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teapotandstory's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
thegloomth's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
daja57's review against another edition
5.0
A brilliant book. A group of oddball characters travel from a grey 1950s London pub setting to a technicolor Florence. There's a lot of banter, a lot of humour (I laughed aloud at several points, which I rarely do), some moments of sadness (I cried when one of the leading characters died) and a message that life is to be enjoyed.
I read it shortly before watching the film, Poor Things and this book and that film share (with Caravaggio) an artificiality of style coupled to extreme naturalism. This is signposted right from the start. In the first part (Man is the Measure of All Things 1944), a critical meeting between Evelyn and Ulysses which includes dialogue which sounds like sort of thing you wish you'd said at a posh dinner party if you hadn't drunk too much of that wonderful wine, is sandwiched between two sections where the dialogue has perfect verisimilitude, each speaker making short contributions which are often beside the point and fail to respond to the other speaker. During the middle section, the art movement Mannerism is mentioned ("the style is what we would call early Mannerist. ... a deliberate denial of realistic style, calculated and artificial.") and I think this is a clue to what the author is trying to do.
Which is a fascinating start.
The deliberate artificiality continues. There is a cast of eccentric characters, swiftly but indelibly drawn, including:
Ulysses Temper, an incurably optimistic soldier from London whose superpower is making friends
Evelyn Skinner, a lesbian art critic
Peg, a brassy barmaid with attitude
Cressy, an old man who has dialogues with trees and an interest in philosophy; he has visions which lead to extraordinarily successful betting coups
Pete the pub piano player and composer and occasional star of musical theatre, who has girlfriends across Europe
Claude, a parrot who quotes Shakespeare
Alys, the result of a one night stand between Peg and a GI, a kid with attitude growing up in Florence
A cherry tree with a long perspective on time a farewells: a cherry tree "Think about it. Leaves." (Somewhere Between an Atom and a Star 1946 - 53)
Col, the pub landlord, violently protective of his daughter who drives a second-hand ambulance which has a misfiring siren (in the UK ambulances had bells before 1963 which I presume is not an error but a deliberate introduction of artificiality).
Des, a businessman who can't help making money: "Two words ... disposable syringes"
This is a book about the joy that is in life. It is a joyous read.
I read it shortly before watching the film, Poor Things and this book and that film share (with Caravaggio) an artificiality of style coupled to extreme naturalism. This is signposted right from the start. In the first part (Man is the Measure of All Things 1944), a critical meeting between Evelyn and Ulysses which includes dialogue which sounds like sort of thing you wish you'd said at a posh dinner party if you hadn't drunk too much of that wonderful wine, is sandwiched between two sections where the dialogue has perfect verisimilitude, each speaker making short contributions which are often beside the point and fail to respond to the other speaker. During the middle section, the art movement Mannerism is mentioned ("the style is what we would call early Mannerist. ... a deliberate denial of realistic style, calculated and artificial.") and I think this is a clue to what the author is trying to do.
Which is a fascinating start.
The deliberate artificiality continues. There is a cast of eccentric characters, swiftly but indelibly drawn, including:
Ulysses Temper, an incurably optimistic soldier from London whose superpower is making friends
Evelyn Skinner, a lesbian art critic
Peg, a brassy barmaid with attitude
Cressy, an old man who has dialogues with trees and an interest in philosophy; he has visions which lead to extraordinarily successful betting coups
Pete the pub piano player and composer and occasional star of musical theatre, who has girlfriends across Europe
Claude, a parrot who quotes Shakespeare
Alys, the result of a one night stand between Peg and a GI, a kid with attitude growing up in Florence
A cherry tree with a long perspective on time a farewells: a cherry tree "Think about it. Leaves." (Somewhere Between an Atom and a Star 1946 - 53)
Col, the pub landlord, violently protective of his daughter who drives a second-hand ambulance which has a misfiring siren (in the UK ambulances had bells before 1963 which I presume is not an error but a deliberate introduction of artificiality).
Des, a businessman who can't help making money: "Two words ... disposable syringes"
This is a book about the joy that is in life. It is a joyous read.
bibi003's review against another edition
5.0
I had a feeling I would love this book, but I didn't know just how MUCH I would love it! This story is beautiful. The characters, their relationships, the scenery, the art, the food, the style. It is luscious, humorous, comforting. I laughed out loud at the parrot so many times! A testament to found family, living through hardship and heartbreak, and finding joy in friendship and community. 10/10 will recommend it to everyone.
katerose_13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
going to my to-be-read-again-and-again pile.
tinavaughan's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
foresthorse's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this book and its main character, Florence... and the other characters. I would have liked it better if the last long bit about Evelyn had been left out. The information in that long chapter was already given to us in a very concise yet clear form earlier in the novel. So five stars up until that point. I am not really a romance novel person and the last part was in that vein. I loved the audio version read by the author with all the italian words and accent!
finessa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-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
Exquisite. Striking. Breathtaking. Heart wrenching. Thoroughly worth it.
I feel Sarah Winman walks & commanders a difficult tightrope by being shocking, brilliant, & profound while somehow simultaneously providing tender insight. I can’t wait to explore more of her work & I’m not one to reread, but I already know I will be in the near future.
I feel Sarah Winman walks & commanders a difficult tightrope by being shocking, brilliant, & profound while somehow simultaneously providing tender insight. I can’t wait to explore more of her work & I’m not one to reread, but I already know I will be in the near future.
spikespiegel's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
relaxing
slow-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
louisemlewis17's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75