Review: Mixed Feelings
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 7, 2013
This book did hold my attention but I have mixed feelings about it. Why?The good parts:Characters - They were unique and each had a perspective about the others, written in segments by each character.Setting - The time was toward the end of WWII and the story was set in a relatively small area of Chattanooga.Plot - The plot was fair, with some twists and turns related to an escaped German POW, a dysfunctional family who crowded into one house (one of them made bombs for the war), and included remnants of the slavery era and the racial issues of this time.Parts that didn't appeal to me:Differing Points of View - I have never been a fan of each character speaking at different times. While it works to help the reader maintain an understanding of each character's feelings, I think a straight, written version would work as well.Dialogue - Each person who spoke was given his/her own dialect or specific way of speaking. Sometimes that overshadowed the story itself.Language - Because each character was given his/her own platform and they took turns speaking, what they said reflected on the times. Some of them used very harsh language regarding race. Though I understand this is our history, it was not appealing to me.Plot - The plot seemed to drag on, and when the book ended, I thought, "Is this it?" Things were left hanging - Bitsy's condition, the relationship between Roger and Button, Buddy's and Wanda's relationship, Tomettta's future -- it just seemed there was little closure.My favorite part was when Buddy found the canary! I laughed out loud! Great writing and wonderful imagery in this part of the book!