All These Things I've Done
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Publisher: Macmillan
Publication Date: September 6, 2011
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Review:
All These Things I’ve Done suffered from a lack of action.
The entire first 100 or so pages were set aside for world building but the
author did not need that many pages to accomplish this goal. The world was
simple and I felt like the synopsis explained the economic climate in a few
words when the author took page after page to do the same thing. It wasn’t
until Anya runs in to some legal trouble about a third of the way into the book
that I even became moderately interested in this book.
Unfortunately, the legal trouble is wrapped up all too
quickly and the book takes a different, once again boring, turn (*Spoiler: I
would have actually like this book a whole lot more if Anya had spent more time
at the Detention Center, come to run that place and then took over her family
business to protect her brother and sister-but alas I am just a reader not the
author*).
Anya lost both of her parents because of her family’s
illegal chocolate business. The accident that killed her mother left her older brother
mentally retarded. This leaves Anya to be the leader of her family. I liked how
responsible and grown up Anya was. I also liked that the stress that is on her
shoulders felt so real. At the same time though it made me stressed for her and
reminded me a lot of my own stressors. I read to escape not to be reminded of
all the things I have to manage and get done, so I both like and dislike this
aspect of the story.
I also wasn’t keen on the love story in this book. The
relationship between Anya and Win felt forced to me and I never got the vibe
that they were actually in love. Anya had entirely too many other things to
deal with to devote her energies to Win and despite them staying together after
being forced apart multiple times. I kind of wished they would just break up so
that the story would focus on something else. This is not to say I didn’t like
Win as a character-he was actually a great guy, I just didn’t like the romance
itself.
Overall, I just don’t think this book was my thing. I wanted
it to be something more then it was (I wanted it to be more like The Curse
Worker’s series) but it wasn’t. I don’t think I will be picking up the sequel
but down the road if there is a really good deal I might give the second book a
chance.
You loved The Curse Workers too?? I still haven't read the last book, but I totally need too. Soon.
ReplyDeleteAnywho, I'm sorry that you didn't like this book. :( It's a shame--this book has been on my TBR for a really long time, and I actually can't wait to read it. (But I've clearly waited. A long time.) I definitely know what you mean about liking characters, but their romance seeming forced. I hate that. Maybe I'll like it better than you? Great Review, Emily!
Loves,
Megan@The Book Babe