[quote=""boswellbaxter""](I moved the Kindle discussions.)[/quote]
Thank you. Good idea so those not following this thread might have some input.
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June 2011 BOTM: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be
...is the only place I want to be
We are in early June. I dunno if there is anyone who read the book for this month.
News, views, and reviews on books and graphic novels for young adult.
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- boswellbaxter
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Four people voted for it, and I know a couple have read it. If you've read it, what did you like or dislike about it?
Susan Higginbotham
Coming in October: The Woodvilles
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/
Coming in October: The Woodvilles
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/
I've been sitting on my hands waiting for the discussion to get going. I didn't hate it, but the teenage angst was way OTT for me. All the guitar/music references were too much as well.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be
...is the only place I want to be
- Matt Phillips
- Reader
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- Joined: August 2009
I enjoyed it. The angst was pretty intense, that's true: I kept telling myself, "But her younger brother died, her family fell apart, and she feels responsible." And that did go a long way toward helping me tolerate the saturating darkness of much of the story.
But what kept me going was curiosity about the execution of the concept. She did a great job setting up the French Revolution story through Andi's discovery and reading of the diary, and later her own immersion in the story (albeit). I found the diary entries and Andi's experiences in the Paris of 1795 very vivid and tense, really evoking the atmosphere and fear of the Terror. (But the French Revolution is not my area of expertise, so I can't vouch for the accuracy. Those who know more about it may feel differently.)
I enjoyed the musical references and the role music played in the story. The way Andi would talk about getting lost in the music, its therapeutic and intellectual importance for her - that came across as very realistic and compelling to me.
The ending did leave me scratching my head a bit, though.
I guess overall I would've liked to have seen a clearer connection between the climatic events and the outcome for the protagonist, but I still enjoyed it and found it a very immersive reading experience.
But what kept me going was curiosity about the execution of the concept. She did a great job setting up the French Revolution story through Andi's discovery and reading of the diary, and later her own immersion in the story (albeit
I enjoyed the musical references and the role music played in the story. The way Andi would talk about getting lost in the music, its therapeutic and intellectual importance for her - that came across as very realistic and compelling to me.
The ending did leave me scratching my head a bit, though.
I came away with this wondering just what it was I missed, and glad to see your comments Matt. There were also a couple of commenters all over the Amazon reviews (back slapping the possies and nay saying the critical ones) and their constant theme seemed to be some hidden message or something that we critical reviewers weren't getting.
Perhaps someone who has read the book can enlighten me.
Perhaps someone who has read the book can enlighten me.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be
...is the only place I want to be
- Matt Phillips
- Reader
- Posts: 100
- Joined: August 2009