It's been a long time since I couldn't tear away from a book, so I loved every second of reading this one. On the other hand, I'm still not sure how I feel about open endings, I don't want to have anymore questions after finishing a book and then scour google for answers that are also ambiguous. It's not always the case, though. Overall, looooved this book, and not only because the main character resembles me in more ways than one.

Tracy Chevalier is a very frustrating author for me. I liked the first one I read (The Lady and the Unicorn), I adored the second one I read (Falling Angels) and was disappointed with the third (The Girl in the Pearl Earrings). This is the 4th, and once again, disappointed. The thing that disappoints me most is that the subject material is so rich, I can see how the book could be so good. I know nothing about the Huguenots in France and would love to read more. I love history, I love genealogy and so forth. This could have been a really great story.

Instead, one of the protagonists I really didn't care for (the modern Ella). I did like the way the author showed how it was difficult to adjust to life in small town France. The book described that well, in a way I could understand. But the character herself, I didn't much care for.

The way the magical elements were woven into the story also didn't make sense to me. I found the blue dream hokey, the hair that grew mysteriously red overnight unbelievable, and so forth. I've read a lot of books with magical elements to them so that as a plot device or aspect of the story doesn't bother me. But it didn't fit well here.

There were also lose ends that were never tied up and things that were never explained. I'm not referring to an open ended ending, which can be excellent sometimes. I'm referring to the painter that ended up being a dead end. Why was he even in the story? It did not move the plot forward or contribute in any way. It was frustrating.

Finally, the sections taking place in the 1500s were confusing and hard for me to follow. I find the French way of writing dialog difficult to read. They never sound like characters speaking in my head. I also thought there were too many names and the action was difficult to follow. I ended up confused and had to read back a few pages to get the characters straight.

Once again, highly disappointing since I love the idea behind it.

Meni lično je ovo najdraža Trejsina knjiga... Inače nisam naročiti ljubitelj njenih romana...

No-no-no.

Ma che è ‘sta roba?

Dove è la mia Chevalier?

Stavolta è tutto bocciato.

- L’Alternarsi di passato e presente mi ha infastidito: appena mi interessavo a quello che stava accadendo cambiavano i soggetti.
- Capitoli lunghissimi pieni di tizie incinte, con i capelli rossi ed i vestiti azzurri.
- Una sorta di indagine fatta alla cavolo con fortunate scoperte di Bibbie mezze bruciate recanti alberi genealogici della protagonista.
- Personaggi scialbi, poco interessanti, poco socievoli con il lettore.
- Collegamenti tra passato e presente veramente fatui.
- Scene inutili di protagoniste americane poco accattivanti che bighellonano per cittadine francesi e attirano la maldicenza della gente perché Americans.
- Parti di frasi in francese perché fa chic.
- Storie di corna a gogo.
- Cenni storici buttati a caso.
- Violenza gratuità nei confronti di donne e bambini - nei capitoli del “passato”. Di solito non mi danno fastidio così tanto, ma qui la narrazione è così veloce che l’iterazione di determinati temi è urticante. Violenza gratuita, proprio.
- Mancanza di pathos e intrattenimento nella narrazione (? Dove sei, Chevalier? ).


Spero solo che questo sia l’unico libro brutto scritto da questa autrice che non mi ha mai deluso - fino ad adesso.


Libro letto per la All-Over-The-World BookChallenge ✈️, paese: Francia