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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
Would give it a 3 1/2 if possible. I really like Delia Ephron’s writing just didn’t love the setting and felt some of the characters descriptions were a little forced. Didn’t like the ending.
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
This was fine. Just fine. I really enjoyed some bits of it, but, for the most part, I was pretty underwhelmed. I felt like there was so much suspense and tension building up throughout the novel, and it just didn't resolve as nicely as I had hoped. Also, something about the writing style at times just didn't compute with me. But, overall, it was a fun read.
A good study in writing from different narrative perspectives. Somewhat predictable, in a comforting way. I wanted more at the end, but I understood why Ephron chose to end it where she did. It was the end of the "event."
1.5 stars. I am so over this "something crazy happened and we are all just going to coyly reference it but it won't be revealed until the last 10 pages." Yea, I figured it out, of course, but the off-handed references throughout the book felt pandering.
This book had it's moments, but overall I felt it to be all over the place with poor characterization. Disappointed. Could probably work well as a movie.
This book had it's moments, but overall I felt it to be all over the place with poor characterization. Disappointed. Could probably work well as a movie.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this novel to be somewhat of a bore. The ending helped to pull it out of a two star rating, IMHO.
Two families vacation together in Italy. Something happens there, but what? When we finally find out, it was not what I expected.
This was pretty good. The characters are all pretty unlikeable, but that doesn't bother me. The author committed one of my bookish pet peeves. I can't tell you which one.
This was pretty good. The characters are all pretty unlikeable, but that doesn't bother me. The author committed one of my bookish pet peeves. I can't tell you which one.
Świetny pomysł, aby wsadzić i wysłać na drugi koniec świata znajomych/byłych kochanków i przyglądać się co z tego wyniknie...
Akurat w tym wypadku niezbyt dużo. Błąkają się po Rzymie i Syrakuzach (tu akurat zazdrość). Niby coś iskrzy, niby coś wisi w powietrzu. Ale im dalej w fabułę, tym mniej zajmuje. Nuuuda!
Akurat w tym wypadku niezbyt dużo. Błąkają się po Rzymie i Syrakuzach (tu akurat zazdrość). Niby coś iskrzy, niby coś wisi w powietrzu. Ale im dalej w fabułę, tym mniej zajmuje. Nuuuda!
Two couples on their trip to Italy. Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, his wife. Both have affairs, Michael with the waitress of their favourite restaurant, Lizzie with Finn, husband of Taylor, father of Snow and lover of Lizzie. The five of them only get along quite awkwardly, but the trip becomes even more catastrophic when Michael's lover Kathy unexpectedly also shows up in Siracusa. All of them want to get rid of their partner - but how to tell them?
The novel is the perfect summer read. The circumstances- an Italian island, stressed people forced together and masses of lies which threaten to come to the light - are ideal for quarrels and accidents. What I liked especially was the fact not to have a narrator but to let the four characters tell the story from their point of view and also commented by each other. In this way you could read the same incident from different perspectives and now and again you were ahead of one of them, nervous to follow the revelation of the lies. Underlying it all was the basic question of how to live your life and what to do when you are unhappy. So besides some rather lightweight summer holiday story, there is also something to think about.
The novel is the perfect summer read. The circumstances- an Italian island, stressed people forced together and masses of lies which threaten to come to the light - are ideal for quarrels and accidents. What I liked especially was the fact not to have a narrator but to let the four characters tell the story from their point of view and also commented by each other. In this way you could read the same incident from different perspectives and now and again you were ahead of one of them, nervous to follow the revelation of the lies. Underlying it all was the basic question of how to live your life and what to do when you are unhappy. So besides some rather lightweight summer holiday story, there is also something to think about.