This is absolute chick lit. Written however for what I would consider a more advanced reader, this is not mindless fluff, not a beach read or a juicy romance. It is a deep love story, it researches all parts of relationships and in the end it does not give you the answer that you think is coming, it allows you to draw your own conclusion, which I will! The characters are deep, they work together in ways you think "brainy" mathematicians, elderly sudko players, siblings and a young teacher who by all means could be considered quite boring at the begining of the book, could never mesh, let alone be brought together in a chick lit work of fiction.This is a good read, but you must look within yourself to gain answers from this one, there are no handouts here!
I read A SUMMER IN EUROPE for an "author you've never read" theme in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
While the story opened up well and pulled me right in, and the trip through Europe made for a nice sort of travelogue, I found the overall narrative rather disappointing. Gwen was much too self-absorbed and uptight to make a month-long trip through her POV very enjoyable.
Her character development was also a little elementary, too ABC and on the nose for my tastes, just spoon feeding the reader. There was little nuance or depth to her growth.
Moreover, her relationship with two brothers on the trip, Emerson and Thoreau, felt awkward and bland. The "hip" intellectuals were boring and flavorless, with a very juvenile sibling rivalry thrown in. As a result, I felt little to no chemistry or tension leading up to Gwen's ultimate realization about her boyfriend Richard. I just wanted the story to be over.
So overall, I give A SUMMER IN EUROPE 2.5/5 stars. Would I recommend the read? No, I don't think so. You're better off spending your reading time with something by Rosamunde Pilcher or Maeve Binchy instead. :)
While the story opened up well and pulled me right in, and the trip through Europe made for a nice sort of travelogue, I found the overall narrative rather disappointing. Gwen was much too self-absorbed and uptight to make a month-long trip through her POV very enjoyable.
Her character development was also a little elementary, too ABC and on the nose for my tastes, just spoon feeding the reader. There was little nuance or depth to her growth.
Moreover, her relationship with two brothers on the trip, Emerson and Thoreau, felt awkward and bland. The "hip" intellectuals were boring and flavorless, with a very juvenile sibling rivalry thrown in. As a result, I felt little to no chemistry or tension leading up to Gwen's ultimate realization about her boyfriend Richard. I just wanted the story to be over.
So overall, I give A SUMMER IN EUROPE 2.5/5 stars. Would I recommend the read? No, I don't think so. You're better off spending your reading time with something by Rosamunde Pilcher or Maeve Binchy instead. :)
A story that centers around a newly 30-year-old who didn't celebrate her birthday quite like she had thought - no jewelry meant for the left hand was received, if you get my drift. She ends up taking a trip around Europe with her Aunt and her wacky friends who find math, philosophy and history all interesting topics of conversation and debate.
Although the characters were definitely interesting, I didn't fall in love with them and couldn't connect with them. There was a quite a large ensemble cast to keep straight, it required a post it note! The characters may have been off, but the location was spot on. The way the author described the different tourist stops in Europe made me want to book a trip immediately. I loved exploring the city along with the main character Gwen.
A great story concept that at times had me enjoying this one, but in the end the wordie philosophical aspect of the characters had me turned off. If you are a reader who likes a little more wordiness to your women's fiction, this book would be the perfect one to add to your holiday wish list.
Although the characters were definitely interesting, I didn't fall in love with them and couldn't connect with them. There was a quite a large ensemble cast to keep straight, it required a post it note! The characters may have been off, but the location was spot on. The way the author described the different tourist stops in Europe made me want to book a trip immediately. I loved exploring the city along with the main character Gwen.
A great story concept that at times had me enjoying this one, but in the end the wordie philosophical aspect of the characters had me turned off. If you are a reader who likes a little more wordiness to your women's fiction, this book would be the perfect one to add to your holiday wish list.
