Scan barcode
utahmomreads's review against another edition
3.0
This book was sent to me as a pre-release. I wanted to love it. And in fact, there were several things about it that I really liked. The writing is fresh, witty and often biting. The characters and the setting are well developed and unique. Fitten has a wonderful insight into human nature. The story is interesting and whimsical.
That being said, I was unimpressed by the vulgar language.
That being said, I was unimpressed by the vulgar language.
blbdennis's review against another edition
1.0
This book was billed as a late in life love story. The characters were under developed, lacked. substance and were hard to engage with, the thing I liked most about this book was the cover art work. Halfway through the book I realized I was still waiting for the book to go somewhere or get better. I found I could not relate to any of the conniving, cantankerous or down right mean characters. I recommend admiring the jacket cover and then moving along. In fairness. I did not finish this book. It may half an amazing second half.
smitchy's review against another edition
4.0
A good quick read. Read it in about 6 hours I liked the characters and the story moves along well. It could have been set in any number of small towns in any number of countries but the author clearly knew some of Hungry's history. Every person was trying to create a connection and a legacy weather they were aware of it or not
pifferdiff's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars - feisty, grumpy, but lovable characters - a quick and enjoyable read.
janecarrington's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
- 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
3.0
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
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.