Review of Deceptive Calm

[BlueAlizeti]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper.]

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2 out of 5 stars

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"Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper provides a compelling exploration of the African American experience while simultaneously engaging with broader, universal themes of the human condition. By delving into the complexities of identity, struggle, and resilience, the narrative not only captures the unique historical and cultural challenges faced by African Americans but also transcends these specificities to address existential questions that resonate with all of humanity.
Set in the late 1960s, this novel explores events that continue to resonate within contemporary society. By emphasizing enduring social issues, it prompts critical reflection on their implications. The potentially engaging plot develops into a compelling narrative at the beginning, introducing a distressing incident grounded in racism and fostering a tense atmosphere. This stark portrayal of racial tensions highlights the historical significance of the era while also commenting on the ongoing nature of such conflicts in the present day.
Although the narrative contains moments of considerable impact, it is marred by a substantial amount of extraneous information presented from the outset, which complicates the coherence of the story.
The author appears to have experienced uncertainty regarding the initiation of the narrative, which may account for the excessive use of filler content in the opening sections. Additionally, the text presents the impression of containing multiple, disparate storylines, contributing to a sense of confusion. Furthermore, certain situations lack resolution, leading to questions about their relevance to the overall narrative.
The author exhibited an excessive level of detail regarding specific subjects within the book; while the focus on American history was intriguing, it was ultimately excessive.
The characters are both likable and engaging; however, certain elements within their descriptions appear to have been arbitrarily included to extend the narrative. A notable instance of this is found in the chapters dedicated to Trisha's post-college life, which do not contribute meaningfully to the central storyline and ultimately enhance the overall sense of disjointedness. An additional factor that, in my view, detracted from the overall sense of immersion is Skipper's frequent use of superfluous labels when referring to established characters. For instance, Vanessa, the main character, is introduced early in the narrative as an orphan; however, she is consistently referred to as such throughout the text. An example can be found on page 57 of the Kindle version, where the author states, "Mrs. Hale chatted while the orphan absorbed the surroundings."
The narrative's focus on Vanessa in San Francisco enhances its engagement. The author cultivates a sense of empathy and intimacy with the protagonist, allowing the actual synopsis to begin to take form. However, as the storyline starts to gain momentum, it ultimately disintegrates, revealing a hastily constructed conclusion.
Although I identified only two typos (one on page 213 of the Kindle version, where a period was incorrectly used in place of a comma, and one on page 56 of the Kindle version, where there’s missing opening quotes) I believe that the overall writing style is subpar and lacks cohesiveness. The text contains several instances of profanity and descriptions of sexual relationships. While the level of detail may appear excessive, this stylistic choice is warranted as it enhances the reader's comprehension of the protagonists' emotional experiences, encompassing both negative and positive sentiments.
The aforementioned issues—namely, the lack of continuity, the contrived drama, and the gratuitous use of racial slurs—culminate in a disappointing plot structure, which precludes me from assigning a rating higher than 2 out of 5 stars.

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Deceptive Calm
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