The reviews I've been waiting for are now posted at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00124COO8 the site of The Scrapbook. Always keep in mind that these are just one person's opinion. Wish I could say the Publisher's Weekly review was shining...it wasn't. It wasn't even helpful. Actually I wonder if the reviewer even fully read the whole manuscripts as they seemed to miss the whole point of the story. It isn't an exciting story but it is a very tender, touching and thoughtful love story. Think I somehow offended them with the name of the cat in the book...Prince Snarls and the fact that the story had Christian conversation between characters (not a sermon in the book...I promise!) Anyway here is their review:
manuscript review by Publishers Weekly, an independent organizationThe only point in this story where something reasonably exciting happens is when the cat — named loosely after England’s Prince Charles — dies. This happens on 113, nowhere near where the climax of the action should be. Never mind that it’s a cat. Broken-hearted from losing her fiancé in a motorcycling accident, Glenda is lonely and sad. She finds a thrift store scrapbook and pores over Betty Ann Christiansen’s record of her trip from Nebraska to Southern California many years ago. At this point you may think the novel’s going to be a knock-off of "The Notebook," but surprisingly little has to do with the actual scrapbook, though the perspective does shift back and forth: from Glenda reading it to Betty Ann’s recollections, as she sits in a nursing home, recovering from a stroke. Her loving son Mark visits often. Glenda searches for answers at church, and goes on a weekend retreat with the church group … where she sees Mark (!) who is, of course, interested in her. A priest cat-sitting for Glenda sees the scrapbook, and recognizes himself in a class photo, so he’s involved in things as well. Interspersed throughout are didatic Christian sermons.IDEA: 2 PLOT: 2 CHARACTERS: 2 PROSE: 2 WOW: 2
No other authors had the mumber ratings following their reviews...don't know what that means, but I guess 2 is better than 1 or 0.
Okay, so that was pretty bad. Now for the good reviews from two of Amazon.com's Top Reviewers. They understood where the story was going and all they were able to read was the 5000 word excerpt. Their reviews still give me hope. Here they are:
Amazon Top ReviewerA worthwhile story of a woman who buys an old scrapbook to peruse and the life story that the book tells. This excerpt holds so much promise. The writing is top-notch. The author's transition between past and present is seamlessly, beautifully done. This is a book that I would rank up there with Nicolas Sparks' "The Notebook".
Amazon Top ReviewerThough this type of story is not my cup of tea I can see the appeal. This novel fits well in with books like "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood." Glenda has found a scrapbook/diary that belonged to someone name Betty Ann. Betty Ann is many miles away in a nursing home after a stroke. The two women are remembering Betty Ann's youth, Betty from memory and Glenda from the diary. A connection is made between them. The writing is well done. There is little dialog in this excerpt, but it isn't needed. A reader will get wrapped up in a life, and wonder, will these two ever meet? Great start.
So there they are...the long awaited big time reviews! I don't know what this means for the fate of The Scrapbook as far as continuing in the contest, but until I hear differently I will assume we are still in the game so , PLEASE POST THOSE REVIEWS IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! This is where your well written reviews can really make a difference. I really appreciate your support and value your opinion.
On another note...I made the front page of the Humphrey Democrat Newspaper today and the Columbus Telegram did a phone interview for their paper. Tell your friends about the contest and take some time to go through some of the other writers' pages...there is some amazing talent out there!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment