I loved the premise of this book in theory. I have never seen the movie Sliding Doors so I can't say if it's any good, but I have always thought it sounded interesting, although apparently not interesting enough to get over my "not watching movies" thing. But when I heard about this book (a recommendation for books similar to Help for the Haunted, which I don't necessarily agree with), I was very intrigued. Basically, the idea is that a single mother goes on a brief vacation and does not return when she is expected. As her friends at home grow increasingly more worried, two parallel stories unfold about what might have happened to Anna. One is (kind of) a chic-lit scenario, and the other is more of a thriller/horror story. Sounds great, right?!But in practice I didn't love it. I think part of it is because I did not find any of the characters very likable. Maybe it's because I'm not a single mother trying to get her groove back, but I didn't really get Anna. Her friend, Stella (whom the parts at home were told through) was probably realistic, but I could not connect with her at all. The only things she seemed to like was Anna and pot. And Anna's other friend Paul wasn't really a deep enough character for me to have any feelings about whatsoever.As for the parallel stories one was kind of boring, and the other was kind of a page turner, but ultimately didn't really make any sense. A lot of it just seemed pointless. For example, Anna bought her daughter a present that she has with her in both of her parallel narratives. In both versions it gets damaged, but in very different ways. This is kind of interesting, but it didn't really go anywhere. And then at the end, when everything comes together, it sort of felt like the whole book didn't go anywhere. I don't know which story actually was the "real" story, although I guess that's the point? I could deal with that. I could not deal with the last paragraph of the story though, because it seemed like there was supposed to be some revelation there, but it didn't make any sense. I can't really say anything else without posting spoilers. It's not a bad read, but it also didn't live up to what I had hoped.
There is a really interesting premise behind this book. One woman, Anna, a single mother living in London, ups and walks out of her life for a long weekend in Florence. You pick up her story towards the end of her time there. Initially, I was disappointed by this. The fact that the setting was Florence had been part of the attraction and one of the reasons I'd wanted to read this book, especially as it promised a modern-day take on one of my favourite cities. However, the book quickly sucked me in and I forgot this early let down (helped by the fact that Anna stayed in Tuscany!) Interestingly, Dunant covers the story of Anna's disappearance from the viewpoint of those left behind, looking after her child, and not only dealing with the fact that she went off without a word in the first place but that she might not be coming back. Dunant also writes two parallel accounts of what happens to Anna in Italy and leaves it up to the reader to decide which of those is the truth or, perhaps more fittingly, which of those they prefer and are more comfortable with believing.It's an interesting read, not least because of the questions it throws up about the bonds of parenthood and the ties of friendships and relationships. It also asks the reader to question how well we ever really know those we love and trust and how we can become disillusioned by them.
Do You like book Mapping The Edge (2002)?
I read the other reviews of this book, and everyone else seemed to love it. When I finished this book, I just sat there and thought, "wait...what just happened?" The two different scenarios of what could've happened to Anna while she was missing really confused me - couldn't Dunant have just picked one and expanded on it more? There seemed to be way too many holes in the two stories, especially the kidnapping scenario. The character of the kidnapper was definitely not developed enough, and I didn't understand most of his motives. That's really as detailed I can get without giving away major plot points. I think this story would've been really interesting if Dunant had just chosen one of the scenarios and wrote about it in greater detail. As it was, the book was just confusing and I didn't see the point of it.That being said, I really enjoyed Dunant's other two books, The Birth of Venus and In the Company of the Courtesan.
—Madeline
This is a compelling read . . . until the end, which falls flat. I really wish contemporary writers would end their novels appropriately. We don't read this kind of genre novel for the big questions of the universe (well, I don't anyway) . . . we read for enjoyment or distraction, to get us over a rough time (my case today), or whatever the reason. So while I don't need the plot tied up in a nice neat bow at the end, and all the characters skipping merrily about, I do need an ending, not some big question mark. "Oh, make up the ending for yourself, reader." That's fine for Ulysses, but it's not fine for a genre novel, and I find that position a cop-out. Throw vegetables fellow readers . . . I don't care. I want to know what's the "real" story and how it "really" ends. Cranky.
—MountainShelby
This books is not what you might think--it begins as your typical thriller, slowly unraveling a mystery. However, it quickly dissolves into two stories, two possibilities as to what may have happened to single mom, Anna, who took off to Florence for the weekend (from London) and disappeared. Unlike the choose-your-own ending books from your youth, both stories are developed though one is more credible than the other. Did she get kidnapped by a grief-driven sociopath or is she spending the weekend with her married and mysterious lover? The sociopath story is simply not believable unless Anna is just too stupid to be believed. The lover story makes more sense except that if Anna is as savvy and suspicious as that story would indicate than she would have never gotten kidnapped at all. Is Dunant writing a novel without psychological consistency? I doubt it--it feels like a miscue. One thing I did appreciate about the novel is its ending, which I can't discuss without spoiling it.While the concept behind the novel is great, ultimately, good writing needs characters that are well developed and have psychological consistency; this novel lacks both. Not a bad read, but I would recommend Dunant's excellent novel, The Birth of Venus, over this one.
—Karen
