Friday, February 5, 2016

Aussie Author Challenge: Book Two


The second book I read for he Aussie Author Challenge 2016 was Guilt by Matt Nable.   This book had a lot of potential.  I enjoyed the author's cadence and writing style somewhat.  The framework of the story interested me.  But, sadly, it didn't live up to its potential.  For a number of reasons, I was disappointed.  I hate book bashing, but to give an honest, fair review, I need to explain my disappointments.
  • Too many characters and story lines. Yes, they are all connected, but it was just too much.  I needed a flow chart.
  • With so many characters, some lacked the depth I think the author intended.
  • The thoughts and words expressed by 17 year old girls in 1989 were unrealistic.  I know.  I was a 16 year old girl in 1989.  Unless these specific Australian girls were just wayyyyy more advanced and comfortable talking/thinking about specific sexual acts and body parts.  It's possible 17 year old girls today would talk and think this way, but not teenagers of 1989.  We were a little more closed and silent about those things.  Not that sex wasn't happening; no girl I know talked about it this way.  Other aspects of teenager life seemed very realistic, but not this.
  • I kept expecting a twist (or twists) to keep the story less predictable. 
  • Things that I can only assume the author thought would be a twist...well, they weren't.
  • If the ending was supposed to be a little bit of a shocker, it wasn't.
I get really sad and annoyed when a book, tv show, movie, person don't live up to their potential and expectations.  So, this book saddened, annoyed, and disappointed me.  2/5


http://bookloverbookreviews.com/reading-challenges/aussie-author-challenge-2016

It's the 7th year for the Aussie Author Challenge, and my 2nd year participating (click on the picture/link to take you directly to the site for more information).  My preliminary book list is as follows:

Female Authors:

Male Authors:

Authors New to Me:

6 comments:

  1. Oooh, what a bummer that the book was a bust. I am impressed that you made it to the end! I wasn't quite 16 in 89 (but close), and I agree with your thoughts on how things were re: how girls talked about sex. It was happening, but not as much as now and any discussions were not as explicit. Liane Moriarty is one of my fave authors and I still need to read What Alice Forgot!
    Gina || On the Daily Express

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    1. OH, PS...I can't get into TV much lately either. I'm trying to watch AI since it's the last season but haven't started yet. Maybe I'll catch up a little this weekend? TBD. Hard to top Dexter. It might be my all time fave show.

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  2. This is a really neat challenge. I don't pay much attention to the nationality of book authors- my guess is I mostly read American or English authors... This is a really crafty theme for a challenge!

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  3. It is a pet peeve of mine when I read a book that takes place in the 90s and the characters are teenagers/early 20s and it's nothing like what actually happened. Or you can see it trying to be and it's just not.

    Too many characters and plots can kill a book for me, too. It's why I had only a lukewarm response to After You. Same problems.

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  4. That's the worst when a book is disappointing! I think that sometimes it's easier to follow movies with tons of characters whose story lines are intertwined because you can see their faces, while in a book you might have to flip back and forth to remember names and things like that. Hopefully you're next book will be better though!

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  5. Oh man I feel you on the mismatching of characters to time period. Authors always do that! Pet peeve!!

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