I won’t give a rating, as I couldn’t fault the writing, per se. Gave up at page 225 as it was so convoluted and structure was all over the place. LoveI won’t give a rating, as I couldn’t fault the writing, per se. Gave up at page 225 as it was so convoluted and structure was all over the place. Loved the childhood sections but couldn’t give a s&*# about current day narrative. Terrible pity as adored Sometimes I Lie. Maybe this would suit screenplay instead?... ...more
Not for me, at all. Very weak and loaded with dated phrases like: “All she could do was whisper her love into a pillow at night.” Might suit fans of (Not for me, at all. Very weak and loaded with dated phrases like: “All she could do was whisper her love into a pillow at night.” Might suit fans of (very) old-School love stories. Couldn’t get past page 140. Giving two stars for the nice (but repetitive) descriptions of Tuscany....more
This was not at all thrilling. Meandering, choppy and irritating. Possibly more suited to screen. Gave up after 183 pages. Just didn’t care enough to This was not at all thrilling. Meandering, choppy and irritating. Possibly more suited to screen. Gave up after 183 pages. Just didn’t care enough to carry on. Think it is a case of over-hyped marketing resulting in best-selling status. A no from me. ...more
Gave up after 100 pages. Awful. It was like a collection of stories that a teacher had asked a classroom of ten year olds to write. While it is obviouGave up after 100 pages. Awful. It was like a collection of stories that a teacher had asked a classroom of ten year olds to write. While it is obvious that the author is a dedicated and intelligent man, and indeed has written lots of academic titles, writing light essays is not his forte....more
I had to give up. The rambling art scenes were too much, the lack of parenting was unreal and the sense of entitlement from both Alice and her husbandI had to give up. The rambling art scenes were too much, the lack of parenting was unreal and the sense of entitlement from both Alice and her husband annoyed me. Him declaring that he has chosen his family over prison and then asking his wife to choose? Seriously? I would have grabbed the nearest blunt instrument and kicked his stupid ass out the door. Plus, one very annoying line that galled me. There's only one thing worse than a man who drinks alone; it's a woman who drinks alone. The author can write, but just not in sentences that I enjoy. Pity, as the premise was good. ...more
Had to surrender. The sampler was really good, but that was before any dialogue started. Constant use of unfinished sentences and one or two line replHad to surrender. The sampler was really good, but that was before any dialogue started. Constant use of unfinished sentences and one or two line replies from main characters drove me crazy. Very weak and rude police detective and a wishy-washy FLO did not help. I had zero feeling for the protagonist as she was practically dead herself! Bizarre experience....more
Couldn't finish this one. Abandoned halfway through. Slow with endless walks on Dales, chronic migraines and irritating protagonist. Just didn't care Couldn't finish this one. Abandoned halfway through. Slow with endless walks on Dales, chronic migraines and irritating protagonist. Just didn't care enough to carry on. Not badly written, per se, just not for me.......more
I gave up after 140 pages. The child's voice was age inappropriate and the meandering storyline held no appeal. I will pass on to guest reviewer to seI gave up after 140 pages. The child's voice was age inappropriate and the meandering storyline held no appeal. I will pass on to guest reviewer to see if it was just me... ...more
I am afraid I had to give up on this after 45%. I just could not like the present day scenes, although the flashbacks to characters foster homes were I am afraid I had to give up on this after 45%. I just could not like the present day scenes, although the flashbacks to characters foster homes were great. I hated the way she had to drive a big, powerful car, have silk shirts and high heels. I find this patronising and very obviously written by a man. I could't shake the feeling that I was reading something more suitable to early 1990s.... A weak novel, written by a man, for men :(...more
Not for me I'm afraid. While there was a fantastic start, it just wasn't for me in the long run. Hard to review without spoilers, but too much wretchiNot for me I'm afraid. While there was a fantastic start, it just wasn't for me in the long run. Hard to review without spoilers, but too much wretching/gagging from main character combined with choppy paragraphs and frequency of 'why' or 'who' etc just starting to annoy me a little. I know it's part of a trilogy, just not my cuppa tea :(...more
I received a copy of this title, from LoveReading.co.uk, in return for an honest review.
I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of this book, as I have I received a copy of this title, from LoveReading.co.uk, in return for an honest review.
I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of this book, as I have fond memories of reading Cathy Kelly books and can remember feeling as if I was wrapped up in cosy blanket. It is a while since I have picked up one of her books and this was the perfect opportunity to re-acquaint myself with her work.
A young couple get engaged at the top of the Eiffel Tower after a romantic proposal in front of delighted tourists. Their phone calls home, to tell of the big news, are met with no great surprise, as they have been together for years. But how will the wedding effect their family and friends?
It Started With Paris starts with the cute proposal and you can almost feel the Paris air at the top of the famous landmark. A wonderful place to ask your childhood sweetheart for their hand in marriage. I was settling in for a few comfortable reading sessions and was a little disappointed when I realised this was not going to be the case. The first chapter set the scene but then the narrative shifts to the mother of the groom, a headmistress, an ex-pupil’s mother (as far as I could make out) who is connected to the woman who is baking the cake for the wedding. Then there is the bride’s best friend, her sister and her mother. There were more characters, but at this stage I had started using a notepad to draw up a spider diagram to see how these people were connected. I felt no connection to any of them, except the children of the cake-maker’s boyfriend.
I persisted much longer than I would normally, as I like Cathy Kelly. A talented Irish writer, with millions of books sold, I kept hoping that the novel would find its stride. I’m afraid I had to abandon it at page 238. I really did try. There is no problem with the writing. It is nice and gentle and maybe had there been less characters to get my head around, perhaps with less pages too, it may have worked better. It may even have picked up pace by page 300. I’m afraid I couldn’t persist long enough to find out.
Maybe the fault lays with me. I have read some amazing new fiction recently and my expectations have been raised. I am sure that for Cathy Kelly this will still be a top ten best seller for months to come, but it just was not for me. Also, thumbs up for the beautiful cover artwork. It is fantastic! ...more
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