I'm nearing the end of yet another novel that has disappointed me. That didn't live up to its own hook. The scenario on the flap sounded pretty amazing at first--the identity of Shakespeare's "Dark Lady" finally discovered, at great cost to those who discovered it (people dying left and right), all set against the romantic backdrop of the Italian countryside.
But, in the end, I found several flaws in the narrative that got in the way: heavy-handed descriptions that slowed the pacing, over-explaining and repetitions that slowed the pacing, unnecessary detail about art/architecture/literature that completely diverted away from the plot (it felt like the writer was just "showing off") and slowed the pacing (see a trend, here?). Nothing takes the steam out of a suspense novel faster than poor pacing. Yikes.
As a writer, it's good for me to read fiction that's disappointing, because I can study it--realize what not to do in my own writing. Even a disappointing novel is a beneficial one.
Still, I hope to break this trend and read two NEW books from my current favorite two authors (is there anything more glorious than cracking open a new book of a favorite author?? I think not!).
Here they are:
Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand
Happily Ever After by Harriet Evans
So, what are y'all reading this summer??
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