Where You Belong

ISBN: 0736650717 Order from: Books on Tape

A literate romance, greatly weakened by a meandering plot, and an overly introspective, self-pitying narrator.

Reviewed by David on January 20, 2003

Genre: Romance

Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Where you Belong.

Valentine Denning is a war photographer who works closely with her lover Tony and her best friend Jake. After a deadly fight which leaves Tony dead and Jake and Valentine wounded, Valentine slowly rebuilds her life, confronting old and new emotional scars, and seeking new happiness.

Full Review: The novel starts off with a strong premise. Valentine has a lot going for her—she is healthy, attractive, well educated. She is well regarded in her profession; obvioulsy courageous (to shoot the scenes of devastation with bullets flying overhead) and passionate about showing the pain of war to the world.

Alas, little of that remains with the heroine as the novel progresses. Of all these qualities, only the education remains. Valentine shows little courage, almost no knowledge, curiousity or passion of her difficult and dangerous profession. Much more time is spent on describing clothing, food and decoration than photography or war. Valentine seems apt to snap judgement, sentimentality, and most of all, self-pitying, verbose introspection. Combined with a weak plot with no real obstacles, and only vague threats, the lack of sympathy for the protagonist of this book leaves little interest on the reader's part.

Overall: 4.5; Plot: 3.5; Characters: 4.5; Style: 4.5; World-building: 5; Originality: 4;

ISBN: 0736650717 Order from: Books on Tape