A Story of Relationship

I must admit that this story starts slow but I encourage you to persevere as it develops into a beautiful and devastating story of the life of a relationship. It demonstrates how the ghosts of one's past can linger in sinister ways that disrupt one's true intention to be their best self. Some of the characters you will love and others are more complicated and difficult to understand. in the end though, it demonstrates how relationships require continuous work both individually and as a couple. This is not a book of happy endings and romance but rather, a realistic analysis of the parts we chose to share and what we keep hidden.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

Disturbing and truthful

This episodic story of a marriage and by default a family fascinated me. The ending was both crushing and very, very real. The seminal episode in a life, as is so often the case, is only seen as such gradually, and its inevitable collateral damage is painful to witness. Still, beautifully written and characters that seem undeveloped at the start organically gain substance over the course of the book. A psychological study that never reads like one, I’d recommend this book highly.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

Wonderful

It took me a bit to get into it but it wasn’t long before I was hooked.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Lovely read

I really enjoyed this. Not a genre I generally read but very nice even if it did get melancholy near the end. Very interesting how the characters & personalities form and change, contrast with the perceptions of those surrounding them.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Didn't really enjoy it 2&1/2

I am not sure if I would have preferred to maybe read this one. I didn't particularly care for the narration, dialogue was done well, but did not like her approach to the narrative. At times seemed one long sentence.
I was bored at times, and just when I decided I would give it a chance and then could engage with the characters a bit, they would shortly thereafter become either annoying, abrasive, overly passive, or just unlikable.
I had to finish it however, which I don't always do, so it wasn't terrible.
If you have had this book recommended, I would say read, don't listen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Not worth it...

It was very boring. There was no “event”’or problem in the book. It can be summed up in the following: Exciting WWII love story...then they grow old...live life...become grumpy...and die...

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Dismal story

I always complete a book. This one had a promising beginning but in the end I couldn’t wait for it to be over. Dismal characters and a dismal story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

If I could rate this a zero, I would.

Got this book based on the positive reviews I read. Now having read it, I really don’t what these other readers saw in this book. Horrible narration. Couldn’t stand the thick English accent especially the screeching of the main character, the harpy Evelyn, and the attempt at a Polish accent was laughable. Fortunately that part was short. The story was rife with details that I found to be inconsequential to the overall narrative. More character development would have been preferred so that maybe the reader could care somewhat about what made this horrible person Evelyn tick. Just glad it’s over.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Ethel and Ernest, but sad

A little disappointing. It’s just the predictable
Story of one life.. good if you like stories with war in them? Maybe?

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!