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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
Book of the Month Club: August 2016
PopSugar 2019 reading challenge #33
Couldn't do it. Couldn't finish it.
Decided at around 60% of the way through that I really didn't care who was having an affair -- it was boring, droll, and there wasn't anything likable or exciting enough about any of the characters to continue. You'd think the setting would be nice (and I guess it is) but it isn't enough to keep me entertained and going back.
I want to say that unlikable characters are fine (I've managed to finish and even enjoy other books with these types of characters, I swear!) but they still have to at least hold your attention. This book never captivated me, never grabbed me, and eventually I decided that my TBR shelf (overflowing with books) was judging me for continuing with this one.
PopSugar 2019 reading challenge #33
Couldn't do it. Couldn't finish it.
Decided at around 60% of the way through that I really didn't care who was having an affair -- it was boring, droll, and there wasn't anything likable or exciting enough about any of the characters to continue. You'd think the setting would be nice (and I guess it is) but it isn't enough to keep me entertained and going back.
I want to say that unlikable characters are fine (I've managed to finish and even enjoy other books with these types of characters, I swear!) but they still have to at least hold your attention. This book never captivated me, never grabbed me, and eventually I decided that my TBR shelf (overflowing with books) was judging me for continuing with this one.
Shallow and unlikable characters galore in this one. But the reader can not help but be sucked into their observations and motivations. In a nutshell, two couples, and probably one of the creepiest children if have ever read about, go on a joint vacation to Italy, only to unpack their emotional baggage full of lies, infidelity, and hatred upon each other.
The result is straightforward to encompass the expected (or at least what I expected). Yet at the same time there are some incredible quotes and motivations within to mull over. I think what will stick with me about this story is the ending, for it felt as if it could continue on forever and I would have lapped it up. Where do these characters go from here? What the heck is the deal with Snow? A psychologist could have a field-day with these characters, and even discussing them in a book club could be intriguing.
The result is straightforward to encompass the expected (or at least what I expected). Yet at the same time there are some incredible quotes and motivations within to mull over. I think what will stick with me about this story is the ending, for it felt as if it could continue on forever and I would have lapped it up. Where do these characters go from here? What the heck is the deal with Snow? A psychologist could have a field-day with these characters, and even discussing them in a book club could be intriguing.
Personaggi odiosi e una trama che fatica moltissimo ad ingranare (almeno fino a pagina 200 di 330). Leggermente interessante solo nell'ultimo terzo. Sostanzialmente noioso.
I expected this one to sweep me away by being a terrific page-turner. So many people loved it, but I thought the characters were flat and the plot predictable. It may just be me, though...I wanted to be more distracted from this terrible time.
It would be difficult to recommend this book as the characters were so unlikeable. I skipped through the last third of the book, just to see what happens in the end. It really wasn’t an enjoyable read.
I have a weird opinion of this novel. I thought it was really funny, and I hope that was on purpose. To me, the characters were such over-the-top bad people, in the vein of Ignatius J. Reilly, that it read like a satire of bad literary novels. But then I looked on here, and it's shelved as a mystery? I'm going to stick with my first opinion of laughing and enjoying it.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Siracusa by Delia Ephron was a book that completely snuck up on me. I had heard about it from a few friends, the cover kept catching my eye, and then when I saw it was a Book of the Month pick, I knew I had to read it.
Siracusa is the story of 4 friends- Michael and Lizzie (M is a famous writer and L is a non working journalist) and Finn and Taylor with their daughter Snow. The five travel to Siracusa to rekindle relationships, grow their friendship, and to see Italy.
Michael has a plan though. He is cheating on Lizzie with a young 20 year old waitress. His plan is to get Lizzie to sleep with Finn, as they were once young lovers, so he can divorce Lizzie and run off with his new woman. Finn and Taylor are having problems as Taylor is a high maintenance wife who has changed dramatically since having Snow. Finn is a laid back, hands off dad who thinks Taylor just needs to lighten up a bit.
Things get very interesting when Michael's plan goes awry when something unexpected happens while the group is in Siracusa.
When I started this book, I just was not into it at all. For some reason the story and the characters just were not grabbing me. I found the pace a bit slow, the idea a bit far fetched, and it just wasn't working for me.
Boy was I wrong! About a quarter way through the book, even before the group hits Siracusa something clicked. I found myself tearing through the book and became resistant to finishing it even though I wanted to find out what happened. The ending was one that I did not see coming at all.
The whole book is told from alternating points of view immediately after another character finishes speaking. Dialog overlaps in each chapter as we get into the head of the other person. While one character may feel he/she has successfully tricked another character, we read in the very next chapter that it not only hasn't tricked, but has made the other more suspicious, for example. It was a great way to tell this story.
I really wound up loving this one as it is not only a great mystery, but also a look at what really happens within relationships. Ephron plays with the characters well, so they remain believable even as they bumble a bit. I will admit it is hard to like these four people as they are all flawed, but the story holds them together.
I gave this one 4 stars.
Siracusa is the story of 4 friends- Michael and Lizzie (M is a famous writer and L is a non working journalist) and Finn and Taylor with their daughter Snow. The five travel to Siracusa to rekindle relationships, grow their friendship, and to see Italy.
Michael has a plan though. He is cheating on Lizzie with a young 20 year old waitress. His plan is to get Lizzie to sleep with Finn, as they were once young lovers, so he can divorce Lizzie and run off with his new woman. Finn and Taylor are having problems as Taylor is a high maintenance wife who has changed dramatically since having Snow. Finn is a laid back, hands off dad who thinks Taylor just needs to lighten up a bit.
Things get very interesting when Michael's plan goes awry when something unexpected happens while the group is in Siracusa.
When I started this book, I just was not into it at all. For some reason the story and the characters just were not grabbing me. I found the pace a bit slow, the idea a bit far fetched, and it just wasn't working for me.
Boy was I wrong! About a quarter way through the book, even before the group hits Siracusa something clicked. I found myself tearing through the book and became resistant to finishing it even though I wanted to find out what happened. The ending was one that I did not see coming at all.
The whole book is told from alternating points of view immediately after another character finishes speaking. Dialog overlaps in each chapter as we get into the head of the other person. While one character may feel he/she has successfully tricked another character, we read in the very next chapter that it not only hasn't tricked, but has made the other more suspicious, for example. It was a great way to tell this story.
I really wound up loving this one as it is not only a great mystery, but also a look at what really happens within relationships. Ephron plays with the characters well, so they remain believable even as they bumble a bit. I will admit it is hard to like these four people as they are all flawed, but the story holds them together.
I gave this one 4 stars.