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by Buffy Squirrel on Jul 12, 2008 7:30:40 PM
It is, very interesting!
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Nothing wrong with the hairbrush in itself; just the way it was used gave me a misleading impression of its significance. |
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by Glynis M on Jul 12, 2008 6:20:14 PM
I don't think it was highlighted to reveal something significant later on. I saw it as showing Miller's frustration and the lengths he was tempted to go to. It also suggested a certain character could be the one they were looking for, so made you want he/she to be caught and questioned. I don't think it was misused; it definitely served an interesting purpose in my eyes. Interesting what we all get from our reading of a book, don't you think?
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by Buffy Squirrel on Jul 12, 2008 1:32:00 PM
People generally only retain about 25% of what they read, so, yeah, repetition is often necessary, especially in a lengthy narrative. I just found it annoying in this particular book, at least partly because it wasn't generally brought in using plausible devices. One of the reasons the book is so long is the unnecessary level of repetition, imo.
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As for the hairbrush--it's a convention that when something in a book is highlighted or emphasised in the way the hairbrush was, it's because it's going to be significant later on. Here, the convention was breached for no good reason that I could see--I wouldn't have minded it being subverted, but it was just misused imo. You're right about the significance of the characters' ignorance, but for me it was laid on so heavily that it felt like the book was preaching to me personally--assuming I had no knowledge of the matter and needed to be eddicated. Again, that ties in with the repetition aspect--saying the same thing over and over again "c'est comme ca que l'on fait une verite" doesn't get past my bulls$%£-ometer :). |
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by Glynis M on Jul 12, 2008 1:14:16 PM
I really enjoyed this from start to finish. I have to say I disagree with a couple of the comments in your review Buffy. I didn't find it overly repetitive at all. You've got to have some details reiterated in a 600 page book so you know where you are. I was particularly grateful dates and times were repeated to me as I wouldn't have known where I was otherwise. I don't understand why you had a problem with the hairbrush and so far as the political aspect of the book is concerned, well I didn't know about it, so wasn't aware it was common knowledge. I'm not surprised by it. I don't think it matters whether you, I or Joe Bloggs are aware of it - it's how the characters in the book deal with the knowledge that matters.
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by Glynis M on Jun 26, 2008 9:31:05 AM
I'm still reading my copy, about halfway through. I'm intrigued as it isn't my usual kind of read and yes I'm finding the police investigation rather slow - I'm hoping it'll pick up soon. The political stuff is interesting and I find myself wanting to know more about that and how it ties in with the police investigation. Will check out your review Buffy.
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by Anne Cater on Jun 26, 2008 12:04:37 AM
My friend agrees with you Buffy - she found parts of it very slow moving too, especially the police investigation. It's not my usual genre but I really connected with the story. At first I did find the political stuff quite tough, but once I realised what he was trying to tell the reader, I became intrigued by it all.
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I really enjoyed it and admire RJ Ellory in that he can write in so many different ways. I love Visual Bookshelf! |
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by Buffy Squirrel on Jun 25, 2008 4:53:22 PM
PS I see you use Visual Bookshelf too, Anne!
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by Buffy Squirrel on Jun 25, 2008 3:53:37 PM
Okay, I finished this today and posted my review.
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Have to say I put this book down several times with the intention of not continuing with it, but had a little nagging voice in my head that kept saying, "Free book. Must review free book." It's interesting that other reviewers thought this was fast moving, when I felt quite the opposite--that it was dragged down by unnecessary detail and repetition. It might have been a fast book at half the length :). |
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by Buffy Squirrel on Jun 20, 2008 9:23:57 AM
It's in my pile still. Getting there
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by Anne Cater on Jun 20, 2008 9:12:42 AM
I finished this at 1.30am this morning - what a fantastic read. I've posted my review and look forward to discussing other people's thoughts
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