Review of Kalayla
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Christina D 7
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- Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
Review of Kalayla
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
In Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas, the reader follows three generations of women as they navigate their day-to-day struggles: Kalayla, the overtly opinionated child; Maureen, Kalayla’s mother; and Lena, their older neighbor. The women’s paths converge, causing a rollercoaster ride of emotions in all of them. The book is written through the perspectives of each of the women, rotating with each chapter. The reader can expect to see strong growth in all three characters throughout the book. As the story develops, the reader will note themes of love, death, heartbreak, pain, abuse, and growth. Kalayla, the quick-witted, sassy young girl, grows up quite a bit throughout the book. Her hardworking mother, Maureen, learns to balance the different parts of her life while also learning how to return to her truest self. Lena, their older neighbor, learns how to heal and make the most out of life, despite the pain she experienced in the past.
I very much enjoyed the different characters’ perspectives compared to a single narrator, as they allowed me to view the events in the story from different angles and helped me understand why the characters felt and acted the way they did. I also enjoyed the originality of this story. Oftentimes, I find similarities in stories that make them predictable; however, this story seemed uniquely descriptive with surprising plot twists. As each character developed, so too did their emotional intellect, ability to forgive, and overall humanity.
I felt that both the plot and character development took quite some time. It wasn’t until I was about 50% through the story that I felt motivated to pick up my speed and finish the book, so I’d say it was a slow start. If readers can survive the trek through the slow beginning, the final half of the book surely makes up for it. Other than the slow buildup, I found no other negative aspects to this story.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars and would recommend it to friends. The book deserves more than 2 stars based on the originality of the plot and characters, as well as the strong character growth. I did not rate this story at 4 stars for two reasons. Firstly, I noted a couple grammatical errors and flow issues in the narration. While there weren’t many errors, it is still worth noting that the proofreading done was not perfect. Secondly, while I enjoyed this book very much, I don’t believe it’s a story with a message that will stick with me long after reading.
I think women of all ages would enjoy reading this book. In my opinion, mothers and grandmothers would especially enjoy the characters, plot, and takeaways of this story. If I had written or edited this book, I would have included a trigger warning, as there is sexual content which, while not very detailed, surrounds domestic violence and use of force. For these reasons, I believe this is a book best suited for adults.
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Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
In Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas, the reader follows three generations of women as they navigate their day-to-day struggles: Kalayla, the overtly opinionated child; Maureen, Kalayla’s mother; and Lena, their older neighbor. The women’s paths converge, causing a rollercoaster ride of emotions in all of them. The book is written through the perspectives of each of the women, rotating with each chapter. The reader can expect to see strong growth in all three characters throughout the book. As the story develops, the reader will note themes of love, death, heartbreak, pain, abuse, and growth. Kalayla, the quick-witted, sassy young girl, grows up quite a bit throughout the book. Her hardworking mother, Maureen, learns to balance the different parts of her life while also learning how to return to her truest self. Lena, their older neighbor, learns how to heal and make the most out of life, despite the pain she experienced in the past.
I very much enjoyed the different characters’ perspectives compared to a single narrator, as they allowed me to view the events in the story from different angles and helped me understand why the characters felt and acted the way they did. I also enjoyed the originality of this story. Oftentimes, I find similarities in stories that make them predictable; however, this story seemed uniquely descriptive with surprising plot twists. As each character developed, so too did their emotional intellect, ability to forgive, and overall humanity.
I felt that both the plot and character development took quite some time. It wasn’t until I was about 50% through the story that I felt motivated to pick up my speed and finish the book, so I’d say it was a slow start. If readers can survive the trek through the slow beginning, the final half of the book surely makes up for it. Other than the slow buildup, I found no other negative aspects to this story.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars and would recommend it to friends. The book deserves more than 2 stars based on the originality of the plot and characters, as well as the strong character growth. I did not rate this story at 4 stars for two reasons. Firstly, I noted a couple grammatical errors and flow issues in the narration. While there weren’t many errors, it is still worth noting that the proofreading done was not perfect. Secondly, while I enjoyed this book very much, I don’t believe it’s a story with a message that will stick with me long after reading.
I think women of all ages would enjoy reading this book. In my opinion, mothers and grandmothers would especially enjoy the characters, plot, and takeaways of this story. If I had written or edited this book, I would have included a trigger warning, as there is sexual content which, while not very detailed, surrounds domestic violence and use of force. For these reasons, I believe this is a book best suited for adults.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
