What do readers think of The Last Good Paradise by Tatjana Soli? Write your own review.

Who among us doesn't dream of running away to a deserted island, leaving behind our problems, big and small? When Ann, an intelligent attorney, and her husband Richard, a talented chef, run away from their financial woes to the South Pacific, they encounter a cast of memorable characters. Indeed, "The Last Good Paradise" by Tatjana Soli is a character driven novel with an aging rock star, his beautiful young girlfriend, and a reclusive island owner, among others. Although at first glance, some of the characters seem to be stereotypes and/or caricatures, Soli manages to inject multi-faceted and, at times, unexpected dimensions to their personalities. A contrived, political plot twist more than halfway through delivered the only hiccup in an otherwise immensely readable book.

I was engaged in this book at the beginning. I appreciated the imagination used to create the initial characters and their back stories. It was pretty believable until about mid-way to 2/3 of the way through, though I did enjoy the read. There were some strong female characters who still had flaws. There was almost too much going on though with the personal stories as well as the ecological/social protest. I'm glad I read it.

Soli has written an entertaining, unpredictable tale about how people's ideas about what will make them happy are often what prevent them from actually being happy. Full of entertaining characters, and a lot of food and drink, she shows how economics and technology influence even our most basic choices. Set primarily in a resort on a remote island in the South Pacific, she aptly shows the human need for connection, and how being forced outside of our comfort zones can reveal what really matters. It would be a fun book club selection.

I haven't read the author's other books, but since they were reviewed positively I was eager to read this book.

I do not fault the writing quality, but I could not find a character to admire or even care about. Much of the plot was unbelievable, beginning with an attorney leaving herself vulnerable to a restaurant partner's debts. I did find the second half more engaging than the beginning.

This is the quintessential dream of escaping…escaping from dead end jobs, from lost broken relationships, from failure to either grasp or hold on to the illusion of the American dream of success, from the deflating of romantic passion in the pursuit of the dream, from financial ruin and confused relationships, from festering alienation and miscommunication. It is a geographical escape where each of the characters still must meet their demons even as they seek paradise on a remote Polynesian island resort. And as intriguing as all of this may be, the story is predictable. While the characters are colorfully revealed, I I was disappointed that the primary relationship between the primary antagonists is not developed with the depth that validates the conclusion.

While I enjoyed the refresher on ecological & social issues, my willing suspension of disbelief in plot & characters was overwhelmed. I feel the book would benefit from fewer minor story lines & tighter focus on the main characters & plot. Still it will make a good winter diversion for those of us snowbound & dreaming of island vacations.

If you have read "The Lotus Eaters" by this author, you will be expecting a great book. It isn't even particularly interesting, but the dumb affairs and relationships of the people on this island are silly and unlikely and the whole story wraps up too neatly.

Had I not been on a cruise ship with nothing else to read I would not have even finished the book. I did not feel engaged by any of the characters or the plot.Giving it a 3 is generous.