Review: Missed the mark by...ALOT
Rating: 1 out of 5
Date: 10 6, 2013
What the heck did I just read?This was a suck fest of read for me. Aside from the prison riot plot (which is stemmed from fact) everything else surrounding this story was horrible. And I am going to attempt to explain to you why this sucked for me.(1.)- It was definitely the "Trying way too hard to be lyrical" prose, the author took on with executing this story but also the practically non-existent intense connection we're only told & not shown is there, between the 2 main characters. I have a major problem with being told too much & not being Shown enough of what is happening in the story & with the characters. I understand you need some set up, & a healthy introduction to the characters & their plight, but after that you need to allow the reader to become more intimately acquainted with the characters. With real, non-stilted dialogue for one thing. Especially with the main characters. For this entire novel I was told about everything that was occurring & why. Almost like I was being forced to draw another's conclusion instead of my own. And when the characters are actually interacting with each other, the dialogue is so choppy, stilted, & immature at times, you find yourself rolling your eyes.(2.)- Where was the all consuming, passion in this forbidden love affair with Dace & Liza? This was not present due largely to what I stated for reason #1, but also because considering who these two were to one another, (Cousins) & them having a relationship together, outside of Dace getting into trouble with the law, they encountered no obstacles whatsoever. No pressure by family, friends etc.. where the heck was that? I didn't believe that these two belonged together no more than I would a dog belonging to a cat. And I certainly didn't feel their need to love & care for one another in this capacity. AT. ALL.(3.)- The constant "book name" dropping you receive throughout this novel to explain certain complicated details of a scene or what the characters are feeling.- Again could have done without this, if only I (we) the reader were just simply shown what was going on in real time.There is nothing wrong comparing similarities to your book & books you may have read to show that your characters' may be well read. But after awhile this became tedious within this story. I started to get the impression the author is name dropping to show just how many different books she has read. The way it was executed or the way it was presented, & to do this constantly? It became a little annoying for me.And the ending? WHAT WAS THAT? After getting through all the mess just to read that ending, I was like...*Jumps up & down in a tantrum screaming* "NO! NO! NO! NO!"I would not recommend this read to anyone. And with the choppy writing & all I've mentioned above, I really don't see how this book ever got the high marks it's received. But to each his/her own.