The Kestrel Waters

 

The Kestrel Waters Synopsis

So the publisher of this book is a serious marketeer! (probably made that word up but I'm ok with that)  I received an e-mail randomly asking me to read and honestly review this book.  They provided me with a copy of the book and I will say I was flattered.  Since my website is not even that popular, less that 3000 hits, I'm amazed they even found me in my lowly corner.  I wondered briefly if I should review positively no matter what I really thought due to the circumstances and because  it could give my blog more exposure, alas that would be unethical/political/ not my style and they said they wanted an honest opinion and honest is what they will get.  Which means this may be the one and only time I get someone asking me what I think!  I shall savor my moment...

I found several issues with this book along with a few highlights.  The language the book is written in while appropriate for the characters, setting, and time,  is very hard to understand.  I had to  re-read the first "chapter" (they are actually called verses throughout the book) about four times before I could grasp what was actually being said and even then it was iffy.  I would call it redneck southern hillbilly.  I grew up in Arkansas so I understand that this language actually exists and sadly people do talk this way I just don't know that using it as a writing style is a good idea.  I finally got the hang of words like spake (spoke) and the broken sentences about 40-50 pages in.  The storyline is in no way straightforward, the book starts at the end, and then jumps back into the past and continues from there until time catches up with itself at very end of the book.  There are numerous questions presented throughout that are never really answered.  There are breadcrumbs so that you can deduce some of the answers but nothing is ever really explained.  There were a few verses where I swore that I missed something but when I looked back I realized nope we just skipped over how that happened.  This was not one of those books I had trouble putting down.  I found it kind of boring for the most part.  I would almost say there was no climax, and who wants to put in all that effort for no climax? I mean really.  The storyline while discombobulated was ok once the puzzle is pieced together and you know what is going on, which takes the majority of the book.  I actually enjoyed the last 75 pages or so since something interesting was finally happening, but then the end came and bam more questions no answers the end.  Is this a new style I'm not aware of?  I feel like this is happening a lot in the books I've been reading lately.  I don't like it...  On a more positive note there are some pretty great quotes in the book.  They are mostly song lyrics but I think there may be some poetry in there also.  There was one I liked enough to mark the page and write it down, which means the effort wasn't a total bust.

I'm thinking this just wasn't my style of book.  There was a lot of remembering and holes to fill in and that seems like a lot of work for what should be a relaxing habit.  So if you like puzzles, remember little details and are not easily distracted you may enjoy this book more than I did.


Rating ~ 3

The American Heiress

The American Heiress Synopsis

Back to reading for the moment.  Finally found a little time to dive back in!  I have had this book for a while and finally felt the urge to read it. It turns out in the UK this book has different title called My Last Duchess, they are the same book, FYI.  It was a good read, kept me interested and I didn't want to put it down at 2 in the morning!  I finished it in about 4 days.  That being said if this book was based in reality of the lives of the rich and powerful thank god that is not me!  I would have lost my mind if I was Cora.  I don't have the patience or restraint to put up with rich politics, care of image, or deceit.  People with manners are very vindictive and hateful people.  I actually felt sorry for the main character the majority of the book even if she was a spoiled brat.  It's amazing somebody could be so naive and I think that is why I felt so bad for her, she wasn't bright enough to figure out what was going on around her or directly in front of her face.  Maybe I am too American but she let way too many things slide in public and private.  Cora was way too worried about what other people think, I blame her mother for that.  That is the way of high society though, gossip and humiliation is a currency. 

This is a definite chick book if the title didn't already give that away, no boys allowed.  It was written well with the exception of one thing.  The use of the word learnt, the author used it throughout the book and every time I saw it it made me cringe.  When I finished the book I looked up whether that was a real word of if the author used it to make me nuts.  Turns out learned is an American word and learnt is what every other English speaking country uses.  Even my spell check is telling me learnt is spelled wrong.  So I concede that the word is in fact real and used properly and since the book is based in England the use is legitimate.  As much as it pains me I will give the author leniency.  Still kind of annoying though.

Rating ~~ 3