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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
An interesting tour of the landscape and history of Bulgaria, but more action/adventure than I expected.
Couldn't finish. I really, really, really, like really wanted to love this book. I, like many other reviewers, loved the Historian. I'd put it in my top five all time faves. Didn't love Kostova's follow up novel, The Swan Thieves, but saw the summary of this book and immediately ordered.
Unfortunately I could not get invested in the character or her motives. The writing was nice, the scenery description is detailed and evocative, but the characters and story didn't grab me at all. Spook factor was zero, despite attempts of the author to set a menacing tone.
There's too many other books I want to read in my lifetime, so, I bid this book adieu and wish it well on future travels.
Unfortunately I could not get invested in the character or her motives. The writing was nice, the scenery description is detailed and evocative, but the characters and story didn't grab me at all. Spook factor was zero, despite attempts of the author to set a menacing tone.
There's too many other books I want to read in my lifetime, so, I bid this book adieu and wish it well on future travels.
I thought I really loved The Historian and The Swan Thieves, but this time Kostova grabbed my heart and didn't let go, in addition to making me want to visit and to learn more about Bulgaria, its people, and its history. I appreciated yet another exotic journey!
This is an amazing book. The realism of the forced labors camps made those parts hard for me to read, even as I kept imagining that the horrors of the reality were much worse. The characters were real, and fully formed. If you're a fan of historical fiction and curious about more recent war times, you'll love this.
“‘If you grow up here, you know this is the most beautiful country in the world, even when you sometimes hate things about it. But we have these memories of how we were shut away from the world and forced against each other. It happened very quickly, once it started....If we accept the wrong government, it could happen again,’”. (Asparuh - p. 189).
This book unfolds and unfolds. It is many things, and will mean many things depending on who reads it. Even as it was coming to a close there were surprises that left me so gratified.
This book unfolds and unfolds. It is many things, and will mean many things depending on who reads it. Even as it was coming to a close there were surprises that left me so gratified.
31% finished and I'm bored out of my mind..I quit. I may or may not come back. Well written, just too slow for me.
The book wasn't bad enough to quit but there were so many things that had me skimming through to get to the end. The book starts very slowly and reminded me of Ishiguro's Unconsoled, which I don't think is a good thing. Then the book turns into a WWII Auschewitz-type story. The author has a bad case of flipping between scenes without giving you enough to hold onto - to care about what is currently happening. And then a lot of suspension of disbelief.
I loved the Historian. I hated the Swan Thieves. I thought this one would be better. Nope. Not going to do Kostova. ever. again.
I loved the Historian. I hated the Swan Thieves. I thought this one would be better. Nope. Not going to do Kostova. ever. again.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt like the first half of the book went around in circles as the characters traipsed all over the place, but the second half picked up dramatically~ in both storylines~ and shared a compelling history unknown to so many of us.
I'm an enormous fan of Elizabeth Kostova and with this third novel she did not let me down! This book was intense and captivating while being touching and heart wrenching as well. There were some aspects that I found not as well rounded as her previous two novels, some of the twists and turns left me feeling frustrated like the characters weren't getting anywhere (I think the characters were frustrated too). Overall this was a very thoughtful book and clearly a lot of love and effort were used in its creation.
A great intertwining of history and the present it shares an important narrative that is too often ignored. If you want a compelling read that also yanks your heart out pick this book up right now! I can't wait for Kostova to write more!
A great intertwining of history and the present it shares an important narrative that is too often ignored. If you want a compelling read that also yanks your heart out pick this book up right now! I can't wait for Kostova to write more!