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emandherbooks's review
1.0
Unfortunately I could not finish this book. I could not get into it at all!
The narrative seems to just go on and on without any kind of definition, I'm not sure if i have any idea what was happening?
Unmemorable and not for me, sorry.
The narrative seems to just go on and on without any kind of definition, I'm not sure if i have any idea what was happening?
Unmemorable and not for me, sorry.
georgianagligor's review against another edition
1.0
When a book tells you "Leave your Elena Ferrante at home..."... Well, that's one bold statement! I have followed this book by Heddi Goodrich ever since it was published in Italy. It's about an American exchange student living in the Spanish Quarter of Naples. She learns Italian out of love and publishes this in Italian directly. This book is a love child, how could everything go wrong?
Heddi is/was a student of Oriental Studies, you expect pearly writing, pointy observations of the Quarter, that 'fly on the wall' effect, at least something about her life. Jhumpa Lahiri did it with some success with her book.
But this writing is childish and repetitive. You could sum the whole novel up to some effect in 50-70 pages. But at least you would take out all the bits that seem put there only to lenghten the novel, not improve the story. We have almost no history, no 'nonnas', no viable intrigues ('i'm dating your crush' 'oh, ok'), nuffin'
Heddi is/was a student of Oriental Studies, you expect pearly writing, pointy observations of the Quarter, that 'fly on the wall' effect, at least something about her life. Jhumpa Lahiri did it with some success with her book.
But this writing is childish and repetitive. You could sum the whole novel up to some effect in 50-70 pages. But at least you would take out all the bits that seem put there only to lenghten the novel, not improve the story. We have almost no history, no 'nonnas', no viable intrigues ('i'm dating your crush' 'oh, ok'), nuffin'
daniellelouis_'s review
4.0
I'd like to comment firstly about the beautiful way Heddi has written Lost In The Spanish Quarter; her visualisation ability when it came to imagery, characterisations and the emotions that radiated from her words are applaudable! I found myself completely immersed into Heddi and Pietro's love affair, I was blown away by the undeniable passion and the nostalgia within the pages. The novel is written in a nostalgic fashion, with the narrative being split between the emails that Heddi exchanges with her past lover with in the present and her past experiences in Naples, their whirlwind romance and the crumbling, dripped to us in the most elegantly poetic fashion.
The characterisation within Lost in The Spanish Quarter are obviously non - fictional or closely based on the real individuals - either way it's done so blooming well! Heddi comes across as the shy student, who is trying to look for her place in the world with an air of naivety - where young unquenched love is real and the perfect life is possible, just within reach. Heddi meets Pietro and quite frankly he got my feathers up quite quickly, to me he felt like a man who walks with a sense of entitlement that was quite sanctimonious. There was obviously a level of emotional inequality within the romantic relationship, which rears it's head again through the emails - Pietro is motivated by money, his needs to have a career and to be respected, which would be impossible without bowing down to his fabulously rich parents. Whereas Heddi is motivated by her heart, what she feels is right and her longing to find a place she fits. A truly spectacular, heart captivating novel, we've all had that first love and Heddi Goodrich has constructed a novel that expresses the full emotive depth of that. (Argh, I truly loved everything about this book!)
I loved the inclusion of the email chapters, they highlighted and questioned everything that hadn't been questioned in their youth. Heddi appeared stronger and more aware of her feelings which showed the level of maturing that had happened over the time period, she took her heart in her hands and it was brilliant! The emails from Pietro were written in the exact voice that I would have expected from him, the vocabulary used and the egotistical articulation - completely spot on.
The characterisation within Lost in The Spanish Quarter are obviously non - fictional or closely based on the real individuals - either way it's done so blooming well! Heddi comes across as the shy student, who is trying to look for her place in the world with an air of naivety - where young unquenched love is real and the perfect life is possible, just within reach. Heddi meets Pietro and quite frankly he got my feathers up quite quickly, to me he felt like a man who walks with a sense of entitlement that was quite sanctimonious. There was obviously a level of emotional inequality within the romantic relationship, which rears it's head again through the emails - Pietro is motivated by money, his needs to have a career and to be respected, which would be impossible without bowing down to his fabulously rich parents. Whereas Heddi is motivated by her heart, what she feels is right and her longing to find a place she fits. A truly spectacular, heart captivating novel, we've all had that first love and Heddi Goodrich has constructed a novel that expresses the full emotive depth of that. (Argh, I truly loved everything about this book!)
I loved the inclusion of the email chapters, they highlighted and questioned everything that hadn't been questioned in their youth. Heddi appeared stronger and more aware of her feelings which showed the level of maturing that had happened over the time period, she took her heart in her hands and it was brilliant! The emails from Pietro were written in the exact voice that I would have expected from him, the vocabulary used and the egotistical articulation - completely spot on.
reviewsmayvary's review
3.0
This was a slightly boring account of an American student studying abroad who falls in love with Naples and a classmate. By the time I wanted to bail on it, I felt like I was too invested. I liked the ending more than I thought I would.
jackielaw's review
4.0
Lost in the Spanish Quarter, by Heddi Goodrich, is a love story. The protagonists are two students at the University in Naples. Heddi is an American who first travelled to the city a decade previously on an exchange programme and decided to stay. Pietro is the son of farmers who have clawed their way out of poverty and famine to provide the security of land for their sons. The young couple meet at student gatherings where they have mutual friends. They quickly fall into a passionate affair.
“My experience had taught me that the real thrill was loving. Being loved was secondary.”
Interspersed with this love story are emails exchanged between the pair four years later. Thus the reader knows from early on that they separated, causing immense heartache. As the timelines come together, reasons are gradually revealed. It is an evocative and well told tale of young love and thwarted dreams.
The thrill and intensity of falling in love seeps through the pages until reality starts to demand answers to difficult questions. As students in a city far from their families, Heddi and Pietro may live their daily lives free from parental restrictions and supervision. They still, however, rely on support financially. This comes with certain demands – expectations of future direction. Student life may be memorable but is ultimately transitory.
From their cramped student lodgings is a view of Vesuvius with its ever present reminder of the risk of eruption. This mirrors brewing trouble when Pietro’s mother refuses to accept Heddi as anything other than an unfortunate passing phase. However much the pair declare their love for each other whilst planning possible futures, choices must eventually be made.
“Stop trying to change what can’t be changed”
The story is a reminder of how perceptions of friends and acquaintances are based on imperfect reflection rather than in-depth knowledge. Desire conjures up delusions that blinker those infected. When selfish neediness raises its head, the spectre of understanding can be painful. What was believed irrefutable is unmasked as a chimera.
“a tumour is not just any illness but the betrayal of one’s own body, which turns out to be capable of harbouring evil within, to live with it for a long time without ever knowing, to destroy itself”
The sense of place interwoven with the mix of heady excitement and despondency that is student life are well written. The playing through of the love affair grabbed my attention less well despite the candour of its depiction. I could see the direction the pair’s relationship would inevitably take when Pietro dismissed Heddi’s concerns about how his mother treated her – the red flag of his request that Heddi make more of an effort. I read the pages to know the details but with a degree of impatience.
The denouement worked well given the characters created. The author did not fall into the trap of changing given aspects of Heddi and Pietro to achieve a convenient ending.
Avoiding the mawkishness of many love stories, this is a well developed and authentic tale. Any reservations I may have are doubtless based on my dislike of equating possessive desire with deeper love.
“My experience had taught me that the real thrill was loving. Being loved was secondary.”
Interspersed with this love story are emails exchanged between the pair four years later. Thus the reader knows from early on that they separated, causing immense heartache. As the timelines come together, reasons are gradually revealed. It is an evocative and well told tale of young love and thwarted dreams.
The thrill and intensity of falling in love seeps through the pages until reality starts to demand answers to difficult questions. As students in a city far from their families, Heddi and Pietro may live their daily lives free from parental restrictions and supervision. They still, however, rely on support financially. This comes with certain demands – expectations of future direction. Student life may be memorable but is ultimately transitory.
From their cramped student lodgings is a view of Vesuvius with its ever present reminder of the risk of eruption. This mirrors brewing trouble when Pietro’s mother refuses to accept Heddi as anything other than an unfortunate passing phase. However much the pair declare their love for each other whilst planning possible futures, choices must eventually be made.
“Stop trying to change what can’t be changed”
The story is a reminder of how perceptions of friends and acquaintances are based on imperfect reflection rather than in-depth knowledge. Desire conjures up delusions that blinker those infected. When selfish neediness raises its head, the spectre of understanding can be painful. What was believed irrefutable is unmasked as a chimera.
“a tumour is not just any illness but the betrayal of one’s own body, which turns out to be capable of harbouring evil within, to live with it for a long time without ever knowing, to destroy itself”
The sense of place interwoven with the mix of heady excitement and despondency that is student life are well written. The playing through of the love affair grabbed my attention less well despite the candour of its depiction. I could see the direction the pair’s relationship would inevitably take when Pietro dismissed Heddi’s concerns about how his mother treated her – the red flag of his request that Heddi make more of an effort. I read the pages to know the details but with a degree of impatience.
The denouement worked well given the characters created. The author did not fall into the trap of changing given aspects of Heddi and Pietro to achieve a convenient ending.
Avoiding the mawkishness of many love stories, this is a well developed and authentic tale. Any reservations I may have are doubtless based on my dislike of equating possessive desire with deeper love.
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