Friday, July 16, 2010

Review TANGLED by Carolyn Mackler



TANGLED by
Carolyn Mackler



DETAILS: published December 29th 2009 by HarperTeen

Hardcover, 308 pages

PLACEMENT IN PILE: Somewhat Buried

SUMMARY: Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all at Paradise—the resort in the Caribbean, that is—for different reasons, but in Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Over the course of four months, through four voices and four stories, what happened in Paradise will change them all.

In this extraordinary novel, the Printz Honor–winning author brings us her most accomplished work yet. Tangled is a story of the secrets we keep, the risks we take, and the things we do for love. (goodreads)

Review: Well... I didn't love this book. In the end the message was a good one, but getting there was kind of a mess for me. I did feel for the characters, but it was frustrating to get used to one POV and then have it change (and never go back). The book is told from 4 POVs and you only get each person once. I also didn't like that in the boys' POV chapters, she obviously tries to make them think "like a boy" (or how she thinks they think anyway) and it was just plain disgusting, crude - even vile at times. I'm sorry, but does she really believe any boys are going to be picking up this book? I'm thinking not. Or very few. And the ones who do probably aren't as crude in their thoughts as she made her characters. (One in particular) It is interesting to find out what everyone's "secrets" are (although I did guess most of them), and how their lives all become "tangled." I also liked the resolve, which is what kept it from being bottom of the pile.

Overall, if you think it sounds interesting, and aren't easily upset by content, you should give it a try. Otherwise, this might not be the book for you.

2 comments:

Anita said...

I just finished reading "The Help." I'm now reading a short book about Nelson Mandela, but have got to get back to a page turner like "The Help" was for me.

Aubrey said...

I had high hopes for this one and am sorry you didn't like it so much Guinevere!

Anita, The Help is on my list to read!