Comments on: Review: Anna and the French Kiss http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/08/09/review-anna-and-the-french-kiss/ by Elizabeth Burns Sat, 18 May 2013 16:15:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Liz B http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/08/09/review-anna-and-the-french-kiss/#comment-199442 Liz B Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:27:01 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=4808#comment-199442 Sarah, Etienne/his father was a bit of a tough one for me, in that my default for this type of thing in real life is "you're choosing your choice, Etienne, to stay with an emotional abuser." I think the author did a good job of showing that, basically, Etienne is not old enough to be at that place of walking away from his father; and, also, how that treatment by his parents led him to decided it was better to be in a relationship (and shutting off the possibility of new relationships) than to be alone (and open to new relationships). Sarah, Etienne/his father was a bit of a tough one for me, in that my default for this type of thing in real life is “you’re choosing your choice, Etienne, to stay with an emotional abuser.” I think the author did a good job of showing that, basically, Etienne is not old enough to be at that place of walking away from his father; and, also, how that treatment by his parents led him to decided it was better to be in a relationship (and shutting off the possibility of new relationships) than to be alone (and open to new relationships).

]]> By: Sarah Moon http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/08/09/review-anna-and-the-french-kiss/#comment-199441 Sarah Moon Sat, 11 Aug 2012 18:46:17 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=4808#comment-199441 I usually struggle with cheating plotlines, but in Anna it felt well-handled for the reasons you mention, that it was part of growing and growing out of the old relationship into something more mature and meaningful. The other thing that's really lingered with me about these two characters is that they both have pretty challenging relationships with their parents (Etienne and his dad being the worst) and there's no magical resolution/forgiveness with the parent-child relationship like there is in so many other books (this is one of my pet peeves in YA--parents don't always deserve forgiveness). I usually struggle with cheating plotlines, but in Anna it felt well-handled for the reasons you mention, that it was part of growing and growing out of the old relationship into something more mature and meaningful.

The other thing that’s really lingered with me about these two characters is that they both have pretty challenging relationships with their parents (Etienne and his dad being the worst) and there’s no magical resolution/forgiveness with the parent-child relationship like there is in so many other books (this is one of my pet peeves in YA–parents don’t always deserve forgiveness).

]]> By: Liz B http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/08/09/review-anna-and-the-french-kiss/#comment-199431 Liz B Sat, 11 Aug 2012 16:27:02 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=4808#comment-199431 adrienne, I hope you like it sondy, if Anna and company were about 10 years older? I'd have had problems with that plot point, but it seemed to me that part of what made this not just romance, but also coming of age, was Anna and St Clair growing up to realize that a, being "with" someone just to be with someone isn't necessary and b, well, how to handle the whole thing of attraction, whether a relationship is "like" or "love", etc. Julee, hope you like it! adrienne, I hope you like it

sondy, if Anna and company were about 10 years older? I’d have had problems with that plot point, but it seemed to me that part of what made this not just romance, but also coming of age, was Anna and St Clair growing up to realize that a, being “with” someone just to be with someone isn’t necessary and b, well, how to handle the whole thing of attraction, whether a relationship is “like” or “love”, etc.

Julee, hope you like it!

]]> By: Julee Murphy http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/08/09/review-anna-and-the-french-kiss/#comment-199419 Julee Murphy Sat, 11 Aug 2012 14:26:59 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=4808#comment-199419 Your review has just convinced me to read Anna and the French Kiss. Anna sounds like a refreshing change of main character. Your review has just convinced me to read Anna and the French Kiss. Anna sounds like a refreshing change of main character.

]]> By: Sondy http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/08/09/review-anna-and-the-french-kiss/#comment-199089 Sondy Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:34:58 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=4808#comment-199089 Okay, you won me over. The one thing I didn't like about Anna and the French Kiss was too much cheating. I didn't like the portrayal that St Clair couldn't control his attraction to Anna. I didn't like that the relationship Anna's friend had was even considered cheating, but the same thing -- based on an attraction they couldn't help? What if St Clair later "can't help" be attracted to someone new? But, yeah, you're right, these are teens. It wasn't marriage. They're fallible teens figuring it all out. And, yes, it's a totally sweet story. Definitely made me want to spend a year in Paris! Okay, you won me over. The one thing I didn’t like about Anna and the French Kiss was too much cheating. I didn’t like the portrayal that St Clair couldn’t control his attraction to Anna. I didn’t like that the relationship Anna’s friend had was even considered cheating, but the same thing — based on an attraction they couldn’t help? What if St Clair later “can’t help” be attracted to someone new?

But, yeah, you’re right, these are teens. It wasn’t marriage. They’re fallible teens figuring it all out.

And, yes, it’s a totally sweet story. Definitely made me want to spend a year in Paris!

]]> By: adrienne http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/08/09/review-anna-and-the-french-kiss/#comment-199081 adrienne Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:04:15 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=4808#comment-199081 Liz, You are always adding books to my reading pile, and here's another one I put on hold. Thanks for that. Liz, You are always adding books to my reading pile, and here’s another one I put on hold. Thanks for that.

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