Shucked by Kate Canterbary
“Shucked” by Kate Canterbary proved to be quite an enduring journey, albeit one that tested my patience. Over the past week, I found myself grappling with its pacing and depth. Ultimately, I had to concede defeat, deciding to discontinue my reading around the 53% mark. The majority of the narrative seemed to drift along tediously, lacking a clear sense of purpose.
The tale was laden with extensive prose, often evoking a sense of contrivance in its unfolding events. The bond between the characters felt uneven, as if one side of the connection bore more weight, and their interactions came across as rather coerced. While I anticipated a gradual development given the author’s established writing style, the progression in this instance resembled a glacial crawl. Regrettably, the chill of this slow pace seemed to douse any flicker of chemistry or enjoyment that could have been sparked within the story.
Beckett, presumably the gallant figure poised to mend and uplift, was portrayed as shouldering the burdens of others. Yet, this undertaking largely played out off-page, leaving us without firsthand insight. Sunny held moments of intrigue, although her allure didn’t seem to stem from her association with Beckett. Instead, the narrative hinted at off-page occurrences that held more fascination than what was shared with readers.
Having held a strong affinity for “In a Jam,” I approached this novel with lofty expectations. It’s plausible that my current perspective colors my reading experience, and perhaps I’ll revisit this work when my mindset is better attuned.
