Scan barcode
A review by mazza57
Lost in the Spanish Quarter by Heddi Goodrich
1.0
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is Goodrich's debut novel and seems at least to be Semi autobiographical or else she has simplybeen precocious enough to name her MC after herself. She does create a really good image of Naples, its architecture and its residents Told in both narrative and epistolary emails the latter did at least break up the ennui of the former.
It is said that novels that create strong reactions are those that you remember for a long time. This may be true but not necessarily for the right reasons. This novel is like being in your flat listening to someone upstairs playing the same record for the nth time - a record you don't hat but don't particularly like either. The narrative is repetitive over and over Heddi is let down by the inability of Pietre to commit, to break away from his family, to actually do something. The characters are lifeless and unlikeable. I find little in the novel to make me think i would read something else from this author.
It is said that novels that create strong reactions are those that you remember for a long time. This may be true but not necessarily for the right reasons. This novel is like being in your flat listening to someone upstairs playing the same record for the nth time - a record you don't hat but don't particularly like either. The narrative is repetitive over and over Heddi is let down by the inability of Pietre to commit, to break away from his family, to actually do something. The characters are lifeless and unlikeable. I find little in the novel to make me think i would read something else from this author.