Katherine Girgenti

Sorry, I couldn't follow this one

Reviewed: 03-20-25

A lot of readers have raved about this one, though, I have to say that Kliewer lost me about halfway through. I was sensitive to the mental health struggles exhibited by Eve at the onset of the book, but didn't like the overall insinuation that she was "crazy"... then I felt crazy because I couldn't figure out what the heck was actually going on. And that was pretty much how I felt after sticking with it until the end. I kept feeling like it was all going to be cleverly revealed, but that is the problem with an unreliable narrator, you have no one to trust. So. Well. I guess that's that. But I didn't enjoy the ride.

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Heart Breaker

Reviewed: 03-20-25

SPOILERS. I will need a fun read after this one! Great characters and an engaging plot, though, I had a bit enough of the descriptions of the affair towards the middle. I fell in love with Frank and pretty much hated our main character. It was a bit difficult to feel much compassion for her. I did feel a little annoyed that making her a feminist seems to automatically make her selfish. However, like them or not, I did feel like I knew the main characters. The plot twists at the end were not entirely shocking but they made sense. Somehow, Hall was able to weave a happy-ish ending out of the mess that this woman and her lover got everyone into. So, I was happy for that. It has been a while since a book brought a tear to my eye, and this one did that a couple of times. I enjoyed it but am ready for something less harrowing!

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Depressing, triggering and tedious

Reviewed: 01-04-23

I really don’t get the point of this book and tried to get through it twice unsuccessfully. I don’t understand what those who love it see in it’s endless pages of nihilistic complacency, drug abuse and general loathing of humanity…. But seems like the readers either love it or hate it. I will group myself solidly with the later group. Sorry Ms. Moshfegh, I actually liked Eileen.

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Flat characters/ Slow story

Reviewed: 01-05-21

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so I loved the setting of the NYC library in both time periods. I enjoyed the feminist theme, though the romance was painfully predictable. I felt bad for the characters and their sad fates, but found them one dimensional. Overall the story was good, but very slow and I really had to stick to it to make it to the end. The narrator was adequate but not compelling.

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3 people found this helpful

A Joy to Listen to

Reviewed: 04-22-20

This was a fun book. I always enjoy King's characters because they are so real. I enjoy his shorter novels just because I am afraid of commitment, and this one was a perfect listen to escape the COVID19 world. Can't wait to read the next one. Thanks Mr. King! PS: The narration was great, though I always prefer the author.

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Original Story

Reviewed: 04-22-20

The protagonist in this story was a pleasant surprise. The nature of the character could have made him tedious and yet Simsion was able to make him endearing and extremely likeable. The only flaw that I found was in the secondary character of Rosie herself. I did not feel like we got to know her enough and, as a result, I felt lukewarm about her and about their love affair. However, the story was different and I enjoyed it over all. It was an interesting perspective.

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Just Okay...

Reviewed: 03-25-20

The narrator was probably the biggest reason I stuck with this listen. The characters were a little flat and the story dragged quite excruciatingly. Admittedly, I wanted Helen, or Bella or, whatever her name was to come through it all unscathed at the end. I did feel sympathy for her plight. I wish there had been a little more heat in the kitchen between her and the French chef if you know what I mean (sorry, forgot his name already). I think the entire thing was lukewarm... just like their romance.

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Great Twists and Turns!

Reviewed: 03-25-20

DID. NOT. SEE. THAT. COMING. I feel like I just got off a really cool roller coaster. I could see the twists approaching but could not see where they would lead me. The narrator was really good. The characters were intriguingly realistic insomuch as you don't really love any of them fully. Though readers such as myself might identify with Margot as a real woman with a career and a family, etc., she is definitely is party to some questionable stuff. I won't say too much more but the last couple of hours of this audiobook were a whirlwind... and the last few minutes... WOW!

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OMG... But in a Unexpectedly Good Way...

Reviewed: 03-18-20

I am lately interested in books that melt the rich culture of cooking, food, etc., into the souls of their stories. I did a random search and La Cucina showed up on a list. I read the summary, downloaded the book and...WOW! What I mean is that I did not expect what I got...HOWEVER, it was a breath of fresh air. I felt like I was reading some seedy version of Strega Nona (one of my kids' favorite books, by Tomie dePaola)! It has an old world fairy tale feel to it, but is hilariously detailed and very adult, if you know what I mean...wink, wink. The experience is very unique and heart lifting; I found myself surprised into shocked gasps and laughing out loud at many points throughout. The narration was perfect and the ending sweet.

As for my interest, after making my disappointed way through other books who claimed to incorporate the culinary arts, this one really had what I was looking for. Rosa Fiore's calling as a cook is very much part of who she is. It is interesting that, despite this, Prior has her earn her living as a librarian the majority of the story. This seemed to me to drive the point that cooking was part of Rosa, like her arm or part of her heart, her brain. It wasn't a job. La Cucina is a character itself. Most of the monumental events in the story, and indeed in Rosa's life happen in La Cucina. It is her birth place, the place her family mourns their deaths, a place of contemplation and of refuge. It is the beginning and the end of the story. This novel is altogether obscene and yet completely wholesome. I loved every delectable word!

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Agatha Christie Would Be Proud!

Reviewed: 03-18-20

I am a huge WHODUNIT fan and was pleasantly surprised, not being familiar with Anthony Horowitz. The story is long, but engrossing and very entertaining. I thought that the double narration definitely did the book justice and added a lot of enjoyment. The characterization, especially at the beginning, is a little tedious but the effect in the end is very successful. Susan Ryeland is very likable, believable and relatable. There were many times where I found myself laughing out loud and I was on the edge of my proverbial seat . The ending was worth the wait and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, or the like.

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