SO MUCH

So, here's the thing. It works. The book works, and now I want more. Pump 'em out, 'cause I'll pay.

Reason for Book’s Selection

Characterization

Narration

Dialog

Description

Setting

Prequel / Sequel / Etc.

Ingenuity/Premise

Plot

Contains

A Few Positives

Negatives/Errors/Drawbacks

Sum-It-Up Pyramid





Mr. Thomas has a way of redeeming characters, of bringing them back and making something of them, or of sending them "stage-exit" in the most unusual ways. So, I am loathe to bring these up, as who knows what will happen in the future, but I thought these were drawbacks or was at least hesitant about:



Wallace





I never imagined Wallace teaching high school and coaching J.V. sports. Educators deserve respect, and I think Wallace's character has a lot to offer youth. But, how did the storyline depart from a basketball star who loves engineering, which was oft-repeated as Wallace's dream, to high-school teacher? Sure, Veronica needs an insider at Neptune High, but Wallace? I hope Mr. Thomas has something up his sleeve here...



Mac





I think the most character flexibility actually sits with Mac. Because of her profession, she can work virtually anywhere, full or part-time, and still help Veronica. In some ways, she needs Veronica, and Veronica obviously needs her, so I was happy to see this renewed connection. In addition, her back storyline got a shout-out, so I am looking forward to seeing how that comes into play. However, I was surprised that she left Kane Software. I thought the direction was that Mac would do insider work there, but I suppose I was wrong. Surprised and wrong...



Logan







Logan's whole storyline as it involves the U.S. Navy is a big surprise, and Logan makes only the briefest (and yet, in my opinion, perfectly brief) appearances in this story. Yet, there were hints that Logan might be having more trouble staying on the straight and narrow with Veronica back in his life. Or, perhaps trouble might become a renewed force in his life after all these years.



There is a good chance that I am projecting onto the brief mention of insubordination on the ship, as I honestly really want Logan to be a stabilizing and steady influence in Veronica's life and for this not to turn into another on-off-on-off teeter-totter, but we shall all have to wait and see.



Veronica







I am not disappointed that Veronica will not be practicing law in New York. Others may be, but honestly, the New York lawyer show has been done and done and done, and fighting for corporate giants just does not seem to be a good fit for what Veronica is written as believing. Sure, she could do it. She could do it well. But it would eat her alive...And frankly, that show would be cancelled immediately, that book would end the franchise, etc...



How about practicing law in California? Well, that show has been done, too--not as often, true, but done. Mr. Thomas may yet have Veronica practice law, but in my opinion, Veronica is too busy dealing with her own demons. One could even argue that Veronica (again, as she is written) is not fit or able to fight within the "box" that law puts her in. A lengthy discussion about ethics and morality could be had, but at the end of the day, I think many of us like Veronica because she does not always do the sensible, logical, or practical thing...



(And that's all I have the time to write, so I shall leave the review here even though much more could be said...)



(hide spoiler)] Mr. Thomas has a way of redeeming characters, of bringing them back and making something of them, or of sending them "stage-exit" in the most unusual ways. So, I am loathe to bring these up, as who knows what will happen in the future, but I thought these were drawbacks or was at least hesitant about:I never imagined Wallace teaching high school and coaching J.V. sports. Educators deserve respect, and I think Wallace's character has a lot to offer youth. But, how did the storyline depart from a basketball star who loves engineering, which was oft-repeated as Wallace's dream, to high-school teacher? Sure, Veronica needs an insider at Neptune High, but Wallace? I hope Mr. Thomas has something up his sleeve here...I think the most character flexibility actually sits with Mac. Because of her profession, she can work virtually anywhere, full or part-time, and still help Veronica. In some ways, she needs Veronica, and Veronica obviously needs her, so I was happy to see this renewed connection. In addition, her back storyline got a shout-out, so I am looking forward to seeing how that comes into play. However, I was surprised that she left Kane Software. I thought the direction was that Mac would do insider work there, but I suppose I was wrong. Surprised and wrong...Logan's whole storyline as it involves the U.S. Navy is a big surprise, and Logan makes only the briefest (and yet, in my opinion, perfectly brief) appearances in this story. Yet, there were hints that Logan might be having more trouble staying on the straight and narrow with Veronica back in his life. Or, perhaps trouble might become a renewed force in his life after all these years.There is a good chance that I am projecting onto the brief mention of insubordination on the ship, as I honestly really want Logan to be a stabilizing and steady influence in Veronica's life and for this not to turn into another on-off-on-off teeter-totter, but we shall all have to wait and see.I am not disappointed that Veronica will not be practicing law in New York. Others may be, but honestly, the New York lawyer show has been done and done and done, and fighting for corporate giants just does not seem to be a good fit for what Veronica is written as believing. Sure, she could do it. She could do it well. But it would eat her alive...And frankly, that show would be cancelled immediately, that book would end the franchise, etc...How about practicing law in California? Well, that show has been done, too--not as often, true, but done. Mr. Thomas may yet have Veronica practice law, but in my opinion, Veronica is too busy dealing with her own demons. One could even argue that Veronica (again, as she is written) is not fit or able to fight within the "box" that law puts her in. A lengthy discussion about ethics and morality could be had, but at the end of the day, I think many of us like Veronica because she does not always do the sensible, logical, or practical thing...(And that's all I have the time to write, so I shall leave the review here even though much more could be said...)

This the only book I have ever pre-ordered with release-day delivery.On March 25, 2014, I will open my mailbox, and this will happen:Passersby will see:And, I, with all the other release-day fans, will open the cover and begin again...(Note: As of this update, there are eleven "likes" for the above, pre-read section of the review. These eleven "likes" do not reflect any judgement or views for the below section of the review.)First: If you have not seen thetelevision series or watched themovie:Reader, meet Veronica. Veronica, meet reader. Now...Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to your favorite on-demand or other outlet and start the series. Three seasons, roughly 60 episodes, at about 40-45 minutes a piece. Then, watch the movie. It's available for rent. You'll be gone for a while. We'll wait...Still here? Sure, you can read the book. It stands alone by itself, but you will missFair warning given...Onward!So, how many of the fans will go into this book with trepidation? Most of us? Can this book live up to the series or to the movie? What will get lost in translation or in the media shift? Will Veronica, Logan, Dick, Wallace, Mac, etc...be the same? What will become of the franchise?Not convinced? Well, here's my honest review, sans spoilers.I was really, really busy when the series first came out, so I never saw it on television. In early 2013, I went to the movies, saw the trailer for themovie, and thought, "I don't watch much t.v., but this has potential..." So, I started the series and, frankly, the two weeks it took me to watch the show are still a blur. For a while there, I sort of agreed with Logan...The characters are here. Some exit; new enter. But Veronica, Dick, Mac, Wallace, etc...: They are here--smarter, wiser, older...But they still read true.As mentioned earlier, I was worried. How could Veronica's "voice" translate to non-visual narration? Even as I began reading, I was convinced the new point-of-view wouldn't work. The audience has never gotten this unwavering perspective before, and I thought that knowing Veronica's thoughts would detract. For me, part of her appeal is that she always remains a bit removed from those around her, a bit mysterious even. While the t.v./movie audience receives tender glimpses now and then, at the end of the day, I think most of us like that she gets back on the proverbial horse and projects a tough exterior.However, when the reader lets go and reads on, she discovers (or at least I did) that knowing more about Veronica's thoughts and feelings helps the story to grow and the audience to grow with her. Win-win!I actually laughed-out-loud in several places. Our favorite characters are on time with comedic relief, and it is a joy to see them come into the story in various and interesting ways--all with near-perfect dialog.Okay. Not all is rainbow and butterflies. The writing is mostly really good, but there are a few detractors in the form of superfluous adjectives and adverbs. Many readers will not notice. Many readers will not care, but I try not to gloss over things, so here is just one example:"The house was mind-blowingly lavish, even for Neptune."Is this line horrible? Not really. Can it be improved? Absolutely yes! Since the series/movie and even the book make it abundantly clear that Neptune's standards are high because the rich-of-the-rich live there, "mind-blowingly" is redundant and lacks meaning. How about:"The house was lavish, even by Neptune's standards."Okay, obviously I'm nit-picking. If the worst I can throw at a book is complaints about "lithe" bodies, "supple" what-evers, and just an overall abundance of meaningless descriptors, the book simply cannot be that bad...On a more general note, the book contains descriptions that are sometimes rather specific to California--those who are not from there, etc...will glide right past, and those who are or who have at least visited will enjoy the "insider" descriptions.California: Neptune and other places that I shall not spoil1. Three season series, 2004-20072.movie3. Let there be more!Really! How many characters does an audience get to watch through high school? Often, stories end there. College? Another stand-alone story. Working adult life? Sure, there are lots of those stories, but usually without the pretext and context. And, of course, love triangles?There are popular franchises that exist on the love triangle alone. Yet they always end when the girl selects a mate. Not here. Not Veronica.Another part of this franchise's success, in my opinion, is that the plot goes on. So, as usual, Veronica is back, and the stakes are higher than ever. She has more to gain, more to lose, and a lot of pain to work through.Violence, language, and mature themesHere is a quick and random collection of other positives (from my perspective): Interesting new characters are introduced. I like that Veronica's more biting and callous words and actions, which were shrugged at, laughed off, and otherwise forgiven in her younger years, are now starting to play out differently. She is older. She cannot get away with the same tricks, so she has to develop new ones...It was nice to see things in print that I had never really processed before. For example, I had forgotten Mac's full name. I never knew how to spell some of the names. Etc...There are new insights into the characters, including a bit of some of their back-stories. I thought the dialog was great. Etc...There are a few, such as a mention of a certain van that was actually a work truck, but most of them involve spoilers. If you do not mind reading a spoiler or twelve, I put them at the very end in a set-apart spoilers section.And now for the...(5) Book earns well-deserved, four-star rating.(4) I was not disappointed.(3) More Veronica, please!(2) Great book!(1) Recommended!Blush on, Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham...you earned it!["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>