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bsmorris's review against another edition
5.0
This was a beautiful and touching story with a number of interesting and complex characters. Every mood is found here, from euphoric to despairing. The language is also lovely.
joaffleck's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Beautifully written - I've never come across an author who can so fantastically write the grand scale of international relations during war time down to the intricacies of common people's relationships and loves. This book will make you want to find an objectively small town/island and completely sink yourself into all its history and make you cry and laugh your way through the endeavour! The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is I do feel that the final few chapters are slightly out of character for the book. While I do adore the perspective that new generations, with equally as in-depth stories, will start to replace the old - I honestly would have preferred that Louis had spent a bit more time on Pelagia and Antonio's happiness post reuniting and not, no offense, on young Iannis' want for a girlfriend. Nonetheless I still adored this book and would love to read others by him - even if they will crush me!
harrietthacker85's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
annaslitpages's review against another edition
5.0
This book. What a stunning piece of writing. It captures people and human emotions so wonderfully. The writing is both funny and heartbreaking at the same time. I loved it all.
hklnvgl's review against another edition
2.0
Lo cierto es que me ha resultado, en su conjunto, un libro difícil de valorar. Tardé mucho tiempo en arrancar: leía una o dos páginas al día y, claro, cualquier avance se me hacía eterno. No solo por los pedacitos de infodumping: la prosa es bastante rebuscada y tardé muchos capítulos en interesarme lo suficiente por alguno de los personajes como para querer saber qué les pasaba.
El segundo tercio del libro me encantó, sin embargo, y me hizo querer buscar información sobre (Seguir leyendo)
El segundo tercio del libro me encantó, sin embargo, y me hizo querer buscar información sobre (Seguir leyendo)
moniwicz's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a masterpiece, an epic, a carefully crafted and insightful piece that can make one laugh and cry and fume and swoon all within the space of a page.
Not a single person I have met who has read this book has not put it in their top ten books and it's really not hard to see why. Bernieres can capture, in around of 500 pages, the fleetingness of life, and injustices, but also its beauty (and this probably in the last 100 too). While there were moments where I could predict what was going to happen (there are after all only 7 possible skeletons for every story?), or events seemed pretty implausible/ridiculous, I never once could think of a way of making Bernieres' writing more perfect. A true literary genius.
Not a single person I have met who has read this book has not put it in their top ten books and it's really not hard to see why. Bernieres can capture, in around of 500 pages, the fleetingness of life, and injustices, but also its beauty (and this probably in the last 100 too). While there were moments where I could predict what was going to happen (there are after all only 7 possible skeletons for every story?), or events seemed pretty implausible/ridiculous, I never once could think of a way of making Bernieres' writing more perfect. A true literary genius.
jennitheghost's review against another edition
4.0
ok I seriously loved this book all the way until the end. like, I was in tears, laughing, etc! then the ending came and it was just not my cup of tea at all!!!