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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
I liked this more than I thought it would. Most of the characters were startlingly self-centered, and I thought I knew what the books would be about early on. But it surprised me.
A very interesting back and forth telling of a horrific couples' trip. Although I was able to figure out what was going to happen early on, it did not stop me from wanting to see how it would all play out . It was fast paced and kept me interested. Can I say creepy child? 3 1/2-4 ⭐️
This book felt like it took me a million years to finish. I'm usually fine with "unlikeable" characters, but this book was so slow, and they didn't help matters at all. It's apparently one of the ~best beach reads of all time~ but I can't imagine anything falling more flat than this.
This was a solid story and good writing but in the end less suspenseful then I had thought it would be.
3.5 stars
I've begun to realize that when it comes to mysteries and suspense, I much prefer the effects rather than the causes. I'd much rather read about how an event takes its toll on someone psychologically, emotionally and relationally, than reading about the illusive switchback of events leading up to the breaking point.
And while in this novel, the climax doesn't really come until near the end, and it's not really much of a plot twist, I was still incredibly engaged throughout the story. Mostly because Ephron is able to create four very distinct, disturbing and untrustworthy voices. Michael, Lizzie, Taylor and Finn all have incredibly narcissistic personalities, and their chapters reflect that by telling the same story in different ways. I enjoyed unpacking each narrative and seeing how the stories overlapped to paint similar or even at times quite different pictures.
If it weren't for the great characters and how the author builds up their images piece by piece throughout the story, I would've really disliked this book. The plot is nothing more than following the two couples, plus one couple's daughter, on their Italian vacation. It's really the secrets they withhold from one another and slowly find out about each other on top of their twisted personalities that make this book better than your average mystery.
I've begun to realize that when it comes to mysteries and suspense, I much prefer the effects rather than the causes. I'd much rather read about how an event takes its toll on someone psychologically, emotionally and relationally, than reading about the illusive switchback of events leading up to the breaking point.
And while in this novel, the climax doesn't really come until near the end, and it's not really much of a plot twist, I was still incredibly engaged throughout the story. Mostly because Ephron is able to create four very distinct, disturbing and untrustworthy voices. Michael, Lizzie, Taylor and Finn all have incredibly narcissistic personalities, and their chapters reflect that by telling the same story in different ways. I enjoyed unpacking each narrative and seeing how the stories overlapped to paint similar or even at times quite different pictures.
If it weren't for the great characters and how the author builds up their images piece by piece throughout the story, I would've really disliked this book. The plot is nothing more than following the two couples, plus one couple's daughter, on their Italian vacation. It's really the secrets they withhold from one another and slowly find out about each other on top of their twisted personalities that make this book better than your average mystery.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
Too many psychoses and neuroses in this book for my liking.
It's well-written, with a number of lines I read multiple times just to savor. But the plot is lacking and I was disappointed with the unsatisfying ending -- I read this book for *that*? I wouldn't enthusiastically recommend this one to anyone.
Siracusa might be my favorite vacation-type read so far this year! It’s light and fast-moving, but also smartly written. The story is told from each of the four adults’ perspectives and the writing style shifts with each voice. Going into the trip, both marriages had their own issues, with each spouse frequently mocking his/her partner. As the trip takes on a somewhat surreal quality, everyone starts acting out…refusing to hide their pent-up resentments any longer. Ephron generates suspense by dropping little hints about innocuous moments that later take on greater meaning…contributing to the feeling that things are eventually going to combust.
Beyond the story itself, the characters’ musings on everything from marriage and cheating to travel and the writer’s life allowed Ephron’s writing to shine and kicked this book a notch above other vacation reads for me.
"I must have understood more than I realized, how fragile things between us were. Now I do nothing but look at things other ways, flipping them up and around, examining them, trying to understand at the very least my own obtuseness. I think, I really do torture myself with this: Surprises don’t come from people we know well, certainly not people we love. We call them surprises but they are inevitabilities. I must have been playing a role, a starring role, in an inevitability."
Siracusa is a fantastic choice if you’re heading on vacation (particularly to Italy).
Visit my blog, www.sarahsbookshelves.com, for more reviews.
Beyond the story itself, the characters’ musings on everything from marriage and cheating to travel and the writer’s life allowed Ephron’s writing to shine and kicked this book a notch above other vacation reads for me.
"I must have understood more than I realized, how fragile things between us were. Now I do nothing but look at things other ways, flipping them up and around, examining them, trying to understand at the very least my own obtuseness. I think, I really do torture myself with this: Surprises don’t come from people we know well, certainly not people we love. We call them surprises but they are inevitabilities. I must have been playing a role, a starring role, in an inevitability."
Siracusa is a fantastic choice if you’re heading on vacation (particularly to Italy).
Visit my blog, www.sarahsbookshelves.com, for more reviews.