Search This Blog







2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2025 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado (3)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont (1)
- Virginia
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (1)
- England (3)
- France (1)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- Scotland (1)


2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge



2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge









Thursday, May 30, 2013
Even With Five Generations of Superagers and a Magical Olive Tree Orchard, this One Falls Flat For Me
9:58 PM
(Image from TLC Book Tours)


You may have noticed that I'm a sucker for a good family saga. The key word here being good. I've read too many lately that go on and on with the family part, forgetting that "saga" means story. In other words, something needs to happen, there has to be a plot. The main problem with The Roots of the Olive Tree, a debut novel by Courtney Miller Santo, is that it has none. There's nothing really driving the novel forward. The book has interesting (although interchangeable and not all that likable) characters, yes. Intriguing plot lines, also yes. Unifying plotline to bring it all together? Nope. Which means that, although Santo's prose flows along nicely enough, her first novel's, well, dull. I had enough interest in the Kellers to keep reading their story, but I was also happy for it to end so I could move on to something else. Although it had great potential, it just fell flat for me. And I so, so wanted to love it. Oh well.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of The Truth About Love & Lightning and Little Black Dress, both by Susan McBride)
Grade: C
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language (a few F-bombs, plus milder invectives) and some sexual content
3 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)


Reading
Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Listening
The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse


Followin' with Bloglovin'

-
Time Travel Thursday4 hours ago
-
-
-
#ThrowbackThursday. May 201212 hours ago
-
Wedding At Sea13 hours ago
-
-
February's Bookish Art...15 hours ago
-
-
A Review of The Witch of Cromer17 hours ago
-
I Am The Cage By Allison Sweet Grant18 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Blood Over Bright Haven1 day ago
-
14. First State of Being2 days ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bonded in Death by J.D. Robb3 days ago
-
-
-
-
Sunday Post #5611 week ago
-
January 2025 Reading Wrap Up1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October2 months ago
-
Review: The Duke and I5 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus6 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!


Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ▼ 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ► 2011 (232)
I like what you do at the end of your reviews with the grades and suggestions. This book sounds interesting and I may even give it a go, even with the unenthusiastic review.
ReplyDeleteDarn, I'm sorry this one didn't turn out to be a favorite for you, but thanks for being a part of the tour!
ReplyDeleteInteresting premise! Sorry it didn't pan out for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour!