The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele RichardsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is outside my normal reading, but I liked it and read it quickly (compared to books that are less interesting). Sometimes I read a book for the action and fun in the story, sometimes to see how it ends, and sometimes for the page-by-page pleasure of it. This is mostly in that third category (though all three apply, I suppose.) Even though there's a great deal of pain in the novel, it was entertaining and engaging to read. There are admirable and sympathetic characters and a believable plot, and the setting in particular is very well established. The reader--well, me--I could really feel the reality of the place: the wildness, the poverty, the depression, the pride, the hunger.
The gritty, historical truth is probably the best aspect of the novel, though others may love the prose more. In some places, the language is elevated and full of metaphor, while in others it's direct and plain. My preference lies with the latter, and it predominates toward the middle and end of the book. Some of the dialogue is lyrical but unnatural--to my ear, anyway--and that struck me enough at times to make me stop for a minute. I suppose it sounds a bit like a script.
In general, it's a well told story about tough times in a tough place. The main character is vulnerable and marginalized but persistent, and I found her likable. (As a POV character, I mean--I enjoyed following her story.) She goes through a lot, and it's tough holding on for something good to happen, but there are good things, things to root for and then cheer for.
My biggest quibble is with the ending. It's satisfying as far as plot, but disappointing as to pacing. It's very sudden, lurching from point to point as if six chapters got summarized in a flurry. A different final twenty pages would have made me rave and demand a movie. Instead, I am politely but warmly recommending this novel.
I liked it. You might, too.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment