Take a photo of a barcode or cover
bonsai9795 's review for:
Reluctant Immortals
by Gwendolyn Kiste
If I could I'd say this was 3.5 stars
Firstly I really liked the premise; you are hearing the side of the story of some iconic female characters from classic literature and finding things aren't what they was portrayed. Lucy from Dracula and Bertha from Jane eyre, on the run from Dracula and Rochester and were found to be victims in their own ways; and on the run in 1960's hollywood no less. This was a really intriguing spin on well known characters and provided a new take on what we thought we knew of the characters- with ideas that are new and interesting explanations, but still connecting to the story we know. It also delivered some strong lines reflecting on how women can be oppressed, have their voices stripped and stories told by others which can really resonate, and showed women can take back their power even if it seems impossible or too late.
I did feel though that it could have maybe been shorter; a lot of the story was travelling between places but it didnt necessarily feel...needed? it was still interesting but it felt like not a lot was getting done in terms of story plot/ character progression and some parts felt a bit like it was done to just progress but to the detriment of the character. There's also a feeling of talking from the beginning couldve helped the characters so much; the logic was they didnt pry into painful past but then its only in the last part of the book or so they kind of go "...maybe we should have spoke about this in our last 70 years together?" like gee you think???! and in this same vein I expected a lot more feminine rage in the story the blerb implied they decide to change fate and fight back far earlier than they do but in reality its a lot of running and trying to hide things even though they feel its impossible. The ending WAS good and clever but it just felt like it just suddenly happened and that rage that determination to fight only occurred in last 50 pages or so?
Still an enjoyable read don't get me wrong but I expected a little more fight and a little less faltering.
Firstly I really liked the premise; you are hearing the side of the story of some iconic female characters from classic literature and finding things aren't what they was portrayed. Lucy from Dracula and Bertha from Jane eyre, on the run from Dracula and Rochester and were found to be victims in their own ways; and on the run in 1960's hollywood no less. This was a really intriguing spin on well known characters and provided a new take on what we thought we knew of the characters- with ideas that are new and interesting explanations, but still connecting to the story we know. It also delivered some strong lines reflecting on how women can be oppressed, have their voices stripped and stories told by others which can really resonate, and showed women can take back their power even if it seems impossible or too late.
I did feel though that it could have maybe been shorter; a lot of the story was travelling between places but it didnt necessarily feel...needed? it was still interesting but it felt like not a lot was getting done in terms of story plot/ character progression and some parts felt a bit like it was done to just progress but to the detriment of the character. There's also a feeling of talking from the beginning couldve helped the characters so much; the logic was they didnt pry into painful past but then its only in the last part of the book or so they kind of go "...maybe we should have spoke about this in our last 70 years together?" like gee you think???! and in this same vein I expected a lot more feminine rage in the story the blerb implied they decide to change fate and fight back far earlier than they do but in reality its a lot of running and trying to hide things even though they feel its impossible. The ending WAS good and clever but it just felt like it just suddenly happened and that rage that determination to fight only occurred in last 50 pages or so?
Still an enjoyable read don't get me wrong but I expected a little more fight and a little less faltering.