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Mademoiselle revolution
2022
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Library Journal Review
Admittedly this is the first book of Ackerman's that I struggled with. It's not that it wasn't a good book it's more that it just took it's time getting there if that makes sense. It started out really strong, the first couple of chapters were well written and set readers up for an engrossing tale. But then somewhere around the 20% mark it started to lose steam for me. I had a hard time believing that Isabel wanted to go to Hawaii to basically retrace the footsteps of her deceased brother. On the surface it made sense but as we got into the story where she meets Mateo and retracing her brother's favorite spots as a catalyst for their romance just felt weird and off to me. For me it just didn't work and felt a little off. The first half of the book mostly covered Mateo and Isabel going to her brother's favorite spots and Mateo documenting those spots and the whole time I was thinking "Why???? What's the point of this???". And Mateo's devotion to all those spots and memories felt a little weird too. Can't explain it but it just didn't feel fitting some how. I struggled with Lu's parts of the book too. There seemed to be zero connection between Lu and Mateo later on in the book and I just really struggled to get into that part of the story. For some reason this whole book felt very mismatched and strung together but not in a good way. After the 50% mark things eventually picked up and got better (no spoilers!) but by that point I was already feeling disconnected and bored with some of the story. It took too long getting there and getting to the interesting parts for my taste. This was unexpected for me because Ackerman's books have generally been really good. This book started out with her trademark love of Hawaii and it's war time history. I loved that part and I loved the descriptions of the island and it's rugged beauty. But the characters felt lacking for me. While this book didn't excite me as some of Ackerman's other novels, I think it's still worth a read. It's not bad but for me, I felt like her other novels were stronger and I think this one could have been better than it was. Ackerman is still an author that I recommend a lot to readers looking for 'off the beaten path' WWII novels. She is a marvelous writer and I love how she writes and the stories she tells, but in this one I think it could have been better. Admittedly this is the first book of Ackerman's that I struggled with. It's not that it wasn't a good book it's more that it just took it's time getting there if that makes sense. It started out really strong, the first couple of chapters were well written and set readers up for an engrossing tale. But then somewhere around the 20% mark it started to lose steam for me. I had a hard time believing that Isabel wanted to go to Hawaii to basically retrace the footsteps of her deceased brother. On the surface it made sense but as we got into the story where she meets Mateo and retracing her brother's favorite spots as a catalyst for their romance just felt weird and off to me. For me it just didn't work and felt a little off. The first half of the book mostly covered Mateo and Isabel going to her brother's favorite spots and Mateo documenting those spots and the whole time I was thinking "Why???? What's the point of this???". And Mateo's devotion to all those spots and memories felt a little weird too. Can't explain it but it just didn't feel fitting some how. I struggled with Lu's parts of the book too. There seemed to be zero connection between Lu and Mateo later on in the book and I just really struggled to get into that part of the story. For some reason this whole book felt very mismatched and strung together but not in a good way. After the 50% mark things eventually picked up and got better (no spoilers!) but by that point I was already feeling disconnected and bored with some of the story. It took too long getting there and getting to the interesting parts for my taste. This was unexpected for me because Ackerman's books have generally been really good. This book started out with her trademark love of Hawaii and it's war time history. I loved that part and I loved the descriptions of the island and it's rugged beauty. But the characters felt lacking for me. While this book didn't excite me as some of Ackerman's other novels, I think it's still worth a read. It's not bad but for me, I felt like her other novels were stronger and I think this one could have been better than it was. Ackerman is still an author that I recommend a lot to readers looking for 'off the beaten path' WWII novels. She is a marvelous writer and I love how she writes and the stories she tells, but in this one I think it could have been better.
Publishers Weekly Review
Sivak's resonant debut features a woman trapped between two worlds during the Haitian and French revolutions. Sylvie de Rosiers, 18, has lived with her father's family in the French colony of Saint-Domingue since her enslaved mother died in childbirth. Though her father has accepted her as his only daughter and ensured she was well educated, Sylvie knows she will never be fully accepted in society. Her hopes for marriage to a biracial man are diminished when she flees the island for Paris during the slave revolt that leads to independence. The undercurrent of rebellion resonates throughout France as Sylvie is drawn to Maximilien Robespierre and his quest for equality. As Sylvie discovers acceptance in Max's circle, which includes his mistress, Cornélie Duplay, she and Cornélie explore their mutual attraction in secret. Sylvie becomes immersed in her role as a revolutionary, working with Max's brother, Augustin, for the Robespierres' cause. But as the revolution rages on, no one seems immune from the guillotine, leaving Sylvie to fear for her safety and that of her friends. Sivak expertly depicts Sylvie's growing consciousness of the oppressed and of the revolution's contradictions. Readers will be hooked. Agent: Amy Bishop, Dystal, Goderich, and Bourret. (Aug.)
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