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The Last Camellia

Sarah Jio

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Discussion leader: Justin Melter

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May 05, 2013 Justin Melter rated it liked it

Shelves: first-reads

**For the FULL REVIEW on this book check out HTTP://WWW.LAZYDAY.CA**
Firstly, I must say I won this as a Good Reads First Reads. So thanks to Good Reads, Penguin Canada and Sarah Jio for allowing me to read this. I had to laugh as it is definitely the most interestingly printed ARC I have yet to review! Not only was the book backwards printed, but also upside down! Needless to say it screwed me up a few times!

The Last Camellia was a decent story but sadly I must say was predictable, I had the t **For the FULL REVIEW on this book check out HTTP://WWW.LAZYDAY.CA**
Firstly, I must say I won this as a Good Reads First Reads. So thanks to Good Reads, Penguin Canada and Sarah Jio for allowing me to read this. I had to laugh as it is definitely the most interestingly printed ARC I have yet to review! Not only was the book backwards printed, but also upside down! Needless to say it screwed me up a few times!

The Last Camellia was a decent story but sadly I must say was predictable, I had the the idea of the ending/mystery story before page 70 and the majority of the rest worked out before page 150. The story I felt as if it was dragged out in some parts, not explored enough in others and ended abruptly all around. Even though the story seemed to flow overall well enough, it seemed with the abruptness of how everything "came together" (which I think could have been made much more suspenseful)I just felt a little bit cheated at the end, as if there could have been much more excitement.

I like to give credit where it is due and the character's were well developed and believable. The settings were nicely described for the most part especially the descriptions of the gardens/flowers/trees/camellias. The writing was good, not repetitive or rash, with a good use of language. The dual story lines as I like to call them was used effectively, jumping from the 1940's to modern day, showing the struggles, as well as similarities of plight, of the two main characters.

Another interesting note concerns another ARC which I have recently had the opportunity of reading and reviewing. It seems strikingly similar to a book titled The Lavender Garden. If you happen to enjoy this, I would point you in that direction as it has the same 1940's to modern day jumping, old manor, gardens, etc. Kind of funny how these very two similar stories are coming out very close to one another.

Thank you again to Penguin Canada, Sarah Jio and Good Reads for letting me read it, I did enjoy it.

**For the FULL REVIEW on this book check out HTTP://WWW.LAZYDAY.CA**
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May 03, 2013 Justin Melter marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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