Review of The Thought of Her

[Huini Hellen]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Thought of Her" by Blake Bailey.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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Every parent desires to give their children the best they can afford, be it academics, basic needs, or even secondary needs. The situation is further complicated if they have a single child who is the heir to a vast empire. Such was the case for Sally Anne, daughter of Darin and Joan. Although Sally Anne’s parents were divorced, her grandfather, Herbert Tanner, ensured she still got the best that life had to offer. Herbert was disappointed that his desire to expand his financial empire had led him to neglect raising his son properly. He even feared that Darin would not live up to the standards he set and realized that the same thing would happen to his granddaughter.

As Sally Anne jogged one morning, she was kidnapped and driven off in a white van. Attempts to trace the van proved futile, as its license plates were stolen from another identical van in Oklahoma. The kidnappers went for months without contacting the Tanner family before they finally asked for a ransom of three million dollars. Although this was an affordable ransom for the sole heir of the Tanner family, nobody seemed certain about her well-being. Dumped on an island inhabited by wild animals and separated from civilization, Sally Anne was determined to live through her abduction. Darin asked his father to let him take charge of this once, especially because it concerned his daughter. Will the Tanner family get their daughter back in one piece?

The book’s plot begins gradually and eventually picks up steadily. Unfortunately, I was not too fond of the inclusion of detracting subplots like Mike’s involvement with the criminal since they failed to contribute significantly to the storyline and instead dragged the main plot. Each scene in The Thought of Her by Blake Bailey is vividly described and captures all the characters’ thoughts and feelings. The fact that I could easily make mental notes of Herbert’s parental predicament enabled me to resonate with the methods he used to fix his previous mistakes.

The author also capitalizes on the element of surprises throughout the storyline to the end of the book, which is what I liked most about the book. There is also the inclusion of foreign vocabulary in the book, which improved its aesthetic quality and contributed to its authenticity. For instance, Sally’s interaction with Spanish natives placed the scene in its immediate context and added tension to her desperate state.

I’m disappointed by the number of errors that plague this novel. The EPUB I reviewed was not professionally edited, ranging from the punctuation and grammar to the structural errors it contains. The presence of mistakes and the inclusion of detracting sub-plots influence my rating of three out of five stars. I recommend it for another round of editing, which will weed out the errors and ultimately guarantee readers an uninterrupted reading experience.

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The Thought of Her
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[Ayesha Faraz]

Hey there! Your review beautifully captures the intricate world of privileged parenting and its outcomes. The gradual plot progression and steady pacing create a balanced rhythm, while the vivid descriptions and character insights allow readers to truly connect with the story. The element of surprises keeps the excitement alive, and the use of foreign vocabulary adds a touch of authenticity and cultural depth. Your review paints a comprehensive picture of the book's strengths, making me eager to dive into the story myself!

[Huini Hellen]

Hey there! Your review beautifully captures the intricate world of privileged parenting and its outcomes. The gradual plot progression and steady pacing create a balanced rhythm, while the vivid descriptions and character insights allow readers to truly connect with the story. The element of surprises keeps the excitement alive, and the use of foreign vocabulary adds a touch of authenticity and cultural depth. Your review paints a comprehensive picture of the book's strengths, making me eager to dive into the story myself!

Thanks for the kind words.