Shatter Me
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What were the editors thinking?
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The prose is more poetic than literal. There are lots of sentences like this, completely impossible wording and hyperbole. It's all part of the narrative style.
Laura wrote: "The prose is more poetic than literal. There are lots of sentences like this, completely impossible wording and hyperbole. It's all part of the narrative style."I understand, but the style was completely ineffective.
Why did she have to use that particular hyperbole to express that she was shocked? She repeats it at least 3 or 4 separate times. And because of the random, yet specific, use of the word "shoelace", it makes the reader try to picture someone's jaw literally hanging from a shoelace before they realize was Mafi was trying to say.
Her prose hinders the message she's trying to send because she's trying too hard.
Andi wrote: "Laura wrote: "The prose is more poetic than literal. There are lots of sentences like this, completely impossible wording and hyperbole. It's all part of the narrative style."I understand, but th..."
I did find the style a bit thick at times but overall it was effective for me. And I think that is why the editor didn't stop her. Books can't appeal to everyone and people have different tastes. There is no one way.
I actually like her writing style. It's poetic and I feel like I'm reading literature... I don't mind her use of words and descriptions.
Parmida wrote: "I actually like her writing style. It's poetic and I feel like I'm reading literature... I don't mind her use of words and descriptions."I´m agree with you! Her writing style is different, unlike anything I´ve read. I think is kinda dramatic, in the good way. Is unique. Loved it.
Parmida wrote: "I actually like her writing style. It's poetic and I feel like I'm reading literature... I don't mind her use of words and descriptions."Unfortunately I have to disagree. It sounds super snobby but I fail to see how her words are truly poetic or carry and real literary merit. She tries wayyyy too hard with her metaphors and prose and overdoes it to the point of ridiculousness. I believe there's a certain restraint that should be shown when trying to write poetic prose--mainly that it shouldn't be done for the sake of it, but to communicate as effectively as possible. Mafi's prose simply got away from her in my opinion.
Her repetition accomplishes nothing, nothing, nothing. Every other sentence is metaphor describing the most insignificant of events so they lose their effect in the long run. Hardly any of her metaphors make any sense and many of them are just flat out unnecessary.
Example:
An average writer would have said "The walls were blue", but Mafi chooses to say "The walls were wallpapered with the cloth the color of a perfect summer sky".
Had the color of said walls been of any importance to the story then perhaps I'd be more tolerant of the purple prose. Instead, it's just an another completely heavy-handed phrase that makes me think Mafi is writing this and saying to herself "Oh I'm just so clever!!!".
Her writing style is probably the most frequently mentioned critique of the reviews on here so I'm surprised her editor(s) didn't catch this one...
Andi wrote: "I read this book a while ago but I still
cannot get over the fact that this terrible prose actually made it through an editor.
Like, someone actually FOR REAL read this sentence and thought i..."
That was one of the few phrases that confused me too! I'm a little on the fence with this one because I liked it for the plot, but as for Juliette and her love interests and the writing style I hate it.
Andi wrote: "Parmida wrote: "I actually like her writing style. It's poetic and I feel like I'm reading literature... I don't mind her use of words and descriptions."Unfortunately I have to disagree. It sound..."
I guess everyone has their own view on what's beautiful in literature right?
To you and many others it may seem like trying too hard but I like how she puts thought, effort and imagination into her expressions,thus creating new creative phrases. Many times I have bookmarked my pages for some really clever phrases Tahereh invented.
I understand you may think of it as trying too hard to sound smart but I personally like reading sentences and expressions written unlike every other YA author these days, don't get me wrong I LOVE every single YA author it's just that I have a lot of respect for Tahereh and her time spent creating clever words and descriptions for the situations.
I'm sorry if that doesn't make any sense!:(
Parmida wrote: "Andi wrote: "Parmida wrote: "I actually like her writing style. It's poetic and I feel like I'm reading literature... I don't mind her use of words and descriptions."."
No, I think it's awesome that there are fans who did enjoy this writing style! :D At least this book was easy for them to get through hahaha :P
To be fair to Mafi, there was probably at least one or two sentences in this book that I thought was actually not too shabby.
Andi wrote: "Parmida wrote: "Andi wrote: "Parmida wrote: "I actually like her writing style. It's poetic and I feel like I'm reading literature... I don't mind her use of words and descriptions."."
No, I thin..."
I'm glad we see eye to eye!:)
At first, I liked Mafi's style. It conveyed the drama and hopelessness of Juliette's situation in her jail cell. And remember, this is is supposed to read like a diary, so a little bit of exaggeration is expected.But as the book went on, the imagery got more and more ridiculous. And I just cannot take the book seriously.
i am no fan of this trilogy at all.
I think that you are forgetting that the narrator is partially insane, it is very annoying but still I think it was meant to show what her mind was like.
Actually I think that, along with the intention of giving a more poetic prose, the writer wanted to convey the degree of madness that Juliet was in the first book.She was locked up for a year without another human contact, unless you call the torture sessions contact. She was already a lonely girl, and being incarcerated degraded her mind.
Then, later in the book 2, although Juliet still gives us some absurd (but beatiful) observations, we can see that her mind is coming together and she can have more lucid and reasonable thoughts.
Then in the third book, she has completely come together - in her act and her mind - and we are introduced to a strong and decided girl who will not let the world suppress her anymore.
Actually, I think that Taheren Mafi is quite smart. She writes in a way that is plausible and reasonable. It would be pretty difficult to believe that Juliet goes from slighty mad and weak girl to super strong and power-woman in the blink of the day. The progression is slow, she has her ups and downs, and when she finally gets her act together it is believable.
In spite of all, I was not bothered by the disconnected sentences in the book (as I said before, I think it was to gives us a glimpse of her madness) and was touched when I read passages like this one:
“I've been screaming for years and no one has ever heard me.”
Nalu.chan wrote: "Actually I think that, along with the intention of giving a more poetic prose, the writer wanted to convey the degree of madness that Juliet was in the first book.She was locked up for a year wit..."
Well, I suppose that's one way to look at. If I were writing this book and my protagonist was so mad and unhinged from reality, then I'd have narrated the whole thing in 3rd person so we'd only have to experience the MC's atrocious prose in small snippets.
Personally, I think Mafi was trying to be "poetic" with her first book but her efforts fell flat so she completely got rid of them in the later books.
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rated it 4 stars
If you read the entire trilogy, it becomes obvious that the purple prose of the first book was reflective of the MC's unhinged mental state and lack of socialization. Nearly all of it is gone by the third, once the MC is normalized and out in society (some remains, as it should since it was her personality).So no, not about a certain weird style on the author's part.
✿Lilac✿ wrote: "At first, I liked Mafi's style. It conveyed the drama and hopelessness of Juliette's situation in her jail cell. And remember, this is is supposed to read like a diary, so a little bit of exaggerat..."i agree .. in the book 2 i got annoyed by jul. shes snob and i suddenly i just dont get her point
From the time they ran away and got to Adam's apartment I can't continue to read, so boring...
Andi wrote: "I read this book a while ago but I still
cannot get over the fact that this terrible prose actually made it through an editor.
Like, someone actually FOR REAL read this sentence and thought i..."
I really like her creative writing, its poetic, dramatic and also gives the reader a lot more interest in reading. I don't know why it irritates you though it is very special in a sense. And this series is just unforgettable. I loved Tahereh Mafi's work, I hope she writes more.
I liked some of the descriptions, but I do have to say some of them were overboard. I remember a part saying something similar to this:"I decide to wash my face. The idea invigorates me, then I suddenly feel [ashamed]."
The over-use of poetic devices really slowed down the book for me, and it sounded like the author tried too hard.
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Like, someone actually FOR REAL read this sentence and thought it was ok:
"My jaw is dangling from my shoelace".
Someone please explain how this could have possibly happened.