I loved the early twentieth century Arizona Territory setting and details, as well as Mary Pearl’s spirit, grit, and determination.
I absolutely adored Nancy E. Turner’s book These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 (despite the title, which seemed to indicate a specific speech pattern not carried through the book).
In Light Changes Everything, I loved the early twentieth century Arizona Territory setting and details, as well as Mary Pearl’s spirit, grit, and determination.
But I found the pacing somewhat jarring and uneven. Setting setting setting action action action action talk ACTION (talk extensively about the imminent action while nothing is being done) ACTION. Mary Pearl is home, she’s at school, she’s home, she’s at school, she’s home. I couldn’t settle into the character development or experience the intensity of the exciting events because of feeling yanked back and forth in pacing and in time and place.
Also, Aubrey was such an evil git, I admit to having hoped he would meet a more specific and particularly bitter end than was detailed, although I respect Turner for not making things quite that easy.
What did you think?
Nancy E. Turner has a gift for writing a lush setting, and I adore it. I wanted more of a connection to the characters in this book, though.
There are two other books in Turner's Sarah Agnes Prine series that I haven't yet read, but they look very promising.