Judy Blume's In The Unlikely Event
I have been waiting foreverrrrrr (GET IT??) to get this e-book from the library, so it was inevitable that it would be at least a little disappointing by the time I read it. The first half is really strong, centered on a teenage girl growing up in New Jersey in the early 1950s, though there are POV sections from basically everyone else in her town, too, as all their lives are changed by a series of plane crashes (this is all apparently inspired by true events). I really liked this first half--I could relate to the teenagers, and it was all so Jewish, and all of the characters really made this town feel inhabited. But then things sort of descend into drama being wrapping up more-or-less neatly. I guess I forgot what Judy Blume books are like? Or maybe I just expected something a little bit different based on the first half. I mean, it was fine, it was certainly engaging. I just found some of it to be a let-down. B.
I am with you. They just did that one Ben Sapphire chapter. And I wanted more about Longy. And everything was just peachy keen with Rusty? Why did "Ruby" just leave Natalie? Too many questions for that bullshit wrap-up. So much random time spent on diaphragms and the weird Daisy subplot, too, don't you think? And the weird Mike Monsky chapter where he still wanted to have sex with Rusty? (Christina)
ReplyDeleteRight? That second half went so downhill! And yes, Jewish gangsters were way more interesting than whatever else was going on! Why did the gangster want his dentist to move to Vegas so badly, anyway??? I really feel like Natalie was underserved by the second half--I was SURE she was going to turn out to be schizophrenic, but instead she's just "eccentric" or something? Everything about Mike was a big waste of time,and I agree, I have no idea what the point of the Daisy subplot was, unless it was to show that Dr O is nice, whcih, who cares.
ReplyDeleteDr. O was suspiciously nice. And his life worked out just great after he tossed away his 20 yr marriage for his daughter's best friend's mom. Gross. And we got to learn all about that stewardess who lived, but then we never got to be inside her head again. And poor Steve!
ReplyDeleteAnd Mason & Miri still have drama after 35 years of not seeing each other? Booooo! Also, I hate books that act like kissing isn't cheating.
Especially since they kissed more than once! Once, it's like, ok, that was bad, but we recognize it's a mistake, three times it's like, hey I am still into you, let's make out some more.
ReplyDeleteI also felt weird about their breakup, like we were supposed to sympathize with Mason for being a dumb horny teenager? But like, come on!
I agree about Dr O and Rusty, like, we never saw them in love or happy together, so it felt really random and terrible.