Comments on: Review: Vera and the Ambassador http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/ A bookworm journalist blogs on literature and life Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:26:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: Review: French Milk http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4636 Review: French Milk Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:43:29 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4636 [...] Long Review: Despite my lackluster book summary, I did really enjoy French Milk. As a narrator and writer, Lucy is warm, funny, and self-deprecating. She appreciates the sites and sounds of Paris, but isn’t afraid to share when she’s upset, missing home, or feeling frustrated with her vacation. That sort of honesty was nice, and kept the book from being too sappy or cliched (especially given the other memoir I read recently). [...] [...] Long Review: Despite my lackluster book summary, I did really enjoy French Milk. As a narrator and writer, Lucy is warm, funny, and self-deprecating. She appreciates the sites and sounds of Paris, but isn’t afraid to share when she’s upset, missing home, or feeling frustrated with her vacation. That sort of honesty was nice, and kept the book from being too sappy or cliched (especially given the other memoir I read recently). [...]

]]> By: Kim http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4592 Kim Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:53:02 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4592 softdrink: It is pretty dry -- some parts could have been interesting but just weren't. I liked the perspective though, an outsider/insider exploring a country. And I like government diplomacy and stuff, so that's why the angle seemed like it had potential for me. softdrink: It is pretty dry — some parts could have been interesting but just weren’t. I liked the perspective though, an outsider/insider exploring a country. And I like government diplomacy and stuff, so that’s why the angle seemed like it had potential for me.

]]> By: Kim http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4591 Kim Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:51:50 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4591 Rebecca: My rating might be a little bit harsh, since it probably reflects my disappointment more than it reflects the merits of the book. But I was really bummed the book wasn't better because I wanted it to be. Rebecca: My rating might be a little bit harsh, since it probably reflects my disappointment more than it reflects the merits of the book. But I was really bummed the book wasn’t better because I wanted it to be.

]]> By: Kim http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4590 Kim Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:50:48 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4590 Nymeth: I definitely did! I checked out some new fiction, <i>Waiting for Columbus</i>, from the library and finished it in about three days -- it was great! Nymeth: I definitely did! I checked out some new fiction, Waiting for Columbus, from the library and finished it in about three days — it was great!

]]> By: Kim http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4589 Kim Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:50:01 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4589 Kathy: It has such potential -- I wanted it to be great, so much, but it just didn't work well for me. Kathy: It has such potential — I wanted it to be great, so much, but it just didn’t work well for me.

]]> By: Kim http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4588 Kim Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:49:29 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4588 Kailana: It did pick up near the end, after the part where I contemplated not finishing. I'm glad I read it, even if in the end I wasn't that impressed. Kailana: It did pick up near the end, after the part where I contemplated not finishing. I’m glad I read it, even if in the end I wasn’t that impressed.

]]> By: Kim http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4587 Kim Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:48:46 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4587 Lisa: Yes, you're right. Structure is really important to good memoir. Sometimes snippets work, but if you're telling a story with progressive momentum, the storylines need to be chronological. It's really hard to make non-chronological work well (even though lots of people try!). Lisa: Yes, you’re right. Structure is really important to good memoir. Sometimes snippets work, but if you’re telling a story with progressive momentum, the storylines need to be chronological. It’s really hard to make non-chronological work well (even though lots of people try!).

]]> By: Kim http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4586 Kim Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:47:26 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4586 Nicole: I feel the same way -- if you're going to write a memoir, don't skim over the events because you're worried about hurting someone's feelings or something. That's what makes it interesting! Nicole: I feel the same way — if you’re going to write a memoir, don’t skim over the events because you’re worried about hurting someone’s feelings or something. That’s what makes it interesting!

]]> By: softdrink http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4464 softdrink Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:58:47 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4464 I saw Rebecca's review yesterday and thought it sounded dry. I'd be much more interested in a story focusing on Hungary. I saw Rebecca’s review yesterday and thought it sounded dry. I’d be much more interested in a story focusing on Hungary.

]]> By: Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/2009/10/review-vera-and-the-ambassador/comment-page-1/#comment-4463 Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:48:28 +0000 http://www.sophisticateddorkiness.com/?p=3585#comment-4463 I had much the same reaction when I reviewed it yesterday (read my review <a href="http://thebookladysblog.com/2009/10/20/book-review-vera-and-the-ambassador-by-vera-and-donald-blinken/" rel="nofollow"> here </a> ) but I did give a higher rating b/c the story was interesting...just hard to find. I hate it when books have such potential and just don't live up. I had much the same reaction when I reviewed it yesterday (read my review here ) but I did give a higher rating b/c the story was interesting…just hard to find.

I hate it when books have such potential and just don’t live up.

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