Comments on: Review: If You Come Softly, Jacqueline Woodson

By: Lydia

Lydia — Sun, 16 May 2010 00:21:48 +0000

You know, sometimes “meh” is just the perfect description of a particularly unexciting reading experience. It happens.

-L

By: rebeccareid

rebeccareid — Fri, 14 May 2010 19:21:47 +0000

“I am becoming one of those people who turn up their noses at young adult books and do not pay any attention to YA rock stars ”

I don’t turn up my nose but I certainly don’t pay any attention to YA rock stars! Is there something wrong with the fact that I don’t care to read YA? Just wondering.

By: zibilee

zibilee — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:35:23 +0000

I don’t read very much YA, and for that reason, I am not really that familiar with Woodson or her books. That being said, it always bothers me when everyone else loves a book that I only find average. It makes me question my taste sometimes! I also find Damon’s quotes about Bond curious and interesting, and would love to hear more about that!

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:12:32 +0000

Nymeth is right, I didn’t love this book either. I didn’t connect with the characters in the ways I wanted to, and I LOATHED the ending. Blech. BUT I am happy to see these types of themes discussed in YA literature, as so many teens don’t understand the broader world around them, don’t see how racism is still alive and well in the world today, etc. And I think Woodson writes really well for teens. Just, If You Come Softly wasn’t excellent for me – so you’re not the only one! I’m willing to give her another chance, though, which I plan to do sooner rather than later.

By: alitareads

alitareads — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:39:03 +0000

I just started rereading the Harry Potter series yesterday (that is to say, I’ve reread half of the first book) and oh! the comfort reading!

Good luck with your move. Big or small, moving is never fun.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:37:43 +0000

In reply to Mumsy. What? Why? Because our current sentences are so very, very hysterical, ill-formed and ill-informed?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:37:09 +0000

In reply to Amy @ My Friend Amy. I do prefer longer books. Not necessarily chunksters, but longer than this is better for me. On the other hand, Angela Johnson's The First Part Last was equally short, and I felt a very strong emotional connection with that one.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:35:24 +0000

In reply to rhapsodyinbooks.

I didn’t get invested enough in the characters for the ending to have so much of an impact on me. I think if the end had packed the wallop it intended, I’d have had a far different reaction.

*laughs* I’ve conceded Shelf Love’s Jenny to be Proper Jenny, and accepted my place as Other Jenny – but you keep fighting the good fight! :p And thanks for the good wishes.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:34:05 +0000

In reply to softdrink. Thank you! I have bought masses of packing tape for the purpose! :)

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:33:48 +0000

In reply to Trapunto.

Well, I can’t speak to Woodson, but you are missing out by not reading Patrick Ness. His books are incredible.

Yeah, moving’s awful, and I hate change, and all my stuff’s in boxes, and I’m fretting about my books – blech. I do appreciate studies that validate me though. My crankiness is based in SCIENTIFIC FACT.