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3.02 AVERAGE
3.02 AVERAGE
authorlisaard's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the alternating perspectives of Benny and Shrimp, chapter by chapter. The idea of two people falling in love despite very different circumstances appealed to me. Also the misinterpretations, the things left unsaid, which are revealed through the different perspectives is very well done. The ending threw me though. I'm still not sure what to think of it.
paulaann's review against another edition
3.0
My book club will be discussing next week. I liked the characters.
katlynn_tay's review against another edition
2.0
I can't say as I found any of the characters in this novel to be terribly sympathetic. Benny wanted the perfect woman to share his bed, clean up his life, and help him in the cow-shed, but wasn't willing to compromise in the least in what he wanted. Shrimp was slightly less obnoxious. She was baby-crazy, longing for a full life, but un-knowledgeable of how to get it. She at least, in the long run, made an effort to show she'd be willing to work with Benny at a compromise. Marta, secondary character, was probably the most comprehensible character; Inez was creepy as hell; and B-G and Violet were caricatures of the type of farm-folk that Benny wanted to be.
The abrupt finality of the story left me completely confused, and beyond annoyed. If I'd known the book was going to be 3/4 of a full story, I'd have bypassed it on the library shelves.
The abrupt finality of the story left me completely confused, and beyond annoyed. If I'd known the book was going to be 3/4 of a full story, I'd have bypassed it on the library shelves.
apechild's review against another edition
3.0
2006 Bookcrossing thoughts
*A lot better than the film*
This is a curious little Swedish lovestory between a dairy farmer (country lad) and librarian (city girl). They meet in a graveyard, as you do - she's visiting her dead husband of previous loveless marriage; he's visiting his mother's grave - her who made home made meatballs. Will the relationship last despite their differences? Find out....
*A lot better than the film*
This is a curious little Swedish lovestory between a dairy farmer (country lad) and librarian (city girl). They meet in a graveyard, as you do - she's visiting her dead husband of previous loveless marriage; he's visiting his mother's grave - her who made home made meatballs. Will the relationship last despite their differences? Find out....
abitofsparkle's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure if it was because this was an english translation of a Swedish book but I just couldn't get into this authors writing style. That coupled with the realy random sex scenes just did nothing for me. Moving on to the next!
bluegreen3's review against another edition
3.0
A Swedish book recommended to me by Mo (and recommended to her by a Swedish friend). A love story written from both perspectives. Mo thought it had a ‘good ending’ but it seemed shocking to a chick like me, reared on Hollywood romance. Mo felt she must be very hard-hearted as she watched my reaction to it, tears rolling down my cheeks…
laura_de_leon's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a treat to read.
I loved the main characters, and how they were both real everyday people with real, everyday quirks. I enjoyed how the book went back and forth between the two of them, giving each of their perspective on a scene, and what each of them was thinking about their relationship.
I found this a nice book-- there was no bad guy, no attempts to hurt each other (although hurt can't be avoided in life or in this book).
I do need to mention the one issue I had with this book. The language didn't quite flow for me.
I think this is due to the translation. I'm always amazed just thinking about what goes into taking a book from one language to another, so I feel bad being in any way critical of the result.
It kept me aware of the words I was reading, not letting me get totally lost in the story. It didn't keep me from enjoying it, but it did interfere.
I loved the main characters, and how they were both real everyday people with real, everyday quirks. I enjoyed how the book went back and forth between the two of them, giving each of their perspective on a scene, and what each of them was thinking about their relationship.
I found this a nice book-- there was no bad guy, no attempts to hurt each other (although hurt can't be avoided in life or in this book).
I do need to mention the one issue I had with this book. The language didn't quite flow for me.
I think this is due to the translation. I'm always amazed just thinking about what goes into taking a book from one language to another, so I feel bad being in any way critical of the result.
It kept me aware of the words I was reading, not letting me get totally lost in the story. It didn't keep me from enjoying it, but it did interfere.
mycouscous's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a librarian; my boyfriend's is a (part-time) farmer. So are the characters in this book, which might have been my subconscious reason for picking it up. That and a patron whose reading tastes align somewhat with mine recommended it to me.
Benny and Shrimp are the thirtysomething title characters. They're somewhat neurotic in their own ways, narrating this novel in alternating chapters. Their stories are told in an almost frenzied manner, jumping from one point to another and throwing in names rather quickly within their short chapters. It was a little hard to grasp at first, but I eventually was pulled in. For me, though, the two characters' voices didn't differ too greatly, despite them being very different people.
Mazetti does an admirable job of charting grief (or the lack thereof) and a budding relationship. The lovers' chemistry is undeniable even in print, but as a reader I did get frustrated by constant sniping/bickering. Was this the point?
It's a bittersweet story and a relatively quick read. Not recommended for fans of traditional romance, but possibly for fans of something like High Fidelity.
Benny and Shrimp are the thirtysomething title characters. They're somewhat neurotic in their own ways, narrating this novel in alternating chapters. Their stories are told in an almost frenzied manner, jumping from one point to another and throwing in names rather quickly within their short chapters. It was a little hard to grasp at first, but I eventually was pulled in. For me, though, the two characters' voices didn't differ too greatly, despite them being very different people.
Mazetti does an admirable job of charting grief (or the lack thereof) and a budding relationship. The lovers' chemistry is undeniable even in print, but as a reader I did get frustrated by constant sniping/bickering. Was this the point?
It's a bittersweet story and a relatively quick read. Not recommended for fans of traditional romance, but possibly for fans of something like High Fidelity.
xjuwita's review against another edition
3.0
This is a story about two people in their mid-30s who begin an affair in the most unexpected manner. A farmer and a librarian. Do opposites really attract? Will they find happiness and common ground between their two extremely different worlds?
I thought the book was okay. It was an enjoyable read but I was not too keen on the ending. Heard there was a sequel.
I thought the book was okay. It was an enjoyable read but I was not too keen on the ending. Heard there was a sequel.