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jaclyncrupi's review against another edition
3.0
I haven’t been so riveted and so bored by the same book ever before. I loved all the 1950s Italy sections surrounded by Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote but it meant that all other sections felt lacklustre. I loved the characterisation of Frank Merlo and really only wanted his thread of this story – the overlooked outsider looking in to a glamorous literary world is always the perspective I will be drawn to.
jvjvjvjv_'s review against another edition
really wanted to love, really just didn’t. a bit slow and emotional
frostyred's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
niionatan01's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the chapter that was written like a screenplay was my favourite part of this story and i really wished the author utilised that more
carlybarly6's review against another edition
2.0
Told from Frank Merlo’s death bed, this story goes back in time to his summer spent in Italy with his longtime love, Tennessee Williams. With allusions to famous names like Truman Capote, along with the intriguing seesaw that rises and falls between historical fact and fiction, I was hopeful that I would be entertained by this story while also adoring of the characters. Sadly, it was neither of those for me as the characters come across as boring and the relationships flat. Without much character development one would hope that the storyline would compensate with eventfulness or poignant arches, but that isn’t the case either, and so, I stopped this partway through.
mcrowey's review against another edition
3.0
Easy, great read. I didn't know what I had picked up when I started this book and pleasantly dove into an interesting and complex character who drew you in right away. I didn't adore all of the different storylines, but I found it a decent enough read to cruise through it in two days.
ashleysmilne's review against another edition
2.0
that star rating is maybe overly harsh because this had flashes of brilliance and there were a few sections and moments that totally floored me and it is, really, the sort of thing i should love, but i just found it a bit oddly delivered and hard to get through
rd_pires's review against another edition
3.0
Castellani's writing is beautiful; elegant and poetic without ever feeling forced or pretentious.
The problem is, there's just too much of it.
I like to think that I'm a pretty good reader when it comes to attention span. I've read mammoth novels without losing interest. But leading men is teeming with overlong passages where the narrator would go on such large digressions that I would lose track of what was actually being said. This is a 360-page tale that could've easily shed a quarter of its weight without losing character.
I really wanted to like it more; when it was good--especially in the intimate scenes that really focused in on the character interactions--it was really good. Unfortunately, there were too many long-winded passages largely about nothing to elevate it beyond a 3/5 stars.
The problem is, there's just too much of it.
I like to think that I'm a pretty good reader when it comes to attention span. I've read mammoth novels without losing interest. But leading men is teeming with overlong passages where the narrator would go on such large digressions that I would lose track of what was actually being said. This is a 360-page tale that could've easily shed a quarter of its weight without losing character.
I really wanted to like it more; when it was good--especially in the intimate scenes that really focused in on the character interactions--it was really good. Unfortunately, there were too many long-winded passages largely about nothing to elevate it beyond a 3/5 stars.
groadie's review against another edition
Just wasn't vibing! I didn't really like the setting, which is a weird reason to dnf, but there you go!
quinndm's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I cannot review because it is a book that stole my heart from the very first page. It was love at first sight! And, as I turned each page, I fell deeper and harder. Reading this was my literary equivalent of a honeymoon. And today, the day after I finished it, I am already yearning to be back to that world and swim through those pages with all those characters who helped set a new precedent for my favorite books.
But the biggest blessing of this beautiful book is that it motivated and inspired me to work on my own writing more so that, one day, I can hope to create something this wonderful. Christopher Castellani is a master of the written word, and his style and structure are how I can only dream of writing one day.
(Reading his brief history on the origins of this book was the perfect way to end this already perfect book.)
But the biggest blessing of this beautiful book is that it motivated and inspired me to work on my own writing more so that, one day, I can hope to create something this wonderful. Christopher Castellani is a master of the written word, and his style and structure are how I can only dream of writing one day.
(Reading his brief history on the origins of this book was the perfect way to end this already perfect book.)