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mayankshah's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
It is entirely possible that I just don't get "it", whatever "it" is supposed to be. But it's rare for me to dislike any book and this has got to be included as one of the ones I've enjoyed reading the least.
The premise of the book is strong and shows potential but I just found the writing and the characters to be incredible weak and fake. I did not get any sense of character from anyone in the story, not even the protagonist. I could not fathom any relationships that supposedly exist in the protagonist's world because no effort went into making them real. And hence the premise of the book is immediately weakened.
I also have a massive gripe with the journey the protagonist went through in that it made no sense to me at all. I don't understand where the ending of the book came from, how the protagonist got to that conclusion or why anything happened.
Speaking of that ending, I feel like the author wrote this entire book quite simply to write the ending as a piece of almost religious ideology. I felt like I was in church and was being told the virtues of Love with a capital L, without being sure how I ever got there. I did not enjoy the religious aspect of the book or the style of writing, which is weird because I have enjoyed this author's books before.
I'm sure there are people out there who would enjoy this book and I hope my copy finds them eventually because I will be giving it straight back to the charity shop I bought it from!
The premise of the book is strong and shows potential but I just found the writing and the characters to be incredible weak and fake. I did not get any sense of character from anyone in the story, not even the protagonist. I could not fathom any relationships that supposedly exist in the protagonist's world because no effort went into making them real. And hence the premise of the book is immediately weakened.
I also have a massive gripe with the journey the protagonist went through in that it made no sense to me at all. I don't understand where the ending of the book came from, how the protagonist got to that conclusion or why anything happened.
Speaking of that ending, I feel like the author wrote this entire book quite simply to write the ending as a piece of almost religious ideology. I felt like I was in church and was being told the virtues of Love with a capital L, without being sure how I ever got there. I did not enjoy the religious aspect of the book or the style of writing, which is weird because I have enjoyed this author's books before.
I'm sure there are people out there who would enjoy this book and I hope my copy finds them eventually because I will be giving it straight back to the charity shop I bought it from!
leisap67's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I don’t think I’ve ever hated a main protagonist more. What a whiny, privileged woman! She had everything!
heikieesmaa's review against another edition
1.0
Abstraktsioonina ma isegi suudaksin ette kujutada, et afäär võimaldab kuidagi puhastuda või armastama õppida. See raamat aga jääb äärmiselt väheveenvaks, on algusest lõpuni igav lugemine. Minategelase depressiooniga on igavus ehk isegi õigustatud, kunstilisest küljest on lõpplahendus aga täiesti banaalne ja mitterahuldav. Tasub lugeda pigem esimest korintlaste kirja ennast, see käkk küll tsiteerib kirja korduvalt kuid skemaatiliselt ning ilma sisendusjõuta.
ladygodivas's review against another edition
2.0
all i wanna say is that this book was preachy and pretentious as fuck. but i enjoyed some of it. coelho can really write, i admit that. but good writing and a bad plot can result to a mediocre book.
it took great effort to finish reading this book because the protagonist is so dislikable. she is so irritating. i couldn’t stand her and her narrative. jesus, she was a bitch.
the only reason im giving this two stars and not one is because of the writing. that’s all.
don’t read this book lmao.
it took great effort to finish reading this book because the protagonist is so dislikable. she is so irritating. i couldn’t stand her and her narrative. jesus, she was a bitch.
the only reason im giving this two stars and not one is because of the writing. that’s all.
don’t read this book lmao.
codergrl's review against another edition
1.0
Not my typical style, but it was recommended by someone, so I thought of giving it a go. Ugh, barely made it through about 15%. The main character is a rich woman who has everything, yet her life is just a boring family life, no excitement. And what does she do about it? She whines, and whines and and then whines some more and that's as far as I made it before I couldn't take it anymore.
Spoiler
gives an ex boyfriend a blow jobnovelette's review against another edition
2.0
I felt like I was reading a Lifetime true crime movie
toruokada's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
katykelly's review against another edition
2.0
Really disappointed with this. The Alchemist I found beautiful, Veronika decides to die very well written. I knew within a few pages of starting this that it was not a book of beauty or joy. It's not a bad thing when writers explore different genres, writing styles, techniques. But if they aren't very interesting - what's the point?
Adultery has been written about by many, but I don't think this adds anything to the genre.
A rich, successful woman (with loving husband, wonderful children, big house, good job) in Geneva is bored with her life. She knows she shouldn't be. An old boyfriend, now a rising politician appears on her horizon and the excitement of a possible affair works its usual tricks.
Of course, he's married. And to a very clever and scheming wife who suspects. Will Linda risk her comfortable life for the thrill of her passion?
You can't pour any empathy into Linda. She's well-off, secure - do we really care if she's depressed? There's ridiculous amounts of wallowing soul-searching and introspection, not even very well-written. It felt like it was taken from one of my undergraduate textbooks on depression and cognitive psychology. I think I would have preferred Jacob's wife as narrator, she's much more interesting.
The sex is terrible, and I mean that in both senses. It is both not erotic and also highly misogynistic, it's not sexy or funny or playful. It's not passionate or beautiful. It's sordid and icky. So you can't see any good reason for her to want to continue the affair.
I only finished this because it's a short read and I wanted to see if it got any better. And I really wished I'd saved my time for something worth reading, because it didn't. Cliches, more soul-searching, unrealistic speeches between husband and wife, nothing much happens.
But see what you think. Just don't expect The Alchemist.
Review of a Netgalley advance e-copy.
Adultery has been written about by many, but I don't think this adds anything to the genre.
A rich, successful woman (with loving husband, wonderful children, big house, good job) in Geneva is bored with her life. She knows she shouldn't be. An old boyfriend, now a rising politician appears on her horizon and the excitement of a possible affair works its usual tricks.
Of course, he's married. And to a very clever and scheming wife who suspects. Will Linda risk her comfortable life for the thrill of her passion?
You can't pour any empathy into Linda. She's well-off, secure - do we really care if she's depressed? There's ridiculous amounts of wallowing soul-searching and introspection, not even very well-written. It felt like it was taken from one of my undergraduate textbooks on depression and cognitive psychology. I think I would have preferred Jacob's wife as narrator, she's much more interesting.
The sex is terrible, and I mean that in both senses. It is both not erotic and also highly misogynistic, it's not sexy or funny or playful. It's not passionate or beautiful. It's sordid and icky. So you can't see any good reason for her to want to continue the affair.
I only finished this because it's a short read and I wanted to see if it got any better. And I really wished I'd saved my time for something worth reading, because it didn't. Cliches, more soul-searching, unrealistic speeches between husband and wife, nothing much happens.
But see what you think. Just don't expect The Alchemist.
Review of a Netgalley advance e-copy.
lo_a's review against another edition
It is so bad this book. I don't understand where is Coelho in it. The only book has his name but not his charm or style. I managed to reach page 71 out of 168 but I can't read it further. I am dropping it totally.