Frances
PLOT
Beginning with the structure, the novel is split into two halves. The first half is in the format of a letter from one of the teenagers, detailing his thoughts and what happened. The second half, however, is set years later and told from the perspective of a classmate, trying to piece together what happened and why.
With that being said, I didn't really feel like the story was fleshed out as much as I would like it to be. I think there needed to be a bit more exposure and details in order to make it worthwhile, as there were still a lot of questions left unanswered or vague. I also felt like at one point the story deviated too much into a classroom drama.
On the other hand, I can at least give it credit for being surreal and different. It's not a bad book by any means, and it's short enough to use it to fill a reading goal, but I do think it needed some more work. Like mentioned before though, it at least gets props for delving into the phenomenon of k-pop/j-pop super fans and how far they're willing to go for their favorite idols.
CHARACTERS
The characters were okay, but to be honest, none of them particularly stood out to me. There just wasn't really much to go off of, even though the book is primarily told through their internal monologue. I only wish we got to know more about Morishita (the killer) and what his thought process was like. I was curious to know why he did those things and what justified them in his mind. I was also curious about what the j-pop idol was going through and what her thoughts were on this whole crazy ordeal.
AUTHOR'S WRITING STYLE
There were some instances of repetition and at least one minor inconsistency, but otherwise, the writing was alright. I do think the writing could have also used a bit more developing, but for what it is, it was still enjoyable. I did notice a lot of the sentences were short and sometimes abrupt, which I didn't personally have an issue with, but I can see how it might disrupt one's reading flow. Overall, there is potential here.
RATING
I rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Contains spoilers
PLOT
Admittedly, not much goes on in this book. Most of the time, Ivar and John go about their day, exchanging their native tongue and tending to things around the island. Likewise, the story will occasionally switch to Mary's perspective, John's wife, to offer some context from the past leading up to why John took the job in the first place. Much of this novel's charm, on the other hand, comes from the way the author describes this otherwise mundane environment. Things like cooking, knitting, kindling, foraging, and just, in general, simple errands are described in a pleasantly comforting way. Altogether, it's an atmospheric and fairly short read (around 130 pages) that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Unfortunately, however, this book isn't without its flaws. Even though it is a 4-star rating to me, I felt like the ending wasn't executed as well as it could be. I think the romantic implications from Chapter 36 (about 80%) and beyond should not have been included or at the very least incorporated better. It just didn't really feel plausible to me considering John was: 1. married; 2. talking so lovingly about his wife the whole time; and 3. never really showed affection towards Ivar. I felt like I could have believed it a little more if there was a gradual lead-up to it rather than an abrupt appearance.
CHARACTERS
The characters, for the most part, are ordinary people. They didn't particularly stand out, but they also weren't boring. Like mentioned before, much of this book's strong point is in how the environment is described. So in the end, it wasn't really an issue for me. I do wish, on the other hand, we got a little more from their internal monologue. For example, did John feel remorse for his wife when she figured it out? Did John resist these feelings towards Ivar? Was John truly happy in his marriage to have fallen for Ivar? Was John struggling as both a (possibly closeted) bisexual and a minister? These are things I wish went a little more in-depth from his perspective as his isolation with Ivar went on. Like stated before, I felt like this type of information could have helped make the end more believable.
AUTHOR'S WRITING STYLE
Despite this book being released in 2024, it very much feels like a pre-21st-century classic. I also appreciate when an author brings a lesser-known historical event to the spotlight. I have never even heard of the Highland Clearances before and found it interesting to look up and read about.
RATING
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Contains spoilers
PLOT
To give a general idea of the story, we follow Frances (aka Frankie) and her life during and after the Vietnam War as a combat nurse. The book is roughly split into two parts: the first half describes her time during the violent war, and the second half describes her struggle to fit back into society (which isn't very accepting of her). It covers topics such as PTSD, discrimination, addiction, and more.
Despite this book being 400+ pages, I thought it was well-paced. I never felt like a part dragged on too long, and it was able to hold my attention the entire time. I do agree that the lead-up to the end felt a tad bit rushed, but it didn't bother me too much. In my opinion, the ending was wrapped up neatly and had a somewhat uplifting closure.
CHARACTERS
Frankie is the main focus here, as the story is only told through her POV. Throughout the story, we see how she falls and grows through it all. She starts her journey young, naive, and full of hope, and she comes out of the war angry, lost, confused, and betrayed. Despite the very tragic things she endures in her life (both war- and non-war-related), she powers through.
I felt like Frankie, as a character, was written well. There were some things I felt like she handled as best she could and some things she didn't handle very well, but either way, she's a good-intentioned, strong-willed person with reasonable flaws and a tragic story.
To further add on, I liked how each person Frankie encountered had an effect on her, both good and bad. I can't really pinpoint a side character that didn't influence her life in some way. Some helped support her in her darkest times, and some contributed (both directly and indirectly) to her downfalls. It was intriguing to see just how powerful words and actions (or lack thereof) can be to a single person.
AUTHOR'S WRITING STYLE
Although I can't attest to the accuracy of the historical details in the book, the book felt real to me. The author includes a lot of military terminology, describes the environment in a convincing manner, and overall, definitely put a lot of research into this book. In general, I felt like the author handled this sensitive topic respectfully and helped shine a light on America's past treatment of the Vietnam War and their veterans (especially the women).
RATING
I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.