Questions About Do Not Become Alarmed

by Maile Meloy (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (5)

I thought I'd try this one but the Amazon reviews are nothing short of vitriolic. Can anyone try to explain to me what they hated so much? I read very gritty novels so if it's just sex and bad language that is not going to phase me...but weak writing will.

Emily Goode I didn't think the characters were well developed at all and their reactions to terrible events seemed a little nonchalant. At one point during the ki…moreI didn't think the characters were well developed at all and their reactions to terrible events seemed a little nonchalant. At one point during the kidnapping the 11 year old boy develops a crush on the 14 year old girl and he thinks to himself that in twenty years their age difference won't matter. I just don't think an 11 year old boy who has been kidnapped in a foreign country and is concerned with a health problem would be thinking this particular thought. This is just one example that bothered me; there were plenty more, including Raymond's reaction when Nora told him the truth. I also didn't like that the author used very short sentences throughout the book, which made it seem like an elementary level book, while writing about some subject matter that is very dark. (less)

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