Helpful Score: 4
I,too,along w. many other readers was sorely disappointed in this book after being so entranced w. Time Travellers Wife. While I was delighted w. Ms.Niffeneggers' tale of love through time & dimension- I now think it was merely a fluke because she stumbled and fell flat into the mud with "Fearful Symmetry"- and I came away hoping that she will not try any further ventures into metaphysical territory!
The story does take ages to develop- after a brief introduction the supposedly main character of the ghost utterly disappears from the story 'till midway through the book.
After that things deteriorate to the point of losing any charm or willing suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader. The last 3-4 short chapters are rather brutishly shoved in as tho' the author had simply run out of story and hastily threw together a few clumsy, out-of-the-blue "explanations" just to finish the damn thing and get it off to the publisher.
It was especially annoying that communication between the young sisters was just "there" in the next to last chapter- with no explanation- when it was completely missing in the previous few chapters. Just put in to wrap something up -badly. As was the final chapter.
It was easy to figure out the "secrets" AGES before they were revealed and that made the book plod on even more slowly-- in addition to the revelation being confusingly written making it difficult to keep who was who straight.
I had high hopes for this new novel- but they were dashed most cruelly and it will be with great caution that I pick up another book by Ms. Niffeneger. Will check it out of the library after looking it thru - most definitely won't jump into the purchase line at the bookstore....
The story does take ages to develop- after a brief introduction the supposedly main character of the ghost utterly disappears from the story 'till midway through the book.
After that things deteriorate to the point of losing any charm or willing suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader. The last 3-4 short chapters are rather brutishly shoved in as tho' the author had simply run out of story and hastily threw together a few clumsy, out-of-the-blue "explanations" just to finish the damn thing and get it off to the publisher.
It was especially annoying that communication between the young sisters was just "there" in the next to last chapter- with no explanation- when it was completely missing in the previous few chapters. Just put in to wrap something up -badly. As was the final chapter.
It was easy to figure out the "secrets" AGES before they were revealed and that made the book plod on even more slowly-- in addition to the revelation being confusingly written making it difficult to keep who was who straight.
I had high hopes for this new novel- but they were dashed most cruelly and it will be with great caution that I pick up another book by Ms. Niffeneger. Will check it out of the library after looking it thru - most definitely won't jump into the purchase line at the bookstore....
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