Jeff Sexton
Complex Story of Generational Trauma. This is one of those tales that reads a touch slow - so be prepared for that - but which ultimately succeeds in having quite an emotional impact due to just how much force it lands with. When, to bring a bit of physics into the equation here, Force is mass multiplied by acceleration, a slow acceleration of a sufficiently sized mass can hit with the same impact as a much faster, yet smaller, object. This book's ultimate mass, all that has happened to each of these characters and all they have gone through as a result of these events, is truly rather substantial. In the end, you're going to see clearly just how these characters became all that they did... even as you may not quite get all the answers you may want as a reader, or perhaps things ultimately play out a touch differently here than you may want in "real life". Regardless, this book stays true to its story as Clark chooses to craft it, and she truly did a particularly great job yet again.
Yes, there is praise for both AOC and Kamala Harris within this text, so there will be some who love it for that alone and others who wish to defenestrate it for that alone, but I can also state that other than one character actively praising an event that is current for that character, the AOC/ Kamala lines in particular are one-offs and not truly central to the story.
Of at least slightly more concern, perhaps still not enough to deduct a star, yet enough to note in the review, is that this *is* yet another book where most straight males are written as antagonists and vile and evil - and yes, combined with the AOC/ Kamala line... again, could be divisive. But while annoying, it also works within the context of this tale as told, and is actually at least used well to enhance the impact of the overall story. Along these lines, there *is* also a gay married couple present, so do with that as you will. Again, I know some will love this and others will want to defenestrate the book over it, so you do you. I for one thought these characters were, again, worked into the story quite well and didn't seem as forced as I've seen these types of characters be in other tales by other authors, so it was neither here nor there for me.
Ultimately there is enough in this tale that various people won't like it for various side reasons. Read the book anyway for the actual main storyline... and maybe be prepared for the room to get quite dusty at a couple of points in particular.
Very much recommended.
Originally posted at bookanon.com.
Complex Story of Generational Trauma. This is one of those tales that reads a touch slow - so be prepared for that - but which ultimately succeeds in having quite an emotional impact due to just how much force it lands with. When, to bring a bit of physics into the equation here, Force is mass multiplied by acceleration, a slow acceleration of a sufficiently sized mass can hit with the same impact as a much faster, yet smaller, object. This book's ultimate mass, all that has happened to each of these characters and all they have gone through as a result of these events, is truly rather substantial. In the end, you're going to see clearly just how these characters became all that they did... even as you may not quite get all the answers you may want as a reader, or perhaps things ultimately play out a touch differently here than you may want in "real life". Regardless, this book stays true to its story as Clark chooses to craft it, and she truly did a particularly great job yet again.
Yes, there is praise for both AOC and Kamala Harris within this text, so there will be some who love it for that alone and others who wish to defenestrate it for that alone, but I can also state that other than one character actively praising an event that is current for that character, the AOC/ Kamala lines in particular are one-offs and not truly central to the story.
Of at least slightly more concern, perhaps still not enough to deduct a star, yet enough to note in the review, is that this *is* yet another book where most straight males are written as antagonists and vile and evil - and yes, combined with the AOC/ Kamala line... again, could be divisive. But while annoying, it also works within the context of this tale as told, and is actually at least used well to enhance the impact of the overall story. Along these lines, there *is* also a gay married couple present, so do with that as you will. Again, I know some will love this and others will want to defenestrate the book over it, so you do you. I for one thought these characters were, again, worked into the story quite well and didn't seem as forced as I've seen these types of characters be in other tales by other authors, so it was neither here nor there for me.
Ultimately there is enough in this tale that various people won't like it for various side reasons. Read the book anyway for the actual main storyline... and maybe be prepared for the room to get quite dusty at a couple of points in particular.
Very much recommended.
Originally posted at bookanon.com.
