Review: Good character study
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 12 23, 2013
This novella is an excellent character study.  The characters, a couple about to be married, are lovingly drawn.  We have a certain sense of who Justine and Daniel are, although I would have liked to learn more about Daniel.  Aside from wanting to work as a professor, and loving Justine and wanting a happy home with children, what drives him?Several authors have described successful fiction as the telling of essentially a conflict that requires action to resolve, which draws out character, and some sort of resolution.  Due to the short story structure, the only conflict that seems to stand out is when Daniel must decide between his love for Justine and the undesired prospect of working in a stifling, although highly paid, career for Justine's father.  This conflict is resolved so quickly that the reader is left looking for more.I do acknowledge the excellent writing and smooth, flowing style.  It's just that I was left wanting more.  I know the axiom is to have the reader wanting more at the end of the book, but in this case I felt so unknowing of the most potent story possible that I felt I'd just barely started.