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A review by kathleencoughlin
Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.25
For a book called Fiona and Jane, these characters almost never interacted. I thought certain elements of the book had a lot of potential, but the author really narrowed in on parts that seemed more mundane. For example, I'd have like to know more about how Fiona and Jane reunited in LA or more about Jane's relationship with her mom or how Fiona turned her romantic life around to go from divorcée to wife and mother. Instead, we hopped around their a stories in a way that felt rather disjointed. Maybe it was because several sections were previously published as short stories, but it just felt like half a story, like there was a chunk missing out of the middle. I also felt like Fiona and Jane's characterization was a bit inconsistant. Jane seemed more reserved but was also apparently the bad influence who convinced Fiona to steal several thousand dollars from a church? I guess, I was just disappointed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Suicide, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault
For a book called Fiona and Jane, these characters almost never interacted. I thought certain elements of the book had a lot of potential, but the author really narrowed in on parts that seemed more mundane. For example, I'd have like to know more about how Fiona and Jane reunited in LA or more about Jane's relationship with her mom or how Fiona turned her romantic life around to go from divorcée to wife and mother. Instead, we hopped around their a stories in a way that felt rather disjointed. Maybe it was because several sections were previously published as short stories, but it just felt like half a story, like there was a chunk missing out of the middle. I also felt like Fiona and Jane's characterization was a bit inconsistant. Jane seemed more reserved but was also apparently the bad influence who convinced Fiona to steal several thousand dollars from a church? I guess, I was just disappointed