Reviewed by Katie King on
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is one of those books that, for me anyways, I can't remember the plot a week later. It's strange because it's not like nothing happens in this book, it's that a lot of what happens is resolved and forgotten as quickly as it comes up. So separate events don't have a lot of overall bearing on the characters.
Anyways, I made a short list-style review for today. I won't be switching completely to these reviews, but I think they're a good option when I don't have a lot to say or when I'm busy. Without further ado:
GOOD
- the main plot with her hallucinations and powers
- writing when Mara is falling apart is great
- legitimately frightening sometimes
- a little bit diverse (Indian family)
- although we're not sure how & what she's capable of, Mara isn't constantly referred to as "special"
- the very last few pages
BAD
- the mystery suffered, and it sometimes felt like a contemporary romance
- plot stuff: her powers don't explain the hallucinations/passing out, the trial & kidnapping felt like filler
- all the female characters were bitches or beneath her (except Rachel, who's dead)
- a lot of token characters (sometimes more than one token per character)
- sexist, sleazy pig of a boyfriend
COMMENTS
- Jude was a bad kid but I'm not sure he "deserved to die"
- I wish I knew more about what exactly happened in the asylum
Summary
Classic problems: token characters, girl hate, falling in love with the school's mysterious/sexy/bad boy. Rising out of the ashes of disappointment is a cool idea for a plot that got little airtime. I loved being inside Mara's head and I loved being in the asylum. Hopefully the next one focuses on those.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 8 July, 2014: Finished reading
- 8 July, 2014: Reviewed