Liz Burski

This doesn't work yet.

I have a feeling that if I sent it to my publisher, something like this, they would say, ooh, go back and try again harder.

And Dark is a character who is not a pleasant character, certainly at first.

No, he's really not.

But he is fully rounded.

He's fully developed.

He's very powerful.

Yeah.

And that's what I think is lacking in this book.

Yes, I think that's true.

I think the characterisation does improve towards the end, but I'd have to say that if I hadn't had to read it in order to do this program, I would not have finished the book.

I would not have got more than halfway.

I wouldn't have either, Liz.

No.

I know.

Well, it's not only that.

It's just that there was nothing in any of the characters that drew me to want to know more about them, even though I started off by knowing that the little boy, Jake, was actually Rick Joukowsky's portrayal of himself at that age.

Kate has obviously warmed to them a bit more.

And yes, I do think the women warm up a bit towards the end, but it was pretty unsatisfying.

Yeah, I certainly didn't think it was blissful or, you know, a long, languorous story about a beautiful time or anything like that.