Reader's Ink discussion

Thoughts on the use of the parallel stories? Did they strengthen or weaken each other? Were they too similar? Too disparate?

I am so not a fan of parallel plots. Lauren and I have emailed back and forth letting me vent a few weeks ago, as I really didn't like the book much at all. My second pass was better than the first. I don't feel they really strengthened each other. They were different which was good, don't feel it really strengthened it much at all. I did like it better the second time than the first.

I have to say, this is one of the first dual plot stories that's really clicked for me. Too often I find one story dramatically stronger or the coincidences between the stories are a bit too twee, but this one worked. They were similar but distinct and they informed each other while being independent.

I agree with Lauren. Each was distinct without being too obviously connected, and one really wasn't stronger than the other. And that's my #1 bone to pick with dual plots--one is always so much better, so Plot B is just a lame story to endure until you can get back to the story you really want to read.

And Lauren, you nailed it when summing up why it works. The stories DO inform each other without being even remotely obnoxious---like the inevitable "I found the diary of Character A from [fill in the blank] years ago" trick.