Scan barcode
A review by fatimas_library
Isabel's Bed by Elinor Lipman
2.0
First of all, it took me a long time to finish the book. There is a quote on the cover of my edition that says "By about page ten of this novel, the reader gets a grin on his face, and that grin doesn't really stop for about a week." This cannot be any further from the truth.
I started the book in December 2016, stopped on page 60 because it was too boring for me to finish, and picked it up again in the beginning of August 2017 to try and finish what I started.
I say that it doesn't start to get interesting before at least chapter 11 or 12 (roughly, page 100 or something like that.)
Second, I absolutely didn't like how insecure and sad and (dare I say, made to sound ugly) Harriet was. I don't mind a book showing the flaws of characters as well as their qualities, but I sensed that the author focused only on certain characteristics/flaws/qualities for each of the characters. For example, Harriet was the sad, ugly one. Isabel's description focused only on showing her as an annoying, (most of the time) self-centered woman. Nothing was said about Costas other than to emphasize how rude he is.
It shows, in my opinion, a lack of creativity or maybe effort in showing the characters from more than one point of view. It's lazy and boring.
Overall, it started being mildly entertaining by the time I reached half the book, but I wouldn't read it again nor would I recommend it as a page-turner for a friend.
I started the book in December 2016, stopped on page 60 because it was too boring for me to finish, and picked it up again in the beginning of August 2017 to try and finish what I started.
I say that it doesn't start to get interesting before at least chapter 11 or 12 (roughly, page 100 or something like that.)
Second, I absolutely didn't like how insecure and sad and (dare I say, made to sound ugly) Harriet was. I don't mind a book showing the flaws of characters as well as their qualities, but I sensed that the author focused only on certain characteristics/flaws/qualities for each of the characters. For example, Harriet was the sad, ugly one. Isabel's description focused only on showing her as an annoying, (most of the time) self-centered woman. Nothing was said about Costas other than to emphasize how rude he is.
It shows, in my opinion, a lack of creativity or maybe effort in showing the characters from more than one point of view. It's lazy and boring.
Overall, it started being mildly entertaining by the time I reached half the book, but I wouldn't read it again nor would I recommend it as a page-turner for a friend.