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Becoming Jolie
Jolie Bourque is trying to finish her thesis and get on with her life. She wanders into Folette, Louisiana, a place plagued by ghost sightings, convinced the residents are all crazy. No one wants to help her, no one except, Hutch Landry and his brother, Tucker.
Will she find the monster that is preying on the town's children? Can she stay sane surrounded by madness? What are her ties to the small town? How will she choose between the brothers?
This is the nightmare that is her life and all just a part of Becoming Jolie.
Will she find the monster that is preying on the town's children? Can she stay sane surrounded by madness? What are her ties to the small town? How will she choose between the brothers?
This is the nightmare that is her life and all just a part of Becoming Jolie.
128 pages, ebook
First published January 9, 2012
191 people want to read
About the author
Monique O'Connor James
20 books222 followersMonique is the mother of two beautiful children and lives in a small community outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She currently works full time as an insurance agent, but her favorite jobs are mother, wife, and author. On her eighth birthday, her mother bought her a journal and said "write whatever you want, just write." And so, a love affair with words was born. She wrote poetry and short stories in high school and college, until 1993 when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After her mother's death in 1998, Monique fell into a deep depression and found herself unable to write. Nine years passed, and only on rare occasion did she attempt to write with no luck. Finally, in 2007, under the urging of friends, she sat down and pecked out her first novel. It was raw and unpolished, but the process had been unquestionably cathartic. The next three years were spent filling her hard drive with seven complete manuscripts. At the beginning of 2011, Monique decided it was time to edit the work and share it with the world. She hopes you enjoy the ramblings of a deeply southern girl raised in a state rich with heritage and love.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 20, 2012
Hi y'all I'm back again with my latest review for one of my absolute favorite authors Monique O'Connor James. She has captured my heart and soul with her books The Keepers, Jamais Vu, The Mulligan Man, and De Ja Vu, now she has captured my dark side with Becoming Jolie. Monique has the most original and fantastical ideas for books and her exquisite writing talent brings the stories to life right before your eyes. Her characters are conflicted and troubled which adds intense depth and life to the story. Jolie is a girl of means searching to write a school paper on a town rumored to suffer mass hallucinations and multiple missing children. These elements bring an eerie fog over the whole story as the deeper you get the more the plot opens up. Much like a flower when it opens it has multiple pedals and each is immensely important to the full beauty of the flower. Providing full details and immaculate scenes, Monique tells a story that had me haunted with nightmares and creeping chills along my spine! Her characters Hutch and Tucker are polar opposites and will have you loving and questioning them at every turn. Proportionate to the amazing story line the plot twists are huge and grand and will leave your mouth hanging open and your fingers flipping for more. Even though the book is on a darker note there are beautiful and fun scenes in which you'll illicit a giggle or a blush. Let Monique take you away to Folette where the bayou is full of life and your dreams are riddled with the dead! 5 out of 5 huge brilliant bright stars for Becoming Jolie by Monique O'Connor James!! This story is stunning and disturbing all wrapped up between the cover!
July 1, 2012
CRÍTICA
Concluí a leitura de “Becoming Jolie” a 30 de junho de 2012. Dou-lhe quatro estrelas.
Gostei da história e creio que está bem conseguida. Ao longo das pouco mais de 100 páginas conhecemos Jolie, uma rapariga prestes a terminar a sua licenciatura, faltando-lhe concluir a sua tese. Para tal, desloca-se até Folette para estudar a histeria coletiva. O resultado acaba por ser bastante diferente, acabando a história da pequena cidade por se cruzar com a sua própria história pessoal.
Em relação ao que me agradou menos, achei o avanço de tempo esquisito no início. Estava a ler e, de repente, já se tinham passado dois meses. Não há uma noção concreta fácil para se acompanhar a evolução do tempo no princípio. Pensamos que só passaram dias, quando afinal foram meses. A meio da narrativa esta questão é corrigida.
Também dispensava a parte da personagem feminina ver fantasmas. Creio que a história continuaria interessante se ela não os visse, pois (para mim) o mais interessante foi a parte como a vida dela estava relacionada com a pequena cidade. A narrativa faria sentido e continuaria apelativa que estas “visões” não existissem.
O final, embora não deixe nada em aberto (algo de que gosto), foi um bocado abrupto. Acho que o desenvolveria um pouco mais.
Quanto ao par romântico, preferia o Hutch, lol! A razão prende-se com o facto de não terem começado bem. Gosto quando as personagens não começam com o pé direito e têm de resolver as suas diferenças; “apimenta” as coisas.
O que mais me agradou foi o rumo inesperado que “Becoming Jolie” tomou. Esperava uma história de fantasma e, afinal, tornou-se muito mais que isso.
REVIEW
I finished reading "Becoming Jolie" on June 30, 2012. I rate it four stars.
I enjoyed the story and I think is well done. Over the course of just over 100 pages, we get to know Jolie, a girl about to finish her degree, having only to complete her thesis. To accomplish that, she goes to Folette to study mass hysteria. The result turns out to be quite different, ending the story of th small town to cross with her own personal history.
In relation to what I liked least, I found the time advance weird at first. I was reading and suddenly, it had already passed two months. There isn’t a concrete easy notion on the time evolution in the beginning. We believe that only days have passed, when in fact it was months. In the middle of the story this issue is solved.
I would also dismiss the fact that the female character sees ghosts. I think the story was still interesting if she didn’t see them, because (for me) the most interesting part was how her life was related to the small town. The narrative would make sense and would continue appealing if these "visions" didn’t exist.
The ending, though it didn’t leave anything open (which is something I like), was a bit abrupt. I think it could be a little more developed.
As for the romantic couple, I preferred Hutch, lol! The reason lies in the fact that they hadn’t get along well. I like it when characters don’t begin with the right foot and have to resolve their differences; it “spices” things up.
What pleased me most was the unexpected turn that "Becoming Jolie" took. I expected a ghost story and eventually it became much more than that.
Concluí a leitura de “Becoming Jolie” a 30 de junho de 2012. Dou-lhe quatro estrelas.
Gostei da história e creio que está bem conseguida. Ao longo das pouco mais de 100 páginas conhecemos Jolie, uma rapariga prestes a terminar a sua licenciatura, faltando-lhe concluir a sua tese. Para tal, desloca-se até Folette para estudar a histeria coletiva. O resultado acaba por ser bastante diferente, acabando a história da pequena cidade por se cruzar com a sua própria história pessoal.
Em relação ao que me agradou menos, achei o avanço de tempo esquisito no início. Estava a ler e, de repente, já se tinham passado dois meses. Não há uma noção concreta fácil para se acompanhar a evolução do tempo no princípio. Pensamos que só passaram dias, quando afinal foram meses. A meio da narrativa esta questão é corrigida.
Também dispensava a parte da personagem feminina ver fantasmas. Creio que a história continuaria interessante se ela não os visse, pois (para mim) o mais interessante foi a parte como a vida dela estava relacionada com a pequena cidade. A narrativa faria sentido e continuaria apelativa que estas “visões” não existissem.
O final, embora não deixe nada em aberto (algo de que gosto), foi um bocado abrupto. Acho que o desenvolveria um pouco mais.
Quanto ao par romântico, preferia o Hutch, lol! A razão prende-se com o facto de não terem começado bem. Gosto quando as personagens não começam com o pé direito e têm de resolver as suas diferenças; “apimenta” as coisas.
O que mais me agradou foi o rumo inesperado que “Becoming Jolie” tomou. Esperava uma história de fantasma e, afinal, tornou-se muito mais que isso.
REVIEW
I finished reading "Becoming Jolie" on June 30, 2012. I rate it four stars.
I enjoyed the story and I think is well done. Over the course of just over 100 pages, we get to know Jolie, a girl about to finish her degree, having only to complete her thesis. To accomplish that, she goes to Folette to study mass hysteria. The result turns out to be quite different, ending the story of th small town to cross with her own personal history.
In relation to what I liked least, I found the time advance weird at first. I was reading and suddenly, it had already passed two months. There isn’t a concrete easy notion on the time evolution in the beginning. We believe that only days have passed, when in fact it was months. In the middle of the story this issue is solved.
I would also dismiss the fact that the female character sees ghosts. I think the story was still interesting if she didn’t see them, because (for me) the most interesting part was how her life was related to the small town. The narrative would make sense and would continue appealing if these "visions" didn’t exist.
The ending, though it didn’t leave anything open (which is something I like), was a bit abrupt. I think it could be a little more developed.
As for the romantic couple, I preferred Hutch, lol! The reason lies in the fact that they hadn’t get along well. I like it when characters don’t begin with the right foot and have to resolve their differences; it “spices” things up.
What pleased me most was the unexpected turn that "Becoming Jolie" took. I expected a ghost story and eventually it became much more than that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2012
You know when you read a book and it really just sings? I mean actually sings to you - this lovely siren-like melody beckoning you to skip meals, sleep, and work to delve back under the cover? Well, Becoming Jolie was exactly that and more. Ms. James did an incredible job creating her world and characters...she simply drowned me in awesome(sauce). It was so moving and exceptional - I just fell in love with this story. Even the editing-monster, aka Bug, that lives in my brain took a back seat to the minor mistakes in this ARC copy.
I am normally confident when placing a book into it's genre, but I had a tough time with this one. Becoming Jolie is not a typical paranormal novel. It isn't about mythical creatures or what goes bump in the night but a truly realistic and heartfelt journey of the lovely Jolie.
Becoming Jolie begins with a city girl, Jolie, coming to a country town to explore what she expects is mass hysteria for her psychology thesis. In a town who trusts no one, a shunned Jolie finds some answers from a reluctant but sexy townie, Hutch, who seems lost in his town's troubles.
As she continues to explore the "ghosts" in this town, Jolie finds herself drawn to the sadness, anger, and desperation oozing from Hutch but she never expects to begin seeing the horrors haunting him in her dreams. She is almost compelled by the bizarreness surrounding Folette to find what the police, FBI, and town people have yet to discover: what kind of evil is destroying this town?
Jolie's journey through this book is much more than a paranormal one. Actually, it takes a backseat to the real-life drama unfolding. As an adopted child, Jolie has never tried to find her biological family, knowing the pain that it would cause her parents, but while meeting Hutch and seeing his sadness and longing for a relationship with his only brother, Tucker, she discovers that even with the inevitable pain, she must find where she came from.
This story intertwines what is lost in Folette with Jolie's personal tribulations, allowing her to free a town, and herself, from sleepless nights and dreary days. Exceptionally written and seductively structured, readers will grow with Jolie's self-discovery and uncover how, in a devastatingly imperfect world, beauty remains.
Most definitely add this to your "to-read" pile. It was delightful!
*Special thank you to Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing for sending this ARC in return for an honest review.*
I am normally confident when placing a book into it's genre, but I had a tough time with this one. Becoming Jolie is not a typical paranormal novel. It isn't about mythical creatures or what goes bump in the night but a truly realistic and heartfelt journey of the lovely Jolie.
Becoming Jolie begins with a city girl, Jolie, coming to a country town to explore what she expects is mass hysteria for her psychology thesis. In a town who trusts no one, a shunned Jolie finds some answers from a reluctant but sexy townie, Hutch, who seems lost in his town's troubles.
As she continues to explore the "ghosts" in this town, Jolie finds herself drawn to the sadness, anger, and desperation oozing from Hutch but she never expects to begin seeing the horrors haunting him in her dreams. She is almost compelled by the bizarreness surrounding Folette to find what the police, FBI, and town people have yet to discover: what kind of evil is destroying this town?
Jolie's journey through this book is much more than a paranormal one. Actually, it takes a backseat to the real-life drama unfolding. As an adopted child, Jolie has never tried to find her biological family, knowing the pain that it would cause her parents, but while meeting Hutch and seeing his sadness and longing for a relationship with his only brother, Tucker, she discovers that even with the inevitable pain, she must find where she came from.
This story intertwines what is lost in Folette with Jolie's personal tribulations, allowing her to free a town, and herself, from sleepless nights and dreary days. Exceptionally written and seductively structured, readers will grow with Jolie's self-discovery and uncover how, in a devastatingly imperfect world, beauty remains.
Most definitely add this to your "to-read" pile. It was delightful!
*Special thank you to Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing for sending this ARC in return for an honest review.*
September 25, 2012
When Jolie decides to complete her thesis by investigating the disappearances of children and sightings of ghosts in the town of Folette, Louisianna, she hasn't a clue the effects this small town will have on her. As she gets further embroiled in the quest to find out what happened to the children, Jolie then discovers a horrendous situation involving her family. Add in brothers Hutch and Tucker, and Jolie discovers that not everything or everyone is what they seem. Will Jolie get the answers she's looking for before the nightmare consumes her?
This is a very intense novel. What starts off as a quest to complete her thesis turns into a life altering experience. Jolie discovers secrets in Folette that has her questioning her life, her parents, and her past.
Someone in Folette is kidnapping children and has been for years. The local police and other law enforcement agents don't seem to be taking the disappearances seriously. Only when Jolie starts questioning the disappearances do people start talking. And when she stumbles upon information that leads back to an old family friend of her parents' she's shocked to learn that her perfect little life isn't so perfect.
Jolie is a strong main character that really gets put through the wringer in this novel. She has to absorb a lot of life changing information regarding her beliefs, morals, and history. As her world crumbles, she's forced to stare these issues in the face and demand the truth, which gets pretty scary at times. Her quasi-relationship with Hutch seems quite off-balance but when she discovers Tucker, her feeling of rightness with the world settle around her.
There are many key players in "Becoming Jolie" that have important roles to play within the pages of the novel. Each has a link to the missing children and some links are more sinister than others.
An intriguing novel!!!
This is a very intense novel. What starts off as a quest to complete her thesis turns into a life altering experience. Jolie discovers secrets in Folette that has her questioning her life, her parents, and her past.
Someone in Folette is kidnapping children and has been for years. The local police and other law enforcement agents don't seem to be taking the disappearances seriously. Only when Jolie starts questioning the disappearances do people start talking. And when she stumbles upon information that leads back to an old family friend of her parents' she's shocked to learn that her perfect little life isn't so perfect.
Jolie is a strong main character that really gets put through the wringer in this novel. She has to absorb a lot of life changing information regarding her beliefs, morals, and history. As her world crumbles, she's forced to stare these issues in the face and demand the truth, which gets pretty scary at times. Her quasi-relationship with Hutch seems quite off-balance but when she discovers Tucker, her feeling of rightness with the world settle around her.
There are many key players in "Becoming Jolie" that have important roles to play within the pages of the novel. Each has a link to the missing children and some links are more sinister than others.
An intriguing novel!!!
October 21, 2012
I liked this story a lot. It was sort of mysterious and a bit suspenseful, sweet and romantic all in one. The story seemed like something that could actually have happened in real life; though the ‘black market adoptions’ is real, unfortunately. Finding out the truth behind the crimes happening in Follette, and that she was one of those ‘illegally adopted’ babies turns her world upside down. She feels like her entire life has been a lie, and does not feel she knows who she really is, or where she belongs, nor who she will become. But bringing the truth to light, starts shaping her into someone she will be proud of, and start feeling like she finally belongs somewhere, and with someone.
I have to say I wasn’t quite fond of Jolie with Tucker, but he kind of grew on me a little bit. I mean it’s just that for most of the book, whenever they were around each other and I could tell they were going to end up together, I could not get past thinking about what he’d done as a kid; and I know it’s not fair to just NOT like a person for one mistake they did in the past, but it left such a big impact on me, that I could not get past it. Overall, Im glad Tucker was there for Jolie every step of the way whenever she needed him. Good read. =)
I have to say I wasn’t quite fond of Jolie with Tucker, but he kind of grew on me a little bit. I mean it’s just that for most of the book, whenever they were around each other and I could tell they were going to end up together, I could not get past thinking about what he’d done as a kid; and I know it’s not fair to just NOT like a person for one mistake they did in the past, but it left such a big impact on me, that I could not get past it. Overall, Im glad Tucker was there for Jolie every step of the way whenever she needed him. Good read. =)
October 22, 2012
Jolie, a college student trying to finish her thesis and graduate, heads to Follete to find out the strange occurances that had been happening there . To her, things like ghosts, and such doesn't exist until she experiences it herself. And even then she still doesn't want to believe.
I have to admit I was on the fence when it came to how I felt about Jolie, she came across as a spoiled brat but I am happy to say that she grew through out the book and by the end I really liked her and understood why she was the way she was.
I also can say I was totally taken off guard with the two guys actually three guys who seemed smitten with Jolie. I didn't expect it to go the way it did and I did like the fact the author teased me with which one would it be. My personal favorite didn't win the girl but I still didn't mind who she did end up with.
The story was filled with twists and turns and just when I thought I had figured it all out, the author changed it up on me. I want to thank the author for this, because sometimes its irritating to figure out the mystery almost at the beginning of the story.
I highly recommend this book for you Urban Fantasy lovers out there. I know I will be reading more from Monique in the future.
I have to admit I was on the fence when it came to how I felt about Jolie, she came across as a spoiled brat but I am happy to say that she grew through out the book and by the end I really liked her and understood why she was the way she was.
I also can say I was totally taken off guard with the two guys actually three guys who seemed smitten with Jolie. I didn't expect it to go the way it did and I did like the fact the author teased me with which one would it be. My personal favorite didn't win the girl but I still didn't mind who she did end up with.
The story was filled with twists and turns and just when I thought I had figured it all out, the author changed it up on me. I want to thank the author for this, because sometimes its irritating to figure out the mystery almost at the beginning of the story.
I highly recommend this book for you Urban Fantasy lovers out there. I know I will be reading more from Monique in the future.
October 13, 2012
Mind twisting mystery. In this book, Jolie is tossed around by her circumstances, her emotions, and a series of events that occurred before she was one year old. She thought she was happy with her life. Loving parents, working on her master's degree, and she'd never lost anyone dear to her. She had no doubt, as she entered Follett, the people in the small Louisiana Town were suffering from delusions.
Then she meets Hutch, and begins suffering dreams which replay horrific reenactments of the town's sordid history. Is there something in the water? Or will she discover that her own history is tied in so fully with Follett's that she'll be changed forever.
I found in this book a twisty mystery with unexpected turns and a surprising finish. A fun read.
Then she meets Hutch, and begins suffering dreams which replay horrific reenactments of the town's sordid history. Is there something in the water? Or will she discover that her own history is tied in so fully with Follett's that she'll be changed forever.
I found in this book a twisty mystery with unexpected turns and a surprising finish. A fun read.
December 6, 2012
Better than the first few books by this author, by far. Much more elaboration and better character interaction all around. Better editing, too. I found this book fairly captivating for about the first half of the book. It lost something towards the last half. Chips fell into place a bit too easily in the plot lines and last half seemed rushed. Didn't like the way it all played out in the end. Still like the short story The Mulligan Man the most! Since I grew up with Mo, and I am super proud of her writing and being published, I give it a 4.
July 19, 2012
I was soooo excited to read this particular book. I'd read everything else that Monique had written...and when I read a little teaser about this one, I knew I'd love it...and I did. Did not even want it to end! Thought I, for sure, had it ALL figured out...not!!! Great characters, great setting, and really great story line (mystery, suspense, romance...wow)! Cannot wait for Monique's next book!
June 29, 2012
I finally had time to finish this ARC. WOW. Monique, you did a fantastic job! Jolie is just amazing. The characters are very real and the storyline is just wonderful. I quickly was engrossed in the story of Jolie and the town of Follette with its horrific crimes. It's a great realization-of-self book and a tale of how the universe brings people and places together. Must read!
October 20, 2012
Could not put it down. Author Monique O'Connor James yanks a stronger response from me with each book, and this one mesmerized me. I hope you write fast, lady.
October 13, 2012
You can read my review here:
abshepherdsreinventedreader.blogspot....#
abshepherdsreinventedreader.blogspot....#
February 13, 2019
This book was from my library's Blind Date with a Book stack, and it was labelled "Paranormal". I had a feeling something was off when the young lady checking out the books saw the title and commented, "I've NEVER heard of this book".
It's paranormal in the sense that a couple characters see kids who disappeared and are presumed to be dead.
It's mostly a really awful romance, which is far from my favorite genre.
Jolie has gone to the town of Follette, Louisiana, to investigate mass hysteria in the town. The purpose is to write a paper for her master's thesis in psychology.
I plowed on, despite the typos, oddities in the writing , and a weird mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity with the region where the story is set.
It got to where I was reading parts aloud to my family and we were all giggling about things that we found ludicrous. So, for the family bonding moments - thanks.
There's a small bit from about page 120 to page 150 which is actually good. I just wish the other 150 or so pages had been.
It's paranormal in the sense that a couple characters see kids who disappeared and are presumed to be dead.
It's mostly a really awful romance, which is far from my favorite genre.
Jolie has gone to the town of Follette, Louisiana, to investigate mass hysteria in the town. The purpose is to write a paper for her master's thesis in psychology.
I plowed on, despite the typos, oddities in the writing , and a weird mix of familiarity and unfamiliarity with the region where the story is set.
It got to where I was reading parts aloud to my family and we were all giggling about things that we found ludicrous. So, for the family bonding moments - thanks.
There's a small bit from about page 120 to page 150 which is actually good. I just wish the other 150 or so pages had been.
January 4, 2013
Becoming Jolie is yet another example of why I find it hard to like self-published books.
So far, in my experience, self-published books are riddled with problems. Problems that an editor should've/would've caught. Problems that using more than one beta reader could've pointed out. And I'm not talking just typos because typos exist even in traditionally published books. Even minor issues...like the wrong name or a misplaced prop...can slip through on traditionally published books.
However, self-published books or books published by small, online publishing companies tend to have far too many of these issues.
A few might bother me but won't distract too much from the story. But, when you have little thing after little thing after little thing, they really begin to pile up. And that makes it difficult for me to like the book.
That is my major complaint with this book. All the little things:
The inconsistencies with props and surroundings.
--Jolie goes to the bar to get a pitcher of beer and 4 plastic cups, but then everyone is popping the lid off their beer bottles. ??? Where did those come from and what happened to those plastic cups pointed out to me as being served at a bar?
--The need to walk to the back of a convenience shop to get cell service after coming off the highway. ??? In my experience, you normally find better cell reception outside of buildings. She went in only so she could run into another character.
--After traveling a long time, Jolie & Hutch walk into her apartment and the first thing he does is turn on the t.v. and THEN he drops his bag. I don't know how important the t.v. is to him, but I think most people would drop their bags first and THEN go turn on the t.v. to relax. I know that sounds nit-picky, but it's just another example of one of the many little things that irked me.
The odd and inconsistent behaviors from the characters
--Frog: He acts like such a douche/jerk in the beginning but then suddenly has a change of heart and helps out? And I think even a backward backwoods cop would've acted more...cop-like...than Frog did in the bar and at the police station. And what about that bar scene? Do you really think a cop would allow a guy he knows to knock him out in public and then not charge the guy later for assault?
--The FBI: They weren't even really characters in the book, and yet...Not gonna touch that one.
--Hutch & Jolie: I didn't even realize they were going to kiss the first time (it happened so quick and out of the blue) and then it's like they forgot it happened, too. Their whole relationship was awkward and wishy-washy. And I lost all respect (if I had any) for Jolie from her response to being rejected:
I'm sorry, but she is either really needy which makes her weak and dislikable, or she is the epitomy of dumb girls everywhere who only find self-worth and happiness in the person she is with. What self-respecting girl would beg a guy to stay after he rejects her forward advances and DUMPS her on the floor? How pathetic.
And there were some issues with grammar and a serious overuse of passive voice.
But the story itself? The story itself was...absurd. The whole idea of the thesis which sent Jolie to Folette seemed far-fetched. The big ta-da near the end about Jolie was painfully obvious much earlier in the book than when the ta-da was revealed. There were so many unrealistic things which happened in the story and made it unbelievable. And the ending? Totally had that cartoonishness where the good guy goes to confront the bad guy and said bad guy confesses to all his evil-doings for no good reason, except to tell the reader what happened and why he did it.
Becoming Jolie's saving grace was Tucker. His character was consistent and most often seemed reasonably believable.
I have another of Ms. O'Connor James's books already queued up on my ereader, so I will give her another shot, but I doubt I will purchase anything else from her if the next book has similar issues.
So far, in my experience, self-published books are riddled with problems. Problems that an editor should've/would've caught. Problems that using more than one beta reader could've pointed out. And I'm not talking just typos because typos exist even in traditionally published books. Even minor issues...like the wrong name or a misplaced prop...can slip through on traditionally published books.
However, self-published books or books published by small, online publishing companies tend to have far too many of these issues.
A few might bother me but won't distract too much from the story. But, when you have little thing after little thing after little thing, they really begin to pile up. And that makes it difficult for me to like the book.
That is my major complaint with this book. All the little things:
The inconsistencies with props and surroundings.
--Jolie goes to the bar to get a pitcher of beer and 4 plastic cups, but then everyone is popping the lid off their beer bottles. ??? Where did those come from and what happened to those plastic cups pointed out to me as being served at a bar?
--The need to walk to the back of a convenience shop to get cell service after coming off the highway. ??? In my experience, you normally find better cell reception outside of buildings. She went in only so she could run into another character.
--After traveling a long time, Jolie & Hutch walk into her apartment and the first thing he does is turn on the t.v. and THEN he drops his bag. I don't know how important the t.v. is to him, but I think most people would drop their bags first and THEN go turn on the t.v. to relax. I know that sounds nit-picky, but it's just another example of one of the many little things that irked me.
The odd and inconsistent behaviors from the characters
--Frog: He acts like such a douche/jerk in the beginning but then suddenly has a change of heart and helps out? And I think even a backward backwoods cop would've acted more...cop-like...than Frog did in the bar and at the police station. And what about that bar scene? Do you really think a cop would allow a guy he knows to knock him out in public and then not charge the guy later for assault?
--The FBI: They weren't even really characters in the book, and yet...Not gonna touch that one.
--Hutch & Jolie: I didn't even realize they were going to kiss the first time (it happened so quick and out of the blue) and then it's like they forgot it happened, too. Their whole relationship was awkward and wishy-washy. And I lost all respect (if I had any) for Jolie from her response to being rejected:
"...Hutch was distant as he pushed her to the floor and stood.
"Please, don't leave.""
I'm sorry, but she is either really needy which makes her weak and dislikable, or she is the epitomy of dumb girls everywhere who only find self-worth and happiness in the person she is with. What self-respecting girl would beg a guy to stay after he rejects her forward advances and DUMPS her on the floor? How pathetic.
And there were some issues with grammar and a serious overuse of passive voice.
But the story itself? The story itself was...absurd. The whole idea of the thesis which sent Jolie to Folette seemed far-fetched. The big ta-da near the end about Jolie was painfully obvious much earlier in the book than when the ta-da was revealed. There were so many unrealistic things which happened in the story and made it unbelievable. And the ending? Totally had that cartoonishness where the good guy goes to confront the bad guy and said bad guy confesses to all his evil-doings for no good reason, except to tell the reader what happened and why he did it.
Becoming Jolie's saving grace was Tucker. His character was consistent and most often seemed reasonably believable.
I have another of Ms. O'Connor James's books already queued up on my ereader, so I will give her another shot, but I doubt I will purchase anything else from her if the next book has similar issues.
October 24, 2012
While I enjoyed the story line of Ms. James' book, I regret to say that I didn't think it was entirely believable. When Jolie, our heroine, shows up in a town to write what I gather was a Master's thesis, we find that she has been directed by her professor because he suspects the town's residents have been suffering from a mass hallucination. therein begins the problem.
What is the matter with this? To begin with, she has done none of the basic research, apparently, before she shows up. In fact. during the entire book, there is no mention of exactly what points she was writing about. She doesn't seem to do any formal research beyond that of a sleuth.
One assumes that this is psychology, but I dare say that very little of what she learns qualifies as a basis for any such thesis. In addition, one never really does discover what her thesis was all about except finding herself. That might make an interesting story, but it does not qualify as psychology on the graduate level. Finding oneself, in my estimation, as admirable and enjoyable as it was to read about, does not constitute sufficient material for a Master's thesis.
On the plus side, I enjoyed the book as a mystery, although the background details were not quite clear and I kept bumping into them over and over: who was paying for her apartment and the cabin and her car and her food and general living expenses? I don't mind that it was more than likely her parents, but I was irritated that this was never mentioned nor was the relationship explored more than cursorily towards the end.
I enjoyed how Jolie developed some sort of telepathy with the dead children in resonance, apparently, with Hutch. In this respect, her character was well developed as was that of most of the town's people. While I found that some of the characters simply changed from introduction to a later time: a good example of this is Frog, the local lawman who is a total douche when we first meet him but becomes highly concerned with Jolie's theories about what has really been happening in an almost disciple-like fashion. Still for a while, I was thinking that the most unbalanced character in the whole cast of dysfunctional characters was our heroine. In the end, only the lawyer, the serial killer, seems more dysfunctional although Jolie, admittedly, seems to find her way to the light and the lawyer takes a decidedly different path.
Lastly, although I guessed immediately who Jolie's real mother was, it never made any sense to me why the lawyer started on his killing spree. I went back and read the end again to see if I missed it, but I still didn't understand it. Yes, we knew that the lawyer sold a baby (Jolie) whom he knew had been stolen, but how did that drive him to establish a relationship with Jolie's biological mother and then kill older children from the town from which Jolie came? There was an explanation, but it didn't seem all that credible.
As I said, I liked the story and it was a delightful departure from my regular reading. As such, I appreciate that very much, almost enough to give it 3 stars. In truth, I wanted to give it 5 stars for the imaginative way in which Tucker and Jolie first had sex: while I admit it made me laugh, (mostly because it sounded like the way women would LIKE to think of men treating them,) I have to admit that it was gratifying that Jolie and Tucker seemed to find each other and start a new life. OK, maybe I am just being petty about the sex and we'll leave it at that.
Still one wonders why, having gone through all the trouble of her thesis, (at very least,) why she wouldn't want to work in that field. Tucker seems real enough,(although his character seems drastically changed from earlier in his life,) but I had no idea why they had plans to open a restaurant. In essence, this item was a lot like so many other issues I had with the book: it just didn't seem to follow a reasonable path from what the author had described.
What is the matter with this? To begin with, she has done none of the basic research, apparently, before she shows up. In fact. during the entire book, there is no mention of exactly what points she was writing about. She doesn't seem to do any formal research beyond that of a sleuth.
One assumes that this is psychology, but I dare say that very little of what she learns qualifies as a basis for any such thesis. In addition, one never really does discover what her thesis was all about except finding herself. That might make an interesting story, but it does not qualify as psychology on the graduate level. Finding oneself, in my estimation, as admirable and enjoyable as it was to read about, does not constitute sufficient material for a Master's thesis.
On the plus side, I enjoyed the book as a mystery, although the background details were not quite clear and I kept bumping into them over and over: who was paying for her apartment and the cabin and her car and her food and general living expenses? I don't mind that it was more than likely her parents, but I was irritated that this was never mentioned nor was the relationship explored more than cursorily towards the end.
I enjoyed how Jolie developed some sort of telepathy with the dead children in resonance, apparently, with Hutch. In this respect, her character was well developed as was that of most of the town's people. While I found that some of the characters simply changed from introduction to a later time: a good example of this is Frog, the local lawman who is a total douche when we first meet him but becomes highly concerned with Jolie's theories about what has really been happening in an almost disciple-like fashion. Still for a while, I was thinking that the most unbalanced character in the whole cast of dysfunctional characters was our heroine. In the end, only the lawyer, the serial killer, seems more dysfunctional although Jolie, admittedly, seems to find her way to the light and the lawyer takes a decidedly different path.
Lastly, although I guessed immediately who Jolie's real mother was, it never made any sense to me why the lawyer started on his killing spree. I went back and read the end again to see if I missed it, but I still didn't understand it. Yes, we knew that the lawyer sold a baby (Jolie) whom he knew had been stolen, but how did that drive him to establish a relationship with Jolie's biological mother and then kill older children from the town from which Jolie came? There was an explanation, but it didn't seem all that credible.
As I said, I liked the story and it was a delightful departure from my regular reading. As such, I appreciate that very much, almost enough to give it 3 stars. In truth, I wanted to give it 5 stars for the imaginative way in which Tucker and Jolie first had sex: while I admit it made me laugh, (mostly because it sounded like the way women would LIKE to think of men treating them,) I have to admit that it was gratifying that Jolie and Tucker seemed to find each other and start a new life. OK, maybe I am just being petty about the sex and we'll leave it at that.
Still one wonders why, having gone through all the trouble of her thesis, (at very least,) why she wouldn't want to work in that field. Tucker seems real enough,(although his character seems drastically changed from earlier in his life,) but I had no idea why they had plans to open a restaurant. In essence, this item was a lot like so many other issues I had with the book: it just didn't seem to follow a reasonable path from what the author had described.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2013
Becoming Jolie was a decent read! I really fell in love with the story line and the plot. But the story just did not quite flow with me completely. It seems as though Jolie is in a the town of Folette for her thesis paper that she has to finish and it has something to do with ghost. Well the people there are seeing ghosts but no one from the outside wants to help the town's people. I would have liked more back story with the towns people. If Jolie was doing her thesis paper, then I believed she should have come across as the type who would stop at nothing to get answers. But it seemed that just because the town did not open up she just stopped pursuing the answers, and hardly did any research. I take it this book was suppose to be about ghost sightings, but I felt as though there was not a lot of mentions about them. I can say maybe a handful of times were the ghosts mentioned in my thoughts.
I also would have liked to have her characters develop a bit more as they had great potential to be more. I found the scene with the officer and Tucker to be surreal. Why did Frog not go after Tucker?
It did seem at times that the story was rushed instead of adding a few more details here and there. I did enjoy how it came to light that she was from the town, and her back story. You get that towards the end of the book. I thought that was a nice little twist into the book. There were some surprises that you may or not may see coming.
I also would have liked to have her characters develop a bit more as they had great potential to be more. I found the scene with the officer and Tucker to be surreal. Why did Frog not go after Tucker?
It did seem at times that the story was rushed instead of adding a few more details here and there. I did enjoy how it came to light that she was from the town, and her back story. You get that towards the end of the book. I thought that was a nice little twist into the book. There were some surprises that you may or not may see coming.
October 12, 2012
3.5
I am struggling with how to rate this book. I truly, truly loved the storyline and plot. I was immediately drawn into it and couldn't wait to see how it turned out, and from a high level aspect it did not disappoint. However, there were quite a few details that I had trouble with but I won't give too much info so I don't spoil the story...but sometimes the characters feelings seemed to completely do a 180 with absolutely no explanation what-so-ever even when they were the one currently narrating the chapter.
About the first half of the book was a 5+ star book for me. I loved the alternating POV and all the characters. I also was very impressed with the writing style, word usage, etc. But everything seemed to change abruptly and almost felt like a whole new book at some point. I also had trouble following some of the dialogue because they seemed to jump from one thought to a completely different subject with zero time for thought process.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book and felt like it had a ton of potential. I loved Jolie and felt she was a strong female lead. I also liked Hatch and Tucker a lot.
I am struggling with how to rate this book. I truly, truly loved the storyline and plot. I was immediately drawn into it and couldn't wait to see how it turned out, and from a high level aspect it did not disappoint. However, there were quite a few details that I had trouble with but I won't give too much info so I don't spoil the story...but sometimes the characters feelings seemed to completely do a 180 with absolutely no explanation what-so-ever even when they were the one currently narrating the chapter.
About the first half of the book was a 5+ star book for me. I loved the alternating POV and all the characters. I also was very impressed with the writing style, word usage, etc. But everything seemed to change abruptly and almost felt like a whole new book at some point. I also had trouble following some of the dialogue because they seemed to jump from one thought to a completely different subject with zero time for thought process.
Overall, I did really enjoy this book and felt like it had a ton of potential. I loved Jolie and felt she was a strong female lead. I also liked Hatch and Tucker a lot.
November 1, 2012
I got this as an Amazon free read. I liked how the book started out and I really loved the characters. I feel like this book had so much more potential and then it kind of wrapped up too quickly without fully dealing with all of the issues. It just had holes in the plot and the characters and I feel like they could have been so much more. If I could give this 2.5 stars, I would. I am interested enough to read another book by this author to see she develops those characters any better because, used the right way, her character development could make for a great book instead of just a good book.
November 5, 2012
The plot was interesting and kept me going to the end, but the characters made no sense and the climax was more likely anti-climatic. I wish the ghost part would have been explained better, since it just seems to go away, and Jolie doesn't even come close to beginning to write her paper, which makes her whole purpose for being there rather laughable.
I can't say I liked Jolie or could relate to her (or any other character for that matter), and her reactions pissed me off most of the time. I am, however, glad she didn't end up with who I thought she would at first, since I didn't like him either.
Overall, an okay read.
I can't say I liked Jolie or could relate to her (or any other character for that matter), and her reactions pissed me off most of the time. I am, however, glad she didn't end up with who I thought she would at first, since I didn't like him either.
Overall, an okay read.
December 18, 2012
Well, I enjoyed the book but I think it fell a little short of its potential. I also think the author didn't need to make Tucker a puppy killer to make him a messed up kid that needed to be sent to military school. I had a hard time swallowing that he was just magically fixed. I just deleted that fact out of my mind for the rest of the book once we met him.
I will say I was pretty in the dark about who the killer was haha. I can ususally figure out books pretty fast but this one did a good job but it might be because it was a little far fetched.
I will say I was pretty in the dark about who the killer was haha. I can ususally figure out books pretty fast but this one did a good job but it might be because it was a little far fetched.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2012
Becoming Jolie is an interesting book, At first I was thinking that it was going to be a book that evolve around scarie dead people to my surprise it was not. I would recommend this book for people that want to read a book that is NOT about vampires and all the extra sex.
March 8, 2013
Jolie is headed to a small town to write her thesis paper on missing children. I was not a big fan of Jolie and her attitude that she deserves to know everything, but she slowly grew on me. This story does have a few twists along the way to keep it entertaining. WaAR
August 30, 2012
I stumbled upon this book. It wasn't what I expected but it was interesting
November 3, 2012
mixed feelings on this one, but overall enjoyed it!! full review soon! (:
January 3, 2013
The book started very slow and I had a really hard time getting into it. It finally did grip me and then I couldn't put it down. The plot and ending were somewhat predictable.
June 18, 2016
3.5 stars
January 26, 2013
Review coming soon...
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