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Re: When You Reach Me
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From: DAJ <daj9999_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:12:25 -0800 (PST)
I liked, but didn't love, this book. The concept was clever, but in spots it seemed as if the novel needed one more round of plot tightening. Perhaps I was missing the significance of some of the choices, and others with a deeper appreciation of the book can offer insights.
I wondered especially why the second girl friend (whose name I've forgotten) was African American, but only that character. It seemed primarily for plot convenience, to fracture Miranda's new friendship through a misunderstanding (and possibly to make the later theft from the sandwich shop more acceptable, since the owner was racist?), rather than as a lens on the era or an insight into character. Similarly, I wasn't certain why Miranda's mother's friendliness to the friend's father received so much space; I kept expecting a subplot there that never materialized. I'd enjoy hearing more about what others liked or found especially noteworthy about the characters and character interactions, so that when I reread the book, I'll bring those perspectives to the work, too.
DAJ
19th-Century Girls Series - http://www.readseries.com
Received on Tue 26 Jan 2010 06:12:25 PM CST
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:12:25 -0800 (PST)
I liked, but didn't love, this book. The concept was clever, but in spots it seemed as if the novel needed one more round of plot tightening. Perhaps I was missing the significance of some of the choices, and others with a deeper appreciation of the book can offer insights.
I wondered especially why the second girl friend (whose name I've forgotten) was African American, but only that character. It seemed primarily for plot convenience, to fracture Miranda's new friendship through a misunderstanding (and possibly to make the later theft from the sandwich shop more acceptable, since the owner was racist?), rather than as a lens on the era or an insight into character. Similarly, I wasn't certain why Miranda's mother's friendliness to the friend's father received so much space; I kept expecting a subplot there that never materialized. I'd enjoy hearing more about what others liked or found especially noteworthy about the characters and character interactions, so that when I reread the book, I'll bring those perspectives to the work, too.
DAJ
19th-Century Girls Series - http://www.readseries.com
Received on Tue 26 Jan 2010 06:12:25 PM CST
