Dune Road by Jane Green

I did something I have never done before. I read some Goodreads reviews on the book Dune Road and selected the book because of the poor 1- star rating. 

In my opnion, if you are going to give a read an author worked over only 1- star you ought to write a lengthy review of why you didn't care for the book. 

I have time and I love the New England region of the United States so have been reading Dune Road.

What can I tell you about the book?

Well, in the first sentence of Chapter One we learn the protagonist Kit is divorced.  Nine pages in and it is not suprising why they divorced. Kit has unexpressed feelings. When she and her husband Adam spent time together, she couldn't escape the fact that she's resentful of her life at home with their two children.

What else can I tell you?

Well, in this book there is a plot and subplots.

 

What did I like about the book?

By page ten I am pleased to see that we have someone over the age of 41 included - maybe because I am over 41 that means something to me- just stating. 

Anyway, Edie, Kits new neighbor, is an active 83 years old and may very well be my favorite character in the book.

Kit has moved into a cape cod next to Edie. Kit needs a job. Edie has just the job for her but Kit will need to work as an assistant for the famous writer Robert McClore.  (McClore is compared to Grisham, Clancy and another famous writer that I can't think of at this time. ) We learn McClore had a tragic and yet mysterious past.

Moving on, Kit introduces us to her friends Traci, and Charlie. I found I could care less about them as my focus was on learning more about McClores thrillers and mysterious past. But then I soon learn that Traci, becomes a part of McClore's present. This action of inclusion then leads to McClore recalling his past. 

In the meantime, Kit has her own interests and we learn that Kit has a past she'd not been aware of.

There is much power in non verbal language. I believe that the author may be  trying to relay that we may assume we know the intentions of the other person - when we don't. In one way or another we see the characters vulnerabilities throughout this read. 

Do I perceive this book worth a 1- star rating?

Reviews are based on perception and my perception did not match that of a 1- star rating. 

I think of my reviews as a opportunity to provide some of my own insight and will be the first to admit that at times my feelings have been based on incorrect conclusions. But with the mention of - my feelings - I must tell you that the storyline, to me, was underwhelming because I have difficulty with making a connection  to the characters. 

I liked the description of the setting of Dune Road. The read was conversational and I did feel empathy for the characters. I believe the mapping of the subplots could have been better. Where the subplots were placed, pulled me away from the main. And my lack of a connection to the characters turned me off because, quite frankly, some of their chatter was repetitive and therefore did not engage me. So, I will give it a 3 star rating. And, I wish to point out that this is my first experience reading Jane Green so I have no other to compare it to.

About the Author

Jane Green is the New York Times bestselling author of one cookbook (Good Taste), and 22 novels with over 10 million books in print, including the huge hits Jemima J., and The Beach House. 

She has been featured in People, Newsweek, USA Today, Glamour, The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and Cosmopolitan amongst others, and lives in Connecticut.