Rebecca Hunter's Blog, page 12
March 6, 2016
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
How much do reviews matter when you choose a book? I always peek at them, but are they really helpful in judging whether or not I’ll like a book? I’m not so sure.
Fates and Furies is one of those books that isn’t for everyone. I read it for my book club, so I didn’t decide to read it based on its reviews. In fact, I think this kind of books is particularly difficult to judge from its reviews since its characters are flawed and not always particularly likeable. The book was definitely for me, but I’m not sure I would have found that out through reading the reviews.
It’s a story about marriage, love, and the emotional complexity of being together for 24 years. At times, it’s dense and skimmable; at times, it’s a page-turner.
Groff’s book follows the lives of two imperfect people, Mathilde and Lotto. The story progresses over the years, peeling away at layers and layers of their marriage, first from Lotto’s perspective (generally) and then from Mathilde’s. They are both bared slowly, leaving us to understand just how much their love for each other shaped each of their lives. The book is certainly not a romance, but it’s a love story.
As a romance writer, the book gave me pause. These are certainly not characters I’d want to know in the real world, and they don’t fit the models for romance hero and heroine. And yet their relationship has enough strength, love, lust and emotional complexity to give any romance a run for its money. They love each other the best way they know how, which is, in the end, the foundation for a romance.
When I peeked at Goodreads and on Amazon, I couldn’t help but noticing this book is not universally loved—and that’s putting it kindly. Why? What makes this bestseller so polarizing?
Maybe it’s all the sex? Here’s a quote from an eye-catching Amazon review:
“...the book was full of sex between man & wife. Too much sex. Maybe I am just envious. But this does not seem to realistic that the couple had sex all the time for 30 years.”
Oh no! My husband and I have only been together for 16 years, but I really hope this reviewer is not right.
Or maybe it’s the dense and sometime pretentious prose that’s dragging people down. Like, for example, during the snippets of Lotto’s plays. But I personally can forgive (read: skim) a little pretense if I’m going to be rewarded with gems about marriage like these:
“Marriage is made of lies. Kind ones, mostly. Omissions. If you give voice to the things you think every say about your spouse, you’d crush them to paste.”
... or...
“He knew her; the things he didn’t know about her would sink an ocean liner; he knew her.”
After reading the book, the review that resonates the best for me is buried far down Amazon’s list, nothing that I would have seen if I weren’t particularly interested in how this books was received. It’s short and to the point:
“This is currently my favorite book of all time. I highly recommend for anyone who thoroughly enjoys romance novels, but is weary of Nicholas Sparks-type books, and appreciates allusions to some of the best literary works of humankind.” - Jenna
Yep. That’s me.
Fates and Furies is one of those books that isn’t for everyone. I read it for my book club, so I didn’t decide to read it based on its reviews. In fact, I think this kind of books is particularly difficult to judge from its reviews since its characters are flawed and not always particularly likeable. The book was definitely for me, but I’m not sure I would have found that out through reading the reviews.
It’s a story about marriage, love, and the emotional complexity of being together for 24 years. At times, it’s dense and skimmable; at times, it’s a page-turner.
Groff’s book follows the lives of two imperfect people, Mathilde and Lotto. The story progresses over the years, peeling away at layers and layers of their marriage, first from Lotto’s perspective (generally) and then from Mathilde’s. They are both bared slowly, leaving us to understand just how much their love for each other shaped each of their lives. The book is certainly not a romance, but it’s a love story.
As a romance writer, the book gave me pause. These are certainly not characters I’d want to know in the real world, and they don’t fit the models for romance hero and heroine. And yet their relationship has enough strength, love, lust and emotional complexity to give any romance a run for its money. They love each other the best way they know how, which is, in the end, the foundation for a romance.
When I peeked at Goodreads and on Amazon, I couldn’t help but noticing this book is not universally loved—and that’s putting it kindly. Why? What makes this bestseller so polarizing?
Maybe it’s all the sex? Here’s a quote from an eye-catching Amazon review:
“...the book was full of sex between man & wife. Too much sex. Maybe I am just envious. But this does not seem to realistic that the couple had sex all the time for 30 years.”
Oh no! My husband and I have only been together for 16 years, but I really hope this reviewer is not right.
Or maybe it’s the dense and sometime pretentious prose that’s dragging people down. Like, for example, during the snippets of Lotto’s plays. But I personally can forgive (read: skim) a little pretense if I’m going to be rewarded with gems about marriage like these:
“Marriage is made of lies. Kind ones, mostly. Omissions. If you give voice to the things you think every say about your spouse, you’d crush them to paste.”
... or...
“He knew her; the things he didn’t know about her would sink an ocean liner; he knew her.”
After reading the book, the review that resonates the best for me is buried far down Amazon’s list, nothing that I would have seen if I weren’t particularly interested in how this books was received. It’s short and to the point:
“This is currently my favorite book of all time. I highly recommend for anyone who thoroughly enjoys romance novels, but is weary of Nicholas Sparks-type books, and appreciates allusions to some of the best literary works of humankind.” - Jenna
Yep. That’s me.
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
How much do reviews matter when you choose a book? I always peek at them, but are they really helpful in judging whether or not I’ll like a book? I’m not so sure. Fates and Furies is one of those books that isn’t for everyone. I read it for my book club, so I didn’t decide to read it based on its reviews. In fact, I think this kind of books is particularly difficult to judge from its reviews since its characters are flawed and not always particularly likeable. The book was definitely for me, but
February 21, 2016
Today on Romancing the Jock!
Today I'm on the sports romance blog, Romancing the Jock, talking about team loyalties. Stop by, check out my post, and discover lots of other great sports romance writers, too! 
Romancing the Jock
Today I'm on the sports romance blog, Romancing the Jock, talking about team loyalties. Check it out and and discover lots of other great sports romance writers, too! http://romancingthejock.com/2016/02/g...
February 18, 2016
Calendar Girl by Audrey Carlan
This recent series is a runaway success by an previously unknown author, so naturally I had to take a look. In a flooded romance market, what catches—and holds—readers’ attention?
The premise doesn’t stand out in erotic romance: Young woman needs money for a morally strong reason, so she takes a job as a high-class escort. In the case of Calendar Girl, Mia’s aunt runs the escort service, which specializes in high-end clients for short-term, live-in arrangement… where sex is not an obligation but can mean an extra bonus.
Mia’s father is in big-time, shady financial trouble with… Mia’s shady ex-boyfriend. Mia is like most aspiring actresses in LA—nearly broke—and she needs a million dollars to bail her father out. But where this book could take on an angst-y, New Adult-y tone, it instead veers in another direction. Mia is sassy and flippant in most situations, giving the book a light, fun feel (despite the fact that her situation in real-life terms sounds dismal and depressing).
I don’t usually focus on what I don’t like in these reviews, I think it’s important to point out that there were a lot of things that didn’t work for me in the book. For this reader, Mia’s conversations with her exotic dancer best friend were a major turn-off. What was (I think) supposed to be funny and flippant, like calling each other “bitch” and “whore,” made Mia feel 1.) like a teenager and 2.) not relatable. In addition, Mia’s seamless transition into Wes’s high-end life, even if she was an actress, and into his family was too much of a stretch for me.
But. Still. This book worked.
I get it. Mia has Stephanie Plum appeal, and she has a whole lot more explicit sex.
But I think it’s the brilliance behind the concept that lifted this book. The premise, a book for every month, means a finite but large number of installments, the number predetermined and explicit for the reader. If we readers dive into a serial, many of us want to know how long we have until the resolution… and that there will eventually be a resolution (which, I’d argue, is part of the diminishing appeal of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series: Around Book 8, I realized she’s never going to get any further with either Ranger or Morelli. Arg!).
The Calendar Girl books aren’t very long (maybe about 30,000 words, half or less of a full-length novel), and I’ve seen a lot of backlash against serials these days. Still, Carlan made this series work. For this reason alone, if you’re an author looking for successful model, this is a read for you!
The premise doesn’t stand out in erotic romance: Young woman needs money for a morally strong reason, so she takes a job as a high-class escort. In the case of Calendar Girl, Mia’s aunt runs the escort service, which specializes in high-end clients for short-term, live-in arrangement… where sex is not an obligation but can mean an extra bonus.
Mia’s father is in big-time, shady financial trouble with… Mia’s shady ex-boyfriend. Mia is like most aspiring actresses in LA—nearly broke—and she needs a million dollars to bail her father out. But where this book could take on an angst-y, New Adult-y tone, it instead veers in another direction. Mia is sassy and flippant in most situations, giving the book a light, fun feel (despite the fact that her situation in real-life terms sounds dismal and depressing).
I don’t usually focus on what I don’t like in these reviews, I think it’s important to point out that there were a lot of things that didn’t work for me in the book. For this reader, Mia’s conversations with her exotic dancer best friend were a major turn-off. What was (I think) supposed to be funny and flippant, like calling each other “bitch” and “whore,” made Mia feel 1.) like a teenager and 2.) not relatable. In addition, Mia’s seamless transition into Wes’s high-end life, even if she was an actress, and into his family was too much of a stretch for me.
But. Still. This book worked.
I get it. Mia has Stephanie Plum appeal, and she has a whole lot more explicit sex.
But I think it’s the brilliance behind the concept that lifted this book. The premise, a book for every month, means a finite but large number of installments, the number predetermined and explicit for the reader. If we readers dive into a serial, many of us want to know how long we have until the resolution… and that there will eventually be a resolution (which, I’d argue, is part of the diminishing appeal of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series: Around Book 8, I realized she’s never going to get any further with either Ranger or Morelli. Arg!).
The Calendar Girl books aren’t very long (maybe about 30,000 words, half or less of a full-length novel), and I’ve seen a lot of backlash against serials these days. Still, Carlan made this series work. For this reason alone, if you’re an author looking for successful model, this is a read for you!
Calendar Girl by Audrey Carlan
January This recent series is a runaway success by an previously unknown author, so naturally I had to take a look. In a flooded romance market, what catches—and holds—readers’ attention?
The premise doesn’t stand out in erotic romance: Young woman needs money for a morally strong reason, so she takes a job as a high-class escort. In the case of Calendar Girl, Mia’s aunt runs the escort service, which specializes in high-end clients for short-term, live-in arrangement… where sex is not an obligation but can mean an extra bonus.
Mia’s father is in big-time, shady financial trouble with… Mia’s shady ex-boyfriend. Mia is like most aspiring actresses in LA—nearly broke—and she needs a million dollars to bail her father out. But where this book could take on an angst-y, New Adult-y tone, it instead veers in another direction. Mia is sassy and flippant in most situations, giving the book a light, fun feel (despite the fact that her situation in real-life terms sounds dismal and depressing).
I don’t usually focus on what I don’t like in these reviews, I think it’s important to point out that there were a lot of things that didn’t work for me in the book. For this reader, Mia’s conversations with her exotic dancer best friend were a major turn-off. What was (I think) supposed to be funny and flippant, like calling each other “bitch” and “whore,” made Mia feel 1.) like a teenager and 2.) not relatable. In addition, Mia’s seamless transition into Wes’s high-end life, even if she was an actress, and into his family was too much of a stretch for me.
But. Still. This book worked.
I get it. Mia has Stephanie Plum appeal, and she has a whole lot more explicit sex.
But I think it’s the brilliance behind the concept that lifted this book. The premise, a book for every month, means a finite but large number of installments, the number predetermined and explicit for the reader. If we readers dive into a serial, many of us want to know how long we have until the resolution… and that there will eventually be a resolution (which, I’d argue, is part of the diminishing appeal of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series: Around Book 8, I realized she’s never going to get any further with either Ranger or Morelli. Arg!).
The Calendar Girl books aren’t very long (maybe about 30,000 words, half or less of a full-length novel), and I’ve seen a lot of backlash against serials these days. Still, Carlan made this series work. For this reason alone, if you’re an author looking for successful model, this is a read for you!
The premise doesn’t stand out in erotic romance: Young woman needs money for a morally strong reason, so she takes a job as a high-class escort. In the case of Calendar Girl, Mia’s aunt runs the escort service, which specializes in high-end clients for short-term, live-in arrangement… where sex is not an obligation but can mean an extra bonus.
Mia’s father is in big-time, shady financial trouble with… Mia’s shady ex-boyfriend. Mia is like most aspiring actresses in LA—nearly broke—and she needs a million dollars to bail her father out. But where this book could take on an angst-y, New Adult-y tone, it instead veers in another direction. Mia is sassy and flippant in most situations, giving the book a light, fun feel (despite the fact that her situation in real-life terms sounds dismal and depressing).
I don’t usually focus on what I don’t like in these reviews, I think it’s important to point out that there were a lot of things that didn’t work for me in the book. For this reader, Mia’s conversations with her exotic dancer best friend were a major turn-off. What was (I think) supposed to be funny and flippant, like calling each other “bitch” and “whore,” made Mia feel 1.) like a teenager and 2.) not relatable. In addition, Mia’s seamless transition into Wes’s high-end life, even if she was an actress, and into his family was too much of a stretch for me.
But. Still. This book worked.
I get it. Mia has Stephanie Plum appeal, and she has a whole lot more explicit sex.
But I think it’s the brilliance behind the concept that lifted this book. The premise, a book for every month, means a finite but large number of installments, the number predetermined and explicit for the reader. If we readers dive into a serial, many of us want to know how long we have until the resolution… and that there will eventually be a resolution (which, I’d argue, is part of the diminishing appeal of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series: Around Book 8, I realized she’s never going to get any further with either Ranger or Morelli. Arg!).
The Calendar Girl books aren’t very long (maybe about 30,000 words, half or less of a full-length novel), and I’ve seen a lot of backlash against serials these days. Still, Carlan made this series work. For this reason alone, if you’re an author looking for successful model, this is a read for you!
Calendar Girl by Audrey Carlan
This recent series is a runaway success by an previously unknown author, so naturally I had to take a look. In a flooded romance market, what catches—and holds—readers’ attention? The premise doesn’t stand out in erotic romance: Young woman needs money for a morally strong reason, so she takes a job as a high-class escort. In the case of Calendar Girl, Mia’s aunt runs the escort service, which specializes in high-end clients for short-term, live-in arrangement… where sex is not an obligation
February 8, 2016
14 Classic Love Poems to Read Aloud
My Valentine's week project is here! Do romance readers also enjoy love poetry? I'm hoping the answer is yes. This is a little collection by Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Emily Dickinson and other classic poets of the English language, and each poem says something different about love. Here's wishing you a week full of love and romance, both in your reading and in your real life:)
February 3, 2016
Amazon Giveaway: Stockholm Diaries, Melanie
Enter this giveaway for an escape to Stockholm! (the paperback kind of escape:)
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/8c4a581...
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/8c4a581...
January 23, 2016
Cover Reveal...
Release date: February 8... just in time for Valentine's Day. Click here to preorder! P.S. Review of Kushiel's Dart coming soon... 
