But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a sermon and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.
Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.
Her ninth novel, A Heart Most Worthy, follows prior Bethany House releases: A Constant Heart (October 2008), Love's Pursuit (June 2009), and She Walks in Beauty (Apr 2010). She Walks in Beauty won the inaugural INSPY Award for Historical Fiction in Dec 2010. Two of her novels, Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door were Christy Award finalists. Love's Pursuit was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award.
Publishers Weekly proclaimed, "Mitchell delivers the historical goods."
ABOUT THE BOOK
Julietta is drawn to the swarthy, mysterious Angelo. Annamaria has a star-crossed encounter with the grocer's son, a man from the entirely wrong family. And through no intent of her own, Luciana catches the eye of Billy Quinn, the son of Madame Forza's most important client.
Their destinies intertwined, each harboring a secret from their families and each other, will they be found worthy of the love they seek?
If you would like to read the first chapter of A Heart Most Worthy, go HERE.
My Review:
I am unsure about “A Heart Most Worthy”, not in a negative way, just… unsure…
Let me preface this review by saying I have not met a Siri Mitchell book I have not liked, she has an amazing writing “voice”.
While I enjoyed “A Heart Most Worthy”, I am still kicking around the idea if I liked it enough to read more books in this nature. Allow me to explain. The author employed a writing technique called “omniscient” point of view. Unhindered by space breaks, you jump from one character’s head to the next with little warning.
If I had to read such a book, I would want Siri to do it. There were few stumbling blocks, the reader was almost always warned by a new paragraph and the “head hopping” within characters was done when they shared the same scene.
That said I couldn’t really get “into” the book. I liked the story, the multiply plots all came together- even a few character surprises. You have to be patient at the beginning and become familiar with the multiple players. But the reason for my uncertainty is I am unsure about the omniscient point of view. On one hand I liked it, on the other hand it’s not my favorite way to read.
It’s still a great Siri Mitchell story, I think other readers are going to have to decide for themselves if they like the style of this particular book. I would say the story overall was very good.
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers through CFBA for my copy to review.
Hi Casey --
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for writing and posting a review of my book! While I enjoyed writing in omniscient and while it fit the era of the story, I'll be back to my normal first-person in next spring's release, The Messenger.
Happy reading!
-Siri
Hello Siri, wow, thank you for visiting, what an honor to have you visit! :)
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard about your next release, how exciting! Can't wait!! :)
I followed the link and read the first few chapters of "A Heart Most Worthy." Though it was written in an out of the ordinary point of view (thanks for telling me it was "omniscient" point of view), I didn't have any problem following the story. Though I haven't had the privilege of reading the entire book, I don't quite understand why you called it "you jump from one character's head to the next with little warning." The chapters I read flowed very easily from one character to the next. I really enjoyed the story and will put it on my "to read" list. Thanks for your review of this book.
ReplyDeleteHey Pam!
ReplyDelete"head hopping" is another term for omniscent point of view. In standard fiction you are going to have a new chapter or chapter break like this: ***** before you get into the head of another character. That is what I was referring to in this book. We move with no stops between characters.
Hope that makes sense! :) Thanks for coming by!!