Re: Eden's Winter by Marie de Merle

Posted by Chris on September 09, 2000 at 16:35:20:

In Reply to: Eden's Winter by Marie de Merle posted by The Publisher on September 09, 2000 at 08:42:38:

: Marie de Merle

Dear Marie,

I read the first chapter of Eden's Winter and would like to comment. First, my disclaimer: the book is yours and you must always be true to your concept of how the story should be told. I am just one voice with one opinion.

The genre sounded interesting to me, but the synopsis made me wonder who the target audience was. It sounded like it was geared to teenage girls, as a coming of age story, but this is not what I found when I read chapter one.

In class, I have been taught that in chapter one, the writer should introduce the main characters and set up the conflict that will propel the reader through the book. I did not find that in this book. I found myself wading through eons of flowery description and unable to find the action. I kept having to go back to Martine and rereading what she was actually doing to be able to follow the story. I think description should hang on the story, not the other way around, which is what I was feeling here.

In the end, not sure of where the story was going, and becoming lost in all the description and bored with the lack of action, I decided not to read chapter two. I will readily admit, I may have made too hasty a judgement. I have a notoriously short attention span, and so what I saw as fault, most readers may appreciate.

I do enjoy reading historical fiction/historical romance, so I am anxious to hear what the others have to say. I may be convinced I need to go back and give it another chance.

Chris

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• Re: Eden's Winter by Marie de Merle The Publisher 16:51:16 9/09/2000 (0)

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Comments:
: : Marie de Merle

: Dear Marie,

: I read the first chapter of Eden's Winter and would like to comment.  First, my disclaimer:  the book is yours and you must always be true to your concept of how the story should be told.  I am just one voice with one opinion.

: The genre sounded interesting to me, but the synopsis made me wonder who the target audience was.  It sounded like it was geared to teenage girls, as a coming of age story, but this is not what I found when I read chapter one.

: In class, I have been taught that in chapter one, the writer should introduce the main characters and set up the conflict that will propel the reader through the book.  I did not find that in this book.  I found myself wading through eons of flowery description and unable to find the action.  I kept having to go back to Martine and rereading what she was actually doing to be able to follow the story.  I think description should hang on the story, not the other way around, which is what I was feeling here.

: In the end, not sure of where the story was going, and becoming lost in all the description and bored with the lack of action, I decided not to read chapter two.  I will readily admit, I may have made too hasty a judgement.  I have a notoriously short attention span, and so what I saw as fault, most readers may appreciate.

: I do enjoy reading historical fiction/historical romance, so I am anxious to hear what the others have to say.  I may be convinced I need to go back and give it another chance.

: Chris



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