I have a hard time writing dialogue, and often feel like my characters are a little flat. But, I'm starting to feel better about that. I keep reading novels that have bigger issues than mine that managed to get published anyway! I finished another book, Silence the Whispers by Cait London. Again, the plot was really good. Lots of suspense, and a mystery to be solved. Granted, I solved it before the characters, but I'm okay with that.
What bothered me was the characters. The two main characters were so-so. There were moments when they seemed contrived, but overall, they were okay. The rest of the characters were horrible. Cameron, the main female, came with a trio of female friends. I don't remember any of their names, nor could I tell them apart during the novel. They all read like shadows of Cameron. Really sad, considering one of them was vital to the plot.
All I'm looking for is a few good characters!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tempest in Eden
Oh, the '80s! I read Tempest in Eden by Sandra Brown. This is another of her early romance novels, written under the name Rachel Ryan.
In this novel, we don't have Tarzan and Jane. This time Brown paired a minister with a nude model. Of course they met when their parents (both widowed) got married. Let's take improbability and pile more on top, shall we?
Honestly, I had a hard time with this one. I just couldn't get past how dated and unlikely this story was. I definitely prefer her recent novels to her early work.
In this novel, we don't have Tarzan and Jane. This time Brown paired a minister with a nude model. Of course they met when their parents (both widowed) got married. Let's take improbability and pile more on top, shall we?
Honestly, I had a hard time with this one. I just couldn't get past how dated and unlikely this story was. I definitely prefer her recent novels to her early work.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Deus ex Machina
SPOILER ALERT!!! If you have any intention of reading The Rosary Girls, you shouldn't read this post!
I finished the novel and was forced to shake my head in disgust. All along, this was a very "realistic" novel- this could have been a real series of crimes, investigated by real people. Suddenly, near the end of the story, the male detective has a vision of his partner in trouble, the serial killer parked outside her house. So, he sweeps in and saves her at what would have been the moment of her death. Right.
In the process of saving her, he takes a bullet to the head. And survives. Perhaps this was intended to convince me that he was a good guy after all. I still don't particularly like him.
Even though I feel no real attachment to these characters and a fair amount of disgust for the implausible ending, I feel obliged to read The Skin Gods. This is another novel about the same detectives after another serial killer. I wonder if Montanari will try to justify his deus ex machina by using it in another novel.
I finished the novel and was forced to shake my head in disgust. All along, this was a very "realistic" novel- this could have been a real series of crimes, investigated by real people. Suddenly, near the end of the story, the male detective has a vision of his partner in trouble, the serial killer parked outside her house. So, he sweeps in and saves her at what would have been the moment of her death. Right.
In the process of saving her, he takes a bullet to the head. And survives. Perhaps this was intended to convince me that he was a good guy after all. I still don't particularly like him.
Even though I feel no real attachment to these characters and a fair amount of disgust for the implausible ending, I feel obliged to read The Skin Gods. This is another novel about the same detectives after another serial killer. I wonder if Montanari will try to justify his deus ex machina by using it in another novel.
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Rosary Girls
I'm currently about 300 pages into The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari. The story so far is good. Catholic school girls murdered and posed in the act of prayer. But I am having a character issue.
The main characters are the two homicide detective looking for the killer. Byrne, the male of the duo, is just not a good guy. So far, he has killed one man, tampered with a crime scene, and beat up a suspect. I think I'm supposed to believe he's a bad cop for all the right reasons. But I don't believe that. I just don't like him.
The female of the duo, Balzano, is a good cop. At least so far. But I don't really like her either. And in her case, I'm not sure why. I don't know if it's just an issue of the author being male and writing a female character. There is just something about her that doesn't ring true for me. I find myself not caring all that much about her issues.
I hope I like them by the time they catch the killer.
The main characters are the two homicide detective looking for the killer. Byrne, the male of the duo, is just not a good guy. So far, he has killed one man, tampered with a crime scene, and beat up a suspect. I think I'm supposed to believe he's a bad cop for all the right reasons. But I don't believe that. I just don't like him.
The female of the duo, Balzano, is a good cop. At least so far. But I don't really like her either. And in her case, I'm not sure why. I don't know if it's just an issue of the author being male and writing a female character. There is just something about her that doesn't ring true for me. I find myself not caring all that much about her issues.
I hope I like them by the time they catch the killer.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Kill For Me
Ah, the love affair continues... I just finished Kill For Me by Karen Rose. This was book three of a trilogy. I am still impressed by her ability to weave a story across three novels and not have anything feel forced or out of place.
My only complaint is that it is over. The story is complete. There are no loose threads, no hanging plot lines, no misplaced characters. All of the bad guys are dead or otherwise accounted for. There won't be another novel about these people. So sad.
One of the main themes of the series was that family has nothing to do with blood, and everything to do with heart. Rose painted these characters so well that I feel like they have become part of my family. I will miss them.
My only complaint is that it is over. The story is complete. There are no loose threads, no hanging plot lines, no misplaced characters. All of the bad guys are dead or otherwise accounted for. There won't be another novel about these people. So sad.
One of the main themes of the series was that family has nothing to do with blood, and everything to do with heart. Rose painted these characters so well that I feel like they have become part of my family. I will miss them.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Catalyst
Finished another book by Laurie Halse Anderson. This time it was Catalyst.
What do you do when you put all of your eggs in one basket and the basket blows up? Kate is an MIT legacy and knows that is the college she is meant to go to. So it's the only college she applies to. Guess how that ends?
Beyond the basket blowing up, this is a great story about the chemical reactions that occur between people. Some reactions are peaceful, harmonious. Some are explosive. Regardless of the nature of the reaction, we are all changed by our interactions with other people.
What do you do when you put all of your eggs in one basket and the basket blows up? Kate is an MIT legacy and knows that is the college she is meant to go to. So it's the only college she applies to. Guess how that ends?
Beyond the basket blowing up, this is a great story about the chemical reactions that occur between people. Some reactions are peaceful, harmonious. Some are explosive. Regardless of the nature of the reaction, we are all changed by our interactions with other people.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Marilyn Tapes
Read The Marilyn Tapes by E. J. Gorman. I don't know much about this author. His biography simply states "lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa."
I do know that this book is likely to reawaken an old obsession of mine. This book did such a fantastic job of hiding the line that separates fact from fiction that I'm feeling the urge to do some research. See if I can discover where the line lies.
The major players definitely existed. Marilyn, JFK, Bobby, Hoover. What is less clear (at least to the general public) is the relationships between them. Did Marilyn sleep with both Kennedys? Did Hoover really seek to control the brothers? What secrets were hidden in Marilyn's past?
The murders at the heart of this novel were fiction (at least I think so). But, every element of this story COULD have happened. I love fiction that manages to convince me that it's a true story!
I do know that this book is likely to reawaken an old obsession of mine. This book did such a fantastic job of hiding the line that separates fact from fiction that I'm feeling the urge to do some research. See if I can discover where the line lies.
The major players definitely existed. Marilyn, JFK, Bobby, Hoover. What is less clear (at least to the general public) is the relationships between them. Did Marilyn sleep with both Kennedys? Did Hoover really seek to control the brothers? What secrets were hidden in Marilyn's past?
The murders at the heart of this novel were fiction (at least I think so). But, every element of this story COULD have happened. I love fiction that manages to convince me that it's a true story!
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