tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post6024745149481469877..comments2023-11-25T09:39:23.246-08:00Comments on Finding Bliss in Books: Review: Once We Were by Kat ZhangBlythe Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09017061225288032634noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-56638364036150154232013-09-04T19:44:16.809-07:002013-09-04T19:44:16.809-07:00I love the new format. It's clean and helps me...I love the new format. It's clean and helps me to see what your overall thoughts are.<br /><br />That said, I am nervous to go into this. I love WLoM and I have high hopes for this. I can see an emotional disconnect ruining this for me. A slow pace WILL not help that. I will definitely still read this, but I may adjust my expectations.<br /><br />I agree that Zhang handles characterization very, very well. The issues I have with her stem from worldbuilding in the first, so it's great to see her strengths remain.<br /><br />great review, B. <3Jessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08996840003306047763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-8339485894620874782013-09-04T07:15:05.021-07:002013-09-04T07:15:05.021-07:00I couldn't quite get into the first book but i...I couldn't quite get into the first book but i might give it a try again because the story does sound interesting. <br /><br />Good review!Shane @ItchingforBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13299725578226281943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-332800663758718582013-09-03T07:10:46.021-07:002013-09-03T07:10:46.021-07:00I'm not reading this in detail because I'm...I'm not reading this in detail because I'm reading What's Left of Me right now and have this one up very soon. I'll have to stop by again and read this after I finish and post my review. I am excited to see further development of the characters.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myfriendsarefiction.com" rel="nofollow"> My Friends Are Fiction</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12630672600904860698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-35076953739213343812013-09-03T03:51:37.941-07:002013-09-03T03:51:37.941-07:00This is a great review format, Blythe! Perfect for...This is a great review format, Blythe! Perfect for people who need to skim reviews especially if they're about to read/review the book and don't want to steal your awesome wordiness (whatever that's s'posed to mean...) <br /><br />Anyhoo, I'm not much of a patient reader so this may not go too well but I love a good character development. <br /><br />Fab review, chick! <33Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17035338608975371558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-29053330436264752102013-09-02T21:29:19.045-07:002013-09-02T21:29:19.045-07:00I enjoyed the first book in this series, but the p...I enjoyed the first book in this series, but the pacing was a problem in that one for me as well, so to hear that it has the same problems is saddening :( But I'm excited for Eva's character development and the romance factor. I'm thinking I'll still read this book, because I enjoyed the first one and the whole concept is interesting, and hope that the pacing isn't too big of a problem for me. Great review!Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12387192455675819898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-68614402559020094882013-09-02T19:52:21.124-07:002013-09-02T19:52:21.124-07:00I think the reason I DNFed What's Left of Me w...I think the reason I DNFed What's Left of Me was because I found it SO unbearably boring, which definitely annoyed me a lot. So I'm sorry that the first three fourths of Once We Were had the same idea going on, I definitely see why you would get bored of all talk, although it definitely must work out pretty well in the midst of Eva's character development and Eva and Addie's relationship, because I know how important that is :) Maybe I should give this series another try sometime soon, especially since I've heard so many positive things about the characters behind the slow plot. Also, I love the review format it's super organized! :)<br /><br />Fantastic review, Blythe! <33Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-71968379334497468942013-09-02T19:50:14.011-07:002013-09-02T19:50:14.011-07:00Blythe first off, I must say, I really liked this ...Blythe first off, I must say, I really liked this review format! I think it's great for those skimmers (although I never try to skim), and it's especially helpful when I'm commenting and go up to get a refresher as to what I wanted to say- those bolded words helped jog my memory. So wonderful! <3<br /><br />Anyways, I like to think I'm a patient reader, but when it comes down to it, patience isn't one of my best virtues, haha. ;) Dialogue can easily start to grate on me, especially because I'm a reader who loves her action. So the fact that this book takes such a long time to start? Not a good thing for me. If there's not much action, then I absolutely must be devoted to the characters, at the very minimum. But the fact that you weren't even that emotionally invested in them has me concerned as well. <br /><br />But Kat Zhang's writing style? It seems gorgeous, and it also seems like she is a phenomenal writer, based off the fact that she was actually able to handle this very complicated romance, haha. The subtleties in her writing also have me drooling...<br /><br />Lovely review, Blythe! I really must pick up What's Left of Me, it seems. ;) Aneeqahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13352395407424623520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-1580535777047072602013-09-02T13:30:38.765-07:002013-09-02T13:30:38.765-07:00Ohh, this is disappointing to hear - I've been...Ohh, this is disappointing to hear - I've been really looking forward to this book. Hopefully with the warning, I'll be able to put up with the slow start a little better!<br /><br />I really like the review format, as well, especially since it was easy to skip over the bits that might be spoilery because it was broken into chunks. Definitely approve.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17755472634583011546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-31220299595467986002013-09-02T12:46:57.535-07:002013-09-02T12:46:57.535-07:00Ah, the first book is really good. I have to say I...Ah, the first book is really good. I have to say I prefer the first book to Once We Were, but both are good. Blythe Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017061225288032634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-81645391645852677922013-09-02T09:18:53.245-07:002013-09-02T09:18:53.245-07:00I haven't heard of this book before, but heari...I haven't heard of this book before, but hearing that the romance was good definitely makes me interested. Although, I'm not sure if I would read it with the slow pacing. Maybe if I liked the first book a lot, I could soldier through this book's pacing. <br />Nice review! The formatting was nice =)Stephanie (Hopeless Romantics)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08907816748699239865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-28920268477864006872013-09-02T08:54:47.312-07:002013-09-02T08:54:47.312-07:00Yeah, I definitely see where you're coming fro...Yeah, I definitely see where you're coming from. And I agree, my anticipating for the rest of the series has dampened significantly, but I'm curious as to where the third book will go. Blythe Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017061225288032634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-78588116390269314612013-09-02T08:52:59.143-07:002013-09-02T08:52:59.143-07:00At the moment, I don't have plans to (this boo...At the moment, I don't have plans to (this book really dampened my enthusiasm for the series), but I guess if the reviews look promising, then I'll give it a try. We'll see. :)Sam (Realm of Fiction)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04440380021875536125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-89405175248812546422013-09-02T08:32:56.619-07:002013-09-02T08:32:56.619-07:00Yeah, it's a shame considering I loved the fir...Yeah, it's a shame considering I loved the first book mainly *because* of the emotional connection I had with the characters. And here it was just...not there. I was prepared to give it 2.5 stars until the last quarter, which I gave one star for. Will you not be reading the final installment? Blythe Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017061225288032634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-40607911908629497092013-09-02T08:30:58.492-07:002013-09-02T08:30:58.492-07:00I can relate to the lack of emotional connection. ...I can relate to the lack of emotional connection. Actually, I think that was my biggest issue with this book. I loved the first one, but just didn't get the same kick from the story here, for whatever reason. But I'm glad that you still enjoyed this overall, Blythe. I hope you like the final installment! :)Sam (Realm of Fiction)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04440380021875536125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-30245674441946533112013-09-02T08:03:47.692-07:002013-09-02T08:03:47.692-07:00I hope you like this, Mel! It's really good, b...I hope you like this, Mel! It's really good, but just really different from WLoM. Blythe Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017061225288032634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-85514501996125665142013-09-02T08:03:22.668-07:002013-09-02T08:03:22.668-07:00Mostly it's just planning for the last quarter...Mostly it's just planning for the last quarter. There are definitely some things that happen, but for the most part the first three quarters are uneventful. And it's a very, very bearable cliffhanger. No one's life is in jeopardy or anything. It's one of those cliffhangers where an important conversation is about to begin. Blythe Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09017061225288032634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-54852273619688370232013-09-02T08:01:17.989-07:002013-09-02T08:01:17.989-07:00Hmmm....doesn't sound good that the book is so...Hmmm....doesn't sound good that the book is so slow and nothing happens for so long. But I do like the fact that the romance was well-written and that Eva's character develops. Another cliffhanger...I don't think I can take it, I'm so sick of them! But you said it's bearable. I really enjoyed What's Left of Me so I will definitely be reading this one. And I liked the positive/negative format! ~Pamyaescapefromrealityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200254719073248981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8646664861833035183.post-23575795049143916062013-09-02T05:07:23.445-07:002013-09-02T05:07:23.445-07:00I really liked What's left of me, so I can'...I really liked What's left of me, so I can't wait to read this one too. It's a shame that the pacing is so slow, because I love the sound from the characters development :) Thanks for the honest review!<br /><br /><a href="http://thedailyprophecy.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Mel@thedailyprophecy.</a>Mel@Thedailyprophecyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516514938771433319noreply@blogger.com