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A review by rlaurene
The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was an enjoyable read and exploration of 1950s Hollywood. I liked it.
But it is flawed. Vera is lacking something in her characterisation; she’s a little too perfect. Nancy meanwhile is a little too vindictive, with barely any redeeming qualities. Jay and Salome are probably the most well-rounded character
The mix of POVs doesn’t entirely work. The biblical section is a bit vague. I thought it was scenes from the movie until reading her author’s note. Meanwhile a good chunk of them read like an editor made a note that the book should be more like Taylor Jenkins Reid - it hovers around the conceit of a documentary but never delves in. The ending too could have been improved. The point where all the POVs come together seems to be trying to capture the structure of a movie. The same concept is done with much more subtlety a chapter or so earlier in Salome’s dance, where Vera and Salome become indistinguishable.
The book tackles important issues but does so a bit on the nose, with our protagonists often reacting to them in a very modern way.
I’m aware this is a lot of critique, but I did genuinely enjoy it. I just think there was a better book in there.
But it is flawed. Vera is lacking something in her characterisation; she’s a little too perfect. Nancy meanwhile is a little too vindictive, with barely any redeeming qualities. Jay and Salome are probably the most well-rounded character
The mix of POVs doesn’t entirely work. The biblical section is a bit vague. I thought it was scenes from the movie until reading her author’s note. Meanwhile a good chunk of them read like an editor made a note that the book should be more like Taylor Jenkins Reid - it hovers around the conceit of a documentary but never delves in. The ending too could have been improved. The point where all the POVs come together seems to be trying to capture the structure of a movie. The same concept is done with much more subtlety a chapter or so earlier in Salome’s dance, where Vera and Salome become indistinguishable.
The book tackles important issues but does so a bit on the nose, with our protagonists often reacting to them in a very modern way.
I’m aware this is a lot of critique, but I did genuinely enjoy it. I just think there was a better book in there.