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A review by jenbsbooks
The Clock Keeper by Melissa Delport
3.0
3.5 stars. After loving "The Legacy" series, I figured I'd give other books by this author a try. I liked this, didn't love it. The constant switching back and forth from the present to the past was a little grating on me (another recent read "The Boy Who Dared" had a similar set-up, although not much was happening in the present, it was mostly all the past). Although it was pretty clearly labeled (with spacing/date) there was a time or two when it shifted time frames and I got a little confused.
There wasn't a lot of introduction to the basic storyline, we had to figure it out. The whole "hall of clocks" and the clock keeper (so, they are just watching over the clocks, but not really doing anything?) and the Guild and founding families keeping time intact ... other than this one "Anna incident" had there been any other possible time disruptions? I was just never quite sure of what all they were doing, and why ...
So, it's my assumption that this author is a Brit. Although all her books I've read have been about Americans, set in America ... the alternate (and I admit, accepted) British spellings of words abound. To me, even something as simple as spelling sets a tone. I guess I feel if the characters are American and this is taking place in the US, that should affect the spelling. If the characters were British, and/or this was taking place in the UK, then the alternate spelling would make sense, and even add to the ambiance. (sleight, specialises, fibre, organisation, meagre, realised, jewellery, cancelled, prise, favourite, harboured, centre, pyjamas, publicise, scrutinising, sombre, recognising, neighbourhood, humour, manoeuvre, galvanised) same for descriptions of items (torch, mobile, notes). These British alternatives seem out of place and they break up the continuity and feel for me.
I liked the little non de plume "Hope Foreman" (that's clever) and the simile "Her hairline and eyebrows pull together as it there's a party they're both desperate to attend" ;)
There wasn't a lot of introduction to the basic storyline, we had to figure it out. The whole "hall of clocks" and the clock keeper (so, they are just watching over the clocks, but not really doing anything?) and the Guild and founding families keeping time intact ... other than this one "Anna incident" had there been any other possible time disruptions? I was just never quite sure of what all they were doing, and why ...
So, it's my assumption that this author is a Brit. Although all her books I've read have been about Americans, set in America ... the alternate (and I admit, accepted) British spellings of words abound. To me, even something as simple as spelling sets a tone. I guess I feel if the characters are American and this is taking place in the US, that should affect the spelling. If the characters were British, and/or this was taking place in the UK, then the alternate spelling would make sense, and even add to the ambiance. (sleight, specialises, fibre, organisation, meagre, realised, jewellery, cancelled, prise, favourite, harboured, centre, pyjamas, publicise, scrutinising, sombre, recognising, neighbourhood, humour, manoeuvre, galvanised) same for descriptions of items (torch, mobile, notes). These British alternatives seem out of place and they break up the continuity and feel for me.
I liked the little non de plume "Hope Foreman" (that's clever) and the simile "Her hairline and eyebrows pull together as it there's a party they're both desperate to attend" ;)