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applestokiwis 's review for:
The River King
by Alice Hoffman
I just finished this book, and I have to say I was thoroughly disappointed. The book started off intriguingly enough with the story unfolding with the tragic local legend of Annie Howe and her untimely death. Her death somewhat relates to another character in the story, and sets the stage to create a misty sad atmosphere. The tension between the town folk and the Hadden School is briefly explained in the begining of the novel, and far less interesting than it promises.
Based on other reviews it does seem like the author holds the wealthy and the priviliged in contempt, either because she believes them to be spoiled or because she believes that the poor less fortunate characters are more interesting. Either way I wasn't particularly enamored with any of the characters. Every character that is part of the main focus of the story has had a tragic past or something terribly sad happen to them. While this does prove to be interesting and emotional this became frustrating and even annoying to read after a while. There is only so much sadness an individual can absorb after all. The characters are also self-destructive some self-harming and others facing harsh bullying, while others deprive themselves of love in favor of choosing the safer path. I found myself wanting to face palm myself every time I read about Gus skipping classes, Carlin's defiance, and Betsy and Abe. I just could not relate to or understand these characters.
While I enjoyed being privy to so many character's thoughts and feelings, sometimes it became too confusing. Sometimes it's just nicer to zero in on one or two characters otherwise the story begins to lose its focus. In fact I think that was the problem. There were too many elements going on at once, and depressing ones at that. Heartbreak in its many forms, love sickness, suicide, murder, self-harm, bullying, death, among many other sad themes. This book manages to pack them all in. The ending was alright, but not worth sitting through so much trajedy. I just felt that the ending should have been more emotional, but much of the book felt like it was painted in shades of grey, black ,and white. There was just no vibrancy. It was well written, but it really was not for me.
Based on other reviews it does seem like the author holds the wealthy and the priviliged in contempt, either because she believes them to be spoiled or because she believes that the poor less fortunate characters are more interesting. Either way I wasn't particularly enamored with any of the characters. Every character that is part of the main focus of the story has had a tragic past or something terribly sad happen to them. While this does prove to be interesting and emotional this became frustrating and even annoying to read after a while. There is only so much sadness an individual can absorb after all. The characters are also self-destructive some self-harming and others facing harsh bullying, while others deprive themselves of love in favor of choosing the safer path. I found myself wanting to face palm myself every time I read about Gus skipping classes, Carlin's defiance, and Betsy and Abe. I just could not relate to or understand these characters.
While I enjoyed being privy to so many character's thoughts and feelings, sometimes it became too confusing. Sometimes it's just nicer to zero in on one or two characters otherwise the story begins to lose its focus. In fact I think that was the problem. There were too many elements going on at once, and depressing ones at that. Heartbreak in its many forms, love sickness, suicide, murder, self-harm, bullying, death, among many other sad themes. This book manages to pack them all in. The ending was alright, but not worth sitting through so much trajedy. I just felt that the ending should have been more emotional, but much of the book felt like it was painted in shades of grey, black ,and white. There was just no vibrancy. It was well written, but it really was not for me.