anavandepeer's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
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? N/A
3.25
lavendels's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
lizziethereader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
The title for this book is accurate - it really does feel like a still life (or, rather, like multiple still lives) of episodes from the main characters' lives . It's definitely a character-driven book and following the characters through their ups and downs really makes you get a feel for them and their surroundings. But as much as I enjoyed travelling to Florence of the past century, I'm unsure how memorable this book will be in the long run.
yatesanna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
kerry_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
lusidreads's review against another edition
5.0
Pure joy, love, beauty.
‘You’d want to be with them if you were down here looking up. You’d want to be part of them.’ (p.180) That’s how I felt about the book and the characters that lived on every page. I wanted a part in their loving, poetic, exuberant life.
‘You’d want to be with them if you were down here looking up. You’d want to be part of them.’ (p.180) That’s how I felt about the book and the characters that lived on every page. I wanted a part in their loving, poetic, exuberant life.
donnerbella's review against another edition
4.0
I think this caught me at the wrong time, because it is utterly charming. It's the one you should take on a summer holiday and dream of possibilities. There's no big hook, because tragedy happens slowly, almost in the background, while the grounded characters try to catch those special moments. It's british and italian, it's dreamy and real, it's steeped in tradition and happily gay. And of course, it's romantic. Not just in the sense of love, but with it's depiction of family, whether it be found, given or formed by circumstance.
Grab some friends, stay in a Tuscany villa and read this book.
Grab some friends, stay in a Tuscany villa and read this book.
kay_reads__'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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? No
5.0
𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑯𝒊𝒕: A beautifully written historical fiction novel woven through Italy post-WWII.
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: The story is as beautiful as it’s cover. And, once again, I am craving a trip to Italy. It’s becoming one of my favorite settings to read.
Still Life is a story about two people who connected during WWII around art and their journey to finding each other again. I love reading character driven stories through an extended period of time with all the history built into it, and that’s exactly what this is. As time goes on, you learn more and more about the characters. Why they are the way they are, how the current events of Florence, Europe, and the world impact their day to day life and decision making. And also, who doesn’t love a happy ending 🥰
𝑨𝒓𝒕 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑼𝒍𝒚𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔. 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑨𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒕𝒆.
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔: The story is as beautiful as it’s cover. And, once again, I am craving a trip to Italy. It’s becoming one of my favorite settings to read.
Still Life is a story about two people who connected during WWII around art and their journey to finding each other again. I love reading character driven stories through an extended period of time with all the history built into it, and that’s exactly what this is. As time goes on, you learn more and more about the characters. Why they are the way they are, how the current events of Florence, Europe, and the world impact their day to day life and decision making. And also, who doesn’t love a happy ending 🥰
𝑨𝒓𝒕 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑼𝒍𝒚𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔. 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑨𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒕𝒆.