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A review by saylaurmoon
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
3.0
↠ 3.75 stars ⭐️
I chose to read this one since it was currently available as an audiobook on Libby. I really had no idea what the premise was, but I had heard good things and chose to go in blind.
It was not at all what I was expecting, but it was a beautiful story. I’m a huge fan of magical realism, and I think the author executed it really well here. I love that the story is an exploration of grief, love, and self-discovery. I enjoyed the author’s atmospheric prose. I really felt like I was transported to Italy while listening. The vivid descriptions of the location and food definitely have me craving a trip to Positano.
Sadly, the main weakness of this story that leaves me feeling really meh over it: the characters. I especially had a hard time connecting with the FMC, Katy. She annoyed the living hell out of me about 90% of the book. I found her to be particularly whiny and ungrateful. Yes, I understand that this is a story of grief and grief can really impact how individuals see their lives and react to it, and I tried to keep this in mind. However, I still had a hard time with her.
Additionally, while I’m all for a strong mother-daughter bond, but it felt very unusual to describe your mother as “the love of your life.” Your best friend? Sure, absolutely. But the love of your life is.. odd.
Something else that impacted my opinion of Katy a bit was the audiobook narration. Look, I love Lauren Graham. However, I did not enjoy her narration of this story. I don't know what it was, but I just did not love it. I think she may have made Katy sounds more whiny than the author intended. I believe I would have enjoyed reading this one more than listening to it.
Don’t let the rating fool you: this was still an enjoyable story. I thoroughly loved how it was able to transport me to the Almafi Coast with its vivid imagery and the bit of magical realism in the plot. However, my annoyance with the main character, and the narration of the audio, certainly impacted my rating a bit.
₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.
Quotes
“History, memory is by definition fiction. Once an event is no longer present, but remembered, it is narrative. And we can choose the narratives we tell—about our own lives, our own stories, our own relationships. We can choose the chapters we give meaning.”
__
“There is more to life than just continuing to do what we know. What got you here won’t get you there.”
__
“Every day the world is born again. Every day the sun rises. It is a miracle, I think. A simple, everyday miracle. Life.”
__
“I don’t think bad action makes you a bad person. I think life is far more complicated than that, and it’s reductive to think otherwise.”
__
“Actions only have the weight we give them. We can decide what something means.”
₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.
Check out my reviews on bookstagram
I chose to read this one since it was currently available as an audiobook on Libby. I really had no idea what the premise was, but I had heard good things and chose to go in blind.
It was not at all what I was expecting, but it was a beautiful story. I’m a huge fan of magical realism, and I think the author executed it really well here. I love that the story is an exploration of grief, love, and self-discovery. I enjoyed the author’s atmospheric prose. I really felt like I was transported to Italy while listening. The vivid descriptions of the location and food definitely have me craving a trip to Positano.
Sadly, the main weakness of this story that leaves me feeling really meh over it: the characters. I especially had a hard time connecting with the FMC, Katy. She annoyed the living hell out of me about 90% of the book. I found her to be particularly whiny and ungrateful. Yes, I understand that this is a story of grief and grief can really impact how individuals see their lives and react to it, and I tried to keep this in mind. However, I still had a hard time with her.
Additionally, while I’m all for a strong mother-daughter bond, but it felt very unusual to describe your mother as “the love of your life.” Your best friend? Sure, absolutely. But the love of your life is.. odd.
Something else that impacted my opinion of Katy a bit was the audiobook narration. Look, I love Lauren Graham. However, I did not enjoy her narration of this story. I don't know what it was, but I just did not love it. I think she may have made Katy sounds more whiny than the author intended. I believe I would have enjoyed reading this one more than listening to it.
Don’t let the rating fool you: this was still an enjoyable story. I thoroughly loved how it was able to transport me to the Almafi Coast with its vivid imagery and the bit of magical realism in the plot. However, my annoyance with the main character, and the narration of the audio, certainly impacted my rating a bit.
₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.
Quotes
“History, memory is by definition fiction. Once an event is no longer present, but remembered, it is narrative. And we can choose the narratives we tell—about our own lives, our own stories, our own relationships. We can choose the chapters we give meaning.”
__
“There is more to life than just continuing to do what we know. What got you here won’t get you there.”
__
“Every day the world is born again. Every day the sun rises. It is a miracle, I think. A simple, everyday miracle. Life.”
__
“I don’t think bad action makes you a bad person. I think life is far more complicated than that, and it’s reductive to think otherwise.”
__
“Actions only have the weight we give them. We can decide what something means.”
₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆. ₊‧.°.⋆˚₊‧⋆.
Check out my reviews on bookstagram