YA Fiction Books, Readers, Writers, and Reviewers discussion
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Venom
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September BOTM VENOM by Fiona Paul
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Mod
Anyone else dug in yet?
Really?!? I'd never heard of it and was going to pass this month but maybe I'll try to get a hold of a copy
Mod
You totally should!! I suggest ebook or trying to find in a library. There are several different covers, so look for the title :)
LH
My library has it. I'm in the middle of reading two other books right now but I'll pick this one up too
Thanks for messaging me, LH! Our library has it so I'll pick it up within the next few days. Looking forward to it.
Mod
:) I'm glad to get more people on board with it!
LH
I'll be starting it right away here. I'm so excited to dig into this one.
Mod
I will be straight, I have a series I'm working on that ties in heavily to 16th century Italy so i've done quite a bit of research and while there are several pretty large inaccuracies, I almost don't mind them because the world building is pretty solid. But then I am usually somewhat forgiving of things like that because we as authors are entitled to build our world the way we see it.
Even if you haven't read the book, what are your thoughts on this particular question overall in YA books?
~LH
I have not read the book but I believe it depends on how big these inaccuracies are and if they take the reader out of the story. It's like the scene in "Somewhere in Time" when Christopher Reeve finds a modern-day penny in his pocket and it yanks him back to present day. Also, is is obvious to the average reader or only somebody who knows this era/setting intimately. As a historical novelist myself, I strive to make my stories as authentic as possible. But that doesn't mean, mistakes are impossible. I agree we can create our settings within our fictional world, but...I think we have to strive to make that world as authentic as possible. Otherwise we shouldn't call it "historical" fiction.
L.H. wrote: "I am curious to know what you guys think about the historical setting of all this."Hi, LH. I'm partway into the book. To this (not well informed) reader, it feels historically sound. Can you share the inaccuracies you've noted? I'm interested!
Mod
Hi, LH. I'm partway into the book. To this (not well informed) reader, it feels historically sound...."
For me the biggest thing was the heroine's attitude and the way she just flitted about on her own so much, and got into such a scandal with her bad boy artist. Those things did happen back then, but they almost always came out, and she should have been more worried about her reputation, her family's reputation and her arranged marriage being effected by what she did. But like I said, I didn't mind those things and like Annette said above you have to have a working knowledge of that period to really see the differences. I only have it because of my own book that has characters from that era in Italy.
But lie Fiona Paul, I plan on making my own tweaks but maintaining an authentic feel.
How are your thought outside the historical stuff?
~LH
Still only partway in. I like the setting and find some details really add to my enjoyment of the story--the lion that takes anonymous accusations, the citizens' attitudes toward the guard (=useless), veiling the picture of the Virgin Mary before doing something vain, the chopines, etc.I would have liked a bigger buy-in up front: a reason to really care about Cass and sympathize with her. (Other readers may have found that at Liviana's funeral, or with the looming arranged marriage.)
Re historical accuracy: I love it when an author tells a great story where the characters are convincingly of their time, but this is rare. Mad Men is great, and it's fascinating to see how different the characters' attitudes are. We love them despite their chauvinism and littering, etc--but it can be difficult to be historically accurate and yet maintain reader sympathy for the characters. And the time period of that show is only 50 yrs ago! Going back centuries is daunting. So in general, like most romance readers, I'm quite happy with more modern heroes and heroines.
I finished Venom recently.I thought a lot about the story worked. There was danger and an unexpected ending that left room for more books and the heroine saw the merits of both suitors--and the downsides of both. And for me, the historical details were fascinating.
I would have like the heroine to have more agency. In a lot of YAs, even if we know the heroine's idea may end badly, we see her striving with urgency and making choices to act in search of a goal. This heroine had goals, but seemed to rely on others to come up with plans/implementations, instead of being the driving force who cared desperately and tried to make things happen. I think that left me less involved with the book.
The scenes I liked best were the active ones where she chose to act against explicit orders. I think the author has the motivation for the character, but it didn't come across clearly for me on the page.
I agree with Kate's comments on the book.I'm really more of a book appreciator than a book critic, but--in the spirit of this group--I'll try to specify how I think the book could have been strengthened.
I think this story could have benefited from a more intense, gothic atmosphere--certainly, historical Venice is ideally suited to that. (view spoiler)
I was impressed by the author's command of the historical period, but the careful detailing of everything had a sort of flattening effect on the narrative. I felt that I was looking at a portrait with no difference in level of attention and detail between the foreground and background. Because of this, Cass and her troubles didn't hold my attention as strongly as they could have. I found myself struggling, occasionally, to keep track of who the characters were.
What did everyone else think about the book? Did you feel the love triangle was successful?
I am very excited to see what we all think!
Enjoy the reading and feel free to start posting here whenever you feel like it :)
~LH