Grace H. reviewed on
I wanted to like this book so much. I loved the movie and after watching it, I wanted to read the book but as my father warned me, "the movie is more connected and makes more sense than the book" and he couldn't have been more right.
First off, the language is unbearably difficult. Even though I'm college-educated, I had to have a dictionary on me just to make it through certain sections. I suppose it's part of the section's style and but you could tell it was written by a pretentious British man.
Second, I was especially disappointed by the sections in Hawaii. My family is from Hawaii and I was excited to read a book where people speak with a pidgin accent, like in the movie (which I give the movie serious props since pidgin is a hard accent to mimic). However, the accent was most definitely NOT pidgin. I tried saying the sentences aloud but all it sounded like some weird form of ebonics. I understand it's a "futuristic" pidgin but I would have thought that Mitchell had done some research before trying to write a pidgin accent.
Third, there is no connection between the stories, except for the vague birthmark that is never explained. Sure there are some overarching themes and ideas but it's not enough to create a satisfying ending. I felt no connection to any characters and their often depressing stories. I slogged through this book just to be frustrated at the end.
Overall, the biggest problem with this book for me is that it's not clear what it's trying to say or be. Is it a novel? Is it an exercise in writing different types of prose? Is it just short stories? Are they suppose to be connected? How am I suppose to feel by the end of the book? Awed? Questioning the great complexities of life ? For me, it just felt like Mitchell's was writing complicated literature not because he had anything to say but rather just to show off his skill.
First off, the language is unbearably difficult. Even though I'm college-educated, I had to have a dictionary on me just to make it through certain sections. I suppose it's part of the section's style and but you could tell it was written by a pretentious British man.
Second, I was especially disappointed by the sections in Hawaii. My family is from Hawaii and I was excited to read a book where people speak with a pidgin accent, like in the movie (which I give the movie serious props since pidgin is a hard accent to mimic). However, the accent was most definitely NOT pidgin. I tried saying the sentences aloud but all it sounded like some weird form of ebonics. I understand it's a "futuristic" pidgin but I would have thought that Mitchell had done some research before trying to write a pidgin accent.
Third, there is no connection between the stories, except for the vague birthmark that is never explained. Sure there are some overarching themes and ideas but it's not enough to create a satisfying ending. I felt no connection to any characters and their often depressing stories. I slogged through this book just to be frustrated at the end.
Overall, the biggest problem with this book for me is that it's not clear what it's trying to say or be. Is it a novel? Is it an exercise in writing different types of prose? Is it just short stories? Are they suppose to be connected? How am I suppose to feel by the end of the book? Awed? Questioning the great complexities of life ? For me, it just felt like Mitchell's was writing complicated literature not because he had anything to say but rather just to show off his skill.
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