CHARGE (What was the author trying to say?): Does knowing the date you will die affect the way you live?
FACTS: Four children consult a gypsy known for predicting dates of death. Howwill this knowledge change their lives? Is she accurate or does their belief influence their life choices? I wanted to hatethis book. It is written from four different points of view. I normally prefer a story told chronologically. The opening character lives a life of blatant carnality that I find disturbing. I prefer my literature a little more Victorian. Despite myself, by the time I reached the third child’s story I could not put the book down. The unexpected twists and turns kept me reading. From characters that were not universally likable, I discovered a depth of character and richness that I had not expected. There is a lot to learn and experience from this book.
VERDICT (Was the author successful?): Guilty, as charged. I loved this book!
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