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I read this book as an experiment to finally try and understand the appeal of these books.
I do see it in a way, it's a fast read that you don't have to think too much about; the story is laid out in a very simple way, and key details are repeated often. The characters are very clear-cut, with no grey morality. Everything is meant to be taken at face value, and there is no real deeper meaning in it.
Having said that, there were a lot of issues I had with this book.
The main one is the aspects of Italian culture that were depicted. Trastevere is described as bohemian, and that really pulled me out of the story as someone raised in Rome. I was also hesitant to continue when the mother's name was spelt as Tizianna rather than Tiziana, the real Italian name.
My other gripe is the fashion side of it. I was promised a look at "the cut-throat world of italian fashion." I got anything but that. All I had was a brief, uninspired glance at what some parts of the business side look like. Any details about the actual bags the Saverios design is left to your imagination, but this is a weak choice, and the book would've benefited from more research on the matter.
Then there is Allegra. I wish I could adopt her as a character. She doesn't deserve to be in this novel. She is a brilliant, enthusiastic, creative girl who uses a wheelchair. Everyone she comes into contact with loves her, yet they all comment on how she "doesn't let her wheelchair slow her down" and how she's never had a serious boyfriend because "a wife with a serious spinal injury is a real undertaking" and "a wheelchair weeds out the good men from the bad". Both of these are completely false, and I can tell the author has never interacted with a disabled young person in her life. Disabled people can often be in relationships, serious long-term ones, that turn out abusive. Nearly as often we can also be in lovely, fulfilling relationships with people who care about us, but that doesn't make our partners inherent "heroes." We are desirable, AND we use mobility aids. We are not less than our able bodied partners, and we are not loved in spite of our disabilities.
In general, I wasn't a fan of the writing style. I felt like I was spoon-fed information I should've seen in action, and I couldn't bear another second of information that we spent a full chapter being shown reappear as a zombie of itself at least 5 more times throughout the following chapter. It did feel like an editor could've helped, and yet it was so part of the book that I doubt it would've been half the length.
Overall, it was alright. I didn't really enjoy the writing style, but I was interested in the characters, and I can see why this is a fun, easy read for people with nothing else to do.
I do see it in a way, it's a fast read that you don't have to think too much about; the story is laid out in a very simple way, and key details are repeated often. The characters are very clear-cut, with no grey morality. Everything is meant to be taken at face value, and there is no real deeper meaning in it.
Having said that, there were a lot of issues I had with this book.
The main one is the aspects of Italian culture that were depicted. Trastevere is described as bohemian, and that really pulled me out of the story as someone raised in Rome. I was also hesitant to continue when the mother's name was spelt as Tizianna rather than Tiziana, the real Italian name.
My other gripe is the fashion side of it. I was promised a look at "the cut-throat world of italian fashion." I got anything but that. All I had was a brief, uninspired glance at what some parts of the business side look like. Any details about the actual bags the Saverios design is left to your imagination, but this is a weak choice, and the book would've benefited from more research on the matter.
Then there is Allegra. I wish I could adopt her as a character. She doesn't deserve to be in this novel. She is a brilliant, enthusiastic, creative girl who uses a wheelchair. Everyone she comes into contact with loves her, yet they all comment on how she "doesn't let her wheelchair slow her down" and how she's never had a serious boyfriend because "a wife with a serious spinal injury is a real undertaking" and "a wheelchair weeds out the good men from the bad". Both of these are completely false, and I can tell the author has never interacted with a disabled young person in her life. Disabled people can often be in relationships, serious long-term ones, that turn out abusive. Nearly as often we can also be in lovely, fulfilling relationships with people who care about us, but that doesn't make our partners inherent "heroes." We are desirable, AND we use mobility aids. We are not less than our able bodied partners, and we are not loved in spite of our disabilities.
In general, I wasn't a fan of the writing style. I felt like I was spoon-fed information I should've seen in action, and I couldn't bear another second of information that we spent a full chapter being shown reappear as a zombie of itself at least 5 more times throughout the following chapter. It did feel like an editor could've helped, and yet it was so part of the book that I doubt it would've been half the length.
Overall, it was alright. I didn't really enjoy the writing style, but I was interested in the characters, and I can see why this is a fun, easy read for people with nothing else to do.