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tracey_stewart's review against another edition
3.0
This was an impulse buy at a library sale - gorgeous jacket, a story that sounded fun, worth a shot. And it was fun. Mostly.
The Valeria of the title is a woman in her 60's who one day, while pursuing her usual self-imposed quality-control patrol in the village market, falls in love at not-exactly-first sight. She has long been renowned as the village's bitterest, crankiest soul, and now love - or at least lust - brings an unexpected softening. But love's path is not smooth: the long-widowed potter (whose name slips my mind - and apparently everyone else's, as I haven't found a review that names him yet) is already engaged in a fling with the tavern-keeper, Ibolya, who is not going to let him go easily - and then into town comes the chimney-sweep, and that's a whole new situation.
It's a slight story, following the temptations and petty revenges of a group of older folk with an attention and lack of "aren't they cute at that age" that doesn't seem to be very common. If categorization is wished for, I believe this book's category would be magical realism; I've seen comparisons out there, and mine would be to Like Water for Chocolate, without the food.
I enjoyed the tale of the elderly spinster in love. I enjoyed the angle of the village trying to both maintain its identity and claw its way into the mainstream. The characters, while almost universally mostly-unsympathetic (the potter being the main exception), were well-drawn and well-rounded. But I never warmed up to the book, and the ending left me with a small knot in my stomach. Not a future re-read, I don't think.
(A more spoilerific review will be going up on my blog.)
The Valeria of the title is a woman in her 60's who one day, while pursuing her usual self-imposed quality-control patrol in the village market, falls in love at not-exactly-first sight. She has long been renowned as the village's bitterest, crankiest soul, and now love - or at least lust - brings an unexpected softening. But love's path is not smooth: the long-widowed potter (whose name slips my mind - and apparently everyone else's, as I haven't found a review that names him yet) is already engaged in a fling with the tavern-keeper, Ibolya, who is not going to let him go easily - and then into town comes the chimney-sweep, and that's a whole new situation.
It's a slight story, following the temptations and petty revenges of a group of older folk with an attention and lack of "aren't they cute at that age" that doesn't seem to be very common. If categorization is wished for, I believe this book's category would be magical realism; I've seen comparisons out there, and mine would be to Like Water for Chocolate, without the food.
I enjoyed the tale of the elderly spinster in love. I enjoyed the angle of the village trying to both maintain its identity and claw its way into the mainstream. The characters, while almost universally mostly-unsympathetic (the potter being the main exception), were well-drawn and well-rounded. But I never warmed up to the book, and the ending left me with a small knot in my stomach. Not a future re-read, I don't think.
(A more spoilerific review will be going up on my blog.)
kketelaar's review against another edition
3.0
I recently realized I have been giving four stars to most of the books I've scanned-so for the sake of hierarchy I am only giving "Valeria" three stars, even though it was an enjoyable read.
siria's review against another edition
3.0
This is a charming little bookâthere's nothing ground-breaking about it, but it was still an enjoyable read. Set in a forgotten village in Hungary just after the fall of Communism, Valeria's Last Stand is a story about a bawdy, light-hearted love rectangle between four older people. For those of you UK/Irish out there, it reminded me quite a bit of Last of the Summer Wine, except with more explicit sexual references. Largely forgettable (though I did like the fact that the women in this book all got names, while the men were referred to only by epithets!), but fun.
marilynsaul's review against another edition
3.0
I purchased this book simply because my mom's name was Valeria and you just don't see that name often. As for the book, it was a delightful look into a small village that had been overlooked by the War (II), its quirky occupants, a skilled potter who finds he is an artist, a curmudgeon old woman (Valeria) who begins to live, and other artful characters. It was well written and (except for way too much time spent on the chimney sweep) a pleasant read. Nothing earth shattering. I hesitate to use the phrase "coming of age" because it inevitably refers to teen girls, but it applies here for folks in their 60s, and I found that to be refreshing.
misslezlee's review against another edition
I took this back to the library without finishing it - couldn't find anything to care about in any of the characters, the plot was unexciting and the writing dull.
mazza57's review against another edition
3.0
well none of the characters are love's young dream but in love they all are - mainly with more than one person at a time. If nothing else this book and Valeria in particular proves the adage - its a woman's perogative to change her mind
lacrossegal18's review against another edition
5.0
Read it for a book club, like so many others said, didn't know what i was getting into or what i was going to get from it. Turned out to be a page turner and the closer you get to the end of the book the harder it becomes to put the book down. I am throughly pleased with it
leighnonymous's review against another edition
5.0
This book's charm follows in the same vein as the Helen Mirren movie, "Calendar Girls." A quirky, older, lovably stubborn woman has her life swept up by change in a place seemingly untouched by time. Although the story's setting is Hungary, I could almost see an intractable Maggie Smith defiantly belting out some of Valeria's lines. This is what I refer to as a "Little Old British Lady Story." And this is at the top of the genre.
Fitten effectively creates an entire town steeped in superstition about progress and chimney sweeps. The three main characters in the love triangle (Valeria, the potter, and Ibolya) each have a unique way of dealing with problems life throws them and life does begin to throw them pretty hard and fast. Pottery plays a beautiful role as metaphor throughout.
What most impressed me after I finished the madcap romance was the overall message. Fitten's clever writing seamlessly works in the large and nearly unmanageable concept of Capitalism's arrival in Eastern Europe. Yes, that. He remains fair to the idea, too, giving pros and cons and then drinks all around to the townsfolk. The novel has the deceptively simple dark humor of Magnus Mills combined with the underlying philosophical intricacies of Iris Murdoch. Recommended for those who love allegorical stories and also for those who want a fun little romp of a story.
Fitten effectively creates an entire town steeped in superstition about progress and chimney sweeps. The three main characters in the love triangle (Valeria, the potter, and Ibolya) each have a unique way of dealing with problems life throws them and life does begin to throw them pretty hard and fast. Pottery plays a beautiful role as metaphor throughout.
What most impressed me after I finished the madcap romance was the overall message. Fitten's clever writing seamlessly works in the large and nearly unmanageable concept of Capitalism's arrival in Eastern Europe. Yes, that. He remains fair to the idea, too, giving pros and cons and then drinks all around to the townsfolk. The novel has the deceptively simple dark humor of Magnus Mills combined with the underlying philosophical intricacies of Iris Murdoch. Recommended for those who love allegorical stories and also for those who want a fun little romp of a story.
christythelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I entered to win a giveaway Goodreads First Reads copy of Valeria's Last Stand based primarily on the book's setting in post-Communist Hungary. The premise promised a book fresh and different from other new books out there.
Certainly, the book is a departure from my usual fare as I do not frequently read comic novels. Valeria's Last Stand is also slightly unusual in its focus: it's all about the older characters who are rediscovering lust and love and carrying on with bawdy affairs. There is a love story involving a young couple, but it's a subplot.
The first chapter placed the story in the larger context of Hungarian history; I loved that the villagers were still miffed that all of the invading World War II armies completely ignored their hamlet. There is some satire on the effects of capitalism on the traditional village, as the mayor brings in foreign company representatives and the market starts selling produce from around the globe. I had to laugh at Valeria's reaction to these new market additions:
"Valeria wasn't interested in foreign fruits and vegetables, mostly because she could not grow them, but also because of their blatant sensuality. Tropical fruits were swollen with flesh and juice. They were sticky. They were uninhibited. The first time she held a banana, Valeria was offended." p. 10
One thing I liked about Valeria's Last Stand is that I had no idea where it was going to go with the story. Valeria falls in love with the potter in the first few pages at the market, and the story rocketed from there. Unfortunately, I do not think the book fulfills the promise of its strong beginning. The chimney sweep was a nasty character who I couldn't find funny at all. Also, the climactic drunken violence - darkly comic as it was in tone - was an unwelcome turn in the story.
Valeria's Last Stand does have room for some reflective moments, especially as the older characters cast a critical eye on the life they've led up to now. They fear loneliness and obsolescence. I wouldn't say that I was 'moved' by these moments personally, but I certainly appreciated the way they grounded the story.
I would characterize my overall feelings on the book as lukewarm: I don't actively dislike it, but I wouldn't rate it as a must-read either. I think that other readers may find it more to their taste though.
Certainly, the book is a departure from my usual fare as I do not frequently read comic novels. Valeria's Last Stand is also slightly unusual in its focus: it's all about the older characters who are rediscovering lust and love and carrying on with bawdy affairs. There is a love story involving a young couple, but it's a subplot.
The first chapter placed the story in the larger context of Hungarian history; I loved that the villagers were still miffed that all of the invading World War II armies completely ignored their hamlet. There is some satire on the effects of capitalism on the traditional village, as the mayor brings in foreign company representatives and the market starts selling produce from around the globe. I had to laugh at Valeria's reaction to these new market additions:
"Valeria wasn't interested in foreign fruits and vegetables, mostly because she could not grow them, but also because of their blatant sensuality. Tropical fruits were swollen with flesh and juice. They were sticky. They were uninhibited. The first time she held a banana, Valeria was offended." p. 10
One thing I liked about Valeria's Last Stand is that I had no idea where it was going to go with the story. Valeria falls in love with the potter in the first few pages at the market, and the story rocketed from there. Unfortunately, I do not think the book fulfills the promise of its strong beginning. The chimney sweep was a nasty character who I couldn't find funny at all. Also, the climactic drunken violence - darkly comic as it was in tone - was an unwelcome turn in the story.
Valeria's Last Stand does have room for some reflective moments, especially as the older characters cast a critical eye on the life they've led up to now. They fear loneliness and obsolescence. I wouldn't say that I was 'moved' by these moments personally, but I certainly appreciated the way they grounded the story.
I would characterize my overall feelings on the book as lukewarm: I don't actively dislike it, but I wouldn't rate it as a must-read either. I think that other readers may find it more to their taste though.
lizpatanders's review against another edition
2.0
I gave this book two stars because I honestly found it okay. I thought that it could have done more of some things and less of others.
The author's writing style was, for the most part, pretty good. There were a couple of parts which I thought could have been better, but it was otherwise okay. Sometimes there would be a paragraph that was phrased really well and struck an emotional chord, but there were so few of these.
I found the plot of this novel imbalanced. The love story was more passionate than romantic, and I tend to prefer romantic, but that's personal. However, the author could have done more with the romantic aspect, and I was disappointed that he didn't give it more of a back story. I also thought that the non-romantic stuff got to be too much like a soap opera. Although in the end I thought the author made a few points about progress, small town life, and community, I didn't want to have to read about a bunch of stuff that sounded like it was from a soap opera.
If you like a passionate love story, you may enjoy this book.
The author's writing style was, for the most part, pretty good. There were a couple of parts which I thought could have been better, but it was otherwise okay. Sometimes there would be a paragraph that was phrased really well and struck an emotional chord, but there were so few of these.
I found the plot of this novel imbalanced. The love story was more passionate than romantic, and I tend to prefer romantic, but that's personal. However, the author could have done more with the romantic aspect, and I was disappointed that he didn't give it more of a back story. I also thought that the non-romantic stuff got to be too much like a soap opera. Although in the end I thought the author made a few points about progress, small town life, and community, I didn't want to have to read about a bunch of stuff that sounded like it was from a soap opera.
If you like a passionate love story, you may enjoy this book.