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pkc's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is a tough book to try and condense into a few words for a review. The story follows a cast of characters, each unique and uniquely identifiable, but linked by Evelyn Skinner and Ulysses Temper, who fatefully meet in Florence in 1944 as the Second World War rages across Europe.
Ulysses takes on the bulk of the narrative as characters weave in and out of his orbit, cementing themselves as friends and drawing from his wellspring of goodness as quickly as he can expel it. As a protagonist, the only word I can think of is gorgeous. He exudes kindness, complexity, grace, and beauty and his helpful nature is inherent throughout the novel.
I really don’t want to say too much because I could probably write an essay and I don’t want to do that. I will say that there is a parrot called Claude and I feel that our perspective as reader is similar to Claude’s perspective. We observe, we are moved by events but mostly, we drift through the story, pitching and sailing on the breeze through 22 years (plus 28 days in 1901…) of the lives of these remarkable human beings as the world changes around them.
It’s not the easiest read in the world. Like the truest of artists, Winman doesn’t baby the reader in any way, but the effect and impact of her prose is dizzying and rich, like a beautiful vino rosso. I dog-eared a few pages with beautiful quotes, but realistically you could just open the book and point to a line and it will no doubt be beautiful. Ugh. What a reading experience!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Animal death, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, and Sexual content
san_dra's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Grief, Alcohol, Physical abuse, and Car accident
sophie42's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment
my_plant_library's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Rape, War, and Homophobia
veganecurrywurst's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I don't quite get why everyone loves this book so much.
The characters are really lovely and the storyline is sweet. The authors style of writing is interesting, because in a way ith feels like a still life (in a good way).
However, it felt like eating to much lemon cake ( In the beginning it tastes amazing, but after a while you are just not hungry anymore, but you still have to finish the cake and you are starting to feel sick. If you are a person that can eat endless amounts of lemon cake without feeling sick, I strongly recommend this book)
The characters are really lovely and the storyline is sweet. The authors style of writing is interesting, because in a way ith feels like a still life (in a good way).
However, it felt like eating to much lemon cake ( In the beginning it tastes amazing, but after a while you are just not hungry anymore, but you still have to finish the cake and you are starting to feel sick. If you are a person that can eat endless amounts of lemon cake without feeling sick, I strongly recommend this book)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Abandonment, Grief, Mental illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and War
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abortion, Rape, Ableism, Death, Violence, and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder, Homophobia, and Death of parent
balfies's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This was an utterly beautiful sweeping novel celebrating people and art and hope and time.
In conversation with the art of Florence and my favourite piece of art about Florence - E. M. Forster's A Room With A View - and featuring a multitude of queer relationships and steady friendships and a formidable woman in the Monuments Men (which I hasten to remind you, dear reader, my great uncle was also in) and artists and musicians...
It was just a sumptuous, delicious read.
In conversation with the art of Florence and my favourite piece of art about Florence - E. M. Forster's A Room With A View - and featuring a multitude of queer relationships and steady friendships and a formidable woman in the Monuments Men (which I hasten to remind you, dear reader, my great uncle was also in) and artists and musicians...
It was just a sumptuous, delicious read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, War, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Murder, Infidelity, Grief, Excrement, Death, and Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol
hannahmayreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Being a Forster fan, I was very happy to dive right into this novel, and I wasn't left disappointed. Winman has captured the same sense of Italy that Forster also managed to capture on the page - the most comparable being A Room With A View, but Still Life also has much of the chaotic, bohemian energy of Howard's End. Evelyn definitely reminds me of the Schlegel sisters, and there seems to be a little of all of Forster's men about Ulysses. And, of course, there's a little lucy Honeychurch in everyone. It is an odd cast of characters but they're probably one of my favourite ensembles ever.
A philosophical romp through post-war Britain and Europe, it is an expansive story despite the narrow cast of characters. Terracotta-toned visions of Tuscan hillsides and Florentine streets will have you seriously contemplating moving to Italy - what is there to lose you'll ask yourself. You will be consumed by wanderlust.
"Art versus humanity is not the question, Ulysses. One doesn't exist without the other. Art is the antidote. Is that enough to make it important? Well yes, I think it is."
It delights from start to finish. It expands across time and place, yet it remains delectably intimate. Despite being a historical novel it does not cling to the past, and there is no heady nostalgia. It moves steadily forward, seeing change as good. This book has so much heart and soul; it is all joy and heartache, sadness and beauty - what a wonderful, wonderful read. I feel replenished by it - a restorative balm for our bruised souls.
"Beauty gushed out to water the earth." (from A Room With A View)
A philosophical romp through post-war Britain and Europe, it is an expansive story despite the narrow cast of characters. Terracotta-toned visions of Tuscan hillsides and Florentine streets will have you seriously contemplating moving to Italy - what is there to lose you'll ask yourself. You will be consumed by wanderlust.
"Art versus humanity is not the question, Ulysses. One doesn't exist without the other. Art is the antidote. Is that enough to make it important? Well yes, I think it is."
It delights from start to finish. It expands across time and place, yet it remains delectably intimate. Despite being a historical novel it does not cling to the past, and there is no heady nostalgia. It moves steadily forward, seeing change as good. This book has so much heart and soul; it is all joy and heartache, sadness and beauty - what a wonderful, wonderful read. I feel replenished by it - a restorative balm for our bruised souls.
"Beauty gushed out to water the earth." (from A Room With A View)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
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