Stephanie Jane recenzis Dolores de Lauren Aimee Curtis
A masterclass in 'show, don't tell'
5 steloj
I'm so glad I decided to take a chance on reading Dolores by Lauren Aimee Curtis! I loved the perfectly measured prose which suits the short novella-length story. It felt as though every word was vital and Curtis manages to portray real depth of emotion and experience in a concise yet powerful way. We never really get to find out much about the enigmatic Dolores before she arrives at the convent, not even her real name. Flashbacks show us scenes from her adolescent life from which I could glean a rich portrait of this young woman, but thinking back over the book for this review, we weren't actually told very much. For me Dolores is a masterclass in 'show, don't tell'.
I loved the convent's serenity with its routines and its bells, especially when we are allowed glimpses of the contradictions such as eagerly gossiping nuns, spiteful novices and a …
I'm so glad I decided to take a chance on reading Dolores by Lauren Aimee Curtis! I loved the perfectly measured prose which suits the short novella-length story. It felt as though every word was vital and Curtis manages to portray real depth of emotion and experience in a concise yet powerful way. We never really get to find out much about the enigmatic Dolores before she arrives at the convent, not even her real name. Flashbacks show us scenes from her adolescent life from which I could glean a rich portrait of this young woman, but thinking back over the book for this review, we weren't actually told very much. For me Dolores is a masterclass in 'show, don't tell'.
I loved the convent's serenity with its routines and its bells, especially when we are allowed glimpses of the contradictions such as eagerly gossiping nuns, spiteful novices and a predatory bishop. Through it all there is Dolores, strangely passive yet never weak, and the denouement of her story is genius. An unexpected resolution, I thought, but one which seemed inevitable once it had happened. Dolores is an amazing novella and I will be looking out keenly for more of Curtis' work in the future.