|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
CARABOLIA is the second book by D. H. Schleicher and is a stand-alone. CARABOLIA: A MODERN TALE OF THE UNDEAD opens with a transcript of a mental patient talking to his/ her doctor about vampires. The magic word that allows the patient to let its other personalities take over is "Carabolia". The book then moves onto a murder mystery that takes places in the small town of Leedstown. The center of the actions of the characters radiates out from an Italian-American restaurant called Carabolia that is open 24/7. Maggie Delaney has a reputation as a loose woman that is also a drunk and a drug addict. She works at Carabolia on the night shift where she meets some of her one-night stands. After a night of partying she wakes up under a tree next to a dead body that lacks a face. Due to her reputation, no one believes her story, especially when the body cannot be found the next day. Maggie tries to convince the rest of the town that there was a body and that it might be related to her mother's death years ago. The basic premise of this book was intriguing; however, the character development, and actual writing of the book did not live up to my expectations. CARABOLIA is disjointed and dry. The book reads more like a first book or a school paper than a successful or enjoyable mystery. The language is proper and formal at all times. Schleicher always uses complete sentences with little to no slang. All of his characters have the same voice; every sentence could have been spoken by any character because all of the characters lack individuality/ individual voices. Even when a character swears, it still lacks the power and force it is suppose to project. All of these stylistic elements makes his characters sound like they are reading a script rather than holding conversations. The majority of the characters are well described physically and emotionally; they simply act as though they are robots. None of his characters are all that interesting. This book lacks a single character that reaches out and grabs the reader be it positively or negatively. For example, Maggie is a drunken slut/ bitch who cannot decide what or who she wants in her life. The author presents her as the fruitcake her neighbors see her as; hence, it is impossible to feel any other way about her. It is difficult to care what happens to her once it becomes apparent that she will not change as the book progresses. CARABOLIA is a book to skip. Do not be lured by an interesting premise because this book cannot provide the excitement it promises.
Reviewed by Sarah Dudley, December 2002
This book has more than one review. Click here to show all.
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
