I was given an advance reader copy by Edelweiss/Above the Treeline. I can only hope they wanted opinions well in advance of the 1/2017 publication date so they would have plenty of time to edit the final copy. I am not trying to be mean. Let me just explain my experience. The ARC I was given was in kindle format and did not have the cover or any information about the author, etc. My first thought was this was a first time author with limited experience who could use more editing direction. Then I double checked the website where I obtained the ARC and discovered this was an experienced author. Not only that, this is the third book in a series. I actually thought, "maybe there was a mistake and they sent me the wrong book". But, no, it was the right one. The first chapters of the book are conversations between mother and son, and wife and husband regarding the evils of the stance taken by the Mormon leaders regarding LGBT members. This is basically a sermon by the author told in conversation format that is stiff, uncomfortable and very boring. Throw in discussion of the history of polygamy in the Mormon church, and you have quite the rousing first couple of chapters! ( I am not saying these issues are unimportant, by the way...) When I went back to double check they had sent me the correct file, I noted why I had requested it in the first place. This is a mystery. To me, the mystery is simple - how will the author get anyone to read to the murder part if the book begins in such a boring and tedious manner? As a librarian, I read a lot of books, but cannot give an author this much time to create a story. Mystery readers will not be as patient. I do not recommend this title unless the beginning is fixed prior to publication.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
For Time and All Eternities by Mette Ivie Harrison
I was given an advance reader copy by Edelweiss/Above the Treeline. I can only hope they wanted opinions well in advance of the 1/2017 publication date so they would have plenty of time to edit the final copy. I am not trying to be mean. Let me just explain my experience. The ARC I was given was in kindle format and did not have the cover or any information about the author, etc. My first thought was this was a first time author with limited experience who could use more editing direction. Then I double checked the website where I obtained the ARC and discovered this was an experienced author. Not only that, this is the third book in a series. I actually thought, "maybe there was a mistake and they sent me the wrong book". But, no, it was the right one. The first chapters of the book are conversations between mother and son, and wife and husband regarding the evils of the stance taken by the Mormon leaders regarding LGBT members. This is basically a sermon by the author told in conversation format that is stiff, uncomfortable and very boring. Throw in discussion of the history of polygamy in the Mormon church, and you have quite the rousing first couple of chapters! ( I am not saying these issues are unimportant, by the way...) When I went back to double check they had sent me the correct file, I noted why I had requested it in the first place. This is a mystery. To me, the mystery is simple - how will the author get anyone to read to the murder part if the book begins in such a boring and tedious manner? As a librarian, I read a lot of books, but cannot give an author this much time to create a story. Mystery readers will not be as patient. I do not recommend this title unless the beginning is fixed prior to publication.
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