Review of Melissa & Kasho
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Thorlin
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- Latest Review: Melissa & Kasho by Camilla Chance
Review of Melissa & Kasho
[Following is a volunteer review of "Melissa & Kasho" by Camilla Chance.]
Melissa & Kasho is a story of a young socialite coming of age while questioning how her beliefs align with her parents. Set in both Australia and Italy, the story brings you with Melissa as she learns how to navigate from an obedient child to a young woman. A careful weaving of both earthly and spiritual interactions, unfold as you learn how the people, she meets mold and shape her outlook and vision of herself as a person. The story ties together timelines from the past and the present to demonstrate how they flow into creating life stories for many of the characters you learn about as a life unfolds.
Camilla Chance carefully weaves multiple characters throughout this coming-of-age story and shows how each person can influence another, even at times unintentionally. The descriptive language of locations makes it possible for the reader to create in their own mind a picture of the setting in the moment.
“I faced a wooden staircase which led through a hatch in my ceiling to a very noisy water tank above. Under the staircase was a deep basin, with a goose-necked pipe below. In contrast to where my friends slept, I had no bathroom nearby. There was also a large fat supportive column in the very middle of the room…”
The diverse array of characters keeps the story engaging without giving away or foretelling the outcome of the story itself. Interspersed use of the Italian language lends to the authenticity of the experience when Melissa is in Italy.
“Grazie mille, signora, but it’s all right,” I said. “Venga.”
The story begins with a combination of in the moment and flashbacks from the past. There are several characters introduced and yet the relationships between them does not become clear until a bit later in the story. As the story continues the reader learns of the conversations with La Contessa. While these exchanges are important to set the story, there are at times where it is confusing as what is being remembered and how La Contessa wants her to see herself. When the relationship between her and Kasho unfolds, part of when she first met Kasho, is not mentioned creating more past experiences which are not always clearly linked to the story.
Overall, it is an engaging story of a young woman coming of age and questioning what is important to her as an individual. Melissa’s relationships with school mates are something that many people will find relatable. Her relationship with Kasho, while more spiritual and makes direct reference to a God, is still engaging and wistful. The consistent themes of the need to see equality in all people is something relatable in our current times. Carefully written and edited, I would rate the book as a three out of four. While the characters are both engaging and believable, the interwoven past and present throughout the story can be confusing. I think the story would most appeal to the late teen or young adult who themselves is questioning who they are and what they believe.
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Melissa & Kasho
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Melissa & Kasho is a story of a young socialite coming of age while questioning how her beliefs align with her parents. Set in both Australia and Italy, the story brings you with Melissa as she learns how to navigate from an obedient child to a young woman. A careful weaving of both earthly and spiritual interactions, unfold as you learn how the people, she meets mold and shape her outlook and vision of herself as a person. The story ties together timelines from the past and the present to demonstrate how they flow into creating life stories for many of the characters you learn about as a life unfolds.
Camilla Chance carefully weaves multiple characters throughout this coming-of-age story and shows how each person can influence another, even at times unintentionally. The descriptive language of locations makes it possible for the reader to create in their own mind a picture of the setting in the moment.
“I faced a wooden staircase which led through a hatch in my ceiling to a very noisy water tank above. Under the staircase was a deep basin, with a goose-necked pipe below. In contrast to where my friends slept, I had no bathroom nearby. There was also a large fat supportive column in the very middle of the room…”
The diverse array of characters keeps the story engaging without giving away or foretelling the outcome of the story itself. Interspersed use of the Italian language lends to the authenticity of the experience when Melissa is in Italy.
“Grazie mille, signora, but it’s all right,” I said. “Venga.”
The story begins with a combination of in the moment and flashbacks from the past. There are several characters introduced and yet the relationships between them does not become clear until a bit later in the story. As the story continues the reader learns of the conversations with La Contessa. While these exchanges are important to set the story, there are at times where it is confusing as what is being remembered and how La Contessa wants her to see herself. When the relationship between her and Kasho unfolds, part of when she first met Kasho, is not mentioned creating more past experiences which are not always clearly linked to the story.
Overall, it is an engaging story of a young woman coming of age and questioning what is important to her as an individual. Melissa’s relationships with school mates are something that many people will find relatable. Her relationship with Kasho, while more spiritual and makes direct reference to a God, is still engaging and wistful. The consistent themes of the need to see equality in all people is something relatable in our current times. Carefully written and edited, I would rate the book as a three out of four. While the characters are both engaging and believable, the interwoven past and present throughout the story can be confusing. I think the story would most appeal to the late teen or young adult who themselves is questioning who they are and what they believe.
******
Melissa & Kasho
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Melissa & Kasho by Camilla Chance
