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Un lungo, fatale inseguimento d'amore by Silvano Ambrogi, Louisa May Alcott, Maria Eugenia Morin
syn1106's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i get why they say this book is too sensational during the author lifetime. Its kinda jaw dropping for this era, let alone back then.
lingualibri's review against another edition
5.0
Reading Prompt: A book published posthumously
WOW. The *drama*. THE DRAMA!!!
Louisa May Alcott wrote this story as a response to the request of publisher James R. Elliott, who wanted a twenty-four-chapter novel in which every other chapter would be so "absorbingly interesting that the reader would be impatient for the next".
Alcott understood the assignment.
Unfortunately, she performed the assignment *too* well, and the publisher rejected it as being "too sensational," which was apparently a problem in 1866. In this current era, however, psychological thrillers and stalker stories are disturbingly popular. "A Long Fatal Love Chase" became a New York Times bestseller after it was published (posthumously of course) in 1995.
I'm not typically attracted to stories about stalkers or obsessives, but this one got me. Rosamond Vivian is such a dynamic character: sweet and naïve, yet determined and defiant. Tender, but brave. Meanwhile, Phillip Tempest is an incredibly believable villain, even by today's standards. He is relentless, egotistical, and lacks any form of empathy. Narcissism has clearly not changed in the past couple of centuries.
I won't share any true spoilers here, but I will make three specific notes regarding my feelings about the story:
1.) If half stars were an option, I'd probably have given it a 4.5 (but it is what it is, so I rounded up). I think the only thing lacking here is a more significant tie between Rosamond and Marion. I would have liked to see them bond over something other than their past relationships. You know, Bechdel test stuff.
2.) After every other chapter, I walked in on whatever my husband was doing and yelled, "The DRAMA!!" - I truly was *not* expecting this much of a reaction out of myself.
3.) I was disappointed by the ending. Not because I didn't expect it or because it was poorly written. I had just hoped it would end differently, or that there'd be more of an epilogue.
Anyway, I highly recommend this book. I found it significantly more engaging than Little Women, though I don't expect everyone else to.
WOW. The *drama*. THE DRAMA!!!
Louisa May Alcott wrote this story as a response to the request of publisher James R. Elliott, who wanted a twenty-four-chapter novel in which every other chapter would be so "absorbingly interesting that the reader would be impatient for the next".
Alcott understood the assignment.
Unfortunately, she performed the assignment *too* well, and the publisher rejected it as being "too sensational," which was apparently a problem in 1866. In this current era, however, psychological thrillers and stalker stories are disturbingly popular. "A Long Fatal Love Chase" became a New York Times bestseller after it was published (posthumously of course) in 1995.
I'm not typically attracted to stories about stalkers or obsessives, but this one got me. Rosamond Vivian is such a dynamic character: sweet and naïve, yet determined and defiant. Tender, but brave. Meanwhile, Phillip Tempest is an incredibly believable villain, even by today's standards. He is relentless, egotistical, and lacks any form of empathy. Narcissism has clearly not changed in the past couple of centuries.
I won't share any true spoilers here, but I will make three specific notes regarding my feelings about the story:
1.) If half stars were an option, I'd probably have given it a 4.5 (but it is what it is, so I rounded up). I think the only thing lacking here is a more significant tie between Rosamond and Marion. I would have liked to see them bond over something other than their past relationships. You know, Bechdel test stuff.
2.) After every other chapter, I walked in on whatever my husband was doing and yelled, "The DRAMA!!" - I truly was *not* expecting this much of a reaction out of myself.
3.) I was disappointed by the ending. Not because I didn't expect it or because it was poorly written. I had just hoped it would end differently, or that there'd be more of an epilogue.
Anyway, I highly recommend this book. I found it significantly more engaging than Little Women, though I don't expect everyone else to.
sgklrain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have a much greater appreciation for Alcott as an author and her full scope of writing. I always enjoy a book with a big vocabulary where I get to look up new words. The ending was absolutely perfect.
mjjohn3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
nfleow's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
ladypalma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
queenlove's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite! complex and insigthful.
Be careful what you wish for.
Be careful what you wish for.
carriedoodledoo's review against another edition
2.0
This book is EVERYTHING a young Jo March would have written, and Mr. Baehr was right to criticize her for it. It is very...lurid. A great novel it is not. What it is, however, is a look into Alcott's imagination, and that by itself is pretty fun.