Wintertown by Stephen Emond: Review

Wintertown
By Stephen Edmond
Published Dec 5th 2011 by Little Brown Books
Pick up your copy at B&N, Amazon, or your local indie today!

Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off.


Garden State meets Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist in this funny and poignant illustrated novel about opposites who fall in love.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Ok so this is more like 2.5 stars so I just slapped a two on it.

Anyways...

This book just didn't turn out quite how I expected it. I mean when I read the premise I was so excited to be offered and ARC from Little Brown Books for review. Straight laced boy meets up with an old childhood friend that happens to be heavy on the black hair dye, and and she's even got a nose ring? Yes Please!

Unfortunately that's about where it stopped for me. I really wanted to like this book. So much so that I stuck by it and read it until the very end hoping that there would be this big Ta Da moment, but that never came. I think the worst part for me was that the story itself wasn't bad...it had potential to be really good, but it was the writing style. It just felt bland and choppy and slow and dry.

Did you notice how many times I use AND in that sentence? Yea that's how this book it written. That alone drove me bananas. The run-on sentences was a big part of the bland. I kept imagining a very monotone voice the entire time. Still I couldn't help but keep reading, waiting for it to all turn around...and while it did get slightly better there towards the end it flat lined again. It had a very Dear John kind of ending which drove me nuts.

So sadly I have to say this book wasn't for me:(

Lymi...



The Best of Me

Title: The Best of Me
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Published: October 11th 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads

THE BEST OF ME is the heart-rending story of two small-town former high school sweethearts from opposite sides of the tracks. Now middle-aged, they've taken wildly divergent paths, but neither has lived the life they imagined . . . and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever altered their world. When they are both called back to their hometown for the funeral of the mentor who once gave them shelter, they will be forced to confront the choices each has made, and ask whether love can truly rewrite the past.

I have never in my life read a Nicholas Sparks book but after reading "The Best of Me" that will change.

I always thought that these books would be full of gags and eyerolls and me making fun of every little thing. I mean, how can a dude write swoon? It just doesn't seem possible. I always figured that the girl would cry too much and the dude would be all hulk smash and I just wouldn't dig it. Well, I'm happy to say that not only did I dig this book I can't wait to read another one. This guy really does have a fantastic storytelling ability and I just adored how we were able to get inside everyone's head. In most books that I read they are either one sided or maybe you get to hear from 2 or three characters. But in this book you were able to hear what EVERYONE was thinking. And I really enjoyed that. It made the story more real. Super loves.

"The Best of Me" is a story about first love and last chances. It's about two forty-somethings that have a past together. Back when they were kids they were inseparable even though her family hated him and his family hated everyone. It was a forbidden love in a small town where everyone talked. Their only sanctuary was Tuck's house, the town's mechanic who kept to himself.

Years later, Dawson and Amanda are called back to the town of Oriental. They haven't seen each other for at least 20 years but because of Tuck's death they once again are by each other's side. It's the way Tuck wanted it, at least for his funeral.

It's a story of forbidden love once again even after they have grown up. Amanda is now a married woman in a marriage she is too scared to get out of. And Dawson still has the last name that makes the townsfolk cringe.

What would you do if you had one more chance? Would you take it? Would you just remember the past? Or would you walk away from your one true love in hopes that the life you picked is the right one?

Honestly, this is a very good book. Like I said, it's my first Nicholas Sparks book so I don't know any different. To me, this book was awesome ;)

I loved the small town feel, the way it was told, and the lack of unneeded dialogue. I also dug how I couldn't wait to read more of this book.

While the end was kind of predictable that still didn't lower the way I felt about the story.

I can't wait to read more!

Jingle Balls Hop!

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