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A review by immabehazzie
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
2.0
“[…] History isn’t what is written or told. It’s hidden away in dark corners and shadows.”
The biggest sim this book commits is that it’s boring. For the first five or so chapters you think it’ll be interesting but it’s not.
There was nothing compelling about this story. The forbidden ends and you’re left as confused as Isobel. Some side characters had the potential to be fascinating but because we’re reading through Isobel’s eyes we don’t see much of them or what they’re doing. I’m fact, because we’re watching the story unfold from Isobel’s perspective you’d think that that would make it interesting,
However. Isobel was sidelined in her own story. Other people's decisions move her into action. She’s incredibly passive and it’s tiring to read. Also, synesthesia is a big part of Isobel’s character but it really doesn’t have any impact on the story.
The romance was dull. Isobel is infatuated with Nathaniel and it becomes clear that Isobel is falling more and more in love with him. They have secret outings and meetings and the whole time you feel like shouting “Isobel don’t do it!” but she does. Other than that the chemistry just wasn’t there and it felt clear to me that while Isobel
was falling in love, Nathaniel wasn’t.
Also, it attempts to include social and race issues at the oddest times in this book. I wouldn’t mind it if it was done well but it read as if the author realized the period for which she’s writing and realized that there were people enslaved in America. The main character is a white woman from Scotland so even though she is sympathetic, she doesn’t notice unless the problem is right in her face. Even then she might not notice.
With ‘Hester’ I felt like it kept dipping its toes in the waters to see if it was politically correct. If want to add social issues, race issues, and gender issues to your book, just do it. Go big or go home.
Despite my review, it wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read. It's cohesive and what happens to drive the plot makes sense but other than that it’s boring and really not worth you’re time.
The biggest sim this book commits is that it’s boring. For the first five or so chapters you think it’ll be interesting but it’s not.
There was nothing compelling about this story. The forbidden ends and you’re left as confused as Isobel. Some side characters had the potential to be fascinating but because we’re reading through Isobel’s eyes we don’t see much of them or what they’re doing. I’m fact, because we’re watching the story unfold from Isobel’s perspective you’d think that that would make it interesting,
However. Isobel was sidelined in her own story. Other people's decisions move her into action. She’s incredibly passive and it’s tiring to read. Also, synesthesia is a big part of Isobel’s character but it really doesn’t have any impact on the story.
The romance was dull. Isobel is infatuated with Nathaniel and it becomes clear that Isobel is falling more and more in love with him. They have secret outings and meetings and the whole time you feel like shouting “Isobel don’t do it!” but she does. Other than that the chemistry just wasn’t there and it felt clear to me that while Isobel
was falling in love, Nathaniel wasn’t.
Also, it attempts to include social and race issues at the oddest times in this book. I wouldn’t mind it if it was done well but it read as if the author realized the period for which she’s writing and realized that there were people enslaved in America. The main character is a white woman from Scotland so even though she is sympathetic, she doesn’t notice unless the problem is right in her face. Even then she might not notice.
With ‘Hester’ I felt like it kept dipping its toes in the waters to see if it was politically correct. If want to add social issues, race issues, and gender issues to your book, just do it. Go big or go home.
Despite my review, it wasn’t the worst book I’ve ever read. It's cohesive and what happens to drive the plot makes sense but other than that it’s boring and really not worth you’re time.