Book Review: “Dazed” by Kim Karr

Title: Dazed

Publisher: Penguin Group

Release Date: April 1st 2014

Rating: 1/5 stars

I was not familiar with Kim Karr’s writing style before I picked up her novella, and I apparently have not missed anything. The book is written in first person, which I am already not very fond of, with very few exceptions (see my review on “Beneath The Veil”, which is brilliant), this book is also written in present tense, an unusual choice.

Because of its uniqueness, I wanted to give the novella a chance. After all, being different can be interesting. In this case I was wrong.

The premise of the story is interesting. Jagger Kennedy, a famous model moves to L.A. after a messy break up, and connects with another person with similar background, and they fall in love. It promises to get messy, when Jagger’s ex is cast in the same movie, both of them are staring in.
A story with potential. A potential that is never fully realized.

The dialogue between the characters is boring, and the plot painful. It had the feel like I was following around people, I could neither connect with, nor like. Writing this novella in third person, and/or past tense would not have helped the story along either. Half way through I was still waiting for something interesting to happen, or at least hoped for a steamy sex scene, which would be a relief at this point, but no such luck. When they main characters finally find themselves in each others arms, the description of the love making is just as as painful as the rest of the book, a turn off, rather then a turn on.
If there is one thing that I can say that is good about this book, it is that it is short.

After completing this novella, I am sure I will not pick up another book by Kim Karr. And I will not recommend it to anyone.