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ozgirl63's review against another edition
3.0
Here’s the thing. There is some lovely writing in this book, I mean, really lovely, and that is why I’m annoyed at the problems the editors should have sent back to the author for simple revision and this would have been a great book. Some beautiful plot and character construction, yes, brilliant historical facts woven through the story, and I wanted to just love those parts of it and ignore the problems: we were bashed with just a bit too many of the “superpower looks” all-meaning glances, etc., there were things that just didn’t add up. For example, throughout the book, we are shown that Elodie has learned to put a façade on her fear, to move invisible through the streets of danger, and yet when she arrives in Portofino, still with her façade in place, she is picked out by the doctor because she is the one wearing the most fear! Which is it?
And a few things were just annoying. SPOILER: Would a trained, seasoned resistance fighter who is hiding and seeking in the woods, surrounded by the enemy, miraculously find all the things needed give his love a bath, including a handy spring of fresh water, and then light a fire to heat that water? Light a fire as a signal to the enemy where they are, really? I also thought it might have been a stretch that the beloved cello would appear just a couple of months from the time of its loss, to the convenient den of the German commander in a village of little action. We have a few problems with when the baby was created and how far along she felt it “kicking,” but, most of all, the ending was really unbelievable based on what we have been told the character of the characters was! She tells him her name, he tells her his history, and then immediately they are making love on the sofa and the sister is making wedding plans. It was not believable with the characters as presented.
The final piece that was just plain wrong was when she decided to add her history to the “garden” but instead of using pages from the book that Luca gave her with his inscription, she let Angelo give her his copy to cup up instead. This removed all the power from the action and was disappointing.
And a few things were just annoying. SPOILER: Would a trained, seasoned resistance fighter who is hiding and seeking in the woods, surrounded by the enemy, miraculously find all the things needed give his love a bath, including a handy spring of fresh water, and then light a fire to heat that water? Light a fire as a signal to the enemy where they are, really? I also thought it might have been a stretch that the beloved cello would appear just a couple of months from the time of its loss, to the convenient den of the German commander in a village of little action. We have a few problems with when the baby was created and how far along she felt it “kicking,” but, most of all, the ending was really unbelievable based on what we have been told the character of the characters was! She tells him her name, he tells her his history, and then immediately they are making love on the sofa and the sister is making wedding plans. It was not believable with the characters as presented.
The final piece that was just plain wrong was when she decided to add her history to the “garden” but instead of using pages from the book that Luca gave her with his inscription, she let Angelo give her his copy to cup up instead. This removed all the power from the action and was disappointing.
ravit's review against another edition
1.0
בשונה מספרים אחרים שיצאו תחת ידיה של אליסון ריצ'מן, דוגמת "אהבה אבודה", "גן המכתבים" המספר את סיפור המחתרת האיטלקית בזמן מלחמת העולם השניה הוא גיבוב קלישאתי רדוד, אבל גם אותו, יש לומר, לא היה פשוט להניח.
juliefla's review against another edition
4.0
Reads like a simple novel but covers important subjects simultaneously.
mholles's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story of the resistance movement in Italy during WWII. Angelo Rosselli saves Elodie as she steps off the boat in Portofino after running from tragedy in Venice. She carries the secrets of her involvement and the death of her lover. Angelo has secrets of his own - his letters to his dead wife from his time in the war. Each carries their sadness until time comforts them.
orange_flower's review against another edition
slow-paced
1.0
This was the most boring shit I read in my life. Such an interesting setting and the author managed to make it about romance. AND the romance wasn't even good. Also the only thing every single woman in this book does is be weak and vulnerable and then get pregnant. I get that it's like the 1920's or whatever but come on.
crazeedi73's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book very much. Eloise with her cello spoke to my heart
rebecca_isreading's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely and moving story of love, tragedy, war, and the life that happens within and after these events. The interwoven backstory of the two characters brought together by both good and bad fortune is filled with stories of all kinds of love and bravery. A good choice for historical romance fans. E-galley provided by NetGalley.
katedalessandro's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kristaann's review against another edition
3.0
It was interesting to read about WWII from a perspective different from the usual ones. I enjoyed this book up until the ending. The timing and how it ended seemed rushed, and didn't jive too well with the rest of the book and the characters.