I read this book because of the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Goodreads. Unfortunately, I just didn't get into it. It's the sort of book I usually like - a historical mystery, with the past and present intertwining. But I felt that so many opportunities for exploring the intersection of history, literature and modern life were missed, in this book.
I also had to keep stopping in the middle of the story to say, about the characters' actions: "but no! A person just wouldn't DO that!" (In her acknowledgements, the author admits that she is aware that, for example, the Director of a hotel in Italy would not "interfere with the movements of their guests or remove personal belongings from their rooms." So - don't have your character do those things! It's unbelievable, when the plot gives no excuse why someone would behave in such an uncharacteristic way!) I just found it unconvincing, and it happened over and over again.
And then, when the main character sneaks into a university library and STEALS items from their archive, I lost all sympathy for her. Especially since the book doesn't really even criticize her actions.
After that, I just found it to be overly long and slow-moving, with metaphysical parts that were just eh, and action scenes that reminded me of something out of a cheesy movie like "National Treasure."
I also had to keep stopping in the middle of the story to say, about the characters' actions: "but no! A person just wouldn't DO that!" (In her acknowledgements, the author admits that she is aware that, for example, the Director of a hotel in Italy would not "interfere with the movements of their guests or remove personal belongings from their rooms." So - don't have your character do those things! It's unbelievable, when the plot gives no excuse why someone would behave in such an uncharacteristic way!) I just found it unconvincing, and it happened over and over again.
And then, when the main character sneaks into a university library and STEALS items from their archive, I lost all sympathy for her. Especially since the book doesn't really even criticize her actions.
After that, I just found it to be overly long and slow-moving, with metaphysical parts that were just eh, and action scenes that reminded me of something out of a cheesy movie like "National Treasure."
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