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jscott94's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
hannah1988's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
lucyp747d4's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jo_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Rosanna is a mere girl when her voice is discovered as she sings in her family restaurant in a Village in Naples. Two people hear her, one is someone who thinks with practice and training Rosanna can perform at La Scala. The other is Roberto Rossini, he is older, known to the family and already an opera singer who is starting to make his name in the opera world and is already at La Scala.
They are destined to be together to sing, despite any differences in age. It is not going to be an easy path for either of them.
Rosanna's family has no money. To send her for lessons is going to need that. Luca her brother steps forward and uses the money he has saved up to start Rosanna on this journey. Whilst he has his sisters best intentions at heart and wants to see her succeed, he has a desire to escape from the family, from the village and what would be his own destiny.
Rosanna succeeds and Roberto is waiting. Their love of music becomes a passion, their love towards each other becomes an obsession and the path that this destiny has taken is going to be paved with troubles forever.
This is a strong character driven novel. You have very little idea of the time setting, other than the occasional place and year reference at the start of a chapter. Nothing that is going on in the outside world to Rosanna and Roberto is going to detract from their story it does not need to. They are driving this story through.
From Italian villages and cities, opera stages across the world in London and New York, Lucinda Riley takes us with Rosanna and Roberto as their romantic story is played out for all to see.
It is ultimately a love story about being together and being apart and all the ties that bind love together. Set with a background of opera which is something I know little about I felt I was educated about the life of an opera singer, about the training, the dedication and the sheer hard work needed to even be noticed away from the chorus.
This is a book to escape with; to the sounds of beautiful music and the beating heart of love.
They are destined to be together to sing, despite any differences in age. It is not going to be an easy path for either of them.
Rosanna's family has no money. To send her for lessons is going to need that. Luca her brother steps forward and uses the money he has saved up to start Rosanna on this journey. Whilst he has his sisters best intentions at heart and wants to see her succeed, he has a desire to escape from the family, from the village and what would be his own destiny.
Rosanna succeeds and Roberto is waiting. Their love of music becomes a passion, their love towards each other becomes an obsession and the path that this destiny has taken is going to be paved with troubles forever.
This is a strong character driven novel. You have very little idea of the time setting, other than the occasional place and year reference at the start of a chapter. Nothing that is going on in the outside world to Rosanna and Roberto is going to detract from their story it does not need to. They are driving this story through.
From Italian villages and cities, opera stages across the world in London and New York, Lucinda Riley takes us with Rosanna and Roberto as their romantic story is played out for all to see.
It is ultimately a love story about being together and being apart and all the ties that bind love together. Set with a background of opera which is something I know little about I felt I was educated about the life of an opera singer, about the training, the dedication and the sheer hard work needed to even be noticed away from the chorus.
This is a book to escape with; to the sounds of beautiful music and the beating heart of love.
evucis's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dozylocal's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty much chick lit. I found the writing a little cumbersome although that didn't make it in any way a hard read. She tried really hard to build up each character but, for some reason, I found them flat and almost predictable. Sounds like it was awful but it really wasn't. I did enjoy it but don't expect to be blown away.
chatdunoirreadsalot123's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Nobody writes like Lucinda Riley. This story was heartbreaking and stunning in every way.
nat_hudd_83's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- 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
butterfly2507's review against another edition
2.0
2,5 Sterne.
Puh. Ich habe mich echt durch das Buch gequält. Fand die Grundidee mit Oper usw eigentlich ganz gut aber umgesetzt war es doch relativ schlecht. Man merkt irgendwie dass dies ein älteres Buch von Mrs. Riley ist, weil die neueren Bücher definitiv besser sind :(
Puh. Ich habe mich echt durch das Buch gequält. Fand die Grundidee mit Oper usw eigentlich ganz gut aber umgesetzt war es doch relativ schlecht. Man merkt irgendwie dass dies ein älteres Buch von Mrs. Riley ist, weil die neueren Bücher definitiv besser sind :(