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jencolumb0's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I had the luck of reading Room With a View just before happening to pick this one up and I am so thrilled that I did. It made Winman’s play off EM Forester that much more delightful (and made the time I spent with his incredibly unlikeable characters quite worthwhile). Even if you’ve read Room with a View, it’s worth re-reading before you pick this one up, just to get the full breadth of the conversation Winman is having.
That conversation and the (obviously well-researched) bits about Florentine artists, particularly female artists, as well as the over-arching conversation of how women must and chose to live their lives around men in a patriarchy (cleverly woven into the story) were heady contrasts to the relatively mundane passage of time memorialized in the book.
I, too, adore Florence. Like many of the characters in the book, I went when I was young, the city promptly imprinted itself onto my heart, and I have returned at every opportunity since, peeling back layers to reveal new aspects of my freedom each time. You would think that I would adore this book, too. And I did. For the first 250 pages or so.
Then, the action in the book just kind of petered out: the characters continued to bounce between the pub in London and the pensione in Florence, learning very little new about themselves and nothing surprising happened to them in fact. I am still not entirely sure why we all had to hang onto getting through through the 70s to achieve the ends of the book. Perhaps, on the heels of a Rachel Joyce book, I was ready to read something with a bit more action. Nonetheless, a lovely read that should be a priority for anyone heading to Florence or whose heart belongs there.
That conversation and the (obviously well-researched) bits about Florentine artists, particularly female artists, as well as the over-arching conversation of how women must and chose to live their lives around men in a patriarchy (cleverly woven into the story) were heady contrasts to the relatively mundane passage of time memorialized in the book.
I, too, adore Florence. Like many of the characters in the book, I went when I was young, the city promptly imprinted itself onto my heart, and I have returned at every opportunity since, peeling back layers to reveal new aspects of my freedom each time. You would think that I would adore this book, too. And I did. For the first 250 pages or so.
Then, the action in the book just kind of petered out: the characters continued to bounce between the pub in London and the pensione in Florence, learning very little new about themselves and nothing surprising happened to them in fact. I am still not entirely sure why we all had to hang onto getting through through the 70s to achieve the ends of the book. Perhaps, on the heels of a Rachel Joyce book, I was ready to read something with a bit more action. Nonetheless, a lovely read that should be a priority for anyone heading to Florence or whose heart belongs there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Domestic abuse, Animal death, Infidelity, Death, Car accident, and Abortion
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
julied's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed spending time in Florence with these characters. There were a few things with the writing I wish were not there but generally I really loved this story. I give a book five stars if it is something I want to keep forever, a book I can see myself rereading one day. This was definitely a group of people I will revisit. I laughed. I cried. I learned a few things. If someone were to ask me if they should read this I would tell them all of that but warn them that there is an open door scene between two people who are fairly young teens. I don't usually mind an open door or two if it adds something to the story and the participants are adults. I can see where someone might not enjoy some of the fantastical elements. I actually did which is not typical of my taste. They are few and far between and the silly helped break up the sad a little. I found this story really sweet and it helped me appreciate my own still life more than I otherwise would have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Death, War, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Pregnancy
daisydoolie's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
I really really adored this book, every now and then the sheer serendipity of the story lines and the way certain characters reacted to things felt...unrealistic and took me out of it a bit. But fundamentally, it’s a story isn’t it and not meant to be completely realistic. It was full of big love and hope and gorgeous character development and realistic lesbians!!!! Left me with a warm feeling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Death
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Drug use, Cursing, Vomit, Violence, Classism, Alcoholism, Abandonment, War, and Toxic relationship
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
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