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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Two young and poor gay men are in Venice, hoping to scam a wealthy man. At the beginning this appears to be yet another glitzy crime caper, I thought at first Bollen might be ripping off Highsmith's "The Talented Mr. Ripley", but very soon I realized I was reading a very moving and powerful work of literary fiction. I loved this book so much that I find it difficult to start reading anything else.
Bollen's characters feel very real; he has a particular gift for dialogue. He also does a great job at capturing the atmosphere of Venice with all its sodden, reeking glorious beauty.
Bollen's characters feel very real; he has a particular gift for dialogue. He also does a great job at capturing the atmosphere of Venice with all its sodden, reeking glorious beauty.
Like a five course meal in which each course leaves you both reflecting on what's passed and eager for what's to come, Christopher Bollen's "A Beautiful Crime," is the queer suspense novel I didn't know I needed until I finished it.
Nick and Clay, a young, interracial gay couple from New York City have landed right at the heart of a Venice in the throes of a city overrun by tourists. Putting together a con that will hopefully bring this rural Midwestern boy and black gay boy from the Bronx a bit of freedom and stability, the boys go further and deeper than either of them planned. Fading in and out from stories in both cities, Bollen uses suspense and relief as a way to deliver a story that is queer and shocking, but also deeply thoughtful.
With complex characters, suspense on every page, and a plot line that will have you hooked, I'd be surprised if you didn't finish this book in one sitting.
Nick and Clay, a young, interracial gay couple from New York City have landed right at the heart of a Venice in the throes of a city overrun by tourists. Putting together a con that will hopefully bring this rural Midwestern boy and black gay boy from the Bronx a bit of freedom and stability, the boys go further and deeper than either of them planned. Fading in and out from stories in both cities, Bollen uses suspense and relief as a way to deliver a story that is queer and shocking, but also deeply thoughtful.
With complex characters, suspense on every page, and a plot line that will have you hooked, I'd be surprised if you didn't finish this book in one sitting.
The tag line of this book should be “be gay. [accidentally] do crimes.”
It was a good read and I enjoyed the twists. It wasn’t a super fast paced book but not to the point that it felt like it dragged for me.
It was a good read and I enjoyed the twists. It wasn’t a super fast paced book but not to the point that it felt like it dragged for me.
This was...fine. The characters, especially Nick, became less and less sympathetic as the book progressed.
I received an advanced copy via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
My first ARC finished this year! And a really good one, too. This book is a wonderful mystery to read in a rainy afternoon - this character-oriented story follows two young men in love as they plan the scam that will save them from financial ruin. I loved how atmospheric this was, and it's definitely not a quick thriller kind of book - it's one to savor slowly and get emotionally connected to the main characters, understand their motivations. I loved it - it was very The Talented Mr Ripley, charming and romantic, even. The ending had me SO ANXIOUS. Great read.
My first ARC finished this year! And a really good one, too. This book is a wonderful mystery to read in a rainy afternoon - this character-oriented story follows two young men in love as they plan the scam that will save them from financial ruin. I loved how atmospheric this was, and it's definitely not a quick thriller kind of book - it's one to savor slowly and get emotionally connected to the main characters, understand their motivations. I loved it - it was very The Talented Mr Ripley, charming and romantic, even. The ending had me SO ANXIOUS. Great read.
4.5/5 stars
If I had to describe this book I would use two sentences: queer ocean’s eleven ft. venice and be gay, do crime....
but still it would not describe my experience with this book: the atmosphere of venice, the complexity and gray morality of the characters, the deepness of almost everything relationship---romantic or not--- portrayed on this book, racism, classism, emotional and sexual abuse, conversations about globalization and consumism vs preserving and respecting art.... it was a ride, truly.
I went into this expecting an easy book about a gay couple scheming people and I did get that, but also so much more. It made me cry, it made me connect with the characters because they were flawed and real. I also want to applaud the queer rep of this book (gay, trans and others) because it was just there, natural, as it should be represented.
If I have to point out what I did not like--it’s not a long list--- I would say that I needed some extra pages about Clay and Nicky; I was so invested in their relationship that I wanted more, especially to know if they would keep their relationship open after all (I personally would love if they opted to have a closed relationship) but overall this book a hidden gem and I’m glad I found it.
If I had to describe this book I would use two sentences: queer ocean’s eleven ft. venice and be gay, do crime....
but still it would not describe my experience with this book: the atmosphere of venice, the complexity and gray morality of the characters, the deepness of almost everything relationship---romantic or not--- portrayed on this book, racism, classism, emotional and sexual abuse, conversations about globalization and consumism vs preserving and respecting art.... it was a ride, truly.
I went into this expecting an easy book about a gay couple scheming people and I did get that, but also so much more. It made me cry, it made me connect with the characters because they were flawed and real. I also want to applaud the queer rep of this book (gay, trans and others) because it was just there, natural, as it should be represented.
If I have to point out what I did not like--it’s not a long list--- I would say that I needed some extra pages about Clay and Nicky; I was so invested in their relationship that I wanted more, especially to know if they would keep their relationship open after all (I personally would love if they opted to have a closed relationship) but overall this book a hidden gem and I’m glad I found it.
This might make a neat movie but reading it was tedious and failed to hold my attention.