WMF

Fan Fiction

Revisado: 04-24-23

I've seen some reviews that suggested this book is much like a soap opera. I disagree. it's not quite up to par with a soap opera. it's more like the fanfiction a moody 17-year-old would write after watching a soap opera. it's kind of sad because the idea isn't bad and some of the characters could be interesting but the writing is awful as is the editing. The dialogue is stilted and the entire book is a series of badly joined cliches. The sex scenes which are overly abundant and usually unnecessary also come off as inspired by the hormones of a 17-year-old. I really wish it would have been better but this book is truly pretty awful.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A Good Book But.....

Revisado: 02-26-21

I saw a review that argued this should be classified as a YA title. I disagree but I understand why somebody would think that. The kids' stories are the ones that capture you and save this book. There is not one single adult in the entire book that is even slightly likeable. Most of them start out at leaving you at best neutral. As the story progresses you come to pretty much hate them. All of them. Even the very minor adult characters. If you don't dislike them immediately you know it is only a matter of time. One very minor adult character does turn out to do one decent thing. I'll leave who and what as an Easter Egg for you to find,

So if the people in the story are so bad why did I give it a 4? Because the kids redeem the book, Theirs are the stories that matter, They are honest, multi-dimensional and complex. Perhaps I relate more because I graduated from high school in 1973 in a small Indiana town on a lake. No college but a military academy. I think some aspects of the story are a little ahead of the early 70s social times but by and large the young people feel real and authentic. And they save the book. I would certainly recommend giving.it a read. But just remember you cannot report fictional people to Child Protective Services no matter how much they deserve it.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Homophobic

Revisado: 09-14-19

Her gay characters are stereotypes and used for comic relief. Second (and last) of her books I've read and it's true in both. There's a word for straight people who make jokes about or of gay people. We call that Homophobia. And specifically for this book, if you're gonna write about the Dionne Quintuplets take the time to learn about them.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not real impressed

Revisado: 04-13-19

Been active in GLBTQ politics for 40 years. Just not finding anything new here but a tendency to overlook ones own privileges and some skating on the edge of appropriating the oppressions of others in doing so. Sorry, I was not impressed.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

outstanding

Revisado: 02-06-17

a truly powerful book. this is an epic coming of age story wonderfully and wonderfully told

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Simply Wonderful

Revisado: 09-25-16

Just great. That's it, great book, great translation, great narration. If you don't absolutely love Ove by the end, well you probably need to go seek professional help!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Be careful

Revisado: 08-23-15

I understand the point of trying not to take sides, to tell the story from the bully's point of view. But I wonder if the teenage kids reading this book will. In the last pages Sara seems to finally understand what she did but most of the book she blames Emma and everyone else for what she did. The author does a great job of capturing a high school girl's voice. So well I think young readers may agree. And it is not a neutral subject. Just like the Prince case it is fictionalizing there are people who harmed others. There are bullies. And Sara is a bully. Not a victim. I worry that's not always real clear and that sometimes the book makes bullying seem okay and excuses or downplays terrible behavior. If a young person I know were reading this book I would be sure I had conversations with them to make sure Sara didn't end up a hero.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Disappointing

Revisado: 10-08-14

After reading the reviews and description I had hopes for this book but sadly it didn’t make it. The story isn’t new. Orphaned/unwanted/abandoned/mistreated child is delivered into the hands of an eccentric Southern relative(s) where love grows and the child comes of age under the quiet oversight of the kindly, loyal black house help. It has been told by more skilled word crafters and in the voices of much more developed and memorable characters. That is but one of many issues I have. The book overflows with clichés, the most annoying of which is the ridiculous collection of names. We in the south do, on occasion name people things like Anne and Joe and Elizabeth. You wouldn’t know that from this book. Nor would you know that every African American does not have a colorful (and borderline racist) nickname. There were plot lines that initially caught my interest but they were never developed or were given quick treatment they became irrelevant (Apparently had Atticus Finch given Mayella Ewell a good stern talking to he could have resolved the whole false rape accusation thing in a matter of a chapter) And speaking of Atticus, I wonder how this book sits with African American readers. There are scenes of sit-ins and lip service to the civil rights movement but no evidence any of it---even taking part in it--- impacted of any of the central black characters or changed the way they relate to the whites. Stereotypes are everywhere and the take away lesson is that while we are "family" we still eat in the kitchen. Even the book’s big final reveal manages to evoke a subtle, uncomfortable racism while never actually addressing the racial issues it attempts to challenge. Some of this is bad writing, some bad editing and some just bad ideas. It’s too bad, it could have been an okay book, probably better tailored to a young adult audience. As it is the story has been told many times with a lot more skill.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 39 personas

Please, Make The Upspeak Stop?

Revisado: 07-29-14

What made the experience of listening to The Wilder Life the most enjoyable?

The story was fine, light but interesting to anyone who has enjoyed Laura Ingles Wilder's Little House books. The story was fine. The narration was not. The upspeak? It permeated the entire nearly eleven hours? It seemed to get worse? as you went along? with every fourth word? turning into a question? whether it was written that way? or not? How did this ever get by the editors...or listeners or whoever it is that makes sure the narration does not sound like a high school girl trying to impress her friends? The only thing worse would have been having Moon Unit Zappa read it in Valley Girl. I happened to see the paperback version of book in a bookstore? and I looked? just to make sure that the author? had not included all those question marks? She had not.

What other book might you compare The Wilder Life to and why?

It's a light history/biography, actually more of a fan odyssey. I think if read properly it might have felt more substantial but when every phrase becomes a question? even War and Peace? can sound like fluff? The fact that I put up with the horrible narration to listen to the whole thing does say something about how interesting the book is. Teri Clark Linden does Wendy McClure a real disservice.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Teri Clark Linden?

Anyone. Alvin and the Chipmunks would have been less annoying

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. One can only endure the narration in small dosages

Any additional comments?

I will never buy anything? narrated by Teri Clark Linden? again?

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 11 personas

Not An Easy Book But A good Book

Revisado: 11-08-12

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would. The fact that it is a hard story makes it an important story

What other book might you compare The Kitchen House to and why?

A cross between Gone With the Wind and the Help

What does Orlagh Cassidy and Bahni Turpin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Outstanding, both of them. It's a dramatic listen.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

As i said, a hard story but an important one

Any additional comments?

Worth buying for sure.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona