Review: UNUSUAL PREMISE THAT WORKS
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 31, 2014
*Written By Connie Nicols*Let me start by saying that I liked a lot about this book despite a less-than-stellar rating. The premise was interesting--the main character had a lot of disappointments all at once and decided to kill herself and donate her organs to do some good in the world. Sounds depressing, but it was actually written well and handled, believe it or not, light-heartedly. She gets pressured into an organ-buying scheme which gives her some cash and some time to fulfill her bucket list. Since she has lived a very sheltered and ordered life, most of the items on her list are easily accomplished but way outside her comfort zone.  We follow her antics as she attempts to try new things, usually with over-the-top difficulties arising from her inexperience and naiveté.  Her former coworker becomes a mentor of sorts who encourages her to grow and helps her to lighten up quite a bit.  The title is a clever play-on-words based on the well-known phrase of “Carpe Diem” or “Seize the Day.”  What took away so many stars in my review was the main character herself. Because she had been so sheltered growing up, she had turned into a very small-minded and judgmental adult.  Not her fault, perhaps, but most of her comments and criticisms about other people were just downright petty and mean. It was too bad, really, because otherwise the book was enjoyable. But I couldn't relate at all to the MC, actually disliking her on many occasions.Because this is Part 1, we are left hanging in mid-story, with no resolution to Emily’s major decision and the resulting problems.PLOT: 3.5 starsThe premise of this story was, oddly enough, death and suicide.  When Emily faces a number of problems in her life, she reacts (make that OVER-reacts) strongly by deciding that she’d do better to die and donate her organs, thus leaving a positive legacy to the world.  No one would expect this plot to be enjoyable, but it somehow works, drawing us in to her thought processes and forcing us to wonder how we would handle the same situation.WRITING: 4 starsFord’s writing is light enough that she takes what could be a depressing premise and turns it into something quite amusing and very readable.  Her jokes are frequent and fairly off-color which often made me cringe with their raunch, but many readers might find them funny.COVER: 3 starsAnother graphic cover, this one shows Emily in one of her out-of-her-comfort-zone activities once she has made her decision about donating her organs.  It’s well-done, suggesting a sense of speed as she rides a “hog” for the first time.CHARACTERS: 1.5 starsThe characters were the biggest disappointment with this story.  Emily is judgmental and provides such a sense of entitlement that I couldn’t warm up to her.  She even alienates her boyfriend and the one friend she’s developed over the years.  Her coworker, however,  is friendly and warm, despite Emily’s off-putting attitude.