Small Damages by Beth Kephart
2/5 stars
Philomel Books, 2012
288 pages
YA Historical Realistic
Source: Library
After having some mixed experiences with Kephart's previous works, I had decided to swear her off, sensing that we just did not click. But then in the year end wrap-ups, I saw some of my favorite bloggers praising her latest (see below for links) so I gave in and picked this up at the library. As you can see from my rating, I ought to have abstained.
After her father's death, Kenzie discovers she is pregnant by her Yale-bound boyfriend (realized that my opening may have made this sound like an incest book, which it's not) and she insists on giving birth to the baby. So her mother arranges for an adoption and for Kenzie to reluctantly spend the summer in Spain where the adoptive parents reside. There she meets people and discovers things.
While I can see the beauty in Kephart's writing, I just found the entire experience of reading this so dull and unengaging. I felt dropped into the story without necessary contexts; I spent most of the story thinking it was set in 2012 (it's not; it's 1995-why 1995? I don't know); I think there might have been a new romance blossoming for Kenzie with a boy in Spain but I'm not sure; I'm not entirely sure when and how she got pregnant beyond knowing in my head the mechanics of human reproduction. Was it a reaction to the death of her beloved father? I didn't get a good feeling for their connection (and that's bringing all the feelings about my dad into this story-I know I would have been devastated so why can't I imagine Kenzie as devastated? She didn't feel real to me.) There were some very emotional moments for the characters in the book but I just felt nothing beyond boredom and wondering if I could still count this as a book read if I skimmed to the end (I decided that it does.)
Suffice it to say that I can recognize the skill in the writing here but it all left me cold. I wanted to feel something, I should have felt something considering the themes touched on and yet nothing.
Other Opinions-all positive so you can get another perspective on this book's merits:
Forever Young Adult
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
My Friend Amy
Some authors we just don't click with, and that's that, despite the fact that everyone else seems to love them. That's how I am with John Green and Sara Zarr. It's like I want to like their books, but for some reason I just can't. So you are definitely not alone here.
ReplyDeleteI think Kephart is one of my main authors for that although I fear Green might end up being one too without having tried any of his books. I don't know why-I just think the premises of his books don't really grab me.
DeleteAw, I'm sorry you didn't love this one as much as I did. I just loved the setting and the writing and the characters. But Karen is right. Sometimes it seems like everyone else loves an author and their style just doesn't resonate with you.
ReplyDeleteJen @ YA Romantics
You were one of the reasons I wanted to give Kephart another try since I respect your opinion so much and I know you loved this. But it just didn't work for me-I would still be open to trying another book but I'd have to be crazy in love with the premise, which I wasn't here.
DeleteAww, sorry it didn't live up to what it could have been. The writing sounds beautiful but there has to be emotions to back it.
ReplyDeleteBrandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
It was so beautiful but flat to me-I wanted so much more!
DeleteI agree that Kephart's writing is beautiful, but a bit hard to really connect with. I always want to love her books, but they never quite capture my interest.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your honest review!
Yay-someone who agrees with me! I totally respect her but just no love.
DeleteAnd this one does not really tell me read it :/
ReplyDeleteBut then we can't love them all
We really can't love them all alas. I'm lucky this was pretty short so it didn't take up that much reading time I could have spent on something I love.
DeleteI have had a similar opinion over another of Beth Kephart's books. I just loved the writing, but I didn't quite connect with the book.
ReplyDeleteIt's been my feeling about the 3 (4?) I've tried and I think that's just how it is for me.
DeleteI haven't read anything from Kephart's. It sounded like it had potential to be pretty good, not sure though now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
ReplyDeleteIf you like the premise, this might be a great book for you! I just know that it did not work for me.
DeleteA friend of mine really enjoyed this, but I'm not entirely convinced that it's for me. It's a shame that you didn't get the emotional connection you needed with this book. Usually when that happens to me, I struggle to continue. Thanks for the honest review!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't really sold on the premise so that certainly didn't help. I would still recommend you try a Kephart though-maybe see if your local library has one of her books and give it a shot?
DeleteI had a similar experience with Nothing But Ghosts. The grief of the main character just didn't pull at my heart the way I would have expected it to. I will definitely read another book by Beth Kephart one of these days--I'm still convinced a thousand bloggers can't be wrong about her--but I think I'll hold off a bit longer.
ReplyDeleteI think Nothing But Ghosts has been the book that was best for me of the 4 I've read but still not as powerful as I wanted. I hope you find a book you love by her!
DeleteI think you pretty much summed up exactly what I felt. Exactly. I saw the beauty but felt no connection whatsoever. I guess I wont try her other books since you didn't care for them either. I guess shes just not an author for us.
ReplyDeleteYay another person with overlapping reading taste! I really need to feel some kind of connection to the plot or the characters and it's just never happened.
DeleteIt's nice to know I'm not the only one who doesn't end up liking a book that every one else adores. It's really hard to like a book with dull characters that you just can't connect with.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the reasons I try to post negative reviews if I can. I want to be respectful but not every book works for every person. Maybe I'll be the one person who doesn't like the book but usually I can find some others as represented here, thankfully!
DeleteHRM. Our instincts have repeatedly told us that this book probably isn't for us, but all the buzz was trying to convince us otherwise. Thanks for adding some actual info into the mix!
ReplyDeleteIf your instincts are saying "no," they're probably right. I was swayed by blogger buzz but inside, I was thinking, "Really? What about this book appeals to you? Would you read it on your own?" as I don't tend to like many teen pregnancy or contemporary European-set stories.
DeleteSorry to hear that it wasn't that great. Last week I was browsing online and looking for some Dutch and American covers and I found the Dutch cover of this one. I really like it better than the Us cover.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hertog.nl/productimages/9789026605963.jpg
Oh cool-thanks so much for sharing. I really like this cover!
DeleteI had a lot of trouble getting into it too, and set it aside months ago. There have been so many rave reviews that I've considered picking it up again, but your reaction has convinced me I was right to put it down in the first place, hah.
ReplyDeleteSorry it was a disappointment, though.
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
Yes, definitely go with your gut if it's saying to put it down.
Delete