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* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
This was SUCH a fun read! It's a bit of a cross between a mystery, chick lit, and magical realism--interesting and entertaining. I would definitely recommend this as a beach read or a travel read as it is easy to drop into and speed right through. The writing is comfortable and unpretentious while still having great wit, charm, and comedic relief. I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of one of the more major characters due to his attitude, but that is addressed as an issue within the narrative, so it works. There are a few morally gray characters who add to the spice and I enjoyed the playful attitude of the narrative. I am diving right into the sequel!
This was SUCH a fun read! It's a bit of a cross between a mystery, chick lit, and magical realism--interesting and entertaining. I would definitely recommend this as a beach read or a travel read as it is easy to drop into and speed right through. The writing is comfortable and unpretentious while still having great wit, charm, and comedic relief. I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of one of the more major characters due to his attitude, but that is addressed as an issue within the narrative, so it works. There are a few morally gray characters who add to the spice and I enjoyed the playful attitude of the narrative. I am diving right into the sequel!
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* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
The Multiplication of Elmer Whit was something akin to an attempted mixture of Wonder by R.J. Palacio and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It had promise, but unfortunately failed in execution for my liking.
Elmer Whit is a neglected child from an abusive home, further burdened by a developmental disability and a facial birthmark that makes him a target of bullying. He is a likable character and he is well-constructed. He is looking for a friend and trying to find...something...perhaps a path for himself in life.
His compatriot in adventures, Elena, was similarly well-developed, a shy girl with developmental issues of her own, but who came from a family ripe with love and affection. Her circumstances could not have been more opposite those foisted upon poor Elmer. Together, they made a perfectly awkward pair and one that could have proven even more fabulous with a more cohesive storyline.
I liked the premise and I enjoyed the characters of Elmer and Elena, but I just could not get on board with the book. There were several moments where I felt dragged down by the narrative and lost in its purpose. In all honesty, if this had not been an ARC, I would have likely placed this one in my DNF pile. It has great bones, but seems to have potentially sent to publication too soon. It could have benefited from further critical revision.
The writing overall is okay, with clear potential present. There did seem to be an inconsistency in voice, with the narrative sometimes feeling age appropriate and sometimes feeling too mature for both the storyline and the intended audience. The occasional footnotes were a bit too kitschy and tended only to distract from the narrative, oftentimes seeming to push some sort of outside political agenda. Regardless, these were not helpful to the book as a whole...though I typically enjoy this kind of random interjection.
For me, the narrative was where the problems were concentrated. There were a few chapters that could have simply been left out and the book would have likely been better off without them. Indeed, there was too much of the plot that felt forced, trying to angle things in order to deliver a particular message and moral. With a few basic changes, I think this could have been more smoothly delivered and resulted in a far more successful product.
I wanted very much to like this one. It had a good central message and likable characters. The writing was good and could have been made great with a bit more editing. The narrative just needed some assistance and reworking. I am sad to say that I was only able to give The Multiplication of Elmer Whit two stars.
The Multiplication of Elmer Whit was something akin to an attempted mixture of Wonder by R.J. Palacio and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It had promise, but unfortunately failed in execution for my liking.
Elmer Whit is a neglected child from an abusive home, further burdened by a developmental disability and a facial birthmark that makes him a target of bullying. He is a likable character and he is well-constructed. He is looking for a friend and trying to find...something...perhaps a path for himself in life.
His compatriot in adventures, Elena, was similarly well-developed, a shy girl with developmental issues of her own, but who came from a family ripe with love and affection. Her circumstances could not have been more opposite those foisted upon poor Elmer. Together, they made a perfectly awkward pair and one that could have proven even more fabulous with a more cohesive storyline.
I liked the premise and I enjoyed the characters of Elmer and Elena, but I just could not get on board with the book. There were several moments where I felt dragged down by the narrative and lost in its purpose. In all honesty, if this had not been an ARC, I would have likely placed this one in my DNF pile. It has great bones, but seems to have potentially sent to publication too soon. It could have benefited from further critical revision.
The writing overall is okay, with clear potential present. There did seem to be an inconsistency in voice, with the narrative sometimes feeling age appropriate and sometimes feeling too mature for both the storyline and the intended audience. The occasional footnotes were a bit too kitschy and tended only to distract from the narrative, oftentimes seeming to push some sort of outside political agenda. Regardless, these were not helpful to the book as a whole...though I typically enjoy this kind of random interjection.
For me, the narrative was where the problems were concentrated. There were a few chapters that could have simply been left out and the book would have likely been better off without them. Indeed, there was too much of the plot that felt forced, trying to angle things in order to deliver a particular message and moral. With a few basic changes, I think this could have been more smoothly delivered and resulted in a far more successful product.
I wanted very much to like this one. It had a good central message and likable characters. The writing was good and could have been made great with a bit more editing. The narrative just needed some assistance and reworking. I am sad to say that I was only able to give The Multiplication of Elmer Whit two stars.
Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits
A cute little collection of anecdotes accompanied by a slew of Reese Witherspoon's recipes from families and friends. Not so much a memoir as a mix of short stories, etiquette lessons, and culinary tips, but super adorable nonetheless. Her perky and homespun personality comes through radiantly and the audiobook makes you feel as if you're having a conversation with a friend. The length is just right to keep things animated and fun while still feeling like it has a bit of substance. Quick and easy read and (despite the fact that I'm an introvert who won't be throwing her style of frequent dinner or otherwise social parties) she has provided a pack of recipes I want to try.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
For me, this is the case of a book that was not fleshed out enough or edited hard enough and was sent to publication too soon. It has a good premise and some good content for creating a solid magic system, but there were a lot of things that fell short.
Perhaps the biggest feeling on this one was that it felt like a YA novel shoved into a middle grade form. There wasn't enough nuance or subtlety to the writing, resulting in a plot that squeezed quite a bit into too few pages and didn't give enough to get me involved in the story. The writing did way too much telling instead of showing and a little additional description could have gone a long way. Similarly, there was a lot of info dumping rather than world-building that I think hurt how well this could have been put together. As a result, the characters felt flat and the pacing inconsistent. The bones are there, but the execution needed some nurturing.
Character development was a problem because it was lacking. What was present really just made me dislike the majority of the characters. Arden was the only one who really had any characteristics making her likable, but I didn't feel like I got to know her well enough to feel invested in any way. Because I didn't really care about the characters, I had a hard time caring about the story.
When it came to the story itself, I return the idea that this felt like a middle grade read in some ways. Dialogue was immature (sometimes in keeping with the characters, but sometimes just awkward) and inconsistent. One character's accented speech seemed to come and go with no explanation. Everything in the plot was overly convenient and there were little to no consequences for bad actions or choices. Even when characters did something stupid there seemed to be a silver lining so things worked out exactly how they wanted them too.
Given the potential for the storyline and an interesting world/series, I was very disappointed in this read.
For me, this is the case of a book that was not fleshed out enough or edited hard enough and was sent to publication too soon. It has a good premise and some good content for creating a solid magic system, but there were a lot of things that fell short.
Perhaps the biggest feeling on this one was that it felt like a YA novel shoved into a middle grade form. There wasn't enough nuance or subtlety to the writing, resulting in a plot that squeezed quite a bit into too few pages and didn't give enough to get me involved in the story. The writing did way too much telling instead of showing and a little additional description could have gone a long way. Similarly, there was a lot of info dumping rather than world-building that I think hurt how well this could have been put together. As a result, the characters felt flat and the pacing inconsistent. The bones are there, but the execution needed some nurturing.
Character development was a problem because it was lacking. What was present really just made me dislike the majority of the characters. Arden was the only one who really had any characteristics making her likable, but I didn't feel like I got to know her well enough to feel invested in any way. Because I didn't really care about the characters, I had a hard time caring about the story.
When it came to the story itself, I return the idea that this felt like a middle grade read in some ways. Dialogue was immature (sometimes in keeping with the characters, but sometimes just awkward) and inconsistent. One character's accented speech seemed to come and go with no explanation. Everything in the plot was overly convenient and there were little to no consequences for bad actions or choices. Even when characters did something stupid there seemed to be a silver lining so things worked out exactly how they wanted them too.
Given the potential for the storyline and an interesting world/series, I was very disappointed in this read.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
There is a group of magical realism reads that tend to remind me of Sarah Addison Allen's work. Allen is a master of the original magical realism and anyone who can follow successfully in her footsteps can write a story I'll love to read. This book falls quite nicely into that camp. Built around a small town where magical things just seem to happen, The Kiminee Dream is a well-written novel with a lot packed into a nicely paced plot.
Holland's writing is beautiful and lyrical, flowing easily and smoothly. It didn't take long for me to get wrapped up in the story and start falling in love with the town and its inhabitants. The entire story only took me two days to read, as caught up as I was in everything that was happening.
Writing a magical realism novel well takes some real talent, melding the believable with the magical in a way that still feels natural. This is well done in this case. There is one small scene near the end of the book that I felt left the confines of what felt natural for the genre and the book, but beyond that everything just seemed to fall rightly into place. The progression of the plot makes sense while still remaining mysterious and intriguing.
While I am more often drawn to a plot-driven novel, I also need reads where I can find myself interested in the characters. There was no short supply of interest in this case. The characters are clearly written with great care, with even minor characters having very distinct personalities and being built quite dynamically. This wonderful cast, combined with the magical elements that are sprinkled here and there, bring the small town to life and create a home base for this narrative that begs you to return. The true magic to a magcial realism read is having a town that makes you want to visit. Kiminee is that place. Even as the plot meanders here and there, gathering bits of story, there is always the anchor of Kiminee holding it all together and drawing the reader even more closely in. The multiple story lines build on one another and give great depth to the overall picture.
The Kiminee Dream is incredibly imaginative, sometimes terribly heartbreaking, and full of magical whimsy. Highly recommend for those who love a magical realism tale built upon a charming town.
There is a group of magical realism reads that tend to remind me of Sarah Addison Allen's work. Allen is a master of the original magical realism and anyone who can follow successfully in her footsteps can write a story I'll love to read. This book falls quite nicely into that camp. Built around a small town where magical things just seem to happen, The Kiminee Dream is a well-written novel with a lot packed into a nicely paced plot.
Holland's writing is beautiful and lyrical, flowing easily and smoothly. It didn't take long for me to get wrapped up in the story and start falling in love with the town and its inhabitants. The entire story only took me two days to read, as caught up as I was in everything that was happening.
Writing a magical realism novel well takes some real talent, melding the believable with the magical in a way that still feels natural. This is well done in this case. There is one small scene near the end of the book that I felt left the confines of what felt natural for the genre and the book, but beyond that everything just seemed to fall rightly into place. The progression of the plot makes sense while still remaining mysterious and intriguing.
While I am more often drawn to a plot-driven novel, I also need reads where I can find myself interested in the characters. There was no short supply of interest in this case. The characters are clearly written with great care, with even minor characters having very distinct personalities and being built quite dynamically. This wonderful cast, combined with the magical elements that are sprinkled here and there, bring the small town to life and create a home base for this narrative that begs you to return. The true magic to a magcial realism read is having a town that makes you want to visit. Kiminee is that place. Even as the plot meanders here and there, gathering bits of story, there is always the anchor of Kiminee holding it all together and drawing the reader even more closely in. The multiple story lines build on one another and give great depth to the overall picture.
The Kiminee Dream is incredibly imaginative, sometimes terribly heartbreaking, and full of magical whimsy. Highly recommend for those who love a magical realism tale built upon a charming town.
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