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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
This was a page-turning character driven story told from four distinct points of view. Set in Siracusa, Italy, we watch as an interloper steps in to break up and re-form two marriages. All of the characters are flawed, which makes them almost endearing. But that kid is one creepy character!
I know it's not necessary, but I find it hard to enjoy a novel when all of the characters are unlikable. I just don't care what happens to them (or, in this case, can't determine their personalities enough to try to figure it out).
Also, Liane Moriarty does the alternating narrators much, much better.
***
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge - A sea story
I received a copy of this book from Read It Forward (#RIFWinner), which I really appreciate, even if I didn't entirely enjoy the book.
Also, Liane Moriarty does the alternating narrators much, much better.
***
Extreme Book Nerd Challenge - A sea story
I received a copy of this book from Read It Forward (#RIFWinner), which I really appreciate, even if I didn't entirely enjoy the book.
This would make a good movie, reminded me a lot of the tv show The Affair. Alternating perspectives of an incident that changes everyone's lives. Good, very moody, I would like a sequel to see what happened with these same characters 10 years later or something.
This book is probably more like a 3.5/5 than a four, but it was a compelling, solid summer read. My main criticism is that it was clear to me who I was meant to like and dislike through the writing and that felt a bit manipulative and too "on the nose". A more subtle and nuanced approach to character would have been more effective and believable.
Really enjoyed the audio version of this but the book itself isn't great.
I would give this book 3 and 1/2 stars if I could. I definitely wanted to finish it and find out what happened and liked the fact that the story was told from the perspective of the 4 main characters. However, I wish Ephron had included a chapter by Snow so we could see what was going on in her twisted mind.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Lord have MERCY these people were f*cked up! What a cast full of unlikeable characters. Grown couples don't actually act like this do they? The more I read the more thankful I was to be single. The delusion and infidelity among the characters was unreal! But did I enjoy the book? I actually didn't mind it!
We follow the story of Michael & Lizzie (a married couple) and Taylor & Finn (another married couple), along with their 10 year-old daughter Snow as they take a couples trip to Italy. I'm not sure why these couples decided to take a trip together because it's very clear from the jump that they don't like each other.Lizzie and Finn get along (because they have history) and Taylor idolizes Michael (justbecause he's not Finn because she think his being a writer somehow makes him a "somebody"). During their trip, each individuals' insecurities, secrets and discretions start to come to light and the drama (which I happily ate up) begins...
The story is told in alternating POVs from the adults (which I loved - I enjoyed getting everyone's perspective, seeing the chain reaction of all their actions, and also getting a peak at what some characters had been up to during the previous chapter) but I wish we'd gotten one POV from Snow in the end...just to see where her head was.
Michael - Aself-absorbed, son of a bitch, lying, unfaithful, manipulative prick writer, is struggling with his feelings (or rather lack thereof) for his wife (Lizzie). He's currently having an affair with a much younger woman and is trying to figure out how to tell Lizzie that their marriage is over and that he's no longer in love with her. He then realizes, much to his surprise, that he's actually still in love with her while on their trip...only for his side piece to show up on the trip to surprise him. The way Michael handles all of this is thoughtless, tactless, selfish and honestly, just plain disgusting. I couldn't stand him. In fact, I can feel my blood pressure rising just recalling what vile piece of sh*t he was.
Lizzie - I can't say much about her because I didn't really dislike her but I didn't like her either. I did, however, like that she didn't really follow societal norms; not caring that she didn't have children nor feeling that she had to have one. I found her boring and didn't like that she let the breakdown of her marriage subsequently break her down, but I loved her last chapter! I'll also add that I didn't like the narrator for Lizzie, at first. She sounded too old to be the character and her voice really annoyed me at first but after a while the voice reminded me of Susan Sarandon and that made it a lot more bearable lol.
Taylor - Good Lord, what an uptight little twat. There was absolutely nothing to like about her. She was OVERLY OBSESSED with her daughter. It was weird and unnatural. She had attachment issues and wouldn't even let Snow breathe without being within ten feet of her. She made Snow out to be some exceptionally bright and gifted, but overly and painfully shy child, which she wasn't. Snow, however, was exceptionally cunning and played her dumbass of a mother for the idiot she was! I just wish there was a moment where Taylor realized just how much Snow despised her and was playing her. It would've given me SO much satisfaction. I didn't care for the narration behind this character either. It was fine to listen to but the way she voiced Snow made me cringe.
Finn - My favourite of the lot. Finn was a big kid. Incredibly juvenile but he was honest and, surprisingly, didn't have the wool over his eyes when it came to his daughter the way Taylor did. While Finn pulled some stupid stunts, I respected his honesty. His chapters were a laughable breath of fresh air (he was amusing) and he was basically saying out loud what the reader was likely thinking.
Snow - A creepy, cunning little shit. She really paid attention to the adults more than they realized and was more like her father than her mother thought (or cared to admit). Had she not been so devilish or had a weird crush on Michael that could've been something out of American Beauty I may have actually liked her.
Overall, the story was fascinating. Listening to this was like scratching a mosquito bite; once you start, you can't stop until it's satisfied, no matter how annoying it is or damage it may cause you.
3/5 Stars.
We follow the story of Michael & Lizzie (a married couple) and Taylor & Finn (another married couple), along with their 10 year-old daughter Snow as they take a couples trip to Italy. I'm not sure why these couples decided to take a trip together because it's very clear from the jump that they don't like each other.Lizzie and Finn get along (because they have history) and Taylor idolizes Michael (just
The story is told in alternating POVs from the adults (which I loved - I enjoyed getting everyone's perspective, seeing the chain reaction of all their actions, and also getting a peak at what some characters had been up to during the previous chapter) but I wish we'd gotten one POV from Snow in the end...just to see where her head was.
Michael - A
Lizzie - I can't say much about her because I didn't really dislike her but I didn't like her either. I did, however, like that she didn't really follow societal norms; not caring that she didn't have children nor feeling that she had to have one. I found her boring and didn't like that she let the breakdown of her marriage subsequently break her down, but I loved her last chapter! I'll also add that I didn't like the narrator for Lizzie, at first. She sounded too old to be the character and her voice really annoyed me at first but after a while the voice reminded me of Susan Sarandon and that made it a lot more bearable lol.
Taylor - Good Lord, what an uptight little twat. There was absolutely nothing to like about her. She was OVERLY OBSESSED with her daughter. It was weird and unnatural. She had attachment issues and wouldn't even let Snow breathe without being within ten feet of her. She made Snow out to be some exceptionally bright and gifted, but overly and painfully shy child, which she wasn't. Snow, however, was exceptionally cunning and played her dumbass of a mother for the idiot she was! I just wish there was a moment where Taylor realized just how much Snow despised her and was playing her. It would've given me SO much satisfaction. I didn't care for the narration behind this character either. It was fine to listen to but the way she voiced Snow made me cringe.
Finn - My favourite of the lot. Finn was a big kid. Incredibly juvenile but he was honest and, surprisingly, didn't have the wool over his eyes when it came to his daughter the way Taylor did. While Finn pulled some stupid stunts, I respected his honesty. His chapters were a laughable breath of fresh air (he was amusing) and he was basically saying out loud what the reader was likely thinking.
Snow - A creepy, cunning little shit. She really paid attention to the adults more than they realized and was more like her father than her mother thought (or cared to admit). Had she not been so devilish or had a weird crush on Michael that could've been something out of American Beauty I may have actually liked her.
Overall, the story was fascinating. Listening to this was like scratching a mosquito bite; once you start, you can't stop until it's satisfied, no matter how annoying it is or damage it may cause you.
3/5 Stars.
This review, and many more, are available on my blog Girl About Library!
Delia Ephron, screenwriter of much loved films such as "You've Got Mail", "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", and "Michael" wrote a fiction book? Well, sign me up! Sounds super cute, and just what I want to read these light weeks at the beginning of summer ! But, oh boy, was I surprised by what waited for me in Ephron's book, "Siracusa"!
Deeply unhappy characters
Siracusa is told from four alternating points of view- Lizzie, Michael, Taylor, and Finn. Two married couples with capital P, PROBLEMS. Each of the characters is deeply unhappy, pathologically so. The emotional warfare waged in these pages is subtle, but probably my favorite parts to read. The friendships between each of the characters are complicated by a variety of factors including time, previous relationships, and current affairs. It stressed me out, just imagining being in any of their shoes- but Ephron did a good job of showing how fraught those types of relationships can be.
My favorite deeply unhappy character in "Siracusa" was Taylor, particularly her relationship with her daughter, Snow. Taylor has a creepy, "Mommy Dearest" vibe coming from her relationship with Snow, who is sheltered and coddled to the point of emotional abuse. Those two characters could easily have been their own book that would have been enthralling in its own right. Snow and Taylor's relationship were some of the only moments in the book where I really found myself reflecting on what the author was showing the reader,. Their plot lots made me question what a parental role should look like- and how it isn't like you get extra credit as a parent if you are doing more than you need to, you're not a better parent for it- which is difficult I think for some to grapple with as a parent.
What I Struggled With
Delia Ephron created a cast of unlikely flawed characters. Reading this book felt like being at a social gathering where I just hate everyone, and want to leave as soon as physically possible- which was unfortunately 4 days after the party started I'm not a speed reader under the best of conditions - and for my reading tastes, these were some of the worst.
The writing in "Siracusa" was repeatedly foreshadowing this big event that would eventually happen on their Italian vacation. And . The only reason I did not put the book down once I was frustrated with the characters, was my anticipation for the "big event". That's a lot of pressure and while there is certainly a twist ending in the book, it is so frequently mentioned, and built up - that it fell a little flat for me. Particularly because the Amazon summary bills it as something "no one will see coming"- however, I would guess that most readers would have predicted the ending.
Delia Ephron, screenwriter of much loved films such as "You've Got Mail", "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", and "Michael" wrote a fiction book? Well, sign me up! Sounds super cute, and just what I want to read these light weeks at the beginning of summer ! But, oh boy, was I surprised by what waited for me in Ephron's book, "Siracusa"!
Deeply unhappy characters
Siracusa is told from four alternating points of view- Lizzie, Michael, Taylor, and Finn. Two married couples with capital P, PROBLEMS. Each of the characters is deeply unhappy, pathologically so. The emotional warfare waged in these pages is subtle, but probably my favorite parts to read. The friendships between each of the characters are complicated by a variety of factors including time, previous relationships, and current affairs. It stressed me out, just imagining being in any of their shoes- but Ephron did a good job of showing how fraught those types of relationships can be.
My favorite deeply unhappy character in "Siracusa" was Taylor, particularly her relationship with her daughter, Snow. Taylor has a creepy, "Mommy Dearest" vibe coming from her relationship with Snow, who is sheltered and coddled to the point of emotional abuse. Those two characters could easily have been their own book that would have been enthralling in its own right. Snow and Taylor's relationship were some of the only moments in the book where I really found myself reflecting on what the author was showing the reader,. Their plot lots made me question what a parental role should look like- and how it isn't like you get extra credit as a parent if you are doing more than you need to, you're not a better parent for it- which is difficult I think for some to grapple with as a parent.
What I Struggled With
Delia Ephron created a cast of unlikely flawed characters. Reading this book felt like being at a social gathering where I just hate everyone, and want to leave as soon as physically possible- which was unfortunately 4 days after the party started I'm not a speed reader under the best of conditions - and for my reading tastes, these were some of the worst.
The writing in "Siracusa" was repeatedly foreshadowing this big event that would eventually happen on their Italian vacation. And . The only reason I did not put the book down once I was frustrated with the characters, was my anticipation for the "big event". That's a lot of pressure and while there is certainly a twist ending in the book, it is so frequently mentioned, and built up - that it fell a little flat for me. Particularly because the Amazon summary bills it as something "no one will see coming"- however, I would guess that most readers would have predicted the ending.
Synopsis:
Two couples, Michael and Lizzie and Finn and Taylor (along with daughter Snow), decide to take a European trip together. The dynamic is a little off from the start, because Lizzie and Finn were formerly in a relationship years ago–and are both pondering whether they still harbor romantic feelings towards one another– and the two couples aren’t necessarily even friends.
The vacation starts out normal enough, but as the couples spend more time on their trip, more marital issues arise, and all four adults begin to question their respective marriages and life choices.
My feelings:
I added this on as a Book of the Month choice in September and was very hesitant about it, for one simple reason–the reviews. Siracusa‘s Litsy percentage is currently 64% and may have been even lower when it was first announced as a BOTM choice in August, so at the time I decided not to take a chance on it. But it just kept niggling at me (I love stories that examine marriage and romantic relationships), so I bit the bullet the following month and I am so glad I did.
I LOVED Siracusa.
The narrative is set up so that all four adults take turns relating their version of the events of the trip. And considering there are always multiple sides to a single story, I thought it was very effective in a book that is specifically about troubled marriages. I really enjoyed that each partner got to tell their own side and that I was able to see the struggles and happenings from multiple perspectives.
This is a very quick read, and kept me rapt throughout the book. I read it in 24 hours and have been recommending it left and right. I am now wondering how Ephron’s other novels compare to this one. I would love to hear any recommendations!
Two couples, Michael and Lizzie and Finn and Taylor (along with daughter Snow), decide to take a European trip together. The dynamic is a little off from the start, because Lizzie and Finn were formerly in a relationship years ago–and are both pondering whether they still harbor romantic feelings towards one another– and the two couples aren’t necessarily even friends.
The vacation starts out normal enough, but as the couples spend more time on their trip, more marital issues arise, and all four adults begin to question their respective marriages and life choices.
My feelings:
I added this on as a Book of the Month choice in September and was very hesitant about it, for one simple reason–the reviews. Siracusa‘s Litsy percentage is currently 64% and may have been even lower when it was first announced as a BOTM choice in August, so at the time I decided not to take a chance on it. But it just kept niggling at me (I love stories that examine marriage and romantic relationships), so I bit the bullet the following month and I am so glad I did.
I LOVED Siracusa.
The narrative is set up so that all four adults take turns relating their version of the events of the trip. And considering there are always multiple sides to a single story, I thought it was very effective in a book that is specifically about troubled marriages. I really enjoyed that each partner got to tell their own side and that I was able to see the struggles and happenings from multiple perspectives.
This is a very quick read, and kept me rapt throughout the book. I read it in 24 hours and have been recommending it left and right. I am now wondering how Ephron’s other novels compare to this one. I would love to hear any recommendations!