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54 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 3/4 Stars, July 8, 2009
Plot/Storyline: 4 1/2 Stars
I was pleasantly surprised as I was afraid since the main character was an artist, that the reader would be treated to long, boring passages about colors and scenery. That didn't happen at all throughout the book.
The story line flowed beautifully and horrifically at the same time.
Reading this book brought to mind the old movie "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." Not that the storyline was similar, just that the tone flowed in the same manner.
The sex scenes were a bit long and drawn out. Many of them did not even seem to be essential to the story, at least not in the detail they were delivered.
Character Development: 5 Stars
Every character was real - You could be living next door to any one of them.
The main character reaches out of the pages and squeezes your heart. Her honesty and realism are refreshing.
The mother is evil in ways that only a mother can be; while the father is the only type of man who could be with a woman like her.
You will fall in love with Brian. I promise.
Writing Style: 4 1/2 Stars
As good as the writing was, about 20% of this novel could have been left in the Recycling bin of the author's computer. There were several passages where it just 'rambled on' repetitively, driving home the same points until emotional numbness.
The usage of caps to try to bring attention to certain words was a bit annoying. I think the work would have been better served by using either italics or nothing. Using caps actually detracted a little from the power of the words as I felt like I was being force-fed.
Editing/Formatting: 5 Stars
There were a few errors in the text, but not so many as to overly detract from the reading experience, especially in a book of this length. The Kindle formatting was excellent.
Overall:
This was a soap opera "plot" told in poetic prose. It is an epic work from an author destined for greatness.
Rating: NC-17 for Adult Situations, Language and Graphic Sex
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Promising writer; flawed book, December 11, 2010
There is much to like and appreciate about Waiting for Spring. Keller is a talented writer who has created a believable world with a cast of well-drawn characters, most notably the protagonist, Tess, and her love interest, Brian.
Some of the ancillary characters are less three-dimensional, particularly the well-to-do, who are almost without exception stereotypically typed as fairly greedy and shallow. In fact, money and Tess's perception of it as evil is an ongoing thread in the novel. This appeared to be presented as a principled stance for Tess, but the 'principle' didn't quite resonate and the reasons for it were not entirely clear to me.
This book has great potential, but the excellent world Keller has created does not shine as brightly as it should, and the occasional poignant turn of phrase gets lost in the muddle. The main problem is that, in my opinion, Waiting for Spring is overwritten, so much so that it was a struggle for me to see it through to the end. I believe a good one-third of this book could be eliminated, perhaps even more. Repetition of thoughts, ideas, and impressions in Tess's internal monologue, along with some repetitive physical descriptions (i.e. "Van Dyke Brown"), give the novel a rambling, unfocused quality at times.
There were a few graphic sex scenes in the book. As I came to know Tess better, I began to understand the reason for Keller's inclusion of them. Sex is, after all, Tess's default fallback coping strategy; and this is Tess's world, seen through her eyes (first-person narration). But like all else in the novel, including the excess use of four-letter words, less trumps more.
The ending was a disappointment. It felt tacked on, like an afterthought, and it seemed out of sync with the flow of the book. I cannot really say more without spoilers.
I can recommend this book for enthusiasts of women's fiction because of its wonderful cast of human, believable characters in an equally believable world. I hesitate to give an unqualified recommendation because I think the overwriting does necessitate a certain amount of patience that some readers may not have.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Witty, realistic, emotional roller-coaster., November 27, 2010
This review is from: Waiting For Spring (Paperback)
One of the things I like most about WAITING FOR SPRING is the prose. RJ Keller's wit adds to the story, making Tess more fleshed out and real. Tess is far from perfect, but she is likeable! She's everywoman, a welcome change from Miss Mary Sue who pops in and out of most novels every so often. We can relate to Tess, and all of her trails and tribulations.
The other thing I liked was how two different love stories kind of merged--as Tess' marriage fell apart, she deals with the heartbreak. Then in its wake, she meets Brian the young, handsome guy downstairs. The chemistry between Tess and Brian is brilliant, real, and at times dramatic.
It was a real page turner, and emotional roller-coaster...you feel right along with Tess. All her highs and lows, moments of joy and valleys of pain and shame.
You really root for her, and you want it to all work out in the end for Tess.
I highly recommend Waiting For Spring, as well as anything else by RJ Keller.
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