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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
gaemmely's review against another edition
Started reading it in German, didn't like it, by the time I realized I need to switch to English, I had already lost interest. I just felt pity for that poor girl that feels like she needs to run the whole family because her mother is overwhelmed, but the book seemed to try to make it sound funny? I thought it was strange.
skron's review against another edition
3.0
How to Write a Novel has an appealing premise--a 12-1/2 year old girl reads a primer and sets out to write a novel based on her life. The characters are appealing and the narrator's voice is charming at times but I left it feeling there was a lack of depth and an excess of cuteness. I'd rate it as a fun airplane read (actually I read part of it while backpacking).
kne's review against another edition
2.0
I was pretty disappointed with this book, but of course my expectations were high. The concept of a 12- (excuse me, 12.5-) year-old trying to write a novel in 30 days to make the family fortune is cute. There are some mildly amusing bits, but mostly it felt... not forced, but not quite natural either. Though Aris (the narrator) starts the book by saying you might not think she sounds like a 12.5 year old, she seemed the most realistic of the characters to me. I couldn't stand her mother, and I especially couldn't stand her brother, though her "PMI" (Positive Male Influence) Penn was ok. Things were pretty repetitive, what with Aris longing for her "fiancé" who had moved away, another boy flirting with her at school, her mom trying to get her to eat meat substitutes, her brother banging his head against the wall, and struggling to finish the novel in 30 days. (Why did it have to be 30 days? Still not sure - unless a 12-year-old mind must follow instructions to a T.) Then a big dark family secret comes out, which is convenient for Aris's novel (because the guide she's using says a novel needs an obstacle) but not so convenient for Sumner's novel because it made it seem like she was following her own "How to Write a Novel in 30 Days" formula.
So I don't know. There were some funny parts, some pointless parts, some good characters, some stupid characters, a good concept, and a really uneven execution. I'm really sad because I wanted to love this book, and I just couldn't.
The fine print: received ARCs from NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Goodreads First Reads.
So I don't know. There were some funny parts, some pointless parts, some good characters, some stupid characters, a good concept, and a really uneven execution. I'm really sad because I wanted to love this book, and I just couldn't.
The fine print: received ARCs from NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Goodreads First Reads.
vanilla22's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
4.75
theangrystackrat's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sasterk's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
theoglibrarianmom's review against another edition
2.0
This book wasn't bad but it wasn't good either. I was going to go with 3 stars until the ridiculous ending. The characters in here are endearing at times but annoying at other times and I felt this novel was just all over the place and trying to be more than it can possibly be. I'm glad I got a copy from the library and didn't spend money on it.
silea's review against another edition
The author is clearly trying to 'do' something with this book, though whatever that is was lost on me.
The narrator is a grating, ridiculously precocious tween. Is this a parody of tween protagonists in novels these days? If so, it goes too far and comes back around to being-that-which-it-meant-to-mock. And reading a book with a narrative voice that makes you want to send someone to their room is a challenge.
The narrator is a grating, ridiculously precocious tween. Is this a parody of tween protagonists in novels these days? If so, it goes too far and comes back around to being-that-which-it-meant-to-mock. And reading a book with a narrative voice that makes you want to send someone to their room is a challenge.