Cat’s struggle to escape the pull of her abusive mother coupled with her fear of closeness, combined with the bustling setting of downtown New York in the 1980s, gave White Lines the potential to powerfully impact the reader. Instead, I found it flatlined, meandering from one conviction to another just like its disoriented heroine.
Cat is surrounded by interesting people, all with their own damages. Julian harbors a traumatic relationship history, Angela is a paradox of doll-like perfection and desire to rebel, Giovanni appears cheery but is in actuality isolated and desperate. All of the characters had so much depth, but reading about them was like looking at a flashlight through a frosted pane of glass. The effect of their glow was dulled by the narrative.
This could be due to the dialogue which was rarely strong, and more often formulaic. Think a vague statement, followed by a short question, ending in some showy answer. For example, when Julian asks Cat about her past, she says she might tell him when she knows him better.
“So will I?” He asks.
“Will you what?” …
“Get to know you better.”
Maybe this was done multiple times for dramatic effect, to add a pause and build tension. For me it just made things choppy and repetitive.
Beginning this book, I really wanted to see it resolve with explosive character development for Cat. I was excited for her to find her own strength and progress forward. While the ending was realistic and true to the story, I felt like White Lines could have left me with chills, but failed to dig deep enough.
I’m not sure I would recommend this one, because although it kept me interested, depending on what mood your in, it could not be what your looking for. It vaguely reminds me of Girls by Blake Nelson, possibly because of the narrative voice, even though the actual similarities are few.
Maybe you’ll become bored by the dialogue as well, or while you’re reading you’ll fantasize about a scene where Cat realizes her full strength. Though certain moments in the book brought her close, without that powerful crescendo, the story lacked durability.
Kate C.
Man, that bums me out, because I was initially excited by this one. I love the spoiled girl turns it around story. 🙁 Instead it just seems like this book failed in the spark dept somehow?
Thoughtful review. I liked it.
Danny_Bookworm
I was actually looking forward reading this and I might not be so annoyed by the dialogue. I rather prefer more dialogue than too little. But, at least now I’m warned 🙂
Renae M
Hmm! I’ve been waiting for the reviews for this book to come in, but this is a bit upsetting. A meandering, aimless main character plus stilted dialogue does not a good book make.
tonya at TMG
I just got this one from NetGalley as well. Sorry to hear you were disappointed with the dialogue; that is such a deal breaker for me in books. I need good dialogue to give the characters voices in my head. Sigh. Perhaps I’ll knock this one down the list a bit.
Great review! 🙂
indymia
I feel like this is something where you could dig deep into the characters who seem to be rather complex but the novel just fails to do so. Either way, seems intriguing enough and like something I’d be in the mood to read despite it reading like a teen drama. To the tbr pile it goes.
indymia
I feel like this is something where you could dig deep into the characters who seem to be rather complex but the novel just fails to do so. Either way, seems intriguing enough and like something I’d be in the mood to read despite it reading like a teen drama. To the tbr pile it goes.