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There are currently 18 member reviews
for Bitter Greens
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Carol N. (Indian Springs Village, AL)
Bitter Greens
This book was very interesting in the telling of the Rapunzel fairy tale and where it came from. I was lost in the story telling and felt like I was in the tower with Margherita as she became more and more despondant while locked away. The only problem I had with this book is the constant changing of timelines and stories along the way; I sometimes was lost as to who was narrating the story at that time. I think if the author put the name of the main character doing the narrating at the top of her chapters, it would be a little easier to follow rather than putting the place and year. All around, an enjoyable read.
BookBrowse Note: There are very subtle illustrations at each chapter heading and within chapters where the narrator/protagonist changes (e.g. a rose for Charlotte-Rose).
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Amy G. (Bowie, MD)
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair....
First and foremost, I despise giving a book a less than stellar review, but...
I really wanted to be over the moon about this book. I loved the 3 stories, but the way in which they were interwoven made finishing it a bit of a chore. The writing was beautiful, but the ending seemed a little "I-saw-that-coming-all-along," and the novel might have been more intriguing if everything "didn't" work out in the end.
All in all, the stories were interesting and the history was fascinating, but the internecine quality of plot made this book more of a imposition and less of a pleasure.
Great for readers of Phillipa Gregory.
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Mary
Difficult
I am truly sorry that I didn't enjoy this book. I struggled through finding myself skipping pages. I did not like the heroine. I did not care what happened to her. I kept chanting "too many books too little time." This is the first time I hated to report on a book. I am sure that others enjoyed the book. My reading is my escape from a crazy job and other life stressors. This book felt like homework.
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Marie-Jeanne T. (New Orleans, LA)
A disappointment
I love fairy tales. I especially enjoy reading variations of the old stories from different cultures and different times. Therefore, I looked forward to reading "Bitter Greens." I was sorely disappointed.
The framing story of Charlotte-Rose de la Force takes the form of a trite historical romance without any romance. Rapunzel is a flat character who engenders no affection or sympathy from the reader. Although La Strega Bella does perpetrate some cruel acts, she does not have the aura of menace and evil needed for a true villain.
Gail Carson Levine, Gregory Maguire, Jane Yolen, and many others write interesting variations of the traditional tales. Seek them out. Avoid wasting your time with "Bitter Greens."
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