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nialiversuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Death, War, Infidelity, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Violence
chasinggrace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The writing style purposefully flows like time - unrelenting, constant, not a pause or a playback in sight. This book is meant to be read on the beach, in the sun, in reflection. It single-handedly made me see the beauty in life again, in the small things and in humanity and in love and loss. I was choked up this entire book simply because of the beauty of it and its inevitable end.
Every single character was incredibly unique. All complex, all beautiful. No one was the “good guy” or the “bad guy” because they were intricate sculptures of real people. The acceptance of the multiple queer relationships was done so well, especially given the time period. Sex was explored so uniquely in this book.
The descriptions of Italy left me speechless. The references of art, of architecture, the descriptions of food and outfits and nature and people. The writing was immaculate.
Everyone will get something different from this story, depending on the season of life in which you read it. This book is meant to be consumed repetitively, on trains and beaches and in bed.
This has become a Roman Empire book for me.
Graphic: War, Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Animal death, Abandonment, Grief, Sexual content, and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse
pkc's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: War
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, and Sexual content
san_dra's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Grief, Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Car accident
sophie42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: War, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
my_plant_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Rape, War, and Homophobia
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The characters are really lovely and the storyline is sweet. The authors style of writing is interesting, because in a way ith feels like a still life (in a good way).
However, it felt like eating to much lemon cake ( In the beginning it tastes amazing, but after a while you are just not hungry anymore, but you still have to finish the cake and you are starting to feel sick. If you are a person that can eat endless amounts of lemon cake without feeling sick, I strongly recommend this book)
Graphic: Alcohol, Abandonment, Grief, Mental illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abortion, Rape, Ableism, Death, Violence, and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder, Homophobia, and Death of parent
balfies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
In conversation with the art of Florence and my favourite piece of art about Florence - E. M. Forster's A Room With A View - and featuring a multitude of queer relationships and steady friendships and a formidable woman in the Monuments Men (which I hasten to remind you, dear reader, my great uncle was also in) and artists and musicians...
It was just a sumptuous, delicious read.
Graphic: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, War, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Murder, Infidelity, Grief, Excrement, Death, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol
hannahmayreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A philosophical romp through post-war Britain and Europe, it is an expansive story despite the narrow cast of characters. Terracotta-toned visions of Tuscan hillsides and Florentine streets will have you seriously contemplating moving to Italy - what is there to lose you'll ask yourself. You will be consumed by wanderlust.
"Art versus humanity is not the question, Ulysses. One doesn't exist without the other. Art is the antidote. Is that enough to make it important? Well yes, I think it is."
It delights from start to finish. It expands across time and place, yet it remains delectably intimate. Despite being a historical novel it does not cling to the past, and there is no heady nostalgia. It moves steadily forward, seeing change as good. This book has so much heart and soul; it is all joy and heartache, sadness and beauty - what a wonderful, wonderful read. I feel replenished by it - a restorative balm for our bruised souls.
"Beauty gushed out to water the earth." (from A Room With A View)
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse and Homophobia