lola425's review against another edition
2.0
So-so. I found Clare to be unsympathetic. All the drama was of her own creation. The secret that she had was hardly worth keeping all that time. I felt a little bit like Mathilde, the cook--exasperated and more than a little annoyed.
abbigator's review against another edition
3.0
The writing is really good and eloquent, which I feel fits the life of a diplomat. However, it kinda felt like I was reading an ongoing panic attack for like 200 pages and then when the climax (I guess happened), the resolution kind of fell off for me. I was kind of just like “okay” at the end.
dana_in_denver's review against another edition
4.0
This book "happens" in the life of a woman in one day in Paris. There are recollections to earlier times, but the book is meant to be one day. I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed this book.
courtthebookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
I truly enjoyed this book. It took me awhile to read, as I was in the middle of a few other books when I began it, but it was well-written and worth the time.
almost_me_again's review against another edition
5.0
i actually started this with low expectations, but it was actually so good. gorgeous poetic writing and actually pretty engaging. probably not a reread tbh but it was very good.
ava_catherine's review against another edition
3.0
I was disappointed in this book. I had really looked forward to reading it; then it was a complete letdown. Maybe it was just me. It is about Clare, who is preparing for a dinner party. The book consists of the events that make up her day and night. Although she did a lot of soul searching during the book, it just did not seem real to me. I just could not connect with her character.
lorraine_b's review against another edition
3.0
This story is a day in the life of Clare Moorehouse, an American wife to a British diplomat posted in Paris. On this day she is organizing a dinner with dignitaries and she is seeing to every detail to make the evening successful.
Throughout the 24-hour period we learn of Clare's life before she met her diplomat husband and how her past could jeopardize his position. We go with her through the streets of Paris on her every errand before her dinner party. When her son is suspended from his boarding school we are in her head rationalizing how she will handle explaining to her husband.
Reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway this book also dragged for me. While I/m usually one to love detail and description I felt this got bogged down with them. The main character was described to wear beige, a neutral tone and it was also in line with her rather boring personality. She lacked depth and being that she was the character that the story was focused on made this book average.
How I acquired this book: On a visit to Half Price Books with my son.
Shelf life: 8 months
Throughout the 24-hour period we learn of Clare's life before she met her diplomat husband and how her past could jeopardize his position. We go with her through the streets of Paris on her every errand before her dinner party. When her son is suspended from his boarding school we are in her head rationalizing how she will handle explaining to her husband.
Reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway this book also dragged for me. While I/m usually one to love detail and description I felt this got bogged down with them. The main character was described to wear beige, a neutral tone and it was also in line with her rather boring personality. She lacked depth and being that she was the character that the story was focused on made this book average.
How I acquired this book: On a visit to Half Price Books with my son.
Shelf life: 8 months
jesabesblog's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, I'm glad I didn't see people dislike this before reading it. Meredith from the Currently Reading podcast is fast shaping up to be my book twin and she said it was great - I agreed! I can see what people don't like. It wasn't the book I thought I was going to read. I found it really interesting, though.
la_cori's review against another edition
3.0
Quando ho iniziato la lettura di questo libro non sapevo bene cosa aspettarmi, ma le molte recensioni positive che avevo letto mi facevano ben sperare..
Non è stata una delusione completa perchè lo stile di Anne Korkeakivi mi è piaciuto molto, raffinato e elegante che ben si abbina a Parigi!
La storia però non mi ha entusiasmato.. La stessa protagonista molto spesso mi irritava. Per buona parte del romanzo ho creduto che fosse ad un passo da un crollo nervoso coi fiocchi!!
Non è stata una delusione completa perchè lo stile di Anne Korkeakivi mi è piaciuto molto, raffinato e elegante che ben si abbina a Parigi!
La storia però non mi ha entusiasmato.. La stessa protagonista molto spesso mi irritava. Per buona parte del romanzo ho creduto che fosse ad un passo da un crollo nervoso coi fiocchi!!
bwolfe718's review against another edition
4.0
See my full review on my blog dedicated to female-authored literary fiction: http://readherlikeanopenbook.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/book-review-an-unexpected-guest-by-anne-korkeakivi/
My interview with author Anne Korkeakivi is here: http://readherlikeanopenbook.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/a-conversation-with-anne-korkeakivi-about-an-unexpected-guest/
My interview with author Anne Korkeakivi is here: http://readherlikeanopenbook.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/a-conversation-with-anne-korkeakivi-about-an-unexpected-guest/