Cringeworthy

I quite liked the first book, but good grief, this one.... We are so constantly told how wonderful Sam is, it seems like some sort of wish fulfillment. He is given almost constant ego massage, rapturous uncritical applause and an "Aw, shucks, I'm not THAT good" (while we are obviously expected to believe he is). It swamped the story, for me. The musical interludes jarred. The main female character is so cringeingly dependent on Sam, it made me grit my teeth. She is much smarter than him (not difficult), highly experienced and skilled in IT, and comes up with almost all the answers, yet is portrayed as helpless, hopeless, pathetically unable to find a job or home and simply as appreciative audience to his unlikely talent as a musician. Her role is cook and cleaner, when not coming up with the answers he needs - this is appreciated to the extent that she is told she can decorate the house, if she wants. Wow. She and her daughter are beautiful (of course), compliant, loving and undemanding, grateful for any crumbs offered. "Hey, we've just made $100,000 dollars, I don't really need the money but you can maybe get a new dress." I don't expect reality in a story like this, but the characterisations bash you over the head so much it hurts.

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