The BookFetish Blog

Veronica Roth’s debut novel, Divergent, is one I started hearing a buzz about months ago, when the Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) were making their way to bloggers I follow. When the book arrived a few weeks ago, I tore it open and started reading. In forty-five minutes, I had read the first ten chapters. In less than twenty-four hours, I had finished the book.

Set in a dystopian Chicago, the city is now divided into five factions. Each faction serves its purpose in society. At sixteen, citizens undergo testing and choose the faction with which they will align themselves for the rest of their life.  Sixteen year old Beatrice makes a choice that changes her destiny- and that of her world- forever.

Yes, Divergent is young adult.  If you like the science fiction or adventures/thrillers, this one is still worth a read, even though the characters are high school aged. In Beatrice (or Tris, as she becomes known after choosing her faction), Roth has, thankfully, given us a heroine more along the lines of Cassandra Clare’s Clary in the Mortal Instruments series than Bella from the Twilight Saga. Tris is smart and brave, but also has her insecurities. She’s relatable, but also someone to look up to- which is important for the book’s target audience.

Roth gives us just the right amount of action, drama, and romance.  We care about the characters and what happens to them.  She’s set up a perfect start to this trilogy, and here’s hoping she maintains this momentum for the remaining two books. I’m already looking forward to Book 2.

Cara Hoffman’s So Much Pretty explores the aftermath of a kidnapping and killing in a rural New York town. Told from multiple points of view, the story is meant to enrage us against the violence against women that is perpetuated every day.

I wanted to love this book. It came highly recommended by another book blogger I follow. But while it does tell a compelling story and does highlight the epidemic of violence against women, So Much Pretty fell short of my expectations.

One of the things that makes the book an interesting read is the multiple viewpoints that reveal the story. At the same time, having snippets of insight into the characters kept me from really identifying and empathizing with any of them.  I think that was part of what made the book harder for me to read.  I was never able to connect closely enough with Stacy Flynn, a reporter who had moved to town to cover an environmental story and becomes obsessed with the kidnap and murder of Wendy White. As a result of this disconnection, the righteous anger at what happened to Wendy- and the commentary on violence against women in general-fell flat. I never quite connected with it.

Alice Piper, a precocious student, seeks her own resolution to the dilemma of accepting violence as a part of life or choosing to fight it.  And fight is a deliberate turn of phrase there.  I get Alice’s intelligence and quirkiness, and I was rooting for her on some level, but again, the lack of connection to her kept me from really caring a lot about what she decided.

Finally, I thought the local dairy, which employs most people in the town, and its associated environmental issues were going to play a bigger part in the narrative. Instead they are built up to an extent and then largely disregarded. It felt disjointed.

As I write this, though, I wonder if this disconnection, this indecisiveness, isn’t part of what Hoffman intended.  There are so many social issues- violence against women chief among them- that have become so commonplace to us that we’re almost indifferent to hearing about them.  Perhaps that is the point. Perhaps Hoffman is telling us to wake up, to take a stand, to say that enough is enough.  Not to the extreme measures that Alice chooses, but something.

I feel like I owe the book a second read. Or it could just be that this is one that I say is good, but not great. It impacted me enough that I hid a golf club under the bed, just in case.  In all honesty, I finished this book months ago, but have put off writing about it because I am not completely sure how I feel about it. Certainly, if you have any interest in literary fiction, in social issues and how society relates to them, then So Much Pretty is worth a read.

Today, we’re celebrating the paperback release of Chevy Stevens’ Still Missing.

If you’ve stopped by recently, you know I’m a big fan of Chevy’s and I was thrilled to have an opportunity to send her a few questions over email to answer.

Keep reading for the transcript of the interview.

TBF: STILL MISSING deals with intense subject matter.  Parts of it still haunt me, and I’ve had other friends say the same thing.  Did you find yourself living in that world with those characters and their experiences while you were writing the book, or were you able to separate from it when writing was “done for the day.”

CS: When I’m in the editing stage, it’s easier for me to disconnect because I’m using a different part of my brain and it’s more of an analytical process. But when I’m first roughing out scenes it can be very intense. To write authentically, I have to feel the emotions and dig deep down. Sometimes I would need a break for a day or so before I could go back into the story.  Or I will stop and watch funny videos, or go for a walk to clear my mind when I’ve been in a state of focused concentration for too long.

TBF: I noticed in STILL MISSING, it’s the humanness of the characters that constantly sucked me in and is part of what has stayed with me all these months after finishing it, especially the last big reveal.  What is it that you want your readers to take away from the book?

CS: For me this was always a book about survival, about learning that being victimized does not mean you have to remain a victim. I wanted people to really feel that. Annie could be anyone. Even though her situation was horrifically extreme, there are many people out there who are struggling to break free of abusive relationships, or trying to recover from emotional and physical trauma of some kind. I wanted those people to feel that it is possible to rebuild, to be more than your pain.

TBF: Betrayal is a theme throughout the book–what led you to that theme?

CS: I’m not sure exactly. Maybe I’m drawn to that theme because I’m a child of an alcoholic, so I had lots of experience with betrayal. In a family dynamic like that your trust is broken many times. I’ve been betrayed in the past in personal relationships as well and when you’re a loyal person, like I strive to be, it can be very hurtful and shocking.

TBF: What’s been the most surprising or enlightening thing about this year as a debut novelist with a book that has seen incredibly positive reviews?

CS: I think one of the things I’ve enjoyed the most is fan letters from people who really connected strongly with the book, and who were brave enough to share their personal stories with me. There were a few people who actually said that my book helped them heal and let go of pain they had been carrying around for years. Though, it’s been personally wonderful to have my dream come true, knowing that my words helped someone else touches my soul on a deeper level and I feel really grateful for that.

TBF: When I read STILL MISSING, I couldn’t put it down. I told friends about it, and they said they same thing when they read it.  What’s the last book you read that you couldn’t put down?

CS:I recently read an advanced copy of Defending Jacob by William Landay and thought it was fantastic. I immediately went and bought his first two novels.  Sister is another book that I fell in love with. It was a hit over in the UK and will be released in the States soon.

Thanks to Chevy for taking the time to answer the questions- hope you all enjoy the book. And don’t forget the e-vent going on this afternoon where you can live chat with Chevy at 3PM EDT.

I read Chevy Stevens’ Still Missing last year and loved it! It comes out in Paperback tomorrow and you can join in the special e-vent celebrating its release.  The details are below. And tomorrow, I’ll be publishing my e-interview with Chevy.

Love paranormal romance? Have a computer, or an e-reader? Like supporting indie authors?  Then be sure to head over to Amazon on Wednesday, 18 May, and get your copy of Amber  Scott’s Fierce Dawn.

I’ve started it, and so far so good. My full review is coming soon, but this is your chance to support an indie author, and maybe win a brand new kindle.

Check it out now, and happy reading.