georgemayhew's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fionadinw's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bunceyyy's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this title.
First off, I think this book probably fared badly considering my headspace and the state the world is in at the moment. My first quarantine-read was never going to be brilliant. Additionally, I’m not very familiar with this period of history, and the real-life characters that populate the book. Added to that I was reading it on a Kindle - meaning I couldn’t flick back to check where they had first appeared - and the lack of backstory that each character suffered from, this fell rather flat for me. I didn’t engage with any of the characters, and found myself skipping over parts where I couldn’t identify what was happening, or to whom. This resulted in a disappointing reading experience, where the setting occasionally shone through, but the plot fell apart/never really began. I may revisit this in a few years, with a physical copy, and update my views then.
First off, I think this book probably fared badly considering my headspace and the state the world is in at the moment. My first quarantine-read was never going to be brilliant. Additionally, I’m not very familiar with this period of history, and the real-life characters that populate the book. Added to that I was reading it on a Kindle - meaning I couldn’t flick back to check where they had first appeared - and the lack of backstory that each character suffered from, this fell rather flat for me. I didn’t engage with any of the characters, and found myself skipping over parts where I couldn’t identify what was happening, or to whom. This resulted in a disappointing reading experience, where the setting occasionally shone through, but the plot fell apart/never really began. I may revisit this in a few years, with a physical copy, and update my views then.
rali03's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bkier's review against another edition
3.0
I prefer her lyric writing to her book. Story didn't move fast enough for me - seemed to drag out.
canadiantiquarian's review against another edition
2.0
Polly Samson went to Hydra, became intrigued about the small creative expat group living there in 1960, and used the piles of writing, photography, and music from these people as the blueprint for her fiction. Soon, she added a fictional protagonist, Erica, to see this world through, and it is clear that her heroine isn't her focus or interest, which is the death of the book.
As Erica avoids dealing with her own life in service of her curiosity about the lives and loves of those around her, Samson avoid most plot and characterization in order to play pretend in a lost world. Like her protagonist, Samson's writing runs from her fiction, often abruptly stopping short as her meagre plot plays out, choosing instead to share pieces in future gossip, as other lives take centre stage.
And if they don't care much about the fiction shrouding the truth, why should we?
As Erica avoids dealing with her own life in service of her curiosity about the lives and loves of those around her, Samson avoid most plot and characterization in order to play pretend in a lost world. Like her protagonist, Samson's writing runs from her fiction, often abruptly stopping short as her meagre plot plays out, choosing instead to share pieces in future gossip, as other lives take centre stage.
And if they don't care much about the fiction shrouding the truth, why should we?
fates_fables_golem's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I think I would like this more if it wasn’t an audio book. Although the author narrated it her self.
I hadn’t know it was a mix of fiction and non fiction but then I don’t really read synopses when I use Libby.
I couldn’t follow all the characters but it’s certainly beautiful.
I hadn’t know it was a mix of fiction and non fiction but then I don’t really read synopses when I use Libby.
I couldn’t follow all the characters but it’s certainly beautiful.
asuitablereader's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.5