Reviews

Mrs Karen Stone, a faded American actress is adrift in life.

She gave up her career after a disastrous experience playing Juliet, her ridiculous husband, with whom she had a mother-son relationship died two years ago and to top it all, she's nothing but a shadow of her former self.

Well in her fifties, she can't accept the reality she's old now, the beauty which was once a shield and a means to gain power, fame and privilege, gone.

She is currently living in Rome, wandering around spending her late husband's fortune and socializing with shallow, insipid creatures worse than herself, while trying to come to terms with her reality.

So it is that she meets and falls prey to Paolo, a cruel, vain 30 years younger gigolo, who cares about nothing but how others, be it male or female, will provide for him.

This is an enjoyable enough read, since the writing is quite good, but I can't say I truly liked it, since I didn't really care about the characters or the plot in general.

I'm sure this author must have better works.

smel123's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I enjoyed this. I haven't read any Tennessee Williams other than Streetcar so it was nice to read one of this novels. The writing is beautiful and the characterisation is pretty incredible. However, it was only a very short book so I don't feel there was enough time to fully explore all the characters. Definitely found Mrs Stone very similar to Blanche's character in Streetcar.

literarilysmitten's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nadoislandgirl's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Oh my. What a sad tale this was.

secondhusk's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I was reading this at the same time as I was watching Season 2 of "Fleabag," and I realized they're two of the only instances in fiction I have come across where menopause is discussed at length and in reference to a woman's own desire and agency. Anyway. Like all Tennessee Williams, this book is voluptuously written and existentially terrifying.

kirils's review

Go to review page

reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

More...