Ginny Dye

In this thirteenth installment of her Bregdan Chronicles series, Ms. Dye continues the saga of Carrie Cromwell, a woman who grew up on a slave-holding plantation before, during, and after the Civil War. The writing, however, is not top notch, and she breaks the first rule of writing - show, don't tell - consistently. Way too much dialogue with long explanations. Although I am a history buff and appreciate the bits of cultural history presented into the story, they are not woven in but rather see superimposed. Nevertheless, well researched.… (mais)

Blogger Ginny Dye tells a good story. In this, her 14th book in the Bregdan Chronicles, we continue to follow the saga of Carrie Wallingford -- now Dr. Wallingford --as she continues to save her little corner of the world. But the kindest way to say this is that Ms. Dye could use a good editor (she self-publishes). She breaks the primary writing rule drummed into every writer: show, don't tell. There are far too many lengthy soliloquies during conversations, where one character or another explains a historical fact or new invention or some other timely element. It always bogs down the story. The story moves via far too much dialogue on top of that. Also some cringeworthy, convoluted sentences reared up, which I do not recall so much from past books. I stuck with the series, though, because I have been following these characters through the Civil War years and now in the antebellum South. But I am a book or two behind and I do not think I will invest the time when there are so many great books awaiting me.… (mais)