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calarco 's review for:
A Line in the Dark
by Malinda Lo
While I finished this last night, I had to sleep on whether or not I actually liked it. I’m still not 100% sure, which probably means I do not, because it really shouldn’t be that hard. Anyways, I should preface all by stating Malinda Lo is a great author, and A Line in the Dark is a suspenseful read. Sadly, for me there was more to dislike than like.
Mostly, I did not like any of the characters. The series takes place through the eyes of Jess, a nerdy comic artist who is (not so) secretly in love with her best friend Angie. Jess is quiet and observant, and the first half of the novel follows events and characters from her passive perspective. Like a slow-motion train wreck, she watches as Angie falls for the rich Margot. This is hard to read, as Malinda Lo accurately captures the emotional turmoil of such an unfortunate adolescent scenario.
That said, while Jess is a well-rounded character, she comes off too much as that quintessential ‘nice guy.’ I can understand that it is hard to communicate feelings you yourself do not fully understand, but she constantly expects people to understand her while giving them little to go off, and she has this weird martyr complex. The others aren’t much better. Angie is dumb at best, and manipulative at worst; and Margot is pretty much just a mustache twirling villain, or the lesbian equivalent. I’m sure there’s a terrible joke (or pun) in there somewhere.
Anyways, the formatting also frustrated me, especially as it reminded me of better executed work. Jess’ use of relaying her feelings through her comics reminded me too much of Fangirl. The narrative split halfway through reminded me too much of Gone Girl. These are hardly original gimmicks in and of themselves, but they made for a story that did not feel overly original, even if the ending is a twisty twist.
Before I close out this review, for anyone out there who does not know, the ridiculous romantic comedy referenced at the beginning of the book is a real movie called Image Me and You. Piper Perabo has a comedically terrible British accent, but it does not matter because Lena Headey has so much charm, she could have on-screen chemistry with seagull. It’s beautiful saccharine nonsense, and if you did not like this book go watch that film instead. This is my gay public service announcement.
All said and done, I wanted to like this because I like Malinda Lo. Her debut novel Ash is amazing fun, and if you read this and didn’t enjoy it, I would say go read that instead.
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Mostly, I did not like any of the characters. The series takes place through the eyes of Jess, a nerdy comic artist who is (not so) secretly in love with her best friend Angie. Jess is quiet and observant, and the first half of the novel follows events and characters from her passive perspective. Like a slow-motion train wreck, she watches as Angie falls for the rich Margot. This is hard to read, as Malinda Lo accurately captures the emotional turmoil of such an unfortunate adolescent scenario.
That said, while Jess is a well-rounded character, she comes off too much as that quintessential ‘nice guy.’ I can understand that it is hard to communicate feelings you yourself do not fully understand, but she constantly expects people to understand her while giving them little to go off, and she has this weird martyr complex. The others aren’t much better. Angie is dumb at best, and manipulative at worst; and Margot is pretty much just a mustache twirling villain, or the lesbian equivalent. I’m sure there’s a terrible joke (or pun) in there somewhere.
Anyways, the formatting also frustrated me, especially as it reminded me of better executed work. Jess’ use of relaying her feelings through her comics reminded me too much of Fangirl. The narrative split halfway through reminded me too much of Gone Girl. These are hardly original gimmicks in and of themselves, but they made for a story that did not feel overly original, even if the ending is a twisty twist.
Before I close out this review, for anyone out there who does not know, the ridiculous romantic comedy referenced at the beginning of the book is a real movie called Image Me and You. Piper Perabo has a comedically terrible British accent, but it does not matter because Lena Headey has so much charm, she could have on-screen chemistry with seagull. It’s beautiful saccharine nonsense, and if you did not like this book go watch that film instead. This is my gay public service announcement.
All said and done, I wanted to like this because I like Malinda Lo. Her debut novel Ash is amazing fun, and if you read this and didn’t enjoy it, I would say go read that instead.
Rating: 2.5 Stars