Did you like the book? Why or why not?
I love this book for a lot of reasons. I love that Jaine is a strong female character. She's funny and smart mouthed, yet she's human and vulnerable. I also love that the friendship plays such an important part in this book. These are not catty women. These are women who truly love each other and aren't afraid to show it. You dont get a lot of that in books.
This was my first Linda Howard book and it hooked her as one of my fav authors. I've read everything of hers I could get my hands on after this book. Jaine is one of my fav fictional characters (she also reminds me a little of me and my circle of friends)
About three quarters of the way through and I am really enjoying it. Jaine is an awesome woman, independent, witty and thin. Sam is super hot. I love the neighbors and the sister Shelly. I have women like these in my life. I agree with the genuine friendship and how close they are. I do not have that in my life and I miss it. I think I know who the killer is and cannot wait to find out if I am right.
I liked most of it. Some of the things Jaine said has me laughing out loud. The relationships were great. All the stuff that's already been said.
Stylistically, I didn't like how Howard started going back and forth between other characters when Jaine was obviously the main character. I can understand how it would be difficult to get some of the scenes across going just from Jaine's point of view, but it was annoying how the book was all about Jaine and then all of a sudden we're seeing through T.J.'s eyes for a page or two, and then back to Jaine. That bothered me. I felt like if it was going to be about all four women's lives, all four women should have been main characters.
Maybe I am "love" sick, but, I really enjoy the fiesty relationship between Sam and Jaine. I have not really had a close bond with many females so the relationships with the small group was truly enjoyable for me. The twist at the end (I am not saying who or what to avoid spoilers) is truly sadistic and shows Ms. Howard's dark side.
Quoting sisspurr:
I agree about not liking the shift in points of view. It might have been smoother if Linda Howard had started the shifts earlier in the book and made them more frequent or just took an omniscient point of view without having to change perspectivies at all.
That's what I was thinking. It seemed like the way she did it was just for convenience. It would have been much more impressive if she'd figured out a way to get the story across without juggling things like that.
Here's a thought: do you think something like that would merit a re-write (going back and changing points of view for the rest of the story), or is an "ok" book an ok goal for an established writer? Would it be worth the hassle, or would the improvement not be great enough to bother with it?
Suggestions for March BOTM - General
- mupt02
(Group Owner) on Nov. 3, 2009 at 9:47 AM