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A review by mystery_reader_24
Brooklyn Rose by Ann Rinaldi
3.0
This book served as yet another Saturday into Sunday, quick-read. Upon completion, I can now understand some of the low ratings by reviewers. It had a good premise, as the characters were based on the author's grandparents. Unfortunately, Rinaldi stated that she didn't know much about her grandparents, so I assumed the majority of details must be completely fictional. That seemed to translate into a form of detached or superficial characterization throughout the novel.
Brooklyn Rose actually felt more like a well-developed short story and the hasty ending didn't help matters. I read the end without even realizing it, flipped the page and then noticed the beginning of the Author's Note chapter. The most enjoyable aspect of the writing was the journal entry format. (I am a total sucker for books written in an epistolary format, whether it be in diary form or letters!) Some readers commented on the 'ick' factor of a fifteen year old marrying a much older man but I tried to view it as a neutral observer, while considering that was a still a socially acceptable practice during the early 1900s.
Although I didn't love the execution of this book, I liked the spirit of it enough to consider reading another historical fiction novel by Ann Rinaldi.
Brooklyn Rose actually felt more like a well-developed short story and the hasty ending didn't help matters. I read the end without even realizing it, flipped the page and then noticed the beginning of the Author's Note chapter. The most enjoyable aspect of the writing was the journal entry format. (I am a total sucker for books written in an epistolary format, whether it be in diary form or letters!) Some readers commented on the 'ick' factor of a fifteen year old marrying a much older man but I tried to view it as a neutral observer, while considering that was a still a socially acceptable practice during the early 1900s.
Although I didn't love the execution of this book, I liked the spirit of it enough to consider reading another historical fiction novel by Ann Rinaldi.