There it was - Laura Best's book - Bitter, Sweet. So, I unwrapped it & started checking it out. Then I started reading. And then I kept reading. Had bought some rib-eye steaks for the grill earlier in the day. Instead of putting them on during daylight, I kept reading - until the book was finished. (It was completely dark when I fired up the grill. When I went outside & turned the steaks, I reached for the handle on the grill's lid - to close it - & since I couldn't see, missed it, & put my hand on the hot lid. I now have no fingerprints on my right hand.)
Sorry, back to the topic. (It's okay - I'm typing left handed.)
Okay, now I'm not a writerly literary genius or even a student of the craft, & don't pretend to be. And usually I favor action packed novels, thrillers, mysteries, sometimes horror & I write adventure tales for kids - but that's not gonna stop me from offering my thoughts on Bitter, Sweet.
First of all - this book is flat out entertaining. It is also very well written, IMHO. The characters have unique personalities. The scene description is balanced - not overdone - enough to pull the reader into the setting without disrupting the flow of the story. The dialogue is strong - each character's voice stands out. It's easy to get a real feel for the poverty, the loss, the heartache & the family's ultimate struggle to put up a 'united front' in order to survive. Well, Laura has managed to make all of her words count & created a remarkable story. Very impressive. A terrific read. Thumbs up, my friend.
Okay, I'm off to soak my hand .... Oh yeah, click the Amazon link & buy Laura's book. Go on. Hurry!
10 comments:
Aww! Thanks for the terrific review, Dave! Glad you liked it. I was pretty sure it wasn't the kind of book you'd otherwise choose to read and hey, that you burned yourself, well, sorry about that.
So sweet of you to take time out of your own VERY busy schedule. It means a lot to me.
Laura - You're very welcome. I really liked the book, everything about it. Ya done good.
My fingers are better, a few blisters, but the steak was good.
Joylene - I'm not the best at reviews, & rarely do them, but when I do them, they're always honest. If I don't like a book, I just don't comment.
Yes, Deb takes great care of me, I'm terrible when it comes to cooking.
Wow. What an endorsement.
I'll have to check it out.
Bitter, Sweet, sounds like a book I'd enjoy a great deal.
Sorry to hear of your burns. Nasty things. Some people would pay good money to have their fingerprints removed. If you know what I mean? :)
Wendy - Thanks for visiting. "The burns" were not severe at all. The story was true, but I was fine.
PV & Wendy - It's really a great book. Very well written.
Ouch!! I hope your fingers heal up soon.
Laura's book sounds cool!! Love the title Bitter, Sweet. And, from what you've said, it sounds like a page-turner with depth.
Hi Paul - The fingers are fine, was nothing serious. (I could have turned a light on, but that would have required the use of common sense. Bitter,Sweet was a very worthwhile read. As Laura said in her comment, not the type of book that I would normally select, I bought & read it because we're blogging buddies, but I was very impressed with the story & writing style. It definitely held my interest & I enjoyed the characters very much. Your post about kids reading was terrific & since I write for kids, certainly hit a chord. Thanks for visiting. I suspect our 87 degree weather down here is only slightly warmer than what you're getting there in Alaska.
I saw some very interesting posts here. You are very enthusiastic about blogging. It was a pleasure to meet you. I follow you too. Bye!
How did I miss commenting on this post? I was sure I had. Maybe I just nodded my head in agreement with everything you said, and then moved on. Anyway, I'm back, and I *do* agree with your evaluation... Bitter, Sweet is an excellent read. I wish it were a series because I'd like to follow those children through their changed circumstances. Should we gang up on Laura? Oh, wait... we can't let you out after dark, can we? It'll have to wait until tomorrow. (Hope by now your hand has long since healed.)
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