Review of Deceptive Calm
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Naomi Brane
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Review of Deceptive Calm
[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper.]
Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper was an excellent book to read, set during the 1960s to 1980-'90s in the South and later in California. A captivating historical fiction novel, it keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. It's very engaging and follows the life of Vanessa Cohen from her teenage years to almost 40 years old. As an orphan, her life is a rollercoaster ride filled with twists and turns that will keep both her and the reader on edge.
The author did an excellent job of using descriptive language to create vivid settings and characters in the reader's mind, while also linking seemingly inconsequential together. The book was well-edited with no typos, and the storyline kept me engaged with its varied plot twists and cliffhangers. I thought that there were a few negatives but they still made the story very readable and interesting. The timeline of the story was occasionally a little hard to follow requiring some extra re-reading.
Also, there was a lot of sexual content. However, I felt like it added to the book because it was a working part of the story. It was somewhat graphic, and eventually, I got a little tired of how much there was. Additionally, the book contains some violence, including a heartbreaking rape scene and an illegal abortion, which were more sad than graphic. (Although some might find it traumatic). There were also a few instances of profanity, with the word "b-tch" used three times and the racial slur "n-gger" used a few times. Because of the time period depicted in the book, I didn't feel like it was senseless degradation, but rather a historical portrayal.
Considering these factors, I would rate the book a 4 out of 5. It's engaging, a well-written, and well-edited book, but I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a cleaner read due to the sexual content.
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Deceptive Calm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper was an excellent book to read, set during the 1960s to 1980-'90s in the South and later in California. A captivating historical fiction novel, it keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. It's very engaging and follows the life of Vanessa Cohen from her teenage years to almost 40 years old. As an orphan, her life is a rollercoaster ride filled with twists and turns that will keep both her and the reader on edge.
The author did an excellent job of using descriptive language to create vivid settings and characters in the reader's mind, while also linking seemingly inconsequential together. The book was well-edited with no typos, and the storyline kept me engaged with its varied plot twists and cliffhangers. I thought that there were a few negatives but they still made the story very readable and interesting. The timeline of the story was occasionally a little hard to follow requiring some extra re-reading.
Also, there was a lot of sexual content. However, I felt like it added to the book because it was a working part of the story. It was somewhat graphic, and eventually, I got a little tired of how much there was. Additionally, the book contains some violence, including a heartbreaking rape scene and an illegal abortion, which were more sad than graphic. (Although some might find it traumatic). There were also a few instances of profanity, with the word "b-tch" used three times and the racial slur "n-gger" used a few times. Because of the time period depicted in the book, I didn't feel like it was senseless degradation, but rather a historical portrayal.
Considering these factors, I would rate the book a 4 out of 5. It's engaging, a well-written, and well-edited book, but I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a cleaner read due to the sexual content.
******
Deceptive Calm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Malino: The Orphan Road by Joseph R. Barry
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Heller Latoya
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my favorite character is Vanessa. I like everything that she represents, her relationship, her struggle, her career, and all stuff like that.
Latest Review: Discovering Your Passion by Shadan Kapri
