Search This Blog
2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2025 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado (3)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.*
International:
- Australia (1)
- England (2)
- France (1)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- Scotland (1)
2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
Friday, November 22, 2013
What's the Most Difficult Kind of Review to Write? This Kind.
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's tough to diss a book when you request it from an author (who also happens to be related to a friend of yours), she gladly sends you one of her last copies, and is just super sweet about the whole thing. This is the hardest part of reviewing for me—wanting to be honest without offending kind, hardworking authors. It's most important, though, for my readers to trust me, so here we go with the honest-even-though-I-don't-want-to-be review:
I really, really, really wanted to love Dead Girls Don't Lie, Jennifer Shaw Wolf's second novel. But I just didn't. Since I grew up in a small town in rural Washington State, I did like the book's familiar setting as well as the conflict between Mexican migrant workers and small-minded local yokels (not that I like that kind of conflict, I just like that it's fresh, something I haven't encountered before in YA lit). It's a current kind of problem, one I observed firsthand while growing up; it's a hot topic even now, especially in states like Arizona (my current location), which border Mexico. The whole gang plot, though, seemed a little too melodramatic for rural Washington. It didn't ring very true to me. I also had a problem connecting to the characters in Dead Girls Don't Lie. None of them struck me as particularly likable. They didn't seem to like each other much either, as I felt little warmth between any of them. Add that to a far-fetched plotline with some big holes, and yeah, this one just didn't do a lot for me. Wolf's got lots of potential, though, so I'll keep an eye on her. Hopefully, her next venture will be a little more to my liking.
(Readalikes: I'm sure there are many, but nothing's coming to mind ...)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Dead Girls Don't Lie from the very generous Jennifer Shaw Wolf. Thank you!
1 comment:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
The Outcast Mage By Annabel Campbell2 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Review: The Knowing by Madeleine Ryan8 hours ago
-
Carthago Kane11 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey17 hours ago
-
Ruby Red Herring by Tracy Gardner18 hours ago
-
Alphabet Authors ~ E is for Ephron21 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
A Song for You and I1 day ago
-
-
-
Queen of Fives by Alex Hay2 days ago
-
-
January 2025 Reading Wrap Up2 days ago
-
-
-
Sunday Salon: February 2, 20253 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October2 months ago
-
-
Review: The Duke and I5 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus6 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ▼ 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
I am fresh and new to blogging, this is my first ever post and I know this is off topic on this subject, but if you have any pointers to guide me through blogs and assist me in how to have conversations and such. Thanks!
ReplyDelete