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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
Took a bit for me to get into this book. Felt that the chapter synopsis before each chapter was unneeded.
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Auntie Poldi is wild and funny. I really enjoyed her character. This first book in the series is filled with equally entertaining characters and a decent mystery. I'll be honest, I paid a lot less attention to the whodunnit than I did to Auntie Poldi because she was just so...out there...unapologetic, sassy, and self-confident. I'm not really sure what's happening with the romance plot line, but that's probably because I listened to this rather than reading it in print, so I no doubt missed a few of the finer details. I do think I'll read more of the series, as it is a nice, light read, despite the body count.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just above a 3 star rating because it’s set in Sicily and the descriptions are gorgeous. While not necessarily enticing enough to read the next book, it’s a fun romp and a gorgeous cover
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This one took me a bit to get interested but once I did I thought it was entertaining.
I was totally unengaged and put this one down after 50 pages. Could have been so much better but it might be the translation.
I don't read enough light books, I know this. I mainly use them to break up darker, heavier stuff, but really I like them. I just struggle to find ones that really hook me in. Aunt Poldi has definitely hooked me though. Let's start with the fairly simple stuff...
This is a book about someone writing a book, or not writing a book I guess. Maybe it's a book about Aunt Poldi telling him stories - that feels more accurate. Anyway, it's all centred around Aunt Poldi's home in Sicily. So obviously, both our humble narrator and his Aunt Poldi are German. Well, Bavarian. The Sicilian Lions in the title? They'belong to Valerie, a Frenchwoman. If you think this sounds complicated, don't panic! I assure you this is the charm of the book. It's a delightful jumble of characters and happenings that give the whole story a grounding and a sense of realism. It's a book that can be reached on many levels, a nice, gentle, cosy mystery mixed with classical arts, a dash of eroticism, and a healthy dose of humour. Really, you should smile this much during a murder investigation. Oh yes, there's a murder too. And a lot of thefts. Looking back I'm even more impressed at just what Giordano managed to cram into this book whilst maintaining an enjoyable lightness.
What makes it all work so well? Well, Aunt Poldi is unsurprisingly the star. She's a gloriously misbehaving old lady. She's the kind of character you wish you knew in person, although you also can't help but cringe on behalf of her nephew and realise she'd be far more enjoyable as someone else's aunt. She knows herself well and she's comfortable with that. SHe's the kind of person we all hope we'll grow into. Giordano slips in some immensely enjoyable backstory of her younger days here and there which are completely indulgent and frivolous, and that's the much subtler part of where this book shines. It's sprinkled with these simple touches of complete extravagance. The use of language(s) adds a vibrancy to the story. The small details about various foods and drinks aren't needed at all, but they give the book a dimension that is easily missed in a book like this. It's a book that transports you to the scene. It paints pictures, even of inconsequential pieces. It encourages the reader to luxuriate in these treats. It makes an effort in the places that make a difference.
This book was a perfectly timed pick-me-up in my reading. A ray of sunshine in spring that draws me towards summer. The mystery was well presented, with an enjoyable array of suspects, a number of clever twists, and a suitably dramatic reveal. The characters wear their flaws proudly and are all the more likeable for it. It's a nice gentle read which put a smile on my face countless times and had me coming back for more each time I, reluctantly, put it down.
This is a book about someone writing a book, or not writing a book I guess. Maybe it's a book about Aunt Poldi telling him stories - that feels more accurate. Anyway, it's all centred around Aunt Poldi's home in Sicily. So obviously, both our humble narrator and his Aunt Poldi are German. Well, Bavarian. The Sicilian Lions in the title? They'belong to Valerie, a Frenchwoman. If you think this sounds complicated, don't panic! I assure you this is the charm of the book. It's a delightful jumble of characters and happenings that give the whole story a grounding and a sense of realism. It's a book that can be reached on many levels, a nice, gentle, cosy mystery mixed with classical arts, a dash of eroticism, and a healthy dose of humour. Really, you should smile this much during a murder investigation. Oh yes, there's a murder too. And a lot of thefts. Looking back I'm even more impressed at just what Giordano managed to cram into this book whilst maintaining an enjoyable lightness.
What makes it all work so well? Well, Aunt Poldi is unsurprisingly the star. She's a gloriously misbehaving old lady. She's the kind of character you wish you knew in person, although you also can't help but cringe on behalf of her nephew and realise she'd be far more enjoyable as someone else's aunt. She knows herself well and she's comfortable with that. SHe's the kind of person we all hope we'll grow into. Giordano slips in some immensely enjoyable backstory of her younger days here and there which are completely indulgent and frivolous, and that's the much subtler part of where this book shines. It's sprinkled with these simple touches of complete extravagance. The use of language(s) adds a vibrancy to the story. The small details about various foods and drinks aren't needed at all, but they give the book a dimension that is easily missed in a book like this. It's a book that transports you to the scene. It paints pictures, even of inconsequential pieces. It encourages the reader to luxuriate in these treats. It makes an effort in the places that make a difference.
This book was a perfectly timed pick-me-up in my reading. A ray of sunshine in spring that draws me towards summer. The mystery was well presented, with an enjoyable array of suspects, a number of clever twists, and a suitably dramatic reveal. The characters wear their flaws proudly and are all the more likeable for it. It's a nice gentle read which put a smile on my face countless times and had me coming back for more each time I, reluctantly, put it down.
I think this book suffers in translation.
I just couldn’t really get into it, despite my love for whodunnits. None of the characters were particularly interesting, even Poldi — she seemed more like a caricature than a character, and it got on my nerves more than once. I think the heart of the story got lost when it was translated from Italian to English, and the ending was shockingly underwhelming. The sudden deus ex machina felt extremely unsatisfying, and maybe it’s just my sense of humor differing from Giordano’s stark Italian one, but it felt like a cop out that left a lot of loose ends hanging.
A fine one-off read, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
I just couldn’t really get into it, despite my love for whodunnits. None of the characters were particularly interesting, even Poldi — she seemed more like a caricature than a character, and it got on my nerves more than once. I think the heart of the story got lost when it was translated from Italian to English, and the ending was shockingly underwhelming. The sudden deus ex machina felt extremely unsatisfying, and maybe it’s just my sense of humor differing from Giordano’s stark Italian one, but it felt like a cop out that left a lot of loose ends hanging.
A fine one-off read, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.