Want to know something really weird about me? I'm 25 and I've never been in a relationship. I've given it a lot of thought over the past few years and I think it comes down to lack of opportunity — I'm shy and like to stay in — and not taking opportunities when they come — I don't want to be involved with someone who turns me off, in even the slightest way. I'm strongly intuitive and idealistic, and I'm convinced that when I meet a person who's right for me, I will know it.
In the meantime, I appreciate reading about romance in books. Typically, I veer away from romance novels — they can be so cheesy — and instead pick up books from other genres with romantic elements to them. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a straight-up romance novel. Then, I picked up Transcendence.
I was completely hooked by the premise, which sounded hilarious and lurid. A caveman, Ehd, discovers a lovely young woman in one of his pit traps. She wears odd clothing and makes weird sounds with her mouth. Ehd decides to bring the woman back to his cave and mate with her.
This premise seems like a literal interpretation of the caveman-romantic-hero trope. But, as you read further into the story, you see Savage's brilliant, beautiful twist on that famous romance genre cliche. Ehd is a well-rounded, fully realized character, and deeply good. His only resemblance to a caveman is that he's... well, a caveman. His behavior however, is that of a decent, young man trying to figure out his first relationship. (I will probably have a lot in common with Ehd when I finally meet someone...)
There's so much I want to write about concerning Transcendence's plot, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who wants to read this. I will only say that the writing was superb — characters, pacing, plot, style... it was all fantastic. I was on the edge of my proverbial seat the entire time, amazed at how deeply moved I was by this little romance book.
I will warn you... I picked up another of Savage's books after reading Transcendence, and was vastly underwhelmed. I give Transcendence five stars, but go no further than this one book. Hopefully, Savage will continue to write such smart, imaginative fiction in the future.
Showing posts with label family saga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family saga. Show all posts
Friday, July 3, 2015
Friday, December 12, 2014
Review: The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
Deciding on a rating for this book is difficult. On one hand, I want to give the author props for her good writing. She managed to be lyrical and stylistic, but not overdo it. On the other hand, most everything about The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender made me want to argue. I can't, in all honesty, say that I liked the book.
The novel is a family saga told with plentiful dollops of magical realism. It's style and content reminded me a good deal of Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits. Actually, "Allende Lite" are the words that come to mind. Because, while Leslye Walton's prose is up to par with Allende, there was no driving political or socioeconomic message. Nor, I thought, was there much of a message at all.
Kiera Cass, the author of The Selection, has a blurb on the back. She writes: "The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender explores the real-life questions of why we love and how we choose to hold on to it." Okay.
The cover blurb states, "Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and haunting mythology of what it means to be born with a heart that is tragically, exquisitely human." Sure.
Since we're all sharing opinions, I think The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender conveys that life is random and full of tragedies, but moments of quiet beauty and joy can come from the times when we pull our heads out of our asses, move onwards and upwards, and forge meaningful and lasting human connections.
I had to think long and hard before I came up with that English-major bullshit. My point is, that the message of Ava Lavender is unfocused and kind of generic. I think the story could have benefitted from a stronger and more eye-catching direction.
That would have given me some bearings while wading through Walton's thick, though pleasant, prose. The plot meandered completely unapologetically throughout the Roux-Lavender generations. (Conveyed to us by Ava. She tells us that the point of the story is to understand who she is and how she came to be.)
Writing this review has made me more comfortable with giving this novel three stars. I had deep issues with the book, but I admire that Walton's work raised so many questions for me to wrestle with.
The novel is a family saga told with plentiful dollops of magical realism. It's style and content reminded me a good deal of Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits. Actually, "Allende Lite" are the words that come to mind. Because, while Leslye Walton's prose is up to par with Allende, there was no driving political or socioeconomic message. Nor, I thought, was there much of a message at all.
Kiera Cass, the author of The Selection, has a blurb on the back. She writes: "The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender explores the real-life questions of why we love and how we choose to hold on to it." Okay.
The cover blurb states, "Leslye Walton has constructed a layered and haunting mythology of what it means to be born with a heart that is tragically, exquisitely human." Sure.
Since we're all sharing opinions, I think The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender conveys that life is random and full of tragedies, but moments of quiet beauty and joy can come from the times when we pull our heads out of our asses, move onwards and upwards, and forge meaningful and lasting human connections.
I had to think long and hard before I came up with that English-major bullshit. My point is, that the message of Ava Lavender is unfocused and kind of generic. I think the story could have benefitted from a stronger and more eye-catching direction.
That would have given me some bearings while wading through Walton's thick, though pleasant, prose. The plot meandered completely unapologetically throughout the Roux-Lavender generations. (Conveyed to us by Ava. She tells us that the point of the story is to understand who she is and how she came to be.)
Writing this review has made me more comfortable with giving this novel three stars. I had deep issues with the book, but I admire that Walton's work raised so many questions for me to wrestle with.
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