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A review by jenbsbooks
Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris
3.0
This didn't capture me as much as I was expecting. Like most, I've seen the famous photo with "Four Children For Sale" (it's included in the author's note at the end of the book, physical/kindle copy). I guess I was thinking I'd get more of the family/kid's story (and it was there), although the blurb does indicate this is more the story of the photographer (Ellis), so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.
I'd gone with the audio edition, although I had the kindle and physical copy handy. 3rd person, past tense, male narrator. I just never felt fully drawn in, connected to the characters enough to really care about them.
The whole story got a little too convoluted for me ... SPOILER that the picture was a set-up, the mother had no intention of "selling" her children ... but then she does. That the mother was sick and actually trying to find them a new home. That they got adopted by a wealthy family and are probably better off. The mother actually ISN'T sick ... should she get the children back? Which would be best for the children? I thought this complex situation would be the central conflict, and real enough. It seemed over the top to then have the new parents "replacing" a dead daughter with the girl (and not ideal living conditions), getting rid of the boy. Calvin being "adopted out" to work a farm in horrible conditions, then to culminate in the "rescue" of both children ... just too much to be believable for me. Then throw in the romance ...
"Before We Were Yours" hit me hard, and I LOVED the cover, could absolutely "see" that scene in the book. Here ... I'm assuming that is Calvin? But Don't know when he would have ever been in that position. Were they sold on a Monday (to tie in to the title?) Does the "sold on a Monday" refer to the photograph itself? "Sometimes he wondered what else he'd sold on that Monday. His principles? His Integrity?" (Chapter nine, pg 55).
While this was my book, I found myself singing "Tell Me On A Sunday" (Broadway Musical) and I did not know why it had popped into my head. I can only assume the somewhat similar title set up set me off?
Completely clean - no language or sex (although there is an unmarried mother, it's an issue for her at that time), very little violence.
I'd gone with the audio edition, although I had the kindle and physical copy handy. 3rd person, past tense, male narrator. I just never felt fully drawn in, connected to the characters enough to really care about them.
The whole story got a little too convoluted for me ... SPOILER
"Before We Were Yours" hit me hard, and I LOVED the cover, could absolutely "see" that scene in the book. Here ... I'm assuming that is Calvin? But Don't know when he would have ever been in that position. Were they sold on a Monday (to tie in to the title?) Does the "sold on a Monday" refer to the photograph itself? "Sometimes he wondered what else he'd sold on that Monday. His principles? His Integrity?" (Chapter nine, pg 55).
While this was my book, I found myself singing "Tell Me On A Sunday" (Broadway Musical) and I did not know why it had popped into my head. I can only assume the somewhat similar title set up set me off?
Completely clean - no language or sex (although there is an unmarried mother, it's an issue for her at that time), very little violence.