I wanted to like this book, but just couldn't. I stuck with it, since it took care of the 500+ page category and was a relatively quick read. Painful though...
Afterworlds is really two parallel stories - the first is the tale of Darcy, an 18 year old who has amazingly received a big $$ advance for a book that she wrote for NaNoWriMo (not explicitly said, but implied). She moves to New York, finds the perfect apartment, falls in love with another author, and then proceeds to whine and whimper over her every insecurity about the road to publication and her relationship.
The second story is the book that Darcy has supposedly written - a paranormal romance thriller of sorts. It was kind of interesting, but by the end the main character Lizzie was just as unlikeable as Darcy!
The most interesting character in the book was Darcy's younger sister, who played a minor role for the most part. I was most interested in the story whenever she came around.
I've heard that Westerfeld was challenging himself when he wrote this book, and that most of his fans are unhappy with it. I think I'd have been unhappy with it even if I hadn't read any of his other books! It just wasn't very good.
Afterworlds is really two parallel stories - the first is the tale of Darcy, an 18 year old who has amazingly received a big $$ advance for a book that she wrote for NaNoWriMo (not explicitly said, but implied). She moves to New York, finds the perfect apartment, falls in love with another author, and then proceeds to whine and whimper over her every insecurity about the road to publication and her relationship.
The second story is the book that Darcy has supposedly written - a paranormal romance thriller of sorts. It was kind of interesting, but by the end the main character Lizzie was just as unlikeable as Darcy!
The most interesting character in the book was Darcy's younger sister, who played a minor role for the most part. I was most interested in the story whenever she came around.
I've heard that Westerfeld was challenging himself when he wrote this book, and that most of his fans are unhappy with it. I think I'd have been unhappy with it even if I hadn't read any of his other books! It just wasn't very good.
At least this category is finished now.