Monday 27 January 2014

Widow's Tears by Susan Wittig Albert

Rachel Blackwood got up early that morning.

A bed setting. Yawn. No pun intended. The rest of the paragraph continues by informing us that this Rachel person did not sleep well - and we can blame that on a three-year-old kid with a sore throat. Intrigued yet?

The second paragraph clarifies: actually, it is not only or not really the kid that kept Mom awake but the crashing of waves. Does this clarification have you riveted to the edge of your seat? The second paragraph transitions, succumbing to a weather report: It's hot, damn hot, so hot people are dying, even animals are keeling over. Then more weather reports, back story, and another weather report. Thus begins a prologue that I'm now itching to skip.

Chapter 1:

"I'm outta here," Ruby said, coming through the connecting door between her shop and Thyme and Seasons.

Then another weather report: It's warm for early May, naturally followed by a fashion report of what the person is wearing so we better understand just what the weather is like. This is also the first thing said in the book. Nothing was said in the prologue, there was no space - what, with all the weather reports.

Verdict: Epic Fail

Sincerely,
Rudy Globird


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