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3 out of 3 found this helpful: Art School Fiction writing
Review: The Time Traveler's Wife
 
I have to say, I would have got some very different impressions on this book several years ago, before I went through my Art School years in the US.
First of all, the novel is an expanded web starting from one single interesting idea of Time Traveling. The author refused to stop there holding this golden idea. She obviously went on a long journey of question asking and exploration of the unknown. It’s so much like a design project or a non-restricted paper writing in Art School. Your work does not have to be Perfect for it’s Art, but it has to be original, multi-depth and showing the efforts of development. This exploration is well organized, calmly paced, determined and even stubborn sometimes. The possibilities are pushed to create new edges of itself, new questions await are being considered, and the novel grows as such there’s a fourth dimension to it—Time, if you don’t mind, is growing along within this process, slowly, yet unstoppably.
There are many professional and talented authors who write using their brilliant ideas and sensitive feelings. They do their good job. But it is not often to see them exploring with this Art School style in the possible areas around their topics. Their writing normally is Telling what they have, rather than a process of their own progress. Even though writing ultimately is a process of progress for any writer, most of them rarely show it in the work itself. They hide it, they pretend it’s something they Know and have known for all the time and it’s time to let you know. So the work is rather flat. They tend to simply brush the surrounding of one bright center to make it fit the whole plot in a balanced manner, as a part of the entire structure of the story. There’s nothing wrong about it. But this book is different from it in such an interesting way that I’m so familiar with. It seems to some reviewers slow and repetitive, but I would rather call it Unwearied. I could almost see the thin threads she drew on her sketch pad linking all the possible question marks on the map of this story. The center, Time Traveling, is alive in this sense by connecting and growing beyond ordinary expectations. I felt happy when reading it for this reason. I felt I was somehow connected to the author by knowing her technique and understanding her intentions.
On the other hand, the writing shows the typical Art School st...... full review
2006-03-22 12:28 | comment
1 out of 1 found this helpful: wonderful concept, rather slow plot
Review: Inkheart
Well, unfortunately the concept was revealed too much on the back cover...
As for the plot, this is definitely not for readers who love or just read Dan Browns books, in which the plot is extremely tight and exciting. I happened to just finish Digital Fortress before I got this book as a birthday present. So I was expecting great turn points and fast development in te story, which just caused more disappointment.
Otherwise I would have surely enjoyed it much better.
I don't want to blame the writer for it's a translated work and it's imaginable that the original rhythm in the language could be lost somehow. I was pretty impressed by a few spots in the story where the author described feelings in a very unique way that's so unexpected yet perfectly fit.
I have to say it's a good book for young readers. And I would try the next one in the sequel. Just remember this if you want to give it a try: don't read the introduction on line or the back cover, don't read it if your brain is wired by detective/thrillers for adults.
2005-12-28 10:29 | comment
1 out of 1 found this helpful: typical, and touching, and typically touching
Review: The Christmas Shoes
I found this book in my husband's stocking on Xmas eve and stole it from him. Since I forgot to bring my books to my inlaw's house, it became my Xmas eve 3am hypnogenesis.
I didn't know the song before so the plot wasn't so predictable, which was good. Actually the author did a good job evolving the song into a relatively complex and multi-dimensional story. It made me very sad to read the chapters where somebody was dying and her mother and husband had to let go, and the little boy confused with a hint of hope that mommy could be at least "pretty" when she met Jesus.
It's somehow a universal feeling to watch somebody you care about die and to be sad and confused. It's not so universal to relate the feelings to God and Jesus, though. Otherwise I would have given this book a 4-star. But, hey, it's a Christmas story and it's allowed to be a bit cliche, especially on Christmas eve when you are that tired and you need something no brain and warm.
Not a bad read with the 2-3 hours bedtime milk, when your Xmas tree is shining with the ornaments from your childhood collection, your parents/in-laws and the one who share your house and life. Sometimes we need to be typical, cliche and touched.
2005-12-28 09:14 | comment
3 out of 3 found this helpful: a female version of the Da Vinci Code
Review: The Seventh Unicorn (Berkley Fiction)
Tthis is the best way I can put it.
This book is less intense, less political, less of a thriller, if compared with Dan Brown's best seller. More of a soft and sweet love story plot, mellow and feminal. You can tell it's from a female author.
Other than that, it's got Da Vinci Code's many features, such as the basic elements: France, museum curator, ancient (medieval) art work (s), mysterious background of the piece, etc; the story unfolds as a chase of the origin/meaning behind the art work; and even the simple character setting -- basically "one guy and one woman, after all, fall in love" kind of stuff while other characters don't matter that much.
I don't want to list more, or this would become a spoiler. But you will see, throughout the whole book, all the way to the end. The design is very much similar.
I, personally, might prefer a more original novel, but frankly this book is pretty good. All these proven-to-be-popular elements work well.
A good read at bed time.
2005-12-14 11:16 | comment
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