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rdaisygal's review against another edition
4.0
I loved reading this book. It is a gripping psychological thriller, much like her more famous Rebecca. I did figure out the main gist of the plot half-way through, but it didn't detract from the novel. I enjoyed how Du Maurier manipulated the characters and exposed their weaknesses, their flaws and their anxieties.
Great book.
Great book.
juliancheltenham's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this book started off poorly; it felt silly and lightweight. Once it got going it was exceptional though. It’s a book about social division, the power of misinformation and the conditions that create Fascism. It’s a book about the allure of the dictator and the romantic, destructive, creative, appeal of Nietzsche’s superman. As is always the case with Du Maurier, the plot and the storytelling is wonderful. What makes it different to some of her other books though is that the narrative underpins truly big, dangerous, frightening ideas. Overall, I loved this book.
ventellina's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
2.5
asherstrife's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Obviously she's an amazing writer. This one was just very slow for me. It took me a really long time to get through. The pacing was just not for me.
pgorrini's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kim_e_d's review against another edition
5.0
Even if this isn't du Maurier's best novel, it still is a cut above the rest. The weight of personal history, collective memory and History collide and prompt the inevitable. Yet du Maurier keeps us on our toes by changing the reasons for the inevitable at the very last moment.
lee_foust's review against another edition
2.0
I was so pleasantly surprised by "Don't Look Now" and other Stories I snatched up this Italian-set potboiler by Du Maurier and planned to write about it for the English-language newspaper for whom I pen literary articles in Florence. Sadly, this novel left me cold. Nothing very redeeming in the way of moral or even historical wisdom--just your average potboiler. If you enjoy television and need to pass some time it's perfectly pleasant. But you'd do better to volunteer at a soup kitchen.
samcwood95's review against another edition
2.0
This book was a bit of a slog and I could have put it down and not returned at any point. The only redeeming qualities were the 1960s Italian setting, the contrast between generations who experienced WWII and those who didn't, and the dynamic between older fascist characters and younger, more Western-aligned Italians. Wouldn't recommend