Helpful Score: 4
This was one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a while. There were numerous plot lines but they all reconciled themselves by the end of the book. It brought together real people and fiction characters in a real and understandable way. You can't go wrong with this book.
What do the Donner Party, Sand Point Idaho and Richard Burton all have in common? This book. A plethora of titillating characters, and a profusion of problematic events to discourage even the most tired of readers from putting this book down until late in the evening. Italy, Scotland, Idaho, Hollywood and more all play a part in this story of love and trust gone astray.
This book is written by a man, Jess is male. I did check just to make sure. So a book written by a man, about men, but not really intended to be read by men, as in some adventure or espionage book.
The author, Jess Walter, is a talented and often profound writer. The main characters do have some deep epiphanies. All the main characters eccept Claire are male. The female characters are secondary.
It really just wasnt a book for me. We have what I consider our main character Pasquale, He lives in a town called the port of shame. He wants to make his hotel called Adequate view, a tourist attraction with a beach and tennis court. In comes the beautiful, but dying American actress. You would think she is a main character but she is just a prop to move the other male characters around in the story. We have Richard Burton and a Movie producer, in charge of the movie Cleopatra.
The book moves back in forth in time, and does it well. I do like the choices Pasquale and the movie star make. I am very proud of them.
Another character is this American war veteran who keeps coming to the resort once a year to write a novel about his war experiences. Bent is his last name. Add another man Patrick Bent, who has all kinds of substance abuse issues, and life issues. Claire is Deens assistant, and is looking for some answers in life. Eventually It all comes together.
I think the problem is I wasnt sure I care enough for it come all together. I had not needed to mail this out for a swap, I would have put this book down. I do wonder if anyone else struggled with the book and just gave up? I would say this book isnt for everyone, and it is a struggle cause the main characters are these men, who are disjointed, confused men, and then sometimes deep, which is again confusing.
The author, Jess Walter, is a talented and often profound writer. The main characters do have some deep epiphanies. All the main characters eccept Claire are male. The female characters are secondary.
It really just wasnt a book for me. We have what I consider our main character Pasquale, He lives in a town called the port of shame. He wants to make his hotel called Adequate view, a tourist attraction with a beach and tennis court. In comes the beautiful, but dying American actress. You would think she is a main character but she is just a prop to move the other male characters around in the story. We have Richard Burton and a Movie producer, in charge of the movie Cleopatra.
The book moves back in forth in time, and does it well. I do like the choices Pasquale and the movie star make. I am very proud of them.
Another character is this American war veteran who keeps coming to the resort once a year to write a novel about his war experiences. Bent is his last name. Add another man Patrick Bent, who has all kinds of substance abuse issues, and life issues. Claire is Deens assistant, and is looking for some answers in life. Eventually It all comes together.
I think the problem is I wasnt sure I care enough for it come all together. I had not needed to mail this out for a swap, I would have put this book down. I do wonder if anyone else struggled with the book and just gave up? I would say this book isnt for everyone, and it is a struggle cause the main characters are these men, who are disjointed, confused men, and then sometimes deep, which is again confusing.
