Reading Challenge 2012: When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge
Jennie Shortridge wrote one of my favorite books ever, Riding With The Queen, & she's a very cool gal. I've taken two of her workshops over the years & not only did I have a blast but I learned things I still use. I'd avoided this book since '09 because I usually don't like books based on true stories -- the story is usually secondary to the "true" parts. Not so with this one. I really should've known, because one of Jennie's strengths is characterization. The people in this book really jump off the page & even the ones I didn't "like" were great characters. It's even plot-heavy enough to keep me flipping pages on a weekend (reading so much YA has raised my expectations in that area, so less plotty books usually don't get much face-time outside of lunch hours). Also, most of the reviews played-up the religious aspect of the book, much more than was warranted. I'm not saying there was none, but Jennie used a light hand & what was there truly fit the characters. I didn't feel preached-to at all.
Here's the blurb I found on Amazon. I'm afraid of spoiling anything, so this is all you get unless you poke around online. :)
Police officer Jessica Villareal has always played by the book and tried to do the right thing. But now, she finds herself approaching midlife divorced, estranged from her daughter, alone, and unhappy. And she's wondering if she ever made a right choice in her life.
But then Jess discovers a girl and her Iraq-vet father living off the radar in the Oregon woods, avoiding the comforts-and curses-of modern life. Her colleagues on the force are determined to uproot and separate them, but Jess knows the damage of losing those you love. She recognizes her chance to make a difference by doing something she's never dared. Because even though she's used to playing by the rules, there are times when they need to be broken...
Jess is an amazing character, as are Ray (the father) and Lindy (the girl). I rooted for all three of them, and maybe some readers will see the end coming but I didn't. My other favorite character was a dog & that hardly ever happens. I don't dislike dogs (& must admit a soft spot for a big Shepherd), but I'm really a cat person.
I don't want to give anything away, but this book made me reverse my "based on a true story" aversion. (Okay, when it's an author I otherwise trust.) I'm even planning on getting Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices when it comes out in May. A collaborative novel is something else I wouldn't necessarily go for, but now I'm trusting Jennie.
Rec? Yes. But keep some tissues handy.
Now I'm going to stop playing with dolls & start working my way through the Lambda Award nomination list, beginning with Static, by L.A. Witt. :)
This entry was originally posted at http://www.dreamwidth.org/12345.html. Please comment either here or there.
Here's the blurb I found on Amazon. I'm afraid of spoiling anything, so this is all you get unless you poke around online. :)
Police officer Jessica Villareal has always played by the book and tried to do the right thing. But now, she finds herself approaching midlife divorced, estranged from her daughter, alone, and unhappy. And she's wondering if she ever made a right choice in her life.
But then Jess discovers a girl and her Iraq-vet father living off the radar in the Oregon woods, avoiding the comforts-and curses-of modern life. Her colleagues on the force are determined to uproot and separate them, but Jess knows the damage of losing those you love. She recognizes her chance to make a difference by doing something she's never dared. Because even though she's used to playing by the rules, there are times when they need to be broken...
Jess is an amazing character, as are Ray (the father) and Lindy (the girl). I rooted for all three of them, and maybe some readers will see the end coming but I didn't. My other favorite character was a dog & that hardly ever happens. I don't dislike dogs (& must admit a soft spot for a big Shepherd), but I'm really a cat person.
I don't want to give anything away, but this book made me reverse my "based on a true story" aversion. (Okay, when it's an author I otherwise trust.) I'm even planning on getting Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices when it comes out in May. A collaborative novel is something else I wouldn't necessarily go for, but now I'm trusting Jennie.
Rec? Yes. But keep some tissues handy.
Now I'm going to stop playing with dolls & start working my way through the Lambda Award nomination list, beginning with Static, by L.A. Witt. :)
This entry was originally posted at http://www.dreamwidth.org/12345.html. Please comment either here or there.