The premise of this book is gripping, which is why I wanted to read this book. Unfortunately, the premise ended up being way more interesting than the story itself.
I was frequently bored throughout the book; it just took so long to get to the meat of the story. I enjoyed that Morton slowly added more depth and more twists to the plot, but it just took too long for those various points to come together. I was frustrated that so many new characters were popping up and I had no reason to care about them, which lead me to skim through their sections, making me lose a bit of the story (my fault, surely). I just didn't care about them because I had no reason to, and I was already overwhelmed by the different times, places, and people Morton dumped on me. I'm sure that was the point, but it was so jumbled and disoriented, as if she dumped scraps of paper with ideas onto a plate and wrote in the order they fell.
Because of all the jumping around, I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. There was not much for me to grasp for any of the characters. Just when I thought I was getting somewhere with someone, Morton jumped to someone new. It was hard for me to appreciate her characters when I didn't get enough time with any of them.
I did appreciate the ending of the story when all the points finally joined to one place. It is a testament to Morton's writing that she can bring so many different plots into one woven tale. I just didn't appreciate the way she went about it.
I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't enjoy reading this book because I do enjoy Morton's other books. This one just wasn't up to par with the rest, I think.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
The Other Woman: Sandie Jones
Excellent writing. This was captivating and thrilling, as promised. I knew something was up as I read, but I couldn't quite figure it out, which helped me enjoy the process of reading.
I really didn't like Adam in the beginning; I thought he was kind of a jerk. That being said, I didn't see the end coming until I was too late. That's the mark of excellent writing! I'm really impressed with Jones' writing style and greatly enjoyed the pace at which the story ran. It was riveting. The characters were nicely written although since we were supposed to like Adam, I think he could have used a little work.
This book was easy to read, and the speed of took made it difficult to put down, so I finished reading it the same day I started, while I made dinner.
I would recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Gone Girl, The Woman in the Window, The Couple Next Door, etc., as these all have the same, quick pace.
I really didn't like Adam in the beginning; I thought he was kind of a jerk. That being said, I didn't see the end coming until I was too late. That's the mark of excellent writing! I'm really impressed with Jones' writing style and greatly enjoyed the pace at which the story ran. It was riveting. The characters were nicely written although since we were supposed to like Adam, I think he could have used a little work.
This book was easy to read, and the speed of took made it difficult to put down, so I finished reading it the same day I started, while I made dinner.
I would recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Gone Girl, The Woman in the Window, The Couple Next Door, etc., as these all have the same, quick pace.
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch: Sally Bedell Smith
This was a fascinating glimpse into the life of a woman who seems so far beyond anything I can reach. Smith makes Queen Elizabeth human; I won't go so far as to say she brings the Queen to our level, but she makes it easier to see that yeah, underneath all the reality, Elizabeth is a person beyond just a monarch.
Biographies are often thought to be dry, scholarly writing, a true bore to get through. Smith does a great job making this more than just a recounting of facts. This is a story, a tale, of a life. It was fun to read! Sure, there were dull moments; paragraphs about politics that I didn't fully understand or enjoy, but even those were written for enjoyment rather than strictly learning.
One aspect of biographies, especially when it comes to the royal family, is that I have to pay attention to who is writing the book and what his/her goal is. I only recently learned how much that can taint the glasses the book is being written through. For example, I love Lady Di. I'm inspired by her story. I'm angered by her death. I'm awed by her life. There was always a part of me that was angered by the royal family for their actions or lack thereof. It was easy to find a villain in Charles. After reading this book (and watching documentaries done by members of the royal family's press), I had to accept that there are two sides to the story of Lady Di and Prince Charles. How much of either side is true? We probably will never know. I just have to be more open that maybe Charles isn't the monster I'd concluded him to be. Thanks, Smith, for helping me realize this.
I've always been interested in royalty, and I've made it a goal to read more about the royal family. This was a great jump into the family, and I can't wait to keep reading.
Personally, I'd love more pictures...
Biographies are often thought to be dry, scholarly writing, a true bore to get through. Smith does a great job making this more than just a recounting of facts. This is a story, a tale, of a life. It was fun to read! Sure, there were dull moments; paragraphs about politics that I didn't fully understand or enjoy, but even those were written for enjoyment rather than strictly learning.
One aspect of biographies, especially when it comes to the royal family, is that I have to pay attention to who is writing the book and what his/her goal is. I only recently learned how much that can taint the glasses the book is being written through. For example, I love Lady Di. I'm inspired by her story. I'm angered by her death. I'm awed by her life. There was always a part of me that was angered by the royal family for their actions or lack thereof. It was easy to find a villain in Charles. After reading this book (and watching documentaries done by members of the royal family's press), I had to accept that there are two sides to the story of Lady Di and Prince Charles. How much of either side is true? We probably will never know. I just have to be more open that maybe Charles isn't the monster I'd concluded him to be. Thanks, Smith, for helping me realize this.
I've always been interested in royalty, and I've made it a goal to read more about the royal family. This was a great jump into the family, and I can't wait to keep reading.
Personally, I'd love more pictures...
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