Revolution (Donnelly)
Nov. 29th, 2010 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cahnDear people who write historical fiction, I have a request. Please actually read books written in the time period you are writing about so you have some idea of the style of the period. Also, if it's not too much to ask, maybe have a draft reviewed by someone who is passing familiar with the period? Thanks!
...That is to say, I really really liked a bit more than half of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly: the half that is narrated by the 21st-century totally smart but angsty teen. The voice is really well done. The narrator knows a lot about music in a way that rings true to me (as someone who knows a fair amount, but doesn't have a degree in it) and is fascinating to read about. The minor characters (in particular I am thinking about her best friend and his mom) are awesomely hilarious. And halfway through the book I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, but I didn't -- Donnelly didn't take the easy way out, and the book is way more satisfying because of it.
But. But some of the book is narrated through entries in a journal found by the main character. This journal belongs to a young woman who lived around the time of the French Revolution. Unfortunately... she sounds exactly like the 21st-century teen, stylistically. It really bugged me, to the extent that I would try to translate bits into French to see if it made sense as a French translation (usually not). It especially bugged me, I suspect, because I've read enough stuff written in and about that time period (courtesy of a French teacher in high school mad about the period and willing to feed my book habit) that I have a fairly good idea of what I expect to see stylistically. I mean, I don't expect much-- in a YA book I don't expect a fascimile of an actual person's writings or anything-- but I do expect a reasonable effort, which I felt just wasn't made at all.
Also, when you do things like have your character recite Shakespeare in the middle of the 18th century in France, even if I am engrossed in your story you kick me out of it *wham* because I suddenly start wondering things like "Are you reciting this in translation? Wha?"
And I'm sad, because I really liked it, and I do actually recommend it. Especially if you don't know anything about the French Revolution and so the things that threw me won't throw you. If you do, well... maybe? Know you will have to skim the journal parts.
I'm torn about reading more of Donnelly's work, though, because it seems that she really likes writing historical fiction, and I do not want to read historical fiction by her. More smart 21st century heroines, please?
...That is to say, I really really liked a bit more than half of Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly: the half that is narrated by the 21st-century totally smart but angsty teen. The voice is really well done. The narrator knows a lot about music in a way that rings true to me (as someone who knows a fair amount, but doesn't have a degree in it) and is fascinating to read about. The minor characters (in particular I am thinking about her best friend and his mom) are awesomely hilarious. And halfway through the book I thought I knew exactly what was going to happen, but I didn't -- Donnelly didn't take the easy way out, and the book is way more satisfying because of it.
But. But some of the book is narrated through entries in a journal found by the main character. This journal belongs to a young woman who lived around the time of the French Revolution. Unfortunately... she sounds exactly like the 21st-century teen, stylistically. It really bugged me, to the extent that I would try to translate bits into French to see if it made sense as a French translation (usually not). It especially bugged me, I suspect, because I've read enough stuff written in and about that time period (courtesy of a French teacher in high school mad about the period and willing to feed my book habit) that I have a fairly good idea of what I expect to see stylistically. I mean, I don't expect much-- in a YA book I don't expect a fascimile of an actual person's writings or anything-- but I do expect a reasonable effort, which I felt just wasn't made at all.
Also, when you do things like have your character recite Shakespeare in the middle of the 18th century in France, even if I am engrossed in your story you kick me out of it *wham* because I suddenly start wondering things like "Are you reciting this in translation? Wha?"
And I'm sad, because I really liked it, and I do actually recommend it. Especially if you don't know anything about the French Revolution and so the things that threw me won't throw you. If you do, well... maybe? Know you will have to skim the journal parts.
I'm torn about reading more of Donnelly's work, though, because it seems that she really likes writing historical fiction, and I do not want to read historical fiction by her. More smart 21st century heroines, please?
