But I just didn't feel much concern for Sydney or Peyton. Perhaps it will appeal more to readers who genuinely enjoy quiet stories about everyday people. Saint Anything needs a good shot of drama, angst, tragedy or something in order to be more than an exercise in good character writing. Very few authors manage this to the extent that Dessen does.īut where is the hook? Where is the drive to keep turning pages to find out what will happen to Sydney? To Peyton? To Mac and Layla? It's so so tame. Every character is complex and developed, complete with likes, dislikes, aspirations, hopes and quirks that make them uniquely themselves. The narrative flows smoothly and the everyday dialogue feels realistic - she captures the "voice" of teenage girls very well. I'm rating up on this one because it's hard to deny that Dessen is a competent writer. But I finally decided to cast aside my reservations and try this - a great writer can make any story interesting, right? Saint Anything is my first Sarah Dessen book, which may have been a mistake, but all I know is that this book is a perfect example of how to write great, natural dialogue, fleshed-out characters and relationships, and never once make me feel a single emotion.ĭespite reading praise after praise about Sarah Dessen, I admit I've avoided her work because her stories just do not sound very compelling.
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