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There are currently 19 member reviews
for The Lovers
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Molly B. (Hygiene, CO)
Great descriptions, abrupt ending
Ms Vida's writing is absolutely beautiful - simple yet thorough, easy to read while evoking rich and complex feelings and ideas. She nails feelings and sentiments perfectly, from jet-lag to loss of a loved one to cultural misunderstandings, in such a beautiful, simple way. I love her writing style.
The plot and the pace of the book were not as satisfying. Her slow, exquisite descriptions in the beginning of the book gave way to a real change of pace as the plot sped up. The ending was abrupt and seemed contrived to me. It seemed like the author ran out of steam. While I appreciate short books like this one, I would have loved for The Lovers to go on much longer - so I could wallow in more of her writing and perhaps read a more balanced story. On the strength of what I have read here, I will definitely read Ms Vida's other books. She has left the door open for a sequel, it seems, which I would also read.
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Teresa M. (Naples, Florida)
The Lovers
A middle aged widow who is still trying to find her place in her new reality, travels to Turkey to recapture the splendid memories of her honeymoon and marriage. Although I did not love this book as much as her previous book, Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name, the author is a wonderful writer who brought Turkey to life- the magic of Cappadocia and the seediness of a tourist town which has seen better days. I would recommend it to book clubs- the widow's decisions will generate high spirited discussions.
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Julie G. (West Hartford, CT)
The Lovers
Vendela Vida's book about a widow traveling to find herself is sure to speak to many people about love and loss. In Yvonne's escape to Turkey, the location of her honeymoon, she desperately seeks to form connections with random strangers, and one feels her sense of loneliness. What seems like a simple story ultimately has unexpected twists and turns, and the ending is utterly satisfying.
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Vicki R. (Casa Grande, AZ)
A haunting, moving tale
The Lovers is a moving tale of a widow's self discovery while on a trip to Turkey, where she honeymooned with her deceased husband. From the first paragraph, I was instantly transported into Yvonne's world--the heat, dust, and the unfamiliar, sometimes bizarre, landscape of Turkey, and the strange and interesting cast of characters she meets during her travels. The book is, at times, odd and almost uncomfortable to read, but in the end I was moved to tears with empathy for Yvonne. As the parent of an adult daughter I felt her pain at missing her child and her sense of being alone in the world.
I enjoyed Vida's previous novel, Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name, more, but I know that The Lovers will haunt me for days to come, with its intense strangeness and the connection of Yvonne's story to aspects of my own life. I enjoy how Vida spins tales set in unfamiliar locations. Reading her books opens our eyes to other cultures--with their different customs, attitudes and behavior--but also reminds us how our struggles as human beings are, indeed, universal.
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Sarah C. (Cape Girardeau, MO)
Coming of age for "women of a certain age"
Very interesting story of one woman's quest to "find" her true self after children have come of age and life changes leave her alone. Any woman of "a certain age" can relate to some part of this book. Told in a interesting easy to read setting.
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Phoenix M. (Eclectic, AL)
The Independent Yvonne
Yvonne is a widow wishing to take a proactive way of dealing with her grief. She travels alone to Datca, Turkey to remember some of the adventures she enjoyed with her husband. The places are not quite the same, but Yvonne is ready for a new outlook on life in general.
Yvonne was told by one grief counselor that she was trying to become invisible.Yvonne sets out to prove that statement entirely wrong.
She takes a boat trip to Cleopatra's Island with Deniz, has tea with Ozlem and strikes up a friendship with a local shell collector named Ahmet.
Vida provides humor also. Just wait to see what Yvonne finds in one of the guest rooms in the house she rented.
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Angie G. (Hagerstown, MD), Clear Spring Library
Did not love The Lovers
This review has been a long time coming. I read the book when I received it and thoroughly disliked it. I decided to let it sit for awhile and try again later as what I enjoy varies with my moods. I have recently read it again and it did not improve upon second reading. From the book description I believed that The Lovers was more a psychological suspense novel than a journey of self-discovery. So I decided to evaluate it on how I thought it would be received by my book discussion group. I do not believe they would find the journey credible and would not like any of the characters.
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