UNCUT DIAMONDSWriter: Karen Jones Gowen
Challenge: What's In A Name Challenge
Kindle: here
Genre: Literary Fiction
How I read it: Kindle
Synopsis: The story of a young woman, Marcie McGill, her husband, Shawn, their five children, and her sisters. It chronicles the day-to day-events in their lives as they struggle with inflation, job loss, severe weather, family dynamics, and the subsequent strains on the McGills' marriage.... Marcie is involved in typing up her grandmother's handwritten journal. Excerpts from the journal are used to parallel the events in Marcie's life. There's also a subtle parallel to the current economic depression. Gowen has a good command of language. There are a few expletives that may bother some readers, but they're used in a pretty inoffensive way.
My Thoughts:
Karen is a great writer. Her stories are rich in detail. I felt I lived her life, I felt I suffered when she suffered. There was one moment in the book where someone knocks on the door and she's afraid to answer, I felt that fear. She writes characters with unique personalities and none of her characters are cliche or cookie-cutter. They show real emotions, sometimes even negative ones.
This story is timely as well. Although the book takes place in the seventies (and some journal entries from early in the twentieth century, it discuss a subject that faces many--not only in the US but around the world--financial hardship. I love how the characters deal with it.
Only one thing bothered me about the kindle book: I couldn't understand the parts that related to the Mormon culture. Terms such as: the calling, the branch, the testimony. Because I'm not Mormon, I couldn't quite understood what was happening at those moments. Now, there is a glossary at the back but with kindle it's kinda irritating to have to flip back and forth. However, those parts are few and for most people, it won't distract from the wonderful story. Hmm, here's an idea: read the glossary before reading the book!
Clarissa - Thanks for this excellent review! You hit, I think, on a very important thing for writers to keep in mind. It's helpful to "let readers in" on terminology and traditions that are a part of a culture. Of course, that's tricky because some readers may be from that culture and even for those who aren't, you don't want to overdo it. Still...
ReplyDeleteI read this in paperback. Karen is very talented. I found her dialogue to be so realistic that they were the parts that I got the most engaged in!
ReplyDeleteI'm flipping through my dashboard before going into make my cookies this morning and was very surprised to see this review. Wow Clarissa, thanks for a great review. Yes I can see a problem with the Kindle version of the Glossary. In the print version, it's very easy to flip back and forth to get the Mormon definitions. WiDo is in the process of reformatting its books for all ereaders, and this kind of tip will really help! I'll pass it on!
ReplyDeleteI think you will like House of Diamonds even more. It isn't the dip into Mormon culture that Uncut is, but it carries on the stories of the central characters.
This is fabulous! I love seeing amazing reviews for authors around the blog!! It's such a heartwarming community and how fun that I even got to read Karen's comment this morning!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in picking his book up now!
A good idea for a post. have placed it on my To-read list.
ReplyDeleteAuthor of The Greek Seaman
http://jacquelinehowett.blogspot.com
Clarissa, this is an awesome review!
ReplyDeleteit sounds like a book we could relate to in some way, since we're all living in this economical crises.
ReplyDeleteWonderful review!!! Yay for the fabulous KarenG!!! Take care
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I read Karen's book "Uncut Diamonds" last spring. I was totally engrossed in it from beginning to end. Enjoyed your review Clarissa. Expressed my sentiments exactly.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, insightful review Clarissa. E-readers in general I'm finding sets off my vertigo, so needless to say I won't be using these much.
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Fantastic review, Clarissa. Karen's book is on my TBR list, and I can't wait to get to it now after reading this.
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting. I may have to add this to my TBR pile. Thanks for sharing the info!
ReplyDeleteHi Clarissa and Karen .. great read .. and interesting the bit about the glossary - helpful to have in these sort of reads ..
ReplyDeleteIt's on my TBR list ... cheers to you both .. Hilary
I love reading posts on books written by bloggers I know beforehand--great review!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very interesting read and one I will have to check out.
ReplyDeleteExcellent review, and the book sounds fascinating. Doubt I could remember the words in the glossary even if I read through them first. I'll probably go for the print version. Oh boy, another excuse to pick on my Kindle.:)
ReplyDeleteHey, great for Karen!
ReplyDeleteGreat review. I like the way the journal entries reflect the life of the MC. Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI have it on my Kindle now and can't wait to read it. Thanks for the review and reading tips, C! :D <3
ReplyDeleteGreat review. Thanks for the tip on the glossary.
ReplyDeleteI love it when people can write about a time period, but anchor it so that it applies to today.
ReplyDeleteClarissa, a great review. This is one of the books I'm looking forward to reading.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
Great review of a very good book Clarissa. I read Karen's book a while back and really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinon, Karen is two for two! I'm looking forward to the next one...
Great review! Sound like a great book.
ReplyDeleteGreat review Clarissa. And ha ha on that Kindle comment - I'm one of those people that reads with a finger marking the glossary, another finger marking the maps, and sticky notes and scraps of paper everywhere. Wonder how I'll ever get on if I buy an e-reader?
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Clarissa. I'm now curious about the book...I'm going to get it! :)
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