#COLLABOREADS: Love at First Sight
If you're new to #COLLABOREADS, welcome!
Every month, Kristin from Taz + Belly and I host this fun little book-loving link-up, and we're so happy you've stopped by!
Here's how this works: We pick a theme every month, you pick a book that fits (we all read different books! it's fun that way!) and then all link up and share our thoughts (with a handy-dandy R.E.A.D.S. acronym usually--see below!) and link up and become BFFs. You can read more about this whole thing here.
Riveting.
What part of the book could you NOT get enough of? Well, to be honest, I couldn't even get halfway through this one. i gave it more than my usual shot (I typically have about a 50 page rule before I give up on a book) and read like 250 pages... but it just was NOT riveting in the slightest.
Elements.
How did you relate to/care for the characters? What's your thought on the plot line and twists and turns? I really wanted to love the main character (who isn't named, since the story is mostly told from her perspective) but just couldn't connect with her or find any real spark in her personality that grabbed me. I did NOT like the other character, Tracey, who is her frenemy and rival throughout life, but she wasn't meant to be liked, really. I just felt like this book hardly had a plot, and it definitely wasn't twisty or driving or exciting in the least. It felt like I read several hundred pages and literally nothing had happened... which is why I gave it up.
Associate.
What other books are like this one? If none, did it remind you of a particular TV or movie with it's themes and characters? Does it serendipitous-ly line-up with things going on in your life or the news right now? This one doesn't bring to mind any strong correlations. It has a lot about dance (as the two girls want to be dancers but only the friend Tracey has talent) and a lot about different paths in life (the main character ends up as an assistant to a celebrity and travels the world with her -- it isn't as glamorous as exciting as it sounds though) and does focus on the black community, but it just really wasn't compelling at all. (I have been reading primarily books by authors of color this February to celebrate and honor Black History Month, and have really loved the challenge it's been to embrace stories and perspectives so different from my own. SO eye opening and necessary!
Design.
You know you judged this book by the cover. What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel? And the font and layout of the pages? The cover of this one is a main reason why I grabbed it a few months back from Book of the Month Club... it's SO eye-catching, dramatic, and has great typography (which I'm a sucker for) and really reminded me of African cultures. It's an excellently designed cover (oh hey, love at first sight theme!) but just not an excellently written book, sadly.
Stars.
How many out of five do you give this book? Would you recommend this book to a friend? Two, which is generous.
CONFESSION.
I really wanted to do Their Eyes Were Watching God for this review today, but I only made it halfway through (not because I hated it, just because I ran out of time!) and didn't think it would be fair to give a half-hearted review... so you'll just have to wait to hear about why I'm loving that one!
LET'S LINK UP NOW.
FOR NEXT MONTH:
March's theme is Green With Envy. Find a book with a green cover (or even "green" in the title, if that works for you!), read it this month, blog your thoughts (you can use our R.E.A.D.S acronym or whatever style you want!) and link up at the end of the month!
Kristin from Taz + Belly and I are so excited to have you joining us, and we can't wait to see this fun little link-up grow this year!