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De Geur Van Sinaasappels (2012)

by Beth Kephart(Favorite Author)

3.52 of 5 Votes: 2

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Callenbach

review 1: A gorgeously written book about a pregnant teenager who is sent to Spain by her unsympathetic mother. The plan is for the girl, Kenzie, to have her baby in secret and give the child up for adoption, then return and start college as if nothing had happened. I loved the quiet, lyrical prose, the depth of the characters, and the beautiful but spare descriptions of Spain. This is not a book driven by action but by character growth and flawless writing. Here are a few samples:"When I open the door, a nun blackbirds by, and I keep walking out into the air, which smells like fruit and sun and the color blue; it smells like blue in Seville.""I don't get sick anymore. I don't sit on the bathroom floor fisting the toilet, or lie there afterward sobbing; I don't. But everywhere is th... moree flail of you, your necklace of bones, your hardly skin, your fingernails; you already have them." Kenzie has important choices to make, but the novel keeps you guessing; it was never obvious how it would end. It's a deeply touching book and I'll be reading more from Beth Kephart.
review 2: 3.5 stars.Small Damages is one of those books that completely transports you into another culture, another way of life and another experience. Throughout the novel, our protagonist struggles with her self-inflicted choices and struggles with her decisions. With the help of her newfound family in Spain, she is able to unwind the troubles she has and is opened to unfailing love, family, good food, gypsy magic and of course bulls. Just reading this novel made me picture bright sunshine tanning my skin, the scent of oranges intertwining with olives and fresh dirt. The way the author described every aspect of Spain with such detail, it was undeniable you could tell she loves the country and it's way of life. I gave this novel 3.5 stars. I only gave it 3.5 stars because of it's slow progression and how I just felt like it needed more for me. I wanted more from the character progression and a greater cohesiveness throughout. That is not to say this wasn't an excellent novel- it truly was. For my own personal preference, it just didn't have the added spark that I was so eagerly anticipating. However, I loved reading and watching the blossoming relationship between Kenzie and Estela. The history of Estela's life was so heartbreaking but the fact that she became such a strong woman open to love was inspiring. Motherly characters as such are some of my favourites.Small Damages is a novel about decisions, Spain, relentless love, and becoming your own person, and owning up to your own desires & life choices. I would recommend to anyone who loves reading about travel. less

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