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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I now know what it might be like to live in Venice or a city built on water.
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
I very much enjoyed the first parts of this novel, which take place in medieval times and in the Renaissance. As the story moves towards the modern era, however, it becomes duller and duller. Tracey Chevalier could have skipped the last 10-15%, which added almost nothing - the stakes of life for these characters in the 21st century were so much lower than they were five hundred years ago
On the other hand, I liked the time jumps, which were an inventive conceit. The last-page twist was clever and elegant, although it denied the reader any emotional payoff there might have been from the slow-burn romance in the first part of the novel.
On the other hand, I liked the time jumps, which were an inventive conceit. The last-page twist was clever and elegant, although it denied the reader any emotional payoff there might have been from the slow-burn romance in the first part of the novel.
Beautiful. Absolutely lovely and a creative way to tell a story spanning centuries.
The author really should have just written a straight up historical fiction. She is very good at that.
The skipping-stones-time-jumps just didn’t work for me. For those who have not read this, the concept is based on the premise that at the start of each chapter, there is a time jump where the family you get to know, jumps 80 or 100 years ahead and you can experience how they navigate life, work and everything else in this new time zone.
Great concept, right? Welllllll not so fast.
The problem for me is that the Murano family do not seem to realise they are in a different century with each jump. This felt like a lazy way of shoehorning some interesting events rather than spending time developing the characters.
The skipping-stones-time-jumps just didn’t work for me. For those who have not read this, the concept is based on the premise that at the start of each chapter, there is a time jump where the family you get to know, jumps 80 or 100 years ahead and you can experience how they navigate life, work and everything else in this new time zone.
Great concept, right? Welllllll not so fast.
The problem for me is that the Murano family do not seem to realise they are in a different century with each jump. This felt like a lazy way of shoehorning some interesting events rather than spending time developing the characters.
I loved the story, but struggled with re-orienting myself during the time jumps. It’s a fun concept but personally felt hard to follow at times.
I was thrilled to be back into one of Tracy Chevalier's historical fiction worlds. I liked this story a lot, and liked getting to know Orsola and her family. One thing I didn't really love (and this was most likely because I didn't fully understand it, which I recognize) was the time jumps. I got confused every time there was one, and even at the ending I was confused. Plot was satisfying, even though predictable.
adventurous
emotional
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
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:
Yes