I wonder if you could be a little specific in your comments/critique. For instance, it strikes me that your middle three paragraphs were so general, that they could have been about almost any book! For instance... what about this particular book's structure interested you. In what way are the characters (and which ones) "interesting and multifaceted"? And which scenes made you "uncomfortable," and which were the "nice" parts?
Bilal, thanks for focusing on an aspect of the reading that we often ignore - especially when the themes of the book can be heavy or uncomfortable. I think you’re spot on when talking about how vivid and engaging the descriptions are. In fact, it may be the different narrative voices (from frist to third and so on) that also add some of that depth.
For me, it also wasn't my favorite read of the term (the title for now going to "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler"). To be fair, I was never quite fond of romance novels myself personally, so that did hamper my reading experience just a little. As for the book structure, I did find it interesting on the switches between first and third person - since it seems like the author was distancing her younger self from her older self.
Wow! I really enjoyed reading your blog post! I share much of your thoughts on the book as well. As for your question about the structure, I did like how it switched between first and third, but found myself very confused at parts! The whole part about her potentially being pregnant (I'm pretty sure she was anyway) definitely confused me the most.
I agree that it wasn't a fav, in terms of structure, I wasn't super engaged and I agree the sense of impending doom definitely lingered the whole time. I do think that the writing style might have been my favourite though, very poetic, and I think the writing style did demand the vague structure? I liked it, but definitely got lost in the timelines and characters.
I wonder if you could be a little specific in your comments/critique. For instance, it strikes me that your middle three paragraphs were so general, that they could have been about almost any book! For instance... what about this particular book's structure interested you. In what way are the characters (and which ones) "interesting and multifaceted"? And which scenes made you "uncomfortable," and which were the "nice" parts?
Bilal, thanks for focusing on an aspect of the reading that we often ignore - especially when the themes of the book can be heavy or uncomfortable. I think you’re spot on when talking about how vivid and engaging the descriptions are. In fact, it may be the different narrative voices (from frist to third and so on) that also add some of that depth.
Thanks for your comment!
- Tesi
For me, it also wasn't my favorite read of the term (the title for now going to "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler"). To be fair, I was never quite fond of romance novels myself personally, so that did hamper my reading experience just a little. As for the book structure, I did find it interesting on the switches between first and third person - since it seems like the author was distancing her younger self from her older self.
Wow! I really enjoyed reading your blog post! I share much of your thoughts on the book as well. As for your question about the structure, I did like how it switched between first and third, but found myself very confused at parts! The whole part about her potentially being pregnant (I'm pretty sure she was anyway) definitely confused me the most.
Okay I haven't even read the book yet but THE TITLE. I just had to say. TOO GOOD
I agree that it wasn't a fav, in terms of structure, I wasn't super engaged and I agree the sense of impending doom definitely lingered the whole time. I do think that the writing style might have been my favourite though, very poetic, and I think the writing style did demand the vague structure? I liked it, but definitely got lost in the timelines and characters.
- Dalia Currie