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Monday, May 28, 2012
Things That Make Me Go Meh
1:02 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The ho-hum plot summary above reflects my disappointment in Francine Prose's latest novel, My New American Life. As you can probably tell, it's not big on plot. Which wouldn't have been a huge problem if the author had managed to make me care about the characters in the story. Didn't happen. Why not? Well, none of them are particularly likable, least of all our heroine. Lula lies to the people who have been kindest to her, disregards all of her employer's rules, and selfishly puts an already hurting family in jeopardy to satisfy her own lustful urges. Annoying. The rest of the cast irritated me, as did the story itself, which just got duller and more depressing as it prattles onward. Without an interesting plot or engaging characters, this book just kind of goes nowhere. It's not that Prose doesn't write well—she does—it's just that I didn't connect with My New American Life at all. If I hadn't promised to review it, I wouldn't have bothered to finish it.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. Can you?)
Grade: C
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language, depictions of underrage drinking and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of My New American Life from the generous folks at Harper Collins and TLC Book Tours. Thank you!
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I hate when I can't connect nor like any of the characters in a book. When books are this frustrating I cant help but wonder just what the author was trying to get at. Sorry it was a disappointment for you. :(
ReplyDeleteDarn, I'm sorry this one wasn't a good fit for you, but thanks for being on the tour.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way about this one. I thought it was well-written - and I love her non-fiction book, Reading Like a Writer - but didn't like the story or characters. If you want a book about immigration with characters that I loved, you should try Anne Tyler's Digging to America. Not hugely plot-based, definitely character driven, but I loved the characters and the way she described the immigrant experience.
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