Helpful Score: 6
From the moment I first heard of INSATIABLEs plot, I was tempted. Curiously enough, I do not have vampire burnout like most avid readers apparently do. Unfortunately, INSATIABLE was a plotting and characterization disappointment, an ambitious novel that failed to entirely put the chick lit into the bit lit.
I never fully connected with Meena being the anti-vampire-obsessed modern woman. She is introduced to us as an independent and responsible woman who disdains the romanticization of vampires. However, it is not long before Meena herself perfectly fits the stereotypical role of smart-ass damsel-in-distress. Inexplicably two men who are enemies of one another find themselves attracted to her, and mostly because of her soft, exposed skin. Say what? Is this vampire lit or a more feminist Twilight for the adult audience? Obviously I felt little attraction within the love triangle, which felt forced.
In fact, most of the story feels extremelywell, structurally fictional. Obviously I know this is fiction, but Im referring here to the way some stories, whether realistic or fantasy, draw us in so completely that we do not stop and question the veracity of the situations but rather find ourselves right there alongside the characters. This was not the case with INSATIABLE. The typical Meg Cabot narration in this storycharacters constantly trying to rationalize scenarios in their heads, going off on tangents, bringing themselves back on track, going off on a rationalizing tangent againdidnt work with the world she tried to set up here. I never felt connected with lives being at stake, and more often than not was not aware that major conflicts were going on, so roundabout and unfortunately petty were the characters inner monologues and plodding dialogue. I put down the book with less than 100 pages to go, feeling no need to know how the story ends.
INSATIABLE, sadly, has the same problem that many of Meg Cabots books seem to have: there is a uncomfortable lack of heart and commitment to the stories. I realize I cant make any assumptions about what these stories mean to the author. But 30- or 40-something books later, I find myself wondering whether or not Meg Cabot is putting as much into her books as she did with her earlier books.
I never fully connected with Meena being the anti-vampire-obsessed modern woman. She is introduced to us as an independent and responsible woman who disdains the romanticization of vampires. However, it is not long before Meena herself perfectly fits the stereotypical role of smart-ass damsel-in-distress. Inexplicably two men who are enemies of one another find themselves attracted to her, and mostly because of her soft, exposed skin. Say what? Is this vampire lit or a more feminist Twilight for the adult audience? Obviously I felt little attraction within the love triangle, which felt forced.
In fact, most of the story feels extremelywell, structurally fictional. Obviously I know this is fiction, but Im referring here to the way some stories, whether realistic or fantasy, draw us in so completely that we do not stop and question the veracity of the situations but rather find ourselves right there alongside the characters. This was not the case with INSATIABLE. The typical Meg Cabot narration in this storycharacters constantly trying to rationalize scenarios in their heads, going off on tangents, bringing themselves back on track, going off on a rationalizing tangent againdidnt work with the world she tried to set up here. I never felt connected with lives being at stake, and more often than not was not aware that major conflicts were going on, so roundabout and unfortunately petty were the characters inner monologues and plodding dialogue. I put down the book with less than 100 pages to go, feeling no need to know how the story ends.
INSATIABLE, sadly, has the same problem that many of Meg Cabots books seem to have: there is a uncomfortable lack of heart and commitment to the stories. I realize I cant make any assumptions about what these stories mean to the author. But 30- or 40-something books later, I find myself wondering whether or not Meg Cabot is putting as much into her books as she did with her earlier books.
Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
