential to be epic.
But, once the characters arrive at their locations, the storyline becomes murky. The supporting characters narratives are not clear, edges on confusing, and it starts to drag on.
Pseudo Spoiler
Three things cause me to dislike this book greatly:
• The fetishization or underdevelopment of the native people’s narratives
• Not only is rape used as a significant plot device, but subsequently throughout the rest of the novel, the main character seems to be apologizing or creating excuses for her rapist. I would have much rather the writer wrote this into the clearer narrative of the rapist in his own voice, there was plenty of opportunity to beforehand. I kind of didn’t see it coming at all and would not have understand why if not for the victim having to explain why based on blind assumptions that sounded too much like the victim making excuses for her own assault
• The sexual orientation of a queer male character is written through the ocular of heavy handed stereotypes and the character is not given a real voice
But, once the characters arrive at their locations, the storyline becomes murky. The supporting characters narratives are not clear, edges on confusing, and it starts to drag on.
Pseudo Spoiler
Three things cause me to dislike this book greatly:
• The fetishization or underdevelopment of the native people’s narratives
• Not only is rape used as a significant plot device, but subsequently throughout the rest of the novel, the main character seems to be apologizing or creating excuses for her rapist. I would have much rather the writer wrote this into the clearer narrative of the rapist in his own voice, there was plenty of opportunity to beforehand. I kind of didn’t see it coming at all and would not have understand why if not for the victim having to explain why based on blind assumptions that sounded too much like the victim making excuses for her own assault
• The sexual orientation of a queer male character is written through the ocular of heavy handed stereotypes and the character is not given a real voice