The odd and difficult to pronounce names of people and places had me fumbling around and rereading. I don’t like it when reading doesn’t flow smoothly because I have a gnawing feeling that I’m pronouncing things wrong. Rantala, Wiirtinen, Rauri, Lahti, Majimanidoo—and these are just on the first page! It feels as if this was written in a foreign country and was later translated to English, yet the setting is Northern Minnesota! One or two difficult to pronounce words is fine, but this many is tiresome.
I didn’t read the entire First Look Excerpt. Perhaps a good story lies somewhere beneath the mire, but after fighting to read phonetically, I didn’t have the energy or desire to dig.
I didn’t read the entire First Look Excerpt. Perhaps a good story lies somewhere beneath the mire, but after fighting to read phonetically, I didn’t have the energy or desire to dig.