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dragonflymorning's review against another edition
Couldn’t get past the writing style even though the story line intrigued me. I should have known better since Mark Twain’s southern dialogue drives me nuts.
serinde4books's review against another edition
So I picked up this book because I read the review by Oprah, and it had lots of high rating on Good Reads, it sounded interesting. And I'm sure it is, I'm invested in the story I want to read it and find out what happens. The problem is that it is written in this horrible language, like Ebonics. It is horrid to read and distracts so much from the story that I wouldn't force myself to finish. I got about through chapter 9 (56 pages) and I decided that I have limited reading time and I couldn't justify torturing myself with this, when reading is my one guilty pleasure. The reviews all complimented Newman on her language skills and how poetic and touching the writing was. I couldn't swallow it. It was torture not poetry to me. I want to know what happens, it seems fascinating, but until it is translated into normal English I will have to let it go.
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com
For additional reviews please see my blog at www.adventuresofabibliophile.blogspot.com
bsmith27's review against another edition
3.0
Story about future America. A world where you don't live past 20. A young girl fights to find a cure. Written in broken english.
ismelllikebooks's review against another edition
1.0
"And I cannot see how any child can be forgiven. I try to think of people who hurt no one, but cannot see them different. Circumstances be, they find the evil that they do."
What I appreciated: The creation of the language of this book is pretty amazing. Ice Cream is headstrong and her strength is (sometimes) admirable.
What I took issue with: This is a 600 page 200 page story. It is unnecessarily long given what actually happens. The language, while very inventive and impressive, hindered the story. Like 3D is to movies, the language of this book was to the story. I was never able to stop trying to read it, never able to just sink into the narrative and engage with the characters. The last half of the book was a slog. Ice Cream was strong but frustrating, her devotions and decisions seemed very random and worked against establishing her character.
The elevator pitch for my clone: Don’t read this. Remember the Glass Bead Game? This is that all over again. You’re just going to be frustrated and, in the end, you’re not going to have enjoyed the story that much and will be pissy about having spent an entire week on reading it.
What I appreciated: The creation of the language of this book is pretty amazing. Ice Cream is headstrong and her strength is (sometimes) admirable.
What I took issue with: This is a 600 page 200 page story. It is unnecessarily long given what actually happens. The language, while very inventive and impressive, hindered the story. Like 3D is to movies, the language of this book was to the story. I was never able to stop trying to read it, never able to just sink into the narrative and engage with the characters. The last half of the book was a slog. Ice Cream was strong but frustrating, her devotions and decisions seemed very random and worked against establishing her character.
The elevator pitch for my clone: Don’t read this. Remember the Glass Bead Game? This is that all over again. You’re just going to be frustrated and, in the end, you’re not going to have enjoyed the story that much and will be pissy about having spent an entire week on reading it.
renaissancejess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jessisamess's review against another edition
it was such an interesting concept, but the dialect really threw me off, which is strange because normally i don’t have a problem with it. i think it was poorly done here and it doesn’t help that there is already so much lore to try and learn and then you throw in a completely different narrative voice. i did really like ice cream as a character, i liked the way religion is described and the ideas of different factions. but even when crow said he was queer (at least in the dialect anyway) it came across as just another fad that the book could use and that is what the book feels like. a poor attempt at a fad. the only reason i read this far was to potentially see if ice cream does end up with the lowells, but i guess i will never know :(
rachel_ls_gebauer's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. Wow. Just wow. This book was amazing. I will say that it took me a while to get into the rhythm of the created dialect the book is written in, but sticking with it pays off. I do think, despite some reviewers complaints, that this dialect/language enhances the novel. I so love the protagonist/ heroine, Ice Cream Star. The character development is well done. We are basically in her head for the whole book... I'm impressed by her intelligence, bravery, and her heart, all of which are revealed over the course of the story. Move over Katniss, make some space for Ice Cream, she's the real deal!
anabelstl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
amiefw's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and War