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eleanorwritesthings 's review for:
Waterfall
by Lisa T. Bergren
Hmm.
I love the idea of actually being able to get into another era (I just love history, period), and I like how the author handles the cultural differences between now and then. And Bergren seems to have done her research about the Italian medieval period--politically, socially, geographically. Also...what girl or woman, really, in our time wouldn't want to be saved by a real knight in shining armor? I found the whole premise of the book quite appealing. Gabi, the main female character, is headstrong and feisty, challenging the societal norms of the medieval period--something I really appreciate, because Bergren balances it well without straying into extremes. The swordfencing scene between Marcello and Gabi was brilliant! And the scene where Marcello and Gabi reveal their feelings for each other after Gabriella is wounded. And I admire both Gabi and Marcello for trying to hold back their longings for each other when they feel it would be improper to express such feelings. Overall, her character development and carrying out the plot are pretty decent.
However...I do have a few issues with this novel. If I could, I'd probably rate it between 2.5 and 3 stars. Bergren's use of modern teen lingo is a bit much. I know she's trying to connect with her audience--but I'm a twenty-something, and I don't talk like that. YA books should be written in such a way that adult readers can relive their teenage selves, not feel distanced from contemporary teen culture. Also, because of the slang she chooses, sometimes the descriptions seem a bit lazy. I was irked that Gabi kept calling Marcello a "hottie." I understand he's handsome. I like him, too. But she calls him that over and over. The teen lingo continued well into halfway through the novel--but if Gabi's language changed to a more medieval style, wouldn't her thoughts have changed as well? Gabi often says that people are "checking out" someone else to describe both romantic and non-romantic relations between characters, is afraid that someone else will "totally freak," and characters' actions are often described in all caps, such as when Gabi says she is "unable to control my irritation at his [Marcello's] I Make the Rules Here attitude" (p. 146). The phrase "ground out" is repeated as a dialogue tag three times in about two or three pages of an action sequence, which is irritating. Other times there is more imagery in the description, such as "I was pinned, as neatly as a butterfly on a collector's cushion" or "tying my wrists together in seconds like a cowboy wrapping a calf's hoofs" (p. 156, 157). Some lines were delivered well--"Everything in me wanted to look at Marcello in that moment, but I knew I could not. I might look at him and never look away" and when Marcello says, "'You are,' he whispered, 'uncommonly stirring.'" (p. 198, 161). But I felt the story could have benefited from more description like that and less teenage terminology.
Furthermore, Waterfall pushes some boundaries in YA Christian fiction. I'm not trying to be a prude--and I've read many books with adult content for my university classes. I've often been annoyed with Christian fiction's overtly preachy messages and straight-lacedness and thought that it should tackle real life issues in the world instead of pretending they don't exist. Yet this novel depicts Marcello's physique in rather sensual terms. I know human beings have hormonal impulses, and acting on these is quite natural--but I have a problem with focusing on the physical romance so much that we miss seeing who the characters really are.
So...just some thoughts. :)
I love the idea of actually being able to get into another era (I just love history, period), and I like how the author handles the cultural differences between now and then. And Bergren seems to have done her research about the Italian medieval period--politically, socially, geographically. Also...what girl or woman, really, in our time wouldn't want to be saved by a real knight in shining armor? I found the whole premise of the book quite appealing. Gabi, the main female character, is headstrong and feisty, challenging the societal norms of the medieval period--something I really appreciate, because Bergren balances it well without straying into extremes. The swordfencing scene between Marcello and Gabi was brilliant! And the scene where Marcello and Gabi reveal their feelings for each other after Gabriella is wounded. And I admire both Gabi and Marcello for trying to hold back their longings for each other when they feel it would be improper to express such feelings. Overall, her character development and carrying out the plot are pretty decent.
However...I do have a few issues with this novel. If I could, I'd probably rate it between 2.5 and 3 stars. Bergren's use of modern teen lingo is a bit much. I know she's trying to connect with her audience--but I'm a twenty-something, and I don't talk like that. YA books should be written in such a way that adult readers can relive their teenage selves, not feel distanced from contemporary teen culture. Also, because of the slang she chooses, sometimes the descriptions seem a bit lazy. I was irked that Gabi kept calling Marcello a "hottie." I understand he's handsome. I like him, too. But she calls him that over and over. The teen lingo continued well into halfway through the novel--but if Gabi's language changed to a more medieval style, wouldn't her thoughts have changed as well? Gabi often says that people are "checking out" someone else to describe both romantic and non-romantic relations between characters, is afraid that someone else will "totally freak," and characters' actions are often described in all caps, such as when Gabi says she is "unable to control my irritation at his [Marcello's] I Make the Rules Here attitude" (p. 146). The phrase "ground out" is repeated as a dialogue tag three times in about two or three pages of an action sequence, which is irritating. Other times there is more imagery in the description, such as "I was pinned, as neatly as a butterfly on a collector's cushion" or "tying my wrists together in seconds like a cowboy wrapping a calf's hoofs" (p. 156, 157). Some lines were delivered well--"Everything in me wanted to look at Marcello in that moment, but I knew I could not. I might look at him and never look away" and when Marcello says, "'You are,' he whispered, 'uncommonly stirring.'" (p. 198, 161). But I felt the story could have benefited from more description like that and less teenage terminology.
Furthermore, Waterfall pushes some boundaries in YA Christian fiction. I'm not trying to be a prude--and I've read many books with adult content for my university classes. I've often been annoyed with Christian fiction's overtly preachy messages and straight-lacedness and thought that it should tackle real life issues in the world instead of pretending they don't exist. Yet this novel depicts Marcello's physique in rather sensual terms. I know human beings have hormonal impulses, and acting on these is quite natural--but I have a problem with focusing on the physical romance so much that we miss seeing who the characters really are.
So...just some thoughts. :)