Book review (Daughters of Fortune) / Ogled knjige (Bogate nasljednice)

A few weeks ago I read Daughters of Fortune by Tara Hyland (her site here). My opinions about this novel are divided. I can't say I disliked it, but I found it lacking. However, compared with similar novels, it is actually pretty good. The novel is badly written, but its story has definite potential. Moreover, it is very fast paced which is essentially what keeps it from being boring.  Descriptions of characters are terrible, they seem to be inserted by force, but characters themselves are potentially very intriguing, especially the leading ladies. What a shame that the stereotypes almost reduce them to caricatures at times.  Fortunately, only at times. The characters do develop with time in a way that is quite realistic. The protagonists of this novel are three sisters that are very different one from another and this is something Tara handled quite well. What is more, as the novel develops, the character developments can be felt in the protagonists and that is something I quite liked.

Prije par tjedana pročitala sam Bogate Nasljednice od Tare Hyland (poveznica na njenu stranicu). Moje mišljenje o ovom romanu je podjeljeno. Ne mogu reći da mi se ne sviđa, ali mislim da mu dosta toga nedostaje. No, kad ga usporedim s sličnim romanima, zapravo je poprilično dobar. Sam roman je dosta loše napisan, ali priča ima opipljivog potencijala. Radnja se događa jako brzo i to zapravo sprječava roman od dosade. Opisi likova su grozni, kao da su na silu ubačeni, ali samo likovi su u mogućnosti biti jako zanimljivi, pogotovo glavne dame. Šteta što ih stereotipi skoro svode na karikature ponekad...i sreća što je to samo ponekad. Likovi se razvijaju s vremenom na način koji je dosta realan. Protagonistice su tri sestre koje su veoma drukčije jedna od druge i to je Tara dosta dobro napravila. Štoviše, kako roman napreduje, razvoj likova se osjeti u protagonisticama i to je nešto što mi je dosta svidjelo. 

The writer has a good imagination and I would dare to say she has a good instinct. It is very unfortunate she absolutely lacks writing skill. She can write, but not that well. However, I do think she may develop as a writer if she puts some effort into it. I for one would take a chance and gave her another shot if and when she published the next one. Back to this novel... On scale from one to five, I would give it three. This novel is full of stereotypes (from submissive Asian secretary to aggressive first born London heiress) and that is one thing I strongly dislike. With a good editor, this novel could have been so much more, but it is what it is. In its own category, I would say it is pretty good, but it didn't make that jump from chic lit to real literature. Nevertheless, I did read it and with most chic lit, I would just read two first pages, roll my eyes and toss it away, so that is a recommendation of some kind. It is a good novel to keep in mind if you want to be entertained not educated. I hope this author will find it in her to try to write on a higher level...we need more books like that.

Spisateljica ima razvijenu maštu, a dodala bi da čak ima i dobar instinkt, šteta što joj u velikoj mjeri nedostaje spisateljske vještine. Može ona pisati, ali ne tako dobro. Međutim mislim da se kao pisac može još razviti ako se malo potruditi. Ja bi joj dala još jednu priliku ako i kada objavi sljedeći roman...No, natrag na ovaj, od jedan do pet dala bi mu ocjenu tri. Roman je pun stereotipa ( od pokorne azijske sekretarice do agresivne prvorođene iz Londona) i to mi je stvarno išlo na živce. S dobrim urednikom, ovaj je roman mogao biti puno više, ali je ono što jest. U svojoj kategoriji je poprilično dobar, no daleko je od skoka iz takozvanog chic lit-a do prave književnosti. Ipak sam ga pročitala, a većinu te chic literature odbacim nakon prvih nekoliko stranica pa je ovo zapravo preporuka neke vrste. Dobar roman za imati na pameti želite li nešto da vas zabavi, a ne obrazuje. Nadam se da će se spisateljica potruditi pa se dignuti na malo višu razinu...takvih knjiga nam baš nedostaje. 

DIY necklace (worn previously here) 

midi skirt/midi suknja: vintage
necklace/ogrlica: DIY
bag/ torba: no name
shoes/ heels: Peko