Group Read - Out of the Blues final comments spoilers welcome

[Ann]

What did you think of the book? It is a debut novel - would you read another if Trudy Nan Boyce writes another? Did you listen to the audio or read a print copy? spoilers welcome!

[Russ]

I enjoyed it, Ann. I would read another, surely. I felt that the dialogue could have been crisper (the dialogue read like narrator prose with a lot of long, stilted sentences with big words), but the overall story and the vivid characters more than made up for it.

I used an e-reader, but given the bluesy content I feel like I should have read it in paperback.

[Ann]

Russ: A good comment on feeling like the version you read would have appropriate to the blues if in paperback rather than digital.
I listened to the audio which seemed like I should have had background blues playing as I listened. The flavor of the music, musicians and blues venues was palpable.
I will read another book with these characters if available.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Interesting comments about the medium. I also listened to the audio and the narrator I think did a bang-up job helping create the atmosphere of the book... slow, lazy, bluesy, with the tension ratcheting up. They might have been tempted to have blues music play more of a part (as in at the beginning and ending of a chapter) but I'm glad they didn't, that would have been gilding the lily. As I said in an earlier post, the narrator did attempt to speak the lyrics of some of the songs, and I guess she didn't have a choice. I could have done without that, I have to say. What did you think, Ann?

[Ann]

Carol, I agree, the bluesy feel on the audio delivered in the narration was very well done and while as I mentioned previously I wished for some blues background music playing softly while I listened when the scenes were taking place in the blues clubs, it was good that they refrained from musical interludes on the audio book. :)
Those are not used much on books I listen to, when the are, interludes of music sometimes jar you out of the story.

[Bruce]

I’m not sure that it’s required or even expected, but my overall rating of this book would be 4 out of 5 stars. It is a very good novel for a first-time author. I particularly liked the author’s portrayal of the lifestyle in Atlanta – Salt’s friends and their interactions, her budding sheep farm, the culture and feel of the city. And although I know nothing about the culture surrounding the blues, the descriptions felt real. The plot was solid, although it felt a bit predictable in places. And the ending was almost too good to be true, with Pearl and Anderson’s parents coming together. The pacing was good for me – enough action to hold my interest, interspersed with rich descriptions of life and the crime.

I liked Salt’s character a lot – tough, attractive, intuitive, passionate. In places, however, her personality seemed pushed a bit beyond believability, e.g., that she could do unauthorized surveillance on a complex, multi-murder investigation without any repercussions from police leadership in order to prove that a woman could handle the job. It almost proved the opposite to me. And clearly, I was a bit distracted by her intuitive ability that initially was described in terms that approached the paranormal, and later, in largely scientific terms, even though nothing apparent happened in the interim.

But perhaps my biggest disappointment in the story was how she handled her promise to Lil D not to reveal him as DeWare’s killer. The ‘if I don’t say it, it’s not a lie’ tactic seems rather childish; deliberately letting people interpret a situation incorrectly seems the worst of the available options. I would have preferred that she either shoulder the responsibility for the deceit and live with it, or turn in Lil D accompanied with the argument that his actions were self-defense as part of her rescue from certain death.

[Sandi]

I did end up enjoying the book and would read another if the author continues with the series. The first part was a little hard to get into for me and I was about 1/4 through until I got used to the author's rhythm and style. Since I knew the author was a former member of the Atlanta police I was expecting a more realistic procedural but found it more of a character driven suspense. I read the e-book version and think I probably would have given the book a higher rating if I had listened to the audio since some of the things that bothered me while reading would have just washed over me on audio.

Thanks Carol for all the great summaries and everyone for all the food for thought as I read.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Sandi, happy to do my part in the group reads. I'm glad you joined us and appreciate your review.

Bruce, I too noted that ways that Salt seemed to triumph almost more than was believable on her first few weeks on the job, and I too paused at her promise to Lil D. It was a small blip in an otherwise positive experience for me, but it was definitely there.

[Sherry]

Ann wrote: "What did you think of the book? It is a debut novel - would you read another if Trudy Nan Boyce writes another? Did you listen to the audio or read a print copy? spoilers welcome!"

i thought it was good read, liked it, but didn't love it. parts of the book felt a little disjointed to me, but i wonder if that was because i didn't read the beginning in one sitting, but over the course of a few days (darn work is cramping my reading time..lol). there were a lot of characters to keep straight and all the references back to things that had happened in the past (salt's father's death, the incident with stone) made me feel that there was a book that i had missed, even though this was a debut novel.

loved reading the summaries - excellent job, carol- and everyone's comments.

[Jack]

I agree with you sherry and felt that beginning was tricky to take in. A lot of important information got laid out and everything happened so fast. I also find it disjointed and hard to follow when authors jump to new scenes abruptly without the internal dialogue to tell us whats happening and set the scene. It keeps making you feel there's a page missing and have to go back to check.

[Sherry]

Jack wrote: "It keeps making you feel there's a page missing and have to go back to check. "

perfect way to put it, jack. i actually did that a few times and even though i knew this was a debut book, checked the front cover to see if there had been a previous book.

[Ann]

Sherry and Jack:
Interesting point, and on audio; feeling as if you've missed a page is more common, so perhaps forgiven more easily. But still best if that doesn't happen.
Sherry wrote: "Jack wrote: "It keeps making you feel there's a page missing and have to go back to check. "

perfect way to put it, jack. i actually did that a few times and even though i knew this was a debut bo..."

[Russ]

Trudy Nan Boyce will be speaking at my local library this week. Anybody have a question you'd like me to ask her?

[Sandi]

Russ wrote: "Trudy Nan Boyce will be speaking at my local library this week. Anybody have a question you'd like me to ask her?"

Thanks for letting us know about the event. I did not realize her new book was out and was able to put a hold on the kindle version at the library. The summary of the book makes it look pretty interesting.

Hope you have a great time.

[Shomeret]

Sandi wrote: "Russ wrote: "Trudy Nan Boyce will be speaking at my local library this week. Anybody have a question you'd like me to ask her?"

Thanks for letting us know about the event. I did not realize her ne..."

Thanks for letting us know about book 2 in this series, Sandi. I put it on my list of books to request when I get a hold slot. The library systems that I use limit holds.

[Ann]

Hope you enjoyed the book event Russ! I couldn't think of a question, but am thrilled book two is out! Old Bones
Russ wrote: "Trudy Nan Boyce will be speaking at my local library this week. Anybody have a question you'd like me to ask her?"

[Russ]

It was good! Boyce came across as a thoughtful, analytical, & wise soul.

[Ann]

Russ: good to know! I love getting the opportunity to see and hear authors speak on their work!
Russ wrote: "It was good! Boyce came across as a thoughtful, analytical, & wise soul."

[Carol/Bonadie]

Sandi, thanks for the tip about book 2 being out. I put a hold on the audio and HC versions, not that I have any time to read/listen in the foreseeable future!