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A review by becandbooks
The Right Thing to Do at the Time by Dov Zeller
Did not finish book.
DNF @ ~20%
I was really hopeful about this book - a Pride and Prejudice retelling with two queer, Jewish men? Of course I wanted to love it.
But I just could not trudge through the writing style. Or Ari's apathy.
The pacing of this story was way too slow. 20% into the book I felt as though nothing of real interest had happened. There was nothing captivating or intriguing about the plot. And the characters themselves were not saving the story for me either.
Ari was, sadly, a very stagnant character to me. Apathetic in everything he did, from avoiding relationships (sorry guys, ghosting in a HUGE personal peeve), to not quitting his violin lessons for SIX YEARS because his teacher wouldn't 'let him'. I understand being a person who avoids things or struggles with the motivation of certain tasks. But Ari was this to an extreme and, along with the slow pacing and lack of story, frankly it was the opposite of entertaining.
Now, I do want to note that while this wasn't a book for me reviews of this book seem to be one of two things: DNFs or 4/5 stars. There are also a number of own voices reviews who speak positivly of the representation in this book. And so I want to link you to own voice reviews by Ryan and Kuzu. Because I am neither trans nor Jewish nor a queer male. And perhaps this is part of the reason I did not feel engaged in the story.
I will also note that a lot of reviews discuss the first half of the book being a slug, but then the story and writing improves.
Either way, this was not a story for me.
More reviews | Twitter | Pinterest | Reading is air in my lungs, fire in my blood, company in my thoughts. (M. Naidoo)
I was really hopeful about this book - a Pride and Prejudice retelling with two queer, Jewish men? Of course I wanted to love it.
But I just could not trudge through the writing style. Or Ari's apathy.
The pacing of this story was way too slow. 20% into the book I felt as though nothing of real interest had happened. There was nothing captivating or intriguing about the plot. And the characters themselves were not saving the story for me either.
Ari was, sadly, a very stagnant character to me. Apathetic in everything he did, from avoiding relationships (sorry guys, ghosting in a HUGE personal peeve), to not quitting his violin lessons for SIX YEARS because his teacher wouldn't 'let him'. I understand being a person who avoids things or struggles with the motivation of certain tasks. But Ari was this to an extreme and, along with the slow pacing and lack of story, frankly it was the opposite of entertaining.
Now, I do want to note that while this wasn't a book for me reviews of this book seem to be one of two things: DNFs or 4/5 stars. There are also a number of own voices reviews who speak positivly of the representation in this book. And so I want to link you to own voice reviews by Ryan and Kuzu. Because I am neither trans nor Jewish nor a queer male. And perhaps this is part of the reason I did not feel engaged in the story.
I will also note that a lot of reviews discuss the first half of the book being a slug, but then the story and writing improves.
Either way, this was not a story for me.
More reviews | Twitter | Pinterest | Reading is air in my lungs, fire in my blood, company in my thoughts. (M. Naidoo)