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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow not gonna lie, this book is quite good. I picked this book up after learning that people theorized that Starnone might be Ferrante? Not that I believe it (because I pray to god ferrante is not a man). Though they share the same ability in delving into the characters' introspectiveness, I do believe they have a quite different writing style. I don't know, I read this in english. No idea how similar it is in italian.
Anyway this book is like the days of abandonment by Ferrante but it focuses more on the man’s perspective. Starting with a collection of letters from the abandoned wife, Vanda really got me hooked. Then book two continues with the husband's perspective fast forward to when they're in their 70’s (which made me confused for a second like damn.. you all got back together?) Then from here we learned why he did it, how he tries to justify what he did which makes my blood boil with how insufferable his way of thinking is. It is pretty shitty on the husband’s part and Starnone did an amazing job in emphasizing the man’s pov that actually makes sense with the typical middle aged man in crisis logic.
Then we got into the last part which is unexpectedly from the kids perspective (Sandro & Anna). I really love how Starnone plays with the Ties (Lacci/Lace) concept in this last part. So creative with how he applied the concept in various parts of this story. And I love how the little mystery elements from the beginning of the story unravel in the end though it still gives readers their own space to come up with their own interpretations of the story without disclosing how it ends for the characters. Overall Starnone is a great writer and Jhumpa Lahiri did a great job in translating it!
“-Okay, I'll tell you something else.
The morning we met it was our mother who said to you: Have you noticed the ridiculous way your brother ties his shoes? Your father's fault, he's never done it right: Tell him when you see him.
-And?
-This story about the laces involves all of us. Dad came back for Mom, for me, for you. And the three of us wanted him to come back. Get it?”
(An excerpt from the son’s part that is quite brilliant if it was true!)
Anyway this book is like the days of abandonment by Ferrante but it focuses more on the man’s perspective. Starting with a collection of letters from the abandoned wife, Vanda really got me hooked. Then book two continues with the husband's perspective fast forward to when they're in their 70’s (which made me confused for a second like damn.. you all got back together?) Then from here we learned why he did it, how he tries to justify what he did which makes my blood boil with how insufferable his way of thinking is. It is pretty shitty on the husband’s part and Starnone did an amazing job in emphasizing the man’s pov that actually makes sense with the typical middle aged man in crisis logic.
Then we got into the last part which is unexpectedly from the kids perspective (Sandro & Anna). I really love how Starnone plays with the Ties (Lacci/Lace) concept in this last part. So creative with how he applied the concept in various parts of this story. And I love how the little mystery elements from the beginning of the story unravel in the end though it still gives readers their own space to come up with their own interpretations of the story without disclosing how it ends for the characters. Overall Starnone is a great writer and Jhumpa Lahiri did a great job in translating it!
“-Okay, I'll tell you something else.
The morning we met it was our mother who said to you: Have you noticed the ridiculous way your brother ties his shoes? Your father's fault, he's never done it right: Tell him when you see him.
-And?
-This story about the laces involves all of us. Dad came back for Mom, for me, for you. And the three of us wanted him to come back. Get it?”
(An excerpt from the son’s part that is quite brilliant if it was true!)
I read this in English, it's called Ties. Good companion piece to the Ferrante series -- tells a similar story from the man's point of view. Short, crisp, good read.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First of all, what attracted me was the artwork of the cover. It is beautiful.
And then I read the description of the book, It intrigued me.
Although I love "love stories" and I'm a hopeless romantic, I'm interested in troubled marriages (?)
I was not expecting this novel to be about cheating even though now I feel it should have been obvious to me but for some reason I imagined it is about a troubled married couple who find love again. (like I said, I'm a hopeless romantic).
It is a heavy topic, It is about a selfish man who destroys the lives of the people surrounding him. It is about unhealthy relationships and family issues. It was a well written heavy read.
I find it hard to rate such book, It is beautifully written despite the fact that it is depressing, but I do understand that it is supposed to be this way. especially the first part, but than it got more interesting. I loved the plot and the mystery if I can call it that. And that's about it.
And then I read the description of the book, It intrigued me.
Although I love "love stories" and I'm a hopeless romantic, I'm interested in troubled marriages (?)
I was not expecting this novel to be about cheating even though now I feel it should have been obvious to me but for some reason I imagined it is about a troubled married couple who find love again. (like I said, I'm a hopeless romantic).
It is a heavy topic, It is about a selfish man who destroys the lives of the people surrounding him. It is about unhealthy relationships and family issues. It was a well written heavy read.
I find it hard to rate such book, It is beautifully written despite the fact that it is depressing, but I do understand that it is supposed to be this way. especially the first part, but than it got more interesting. I loved the plot and the mystery if I can call it that. And that's about it.