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Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker's Reviews > Dearly, Departed
Dearly, Departed (Gone With the Respiration, #1)
by
by
A steampunk novel that lost its steam
What a frustrating book! I so wanted to love it. It had so many good elements to it. However, somehow, the book lost its way and could not find its way back again!
The GOOD
Bram Griswold
Zombie, soldier, and overall nice guy. He was the source of many of my favorite lines in the book. He was charming, respectful, and he was the guy that all parents dreamed that their loving daughter would find… minus the fact that he was a zombie.
Nora Dearly
An unconventional girl in an unconventional world. She was a tough, high-spirited, quick to learn, quick to sass girl that charmed me enough to make me want to cheer for her. I loved her loyalty to her friends and her sassy mouth.
The "other" zombies
You might notice that the “good” in this book is showing a pattern. It was the characters. All the characters..good or bad…were well written and convincing. I liked the zombies even the “bad” zombies. However, here, I’m talking about the zombie characters, their personalities, not the fact that they were zombies. In truth, their zombieness (view spoiler) is irrelevant in this book. Let me explain (look down at the bad for my explanation).
The BAD
The Zombies
Yes, yes, I know. Zombies again. So the zombies are good and bad? Yes. But how the hell do I explain this. Ok. So, the zombie character was great but the fact that the zombies were really zombies wasn’t. The author didn’t really do the entire zombie thing like she could have. I’m not asking for more ripping, shredding, blood and guts but just more of a “OH #@$#%” instead of “Oh cool, they are zombies” type of attitude.
In the beginning, the author did it right. For example, one of my favorite lines from the beginning of the book…
"They were men. They looked like men, at least -human- but like people who had been dead for months, years, in all stages of decay- flesh hanging limply off limbs, bones exposed..."
Sounds like a zombie right? However, later, when other people first run into these same so-called zombies, their descriptions are far less remarkable, even borderline boring. It almost seemed like the author forgot she started with a zombie book.
The Ever Changing POV's
Oh my god. This is what killed this book. Forget zombies. They are harmless compared to the horrible POV switches in this book. What is worse, it wasn’t needed. The author could have left all but Bram and Nora’s story out. That is it.
The World
This is just too much of a good thing. Dystopian, Steampunk, Horror, YA. I swear the author wrote the character’s story and filled in everything afterwards. It did start off good, but it was clearly a case of biting off more than you can chew.
OVERALL
I liked the characters and that is it. I won’t continue with the series.
What a frustrating book! I so wanted to love it. It had so many good elements to it. However, somehow, the book lost its way and could not find its way back again!
The GOOD
Bram Griswold
Zombie, soldier, and overall nice guy. He was the source of many of my favorite lines in the book. He was charming, respectful, and he was the guy that all parents dreamed that their loving daughter would find… minus the fact that he was a zombie.
Nora Dearly
An unconventional girl in an unconventional world. She was a tough, high-spirited, quick to learn, quick to sass girl that charmed me enough to make me want to cheer for her. I loved her loyalty to her friends and her sassy mouth.
The "other" zombies
You might notice that the “good” in this book is showing a pattern. It was the characters. All the characters..good or bad…were well written and convincing. I liked the zombies even the “bad” zombies. However, here, I’m talking about the zombie characters, their personalities, not the fact that they were zombies. In truth, their zombieness (view spoiler) is irrelevant in this book. Let me explain (look down at the bad for my explanation).
The BAD
The Zombies
Yes, yes, I know. Zombies again. So the zombies are good and bad? Yes. But how the hell do I explain this. Ok. So, the zombie character was great but the fact that the zombies were really zombies wasn’t. The author didn’t really do the entire zombie thing like she could have. I’m not asking for more ripping, shredding, blood and guts but just more of a “OH #@$#%” instead of “Oh cool, they are zombies” type of attitude.
In the beginning, the author did it right. For example, one of my favorite lines from the beginning of the book…
"They were men. They looked like men, at least -human- but like people who had been dead for months, years, in all stages of decay- flesh hanging limply off limbs, bones exposed..."
Sounds like a zombie right? However, later, when other people first run into these same so-called zombies, their descriptions are far less remarkable, even borderline boring. It almost seemed like the author forgot she started with a zombie book.
The Ever Changing POV's
Oh my god. This is what killed this book. Forget zombies. They are harmless compared to the horrible POV switches in this book. What is worse, it wasn’t needed. The author could have left all but Bram and Nora’s story out. That is it.
The World
This is just too much of a good thing. Dystopian, Steampunk, Horror, YA. I swear the author wrote the character’s story and filled in everything afterwards. It did start off good, but it was clearly a case of biting off more than you can chew.
OVERALL
I liked the characters and that is it. I won’t continue with the series.
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Reading Progress
October 11, 2011
–
Started Reading
October 11, 2011
– Shelved
October 12, 2011
–
11.0%
""They were men. They looked like men, at least -human- but like people who had been dead for months, years, in all stages of decay- flesh hanging limply off limbs, bones exposed..." ahhh, how I missed my zombies."
October 12, 2011
–
11.0%
"I'm at work. I've been at work ALL DAY. I'm about ready to cry buckets but now I'm just whining. Anyhow, no reading time for me....."
October 13, 2011
–
21.0%
"Love the characters in this book. I haven't been too picky about the world building (it could be flawed, full of holes...who knows) since I've been too into the story. Call me a hypocrite. I know."
October 13, 2011
–
26.0%
""'How is telling her the truth disrespectufl? It's not like I enjoy introducing myself as a creature from beyond the grave.' I desperately wanted to roll my eyes, but we were discouraged from doing so. The muscles around the eyes are always some of the first to go.""
October 15, 2011
–
51.0%
"I absolutely love Nora and Bram's chapters but I get annoyed with the other POV's to the point of setting the book down. I'm only at halfway point and it feels like I've been reading this forever."
October 16, 2011
–
58.0%
""..need to stop acting like a little girl --wah- wah, I was bitten, my life sucks so bad. All of our lives suck right now, okay? You might think yours is an extra special sparkly rainbow unicorn fart type of suck, but it's not. Just get on with it! Throw that stupid useless eyeball away and get on with it!" .... best motivational speech EVER! LOL"
October 17, 2011
–
92.0%
"This book is taking me forever to read. So many small problems with it that could have been prevented. Even w/ the problems, I love Bram & Nora."
October 17, 2011
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-29 of 29 (29 new)
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message 1:
by
Juliana Philippa
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Oct 12, 2011 01:42PM
I look forward to reading your review! Haven't read a zombie or young adult book (well, YA since I was a YA), so will be a change for me.
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Rane wrote: "AWW, that's a bummer ;_;"It was sad since the actual two main characters are wonderful and their story is really good. Everything else (especially the confusing POV's) ruined the book.
I really liked it - and loved the two main characters.. but yeah, the multiple POV gets annoying ever so quick
Rebecca wrote: "I really liked it - and loved the two main characters.. but yeah, the multiple POV gets annoying ever so quick"I know...very sad.
Laura the Highland Hussy wrote: "fabulous review :)"ahh..too sweet and thank you!
"The Ever Changing POV's"I TOTALLY agree with you on this point! UGH! I'm just lucky this was on my computer and not an actual book or I would have tossed it around a few times! :O)
Hmmm...Just got it from Netgalley. I was hoping it would be good.
I just got it also. :( Poo!
My problem so far has been a heavy hand with adverbs. I just got to the quote you mention and so far it's good. Sad to hear it goes downhill from there.
Shelley wrote: ""The Ever Changing POV's"I TOTALLY agree with you on this point! UGH! I'm just lucky this was on my computer and not an actual book or I would have tossed it around a few times! :O)"
Totally agree. What I hated most about this book? That I actually loved the characters! It was a shame that everything else failed.
Crystal wrote: "Drat, now I regret buying this book :P"There are quite a few great reviewers that love this book and you might enjoy the book as well!
AH wrote: "Hmmm...Just got it from Netgalley. I was hoping it would be good."It drove me nuts and took me forever to read (about 4 times longer than normal). I do see lots of great reviews so you might like it as well!
Dinjolina wrote: "I just got it also. :( Poo!"You never know!!! You might think it is wonderful!
Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalking wrote: "Dinjolina wrote: "I just got it also. :( Poo!"You never know!!! You might think it is wonderful!"
When you don't like it? Don't think so...I don't think I ever liked a book you rated badly. :)
Yes,can you feel it?Peer pressure lol I depend on you ;)
Dinjolina wrote: "When you don't like it? Don't think so...I don't think I ever liked a book you rated badly. :)Yes,can you feel it?Peer pressure lol I depend on you ;)..."
ohhh.. that is peer pressure. lol! though I've done the same with you...especially with some of your likes/dislikes in the romance area!
Btw when it comes to romance,did ya ever read The Passions of Emma?My gr friends seem to DIE for this book. I just read it for a book club...God! The agony. :(
P.S.I love you so so sooo much for recommending Warm bodies! :)
Dinjolina wrote: "Btw when it comes to romance,did ya ever read The Passions of Emma?My gr friends seem to DIE for this book. I just read it for a book club...God! The agony. :(
P.S.I love you so so..."
No I never read the book and now I definitely won't. I loved your review.
As for Warm Bodies, yes that was a great book. I have a copy on my keeper shelf even though I usually loan out all my books. That one stays with me. :)
I actually wanted my heroine to kiss the creepy dead guy with a knife wound in his forehead. I mean, an author can do no better than that!Btw,did you ever try the Generation dead series? They are YA but very...cool view on zombies and origins. Also their rights.
You know, you're right--the beginning of the zombie stuff was good, but then nothing much happened with it.
Wendy Darling wrote: "You know, you're right--the beginning of the zombie stuff was good, but then nothing much happened with it."It went from "flesh hanging limply off limbs" to eeek, they are monsters or whatever they said. It really was lame towards the end.
It's true. I should add a teeny bit to my review to say that--it was a major flaw for sure!
Wendy Darling wrote: "It's true. I should add a teeny bit to my review to say that--it was a major flaw for sure!"Your review was great. :)
I got this one at Comic Con. Now you've made me even more thankful it was a freebie!Also, the author was majorly channeling Meghan Mulally (?) from Will & Grace.
The book had a lot of problems - I think she tried to put too much into the world - I'm glad that I stuck it out because it got really exciting after page 250 or so. That said, that's an awfully lot of confusing pages before then.
The Flooze (Michelle M.) wrote: "I got this one at Comic Con. Now you've made me even more thankful it was a freebie!Also, the author was majorly channeling Meghan Mulally (?) from Will & Grace."
I think this book will be really popular oddly enough. Even though I didn't like it, I'm guessing others will. It's entertaining enough to keep people interested and Bram is so charming, he could carry the book all on his own. I hope you do like it!
AH wrote: "The book had a lot of problems - I think she tried to put too much into the world - I'm glad that I stuck it out because it got really exciting after page 250 or so. That said, that's an awfully lo..."It was a mess of "stuff" that is for sure. I think the author just literally bit off more than she could chew (hehe..zombie joke... again....trying ..)
Great review, Michelle!Thought much the same as you did, though the cons didn't weigh down my rating as heavily. But I had the exact same problems.
