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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A positive outlook on Gypsies
I admit to having my idea of gypsies ruined 4 years ago during a bad experience with a few on a trip to France . . . But I've always liked the idea of Gypsies. Felt a kinship with them because they're treated so terribly - being a woman of color I get that. But they've definitely always been of interest to me. However, this story was awesome. I really liked being able to 1. have a positive outlook on them and 2. Having an intimate look into their past life.
I was able to feel and hurt for both Rose and Lola. Understand both of their need to protect Nieve. Rose's incredible hurt after Zoltan - although I kinda sympathize with him (call me a romantic but I hoped they'd end up together
I admit to having my idea of gypsies ruined 4 years ago during a bad experience with a few on a trip to France . . . But I've always liked the idea of Gypsies. Felt a kinship with them because they're treated so terribly - being a woman of color I get that. But they've definitely always been of interest to me. However, this story was awesome. I really liked being able to 1. have a positive outlook on them and 2. Having an intimate look into their past life.
I was able to feel and hurt for both Rose and Lola. Understand both of their need to protect Nieve. Rose's incredible hurt after Zoltan - although I kinda sympathize with him (call me a romantic but I hoped they'd end up together
Great read!
The first quarter of the book was a slow start for me. At first I spent the time wondering why Rose was doing what she was doing. As a character Rose was developed and others introduced the story definitely became more interesting. I'm glad I continue to read the book. The last third was definitely five stars and I couldn't put the book down. The first quarter was 3. I figured I'd average it out for the book as a whole giving the book a 4-star rating in the end.
The first quarter of the book was a slow start for me. At first I spent the time wondering why Rose was doing what she was doing. As a character Rose was developed and others introduced the story definitely became more interesting. I'm glad I continue to read the book. The last third was definitely five stars and I couldn't put the book down. The first quarter was 3. I figured I'd average it out for the book as a whole giving the book a 4-star rating in the end.
Didn’t like the writing style or the audiobook narration
This novel explores a period in Spanish history I am not familiar with, a war that claimed many lives including gypsies whose people and culture are integral to the story. It starts with a woman, Rose, embarking on a quest to find out the fate of her missing brother, his fiancee, and baby. But it evolves into much more when a young gypsy woman, Lola, and her adopted daughter enters the Englishwoman's life. Rose is unlucky in love, having been deceived twice during her journey but while the men in her life brought disappointment, their ephemeral associations led to the creation of a family she had always longed for. There are few revelations at the end that are heartwrenching, though it's mostly relayed by one old witch (who this guy at the market just happens to know) who seems to know everything about the people of her town - not that it's completely unrealistic but a little bit too convenient for me. But if the author chose to use such a device, I assume she must have ruled out other ways for being less effective in conveying the necessary information. Overall, an enjoyable read, but I prefer her previous novel, The Woman on the Orient Express more.
Absolutely lovely historical fiction read with strong female characters.
Good read! The Snow Gypsy was a nice historical fiction book with a little romance. It was captivating and descriptive in the beginning. I enjoyed learning more about the Spanish and the gypsy culture, the European history, as well as the descriptive countryside. I also loved reading about Rose as a veterinarian, and some of the natural healing remedies for the animals.
The Snow Gypsy had strong female characters, great friendships and likable characters. Two women's stories weaving together. I wanted to keep reading to find more about Rose and Lola's history. For much of the book, I felt Rose's emotions, especially her hope and desire for Nieve, Lola's adopted daughter, to be her long lost niece. The ending of the story was good, but seemed kind of rushed. Another reviewer felt it read like a young adult book, and while most of the book read really nice and poetic (I loved the writing as a whole), the ending did feel that way a little. Still, the book had a happy, good conclusion overall and I would read another book by this author.
Favorite quotes:
"Snow is falling like feathers. Angels coming for departed souls" Pg 2
"'Grief is living with someone who's not there, who's gone out of your life for one reason or another.'" Pg 19
"'All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.'" Pg 45
"Don't be afraid of what you don't know. That kind of fear kills you without you realizing." Pg 87
"'Her name is Nieve.' 'As in the Spanish word for snow?'" Pg 187
"Did she believe in heaven? If there was such a place, she hoped it would be like this. A place where the spirits of the dead glided over perfumed, sunlit meadows to a symphony of birdsong." Pg 221
"...it'll have me and you and your mama. It'll have a family." Pg 316
The Snow Gypsy had strong female characters, great friendships and likable characters. Two women's stories weaving together. I wanted to keep reading to find more about Rose and Lola's history. For much of the book, I felt Rose's emotions, especially her hope and desire for Nieve, Lola's adopted daughter, to be her long lost niece. The ending of the story was good, but seemed kind of rushed. Another reviewer felt it read like a young adult book, and while most of the book read really nice and poetic (I loved the writing as a whole), the ending did feel that way a little. Still, the book had a happy, good conclusion overall and I would read another book by this author.
Favorite quotes:
"Snow is falling like feathers. Angels coming for departed souls" Pg 2
"'Grief is living with someone who's not there, who's gone out of your life for one reason or another.'" Pg 19
"'All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.'" Pg 45
"Don't be afraid of what you don't know. That kind of fear kills you without you realizing." Pg 87
"'Her name is Nieve.' 'As in the Spanish word for snow?'" Pg 187
"Did she believe in heaven? If there was such a place, she hoped it would be like this. A place where the spirits of the dead glided over perfumed, sunlit meadows to a symphony of birdsong." Pg 221
"...it'll have me and you and your mama. It'll have a family." Pg 316
I read this for a book club January pick. I really wasn't paying much attention when it was chosen and didn't know anything about it before I started reading. I found the history of Spain, before and after WW II, fascinating. I also found the Romani culture interesting.
I was not so fond of Rose's poor choices in men. Or frankly the lack of honest men in the novel. If you only read this book, you would decide there aren't honest men in Spain in 1946.
Also the ending was rushed.
Really this was probably a 3.75. But I am rounding up because the topic was a novel one for me.
I was not so fond of Rose's poor choices in men. Or frankly the lack of honest men in the novel. If you only read this book, you would decide there aren't honest men in Spain in 1946.
Also the ending was rushed.
Really this was probably a 3.75. But I am rounding up because the topic was a novel one for me.
A captivating story intertwining culture and history. I highly recommend it.
This is not the type of book I normally read, let alone enjoy, but this one blew my socks off. It's a captivating tale, mostly in immediate post-World War II Spain, in which a young English woman, studying herbal treatment of animals from English gypsies sets out to find out if her brother survived his time fighting against Franco in the late 1930s. She leaves England, spending time at a gypsy festival in southern France to learn what she can about the territory in southern Spain where she last knew her brother was. She meets a young Spanish flamenco dancer who has a young daughter but no husband, and travels with them to Granada, near the mountains where her brother vanished. Along the way, Rose learns about the horrors of war, the hidden secrets of the Spanish Civil War, and how even tiny mountain villages were affected by those horrors. I won't give away details, but the character development and attention to detail in this novel is stunning and breath-taking. My normal recreational reading are murder mysteries, science fiction, and some fantasy, and this book doesn't fit any of those genres. I could hardly put it down and will look for other books by Ashford.