Antonio Poe Poe itibaren Texas
"Defiance" is written in the format of a journal/stream of conciousness of a mentally unstable genius who has murdered two young men. It follows her thoughts as she sits in prison on death row awaiting her execution. At times this book can be hard to follow as it jumps around from one subject to another... but you truly do feel as if you are reading the ramblings of a psychopath. It's definitely a challenging read. My book group read "Defiance" as one of our selections. Most people in the group did not enjoy the book and found it hard to follow and very disturbing.
The moment you touch the book, you touch the coiled snake. That itself was great. You are reminded bits and pieces of what you read in the first part, that's better. The secret was as many said kind of predictable, esp. once you reach the middle. But, that isn't a drawback, since the explanation of the secret is yet, well, a secret. Pacy and fast. However, the first book had me actually visualizing scenes, even after I had completed the book. I dreamed and thought about it. It refused to leave my imagination. This book failed in these departments, the flow of scenes is how most authors would have done, which maybe is why it didn't have the "high" of the first book. But still, from a story/mythology point of view, its still going great guns. Hope the third continues this and gets back the "zing" of the first.
After only a little debate with myself over whether I would ever read this book, I ended up returning it to Wal-Mart and getting my money back. Once I found out what happened in the story, I had no desire at all to read it. I'm baffled by what the author decided to do in this book. It's even more out of the blue than what Suzanne Brockmann did in Dark of Night. I admit I'm not a huge fan of Johnston, but I've enjoyed the Bitter Creek series and have read all the previous books. Ever since Jack and Kate were introduced a few books ago I've been waiting and waiting to get to read their story. They were just a potential couple that really stuck in my head and I kept checking the author's site now and again for news on when Kate & Jack's book would be out. I was excited when I saw it finally had a publication date, and bought it as soon as I saw it. So imagine my surprise when I am poking around on GR and read a couple reviews of this book. Shocked is an understatement. I never, ever would have imagined the author not putting Kate and Jack together. That thought never even crossed my mind once. So I'm completely and utterly baffled by this turn of events. And so disappointed. I've been waiting for this story for so long and then to get nothing, well, it stinks. I have to wonder what the author was thinking, doing this. As some other readers said, it almost feels like she's giving the proverbial finger to loyal readers. I thought that, too, after reading the author's note at the end where Johnston says something about readers "demanding" Kate & Jack's story, so she wrote Kate's story and Jack's story. So yeah, I question the author's motive in doing this. And decided not to read the book. Sure, I could give it a go and read it anyway, but when my expectations are completely opposite of what the book will give me, I know there is no way that I will enjoy it. I've learned this by experience. So I returned the book and will likely think twice before reading Johnston again in the future.
** spoiler alert ** The main storyline is of the Peytons. Bruce realized he loved Rachel in the last book, and rushed a wedding, in spite of negativity from his 13 year old daughter, Jolene. And he did not address Jolene's feelings, banking on them working themselves out (as Rachel & Jolene used to get along so well). But Jolene got progressively more angry, more sullen, more withdrawn. Rachel is pregnant, Bruce is happy, Jolene is upset... and after 4 months, Rachel leaves them because she knows the stress is bad for her and the baby. This book is about them... about Bruce's desperation, about Jolene growing up (though we don't get any insight into her thoughts, only her words and actions) as she sees her father's pain, she misses the pre-wedding Rachel, Rachel's gentle invitations, but steps back when she lashes, and the baby becoming a reality. Bruce finally goes to counseling, starts to set limits with Jolene, gets her into counseling, and just as Jolene thinks nothing will change, they start to ... and she has hope... and then food poisoning puts her in emergency, Jolene fully comes to her senses - and has some understanding and tools to deal with the negative emotions, and Jolene gets to come home in time for Christmas. 2nd storyline - Charlotte and Ben - especially Charlotte is starting to forget things - leading to a fire in the kitchen, staying with Olivia while it's repaired, and moving into an assisted living space, with medical evaluation to come after Christmas. Grace and Cliff - end up caring for a motherless puppy - and in spite of her best efforts, Grace falls in love with the little thing. Will steps up to help Olivia with Charlotte and Ben - and he and his art store assistant are noticing one another. Miranda is not physically or personality wise Will's usual woman, she doesn't put up with his nonsense, and she speaks her mind. But they kiss... and spend Thanksgiving together... and... hmmmm Link & Lori - Lori's dad is sabatoging Link's business. when he finally confides the truth to Lori, she tells her dad she's out of his life - they go to live in firefighter Mac's duplex so as not to impose on dad. Mom leaves dad, and even files for divorce when he takes steps to disinherit Lori... Mac and sheriff throw Link business, and he's starting to make a go of it... and then, knowing the importance of family, he goes to Lori's dad, sees that dad is upset over his wife leaving... apologises for not gaining dad's approval before marrying Lori and getting off on the wrong foot (dad, who's father was a welder, waited 5 years for his wife's father to accept him)... and then they arrange for mom and dad to be at their apartment at the same time, and Link smooths things; allowing dad to face savingly apologise and win his wife back - of course dad is starting to realize the goodness of Link. and finally, Gloria and Chad. Gloria's father, Roy, tells Chad that gloria is pregnant (she tried, but he brushed her off on his way on a date). and bit by bit, Chad and Gloria are becoming friends - and at the end of the story, admit they love one another (never Chad's problem - just that Gloria couldn't accept him)... I'm guessing they'll e the focus of the last story.