From: Sally Miller <derbymiller>
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:24:36 -0500

Maybe it's an age thing? I am Old (chronologically) and I found the voice in this book very enjoyable, not the least distracting or off-putting. It's somewhat out-of-fashion, I think, for an authorial voice to be so prominent, but how else would E. Lockhart have infused the book with such a wealth of wry humored commentary? I can't think of a single teenager in my acquaintance who would be able to achieve such a detached, amused tone--Frankie is perceptive, but as a heroine emotionally involved in events, she would be completely unbelievable if all the social commentary were put into her voice. As a writer, teacher, and grand-parent, I like to see a young adult novel that isn't confined to first-person, or omniscient first person, so that young readers get used to attending to more elements of the novel than just the plot line. But to do that, you have to slow down and become a more participatory reader. I'm glad to see from the popularity of the book that some young readers are willing to do that. (Apologie s if I haven't expressed my ideas very cogently. Literary analysis has never been my strongpoint.) Sally Derby
Received on Sat 21 Mar 2009 01:24:36 PM CDT