"Hope Springs" by Kim Cash Tate
Aug. 30th, 2012 04:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reviewsbyerinI started reading this book without realizing it was a kinda-sorta sequel to two other books I'd previously enjoyed, "Faithful" and "Cherished". While "Hope Springs" has only been marketed as a stand alone title, I thought there were enough characters spilling over that it would have been more helpful to bill it as part of that series.
And there are certainly enough characters to go around! Every now and then I'll read a trilogy and think, "You know, with tighter editing this could have been a really good single novel rather than a story spread rather boringly over three books." I had the exact opposite reaction to "Hope Springs". With a little more writing and character development, this could have easily been a trilogy! There's Stephanie and her spiritual service boot camp. There's Janelle and her kids; Grandma Geri; Kory and his daughter. There's Libby, Travis, Todd, Becca. There's Sara Ann and the diner. There's New Jerusalem and Calvary. There is family history to be explored; secrets to reveal; whole communities to consider.
Yes, indeed. There were so many characters that even half-way through the book I was still trying to keep everyone straight. Another issue was that the color of skin was part of the story, but I didn't realize that until quite a ways into the novel. I had forgotten whose skin was black and whose was white because it didn't make one bit of difference to me as a reader. Obviously it was important in the context of the story, though. I realize this is a storyline that quite a few people can relate to, but it didn't resonate within me.
At the same time, the further I got into the story, the more I enjoyed it. There a lot of really good themes that come out. By the time I turned the last page, I was mentally begging the author to write a follow-up book because these stories are not yet finished. There's more to explore with all these people... which is maybe why they should have gotten their own books!
So I came out in the middle with this one. It took me a long time to get into it, and I felt it was muddled, but the last third of the book was great. I would recommend you check out Kim Cash Tate's other novels before reading this one. If you enjoyed those, as I did, you'll probably like this one, too. I will be watching to see what she comes out with next!
And there are certainly enough characters to go around! Every now and then I'll read a trilogy and think, "You know, with tighter editing this could have been a really good single novel rather than a story spread rather boringly over three books." I had the exact opposite reaction to "Hope Springs". With a little more writing and character development, this could have easily been a trilogy! There's Stephanie and her spiritual service boot camp. There's Janelle and her kids; Grandma Geri; Kory and his daughter. There's Libby, Travis, Todd, Becca. There's Sara Ann and the diner. There's New Jerusalem and Calvary. There is family history to be explored; secrets to reveal; whole communities to consider.
Yes, indeed. There were so many characters that even half-way through the book I was still trying to keep everyone straight. Another issue was that the color of skin was part of the story, but I didn't realize that until quite a ways into the novel. I had forgotten whose skin was black and whose was white because it didn't make one bit of difference to me as a reader. Obviously it was important in the context of the story, though. I realize this is a storyline that quite a few people can relate to, but it didn't resonate within me.
At the same time, the further I got into the story, the more I enjoyed it. There a lot of really good themes that come out. By the time I turned the last page, I was mentally begging the author to write a follow-up book because these stories are not yet finished. There's more to explore with all these people... which is maybe why they should have gotten their own books!
So I came out in the middle with this one. It took me a long time to get into it, and I felt it was muddled, but the last third of the book was great. I would recommend you check out Kim Cash Tate's other novels before reading this one. If you enjoyed those, as I did, you'll probably like this one, too. I will be watching to see what she comes out with next!
