A comment

So I got my first comment after yesterday’s post and it is a big one.  Author of Burned Ellen Hopkins left a message after I admittedly did not write a great response to her book.  I am totally amazed and appreciative that she took the time to write a comment.  Reaching out to readers of your book, even not so nice ones, is fantastic and says alot about the writer.  Since I was pressed for time and didn’t write a long review of Burned I’ll post my response that I sent off to Ellen.  I’m still awed that she commented.  So cool. 

Dear Ellen,

Thank you so much for commenting on my blog.  I write it mostly for my benefit so I have a record of my readings.  I never have expected anyone to comment, let alone an author.

I want to say that I did like Burned up to a point.  I’m not a fan of novels written in verse but Burnednever felt overly contrived and read easily, like a novel.  And I loved Pattyn and her messed up life.  She’s a very real and honest character and I really felt what she was going through.  She goes through a huge change in the novel that many people can relate to.  The ending didn’t feel tacked on just unfinished.  If you do decide to write a sequel to BurnedI’d love to read it because having a character make such a huge decision and then not show the consequences felt unfinished and unsatisfying.  What bothered me the most is not that she contemplates going on a rampage, but that as a reader I didn’t make that leap with her.  Maybe it’s just me and my experiences but I didn’t think Pattyn would do something like that.  I didn’t get enough time with her from the accident to the last pages to know. 

When we discussed your book in class quite a few people disagreed with me and thought it was great.  That to me is big sign of a good book, when there’s something to talk about.  I would not hesitate to recommend your book if someone asked my opinion but probably with a spoiler-free warning. 

Thanks again for commenting, I think it’s really awesome.