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demelzavandermeulen's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I thought the book was gonna be more feel-good. At the end it didn't feel like much was resolved except for the couple's story line. Overall I just felt very bored
nekreader's review
3.0
If you enjoy reading for plot, this is not the book for you. If, however, you enjoy novels that unfurl primarily in the psychological ruminations of their characters, narratives that explore the commonplace sorrows and disappointments of the ordinary life at its midway point, and sentences more like this one than the first sentence of this review, you will find much here to like. The novel's structure comprises three barely intersecting stories of middle aged individuals who travel to Amsterdam with a loved one, either a child or a spouse, with whom they are struggling to define their relationship. Park creates incredibly real and movingly deep characters, true to life, but ultimately not offering much insight other than relationships are often difficult, frustrating, painful, and complicated, sometimes comforting and and even boring, I would have liked to see these three threads treated as independent short stories in the hands of a more concise writer, except, perhaps this would have stifled the emergence of the book's most compelling character, the city of Amsterdam itself.
darlessa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
elisamorvena's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kissmelicia's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
notasilkycat's review
4.0
I were enjoying every word while I read this book. And tried to slow down even when it came to the end.
bgg616's review
4.0
The book is set in Amsterdam just before Christmas. For me, the part of the book leading up to the various characters preparing to go to Amsterdam was just scene-setting. the book really begins once they arrive. This section of the book portrayed the loveliness of the city, and many of the descriptions were beautifully written. One of the 3 featured characters is involved in a hen party, and this custom is very unappealing to me. I don't see the appeal of a group of women dressing in ridiculous costumes and drinking themselves into a stupor. This is not a custom in the US - thank goodness. I have to add, at the risk of being labeled "politically correct", that a group of Irish women dressing up as "Indian squaws" and "whooping war cries" would make many Americans cringe. Perhaps that was the authors point and he wanted to portray this hen party as really, really crass. The ending leaves the reader wondering, which I think is often a good way to finish a novel.
bluelillybooks's review against another edition
1.0
Not going to waste any more time on this book by writing a review