Review by Olgamiell -- Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

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Olgamiell
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Review by Olgamiell -- Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by Olgamiell »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
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4 out of 4 stars
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Lena is a 72-year-old woman who lives alone on the top floor of the building that she owns. One day, she notices a little girl that spends way too much time alone, walking up and down the street. Lena thinks it's odd for such a young kid to be out and about by herself, and she decides to talk to her. She finds out that the girl's name is Kalayla, and she is 11. She just moved in with her mother into Lena's building. Kalayla's mom works across the street, and the girl tries to keep herself busy. As she gets to know her new neighbours better, Lena starts to feel somehow responsible for them both. Even if her own family was far from perfect, she thinks she may help the girl. Or keep her off the streets, at least. As Lena, Kalayla, and her mother Maureen get to know each other better, they slowly start to bond. The newly found friendship will have a deep and meaningful impact on their lives.

Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is a heartwarming novel about love, family, and the complexity of relationships between people. As we read the book, we learn how the lives of the three women entwine, creating a colourful and vivid tale about sacrifice and forgiveness. The story behind their pasts slowly unveils, revealing the troubles the characters had to overcome. Each of them has an important story to tell, and they're so intriguing that I couldn't wait to find out what made them the way they are now. The women in this story are also very brave, as they had to face many obstacles, and some of their experiences are heart-breaking (like the reason Maureen has to bring up her daughter with no support from her own family).

I am truly impressed by how great Kalayla is. I appreciate the concept of the novel. The story is told by all three women (each chapter starts with a name, so it's easy to understand who is talking). Lena, Kalayla and Maureen respectively narrate the story, presenting their points of view and revealing their feelings. Each of them has a distinctive language, which adds reality to their characters. They are all portrayed excellently. Deep, complex characters are certainly one of the advantages of Jeannie Nicholas' novel.

I think it's also worth mentioning that the book seems to be exceptionally well-edited. I didn't find a single comma that would be misplaced. The book's language is quite informal (Kalayla uses the phrase "cow turds!" a lot to express all kind of her emotions), but in my opinion, it makes the characters even more relatable and three-dimensional. There are, however, no truly severe profanities. The book contains some possibly triggering issues, such as domestic violence or rape attempt. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend it to sensitive readers. Otherwise, I think it is a great book for everyone who enjoys complex family stories, filled equally with dramatic events and laughter, and for those who like books with female protagonists.

I happily rate Kalayla 4 out of 4 stars. It was an absolute pleasure to read it, and I can honestly say I loved everything about this book. The story is captivating, warm, and funny, even though the characters sometimes had to face real dramas. I was quickly hooked into their lives, crossing my fingers for the happy ending for Kalayla, Lena, Maureen, and some other characters. The book carries a valuable and optimistic message, but it does so without being unrealistic or exaggerated. I think it is a truly exceptional story.

******
Kalayla
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Marcel Cantu
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Post by Marcel Cantu »

Wow, this sounds like a really wonderful read. I love the sentiment of it and you do a great job making the story sounds interesting and beautiful in your review.
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Olgamiell
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Post by Olgamiell »

Marcel Cantu wrote: 21 Mar 2021, 15:57 Wow, this sounds like a really wonderful read. I love the sentiment of it and you do a great job making the story sounds interesting and beautiful in your review.
Thank you so much for your nice feedback, I really appreciate it. And the book, in my opinion, is great, it was an absolute pleasure reading it. :)
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Post by Mvictoria »

I really loved this book as well! I loved slowly finding out the mysteries behind the different characters’ actions! I really liked that each character has her own unique voice. By the end of the book, I could tell by the syntax who was talking!
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Post by NetMassimo »

This isn't my kind of novel, but it seems like a great book about bonds that can go beyond family with a positive message. Thank you for your great review!
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Post by smolbird »

I loved Lena and Lottie in this book. Great review!
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Post by Mariana Figueira »

I wholesomely agree, it is incredibly good, and I think it's one-of-a-kind. Thanks for the amazing review.
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Post by maggi3 »

I read this book recently, too. Although I had some problems with it, I agree that the characters are wonderfully complex and that the concept of the book is great. The author has a unique and beautiful writing style. Thanks for your review!
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Olgamiell
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Post by Olgamiell »

Mvictoria wrote: 23 Mar 2021, 12:21 I really loved this book as well! I loved slowly finding out the mysteries behind the different characters’ actions! I really liked that each character has her own unique voice. By the end of the book, I could tell by the syntax who was talking!
I agree with you, I absolutely loved how the motives of each character were slowly unveiling. Thank you for commenting! :D
NetMassimo wrote: 24 Mar 2021, 11:51 This isn't my kind of novel, but it seems like a great book about bonds that can go beyond family with a positive message. Thank you for your great review!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
smolbird wrote: 25 Mar 2021, 09:04 I loved Lena and Lottie in this book. Great review!
Thank you! Yes, Lotta was one of the best characters, such a great and loyal friend! :)
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Olgamiell
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Post by Olgamiell »

MarianaFigueira wrote: 27 Mar 2021, 15:24 I wholesomely agree, it is incredibly good, and I think it's one-of-a-kind. Thanks for the amazing review.
Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad to hear you liked this book as much as I did.
maggi3 wrote: 27 Mar 2021, 20:24 I read this book recently, too. Although I had some problems with it, I agree that the characters are wonderfully complex and that the concept of the book is great. The author has a unique and beautiful writing style. Thanks for your review!
I agree, the author's writing style is truly unique. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting! :)
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An enthralling fiction story with loads of lessons to learn.
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Post by samps1910 »

Your review is very nicely written! The book sounds like a great read!
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Post by MarcellaM »

Kalayla is absolutely a good read. Am currently reading it. Your review on the book is absolutely wonderful.
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Post by Lucille27 »

I also really enjoyed reading this book. It has been a nice discovery. I think it's been a while since I read something like this. It really reminded me of Alice Munro. The generational gaps and the way in which each woman has particular issues. One solution does not fit everybody, but it is through mutual understanding that we should be heading towards new solutions. Thanks for your review.
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samps1910
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Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by samps1910 »

The sentiments behind this book sound so heartwarming. I am more encouraged to read this novel. Great review!
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