I wanted to come back to the theme of 'Red Leaves' to let you know how I got on with the Paullina Simons book I was sent by HarperCollins. The climate confusion on the cover was down to artistic licence - the book is set in winter and the only red leaves are in the name of a building which plays a key role. Slightly odd title to have gone with, I thought.
Sad to report, I didn't love it. While the cover intrigued me, the prologue and first section were not compelling. It perhaps had something to do with the US accent in the narrative, which, to a UK ear, can lead to some phrasing sounding odd. The details of basketball and Ivy League colleges passed me by too. My main concern was that none of the major characters who appeared in the opening section were likeable though. Yes, one was particularly enigmatic to make the reader suspicious, but it felt contrived. I didn't get into the book until Detective Spencer Patrick O'Malley arrived on the scene and had all the charisma and appeal the others were lacking. Shame about the first 150 pages, the events of which we then had to revisit as Spencer investigated them.
The next book on my 'to read' pile promises to be much more gripping: Remix by Lexi Revellian.
2 comments:
Very nice picture. Are the berries edible? (Do not try them if you do not already know).
You read through 150 pages of throat clearing, K? You have stamina and fortitude.
If the story had been compelling the phrasing would not have been off-putting. Scholastic tried making Harry Potter more American sounding and the readers here called for the original text.
I would doubt those berries are fit for human consumption. I shan't be the one to try it and report back anyway.
You're right about the style of the book only getting in the way because the story hadn't grabbed me. And it was such a shame when the whole thing lit up when Spencer walked on to the page.
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