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A review by bholmes415
What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There was so much to love here in this book - The mix of fairytale tropes with actual historical female experiences, the forest as a character of its own, and the beautiful reflections on what it means to be a woman.
With all of that said, the pacing felt a bit strange at times, especially somewhere in the middle I recall feeling very confused and considered putting the book down. I also struggled through the whole kidnapping situation. It just felt like forced conflict and the creation of an enemy for the sake of it. The beginning and end of the book were by far the best and all the traveling around the city and the bits with Rafe were the worst.
I did read an interview that Julia Fine did on this book and that quite honestly clarified a lot and made me like the book a bit more than when I finished it.
I really think it could benefit from another read in future now that I understand to expect a coming of age story that reflects the past present and future of what it means to grow into being a woman.
With all of that said, the pacing felt a bit strange at times, especially somewhere in the middle I recall feeling very confused and considered putting the book down. I also struggled through the whole kidnapping situation. It just felt like forced conflict and the creation of an enemy for the sake of it. The beginning and end of the book were by far the best and all the traveling around the city and the bits with Rafe were the worst.
I did read an interview that Julia Fine did on this book and that quite honestly clarified a lot and made me like the book a bit more than when I finished it.
I really think it could benefit from another read in future now that I understand to expect a coming of age story that reflects the past present and future of what it means to grow into being a woman.