ladygrey
Written on Oct 22, 2011
At first I didn't like Violet because for all her assertions that she's 20, she acted and thought more like she was 14. Granted, that's probably historically accurate since girls were so sheltered in that time. But it was still a little annoying. But I liked that she grew up in the course of the book; she lost that sense of silliness and naivete.
The aunts were all interesting, if mostly one dimensional. They each served a purpose, exposing Violet to different aspects of life and different possibilities, teaching her good things. But they were most interesting when they crossed out of their given box and related to one another and to Violet in a more conversational way.
At times some of the dialog felt like lectures on women's suffrage or on God - which granted they were supposed to be since Violet was being lectured. But lectures aren't interesting and the reader doesn't need to be exposed to them the same way Violet was. I would have rather had the women's suffrage information given in a more interesting way, something more casual or woven into the story more. And the trite Bible speak left out altogether or for Violet to figure out that certain characters lacked depth earlier and leave them.
But I guess, most of all, I was disappointed that I didn't love her love interest. Up until the moment of gambling, I honestly wanted her to end up with Nelson because their relationship was the most authentic and developed. The conversations they had revealed both characters and I respected that he was always honest with her about who he was and what he wanted and expected. I liked that they were comfortable together and that they were friends so even if he was in love with someone else, it seemed the best option for her. Because no matter how much she said that she couldn't stop thinking about Silas or how his touch was electric or how she was most herself with him, I didn't share any of that with her. I never got past my initial reticence to him from the way he carried himself on the train car to his social sort of fumbling. Then suddenly there he was as a great mature guy comforting Aunt Birdie and there wasn't enough development there, enough to really draw me in to wanting them to be together instead of accepting that he was her best option.
Which isn't to say I didn't like it. I liked how by the end so many of the characters had transformed, or if not transformed at least been revealed to Violet as more of who they truly were. That was interesting and a satisfying way for the stories to wrap up. It was enjoyable to read.