A review by paperbackd
Out of the Easy, by Ruta Sepetys
3.0
Gorgeously written and vividly brought to life, Ruta Sepetys' latest historical YA novel tells the story of Josie Moraine, the daughter of a prostitute in the French Quarter of New Orleans, who longs to escape the Big Easy and enrol at Smith, one of the most prestigious American colleges for girls in 1950.
Readers expecting a grand mystery/adventure with a clearly structured beginning, middle, and end will be disappointed; Sepetys focuses on her characters and expanding her world rather than weaving together a conventional storyline. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - her characters were fantastic creations - but it did make the bulk of the book drag slightly, and I felt that the ending fell flat after only a few chapters of build-up. Nevertheless, Sepetys' richly envisioned New Orleans and her ambitious main character made Out of the Easy worth the read. The class divisions, culture, and general atmosphere of New Orleans in the early 1950s were well-written and obviously painstakingly researched. Josie was a brilliantly cunning and starry-eyed narrator who worked tirelessly for her dreams, even when she looked sure to fail. I have to be blunt - the ending seemed like a cop-out to me; I was sure that Josie would have to pay a far higher price for her own mistakes and the ruthlessness of those around her. Still, Josie's journey was inspirational and I'm glad I read it. This was my first Ruta Sepetys novel, and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd.
Readers expecting a grand mystery/adventure with a clearly structured beginning, middle, and end will be disappointed; Sepetys focuses on her characters and expanding her world rather than weaving together a conventional storyline. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - her characters were fantastic creations - but it did make the bulk of the book drag slightly, and I felt that the ending fell flat after only a few chapters of build-up. Nevertheless, Sepetys' richly envisioned New Orleans and her ambitious main character made Out of the Easy worth the read. The class divisions, culture, and general atmosphere of New Orleans in the early 1950s were well-written and obviously painstakingly researched. Josie was a brilliantly cunning and starry-eyed narrator who worked tirelessly for her dreams, even when she looked sure to fail. I have to be blunt - the ending seemed like a cop-out to me; I was sure that Josie would have to pay a far higher price for her own mistakes and the ruthlessness of those around her. Still, Josie's journey was inspirational and I'm glad I read it. This was my first Ruta Sepetys novel, and I'm looking forward to reading more from her.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review cross-posted to Paperback'd.