Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Blue Rider Press (2016), Edition: 1st Edition, 304 pages
Description
"An electrifying novel about marriage and deceit from bestselling author Delia Ephron that follows two couples on vacation in Siracusa, a town on the coast of Sicily, where the secrets they have hidden from each other are exposed and relationships are unraveled. New Yorkers Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, a journalist, travel to Italy with their friends from Maine--Finn, his wife Taylor, and their daughter Snow."From the beginning," says Taylor, "it was a conspiracy for Lizzie and Finn to be together." Told Rashomon-style in alternating points of view, the characters expose and stumble upon lies and infidelities past and present. Snow, ten years old and precociously drawn into a far more adult drama, becomes the catalyst for catastrophe as the novel explores collusion and betrayal in marriage. With her inimitable psychological astuteness, and uncanny understanding of the human heart, Ephron delivers a powerful meditation on marriage, friendship, and the meaning of travel. Set on the sun-drenched coast of the Ionian Sea, Siracusa unfolds with the pacing of a psychological thriller and delivers an unexpected final act that none can see coming"--… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member katiekrug
The lesson here is to never go on vacation with your ex-lover, his wife, and their daughter. And you're assh*le of a husband. That's my takeaway.
Ephron gives us two couples, four people so well-drawn with faults, weaknesses, quirks, and strengths that you quickly feel like you know them. You may
We follow these people for a few days in Rome and a few days in Siracusa, and we know almost right from the start that something goes wrong. We're just waiting for the train wreck, anticipating it, hoping and dreading it. The book was, for me, a compulsive read. Multiple narrator/POV books often are, but this one was especially good. I just loved the characterizations and interactions, and I appreciated Ephron's talent in giving each character a very strong and unique voice that made them equally compelling.
4.5 stars
Ephron gives us two couples, four people so well-drawn with faults, weaknesses, quirks, and strengths that you quickly feel like you know them. You may
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not *want* to, because they are kind of loathsome, but they are very, very real. Each chapter is told in an alternating voice - all 4 adults get to tell the story, or a piece of it (maybe a perception of it?). The central character, though, is Snow, one couple's ten year old daughter, and she has no voice. At least not at first.We follow these people for a few days in Rome and a few days in Siracusa, and we know almost right from the start that something goes wrong. We're just waiting for the train wreck, anticipating it, hoping and dreading it. The book was, for me, a compulsive read. Multiple narrator/POV books often are, but this one was especially good. I just loved the characterizations and interactions, and I appreciated Ephron's talent in giving each character a very strong and unique voice that made them equally compelling.
4.5 stars
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LibraryThing member rglossne
The vacation from hell. Two couples travel to Italy together, along with one couple's 11 year old daughter. Michael, a blocked novelist with a mistress back in NYC, and his wife Lizzie, an underemployed journalist join Lizzie's old boyfriend Finn, a restaurant owner from Maine and his pretentious
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wife Taylor, along with their pathologically shy daughter, Snow. What could go wrong? Taylor hates Siracusa, a town in Sicily, for its lack of a 5 star hotel. Michael is obsessed with getting in touch with his mistress, a waitress back home. Lizzie and Finn flirt obsessively. Then Kath, the mistress, shows up in Siracusa. I listened to this book, and I have to say I enjoyed it, although there isn't a likable character to be found. Ephron skewers intellectual and class pretensions, smother-mothers, and boys who never grow up. Show Less
LibraryThing member Beamis12
Some readers have problems when a novel os filled with unlikable characters, for me if the characters are not likable there has to be another draw. Excellent prose, different type of setting or a scenario, plot that can keep me interested. This book is certainly full of unlikable characters. My
Narrated alternately by all four adults we learn of different situations from many different sides, allows us to form our own opinions. This was an intriguing scenario and I enjoyed how it was written, put together. Ended up really liking this novel. Hard to do, to put together a story where you dislike the people but still find yourself immersed in the story. This author did just that.
Funny aside, after reading this I started another novel and Siracusa was mentioned within the first few pages. So from going to never having heard of a place I heard of it twice within a matter of days.
ARC from publisher.
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take: Finn, a charming played, Michael a self centered sleaze, Taylor a controlling neurotic, Snow, at ten is creepiness personified, Lizzie, while she irked and had quirks, I am giving a break, I actually kind of liked her. So, these two couples and the creepy Snow vacation in Syracuse, and I did love the setting, this tour through a place I had not preciously heard of. There relationships change, fall apart, there is a tragedy, lies are exposed, true colors waved brazenly, and those left standing try to pick up the pieces. Narrated alternately by all four adults we learn of different situations from many different sides, allows us to form our own opinions. This was an intriguing scenario and I enjoyed how it was written, put together. Ended up really liking this novel. Hard to do, to put together a story where you dislike the people but still find yourself immersed in the story. This author did just that.
Funny aside, after reading this I started another novel and Siracusa was mentioned within the first few pages. So from going to never having heard of a place I heard of it twice within a matter of days.
ARC from publisher.
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LibraryThing member lisa875
Eeesh. What a bunch of creeps. Ugh. The story did keep me reading to find out what happened in the end. And it had a great last line that really summed it up. And I had to get back on and upgrade it a star and a half because I just couldn't stop thinking about it and figuring seeing things in the
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characters for days after the book. It really was excellent. Well written. I just hated hating ALL the characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member froxgirl
Intriguing novel that reached me on a few levels. Firstly, the writing seems "masculine" to me, especially coming from a woman. How do I define that? Factual rather than emotional? Able to get inside the heads of both male and female characters, with more empathy towards the males? However it was
From Michael, the husband with the early literary success, "I was incapable of not playing the angles".
novel
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done, I found Ephron's strong characters better than either the plot or the writing (way too much teasing foreshadowing). The players - two couples on vacation in Rome and Sicily, one with an ethereal bad seed daughter - seem unlikely companions, and alliances grow and shatter at the turn of a menu page. The novel is told in the four adult voices, and should have also included the child's - not an oversight but perhaps a way of keeping the suspense thrumming. A most winning novel.From Michael, the husband with the early literary success, "I was incapable of not playing the angles".
novel
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LibraryThing member LauGal
could not get into this book. For me a dud.
LibraryThing member c.archer
These are some really damaged characters in this book-at least I thought so. The plot involves two couples and the 10 year old daughter of one. One wife and the other husband have past romantic history and are currently once again involved with each other. In spite of that, they seem devoted to a
This story is a picture of unhealthy marriages and the ability of people to create their own problems. There is definite tension in both the author's writing and her description of these relationships.
I found this to be the very best part of the book. It kept me interested and reading. I was hoping to find a climax that would really end the story with a bang. Sadly, for me, I found it lacking. I still enjoyed the book, in spite of the unlikable characters, and I would recommend it to readers who like complex and messy relational stories. It is not an uplifting or redemptive read, but will hold the attention of many readers to the very end.
I thank the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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degree to each of their respective spouses. The spouses are equally confusing characters with the other husband involved in his own affair with a younger woman, and the opposite wife neurotically protective of the couple's "shy" daughter. Nevertheless, these couples decide to share a vacation each year and the action of this story occurs in the small Sicilian town of Siracusa.This story is a picture of unhealthy marriages and the ability of people to create their own problems. There is definite tension in both the author's writing and her description of these relationships.
I found this to be the very best part of the book. It kept me interested and reading. I was hoping to find a climax that would really end the story with a bang. Sadly, for me, I found it lacking. I still enjoyed the book, in spite of the unlikable characters, and I would recommend it to readers who like complex and messy relational stories. It is not an uplifting or redemptive read, but will hold the attention of many readers to the very end.
I thank the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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LibraryThing member Alphawoman
Once I caught the rymthm of the story, told in four different voices seeing events from each individual point of view, I loved it!
Who would expect less from an Ephron?
Who would expect less from an Ephron?
LibraryThing member musichick52
My takeaway from this novel is a sad comment on our society. If these two couples are typical of the relationships that exist today, our future is bleak. One of the husbands has had a prior thing with the wife of the other couple. They are vacationing together with a child from one couple. The mom
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and child have an obsessive, oppressive relationship. All five characters are self-centered and poised for destruction. Maybe that is an accurate comment of what's going on in our society. It is a quick read but the characters are unlikable and the ending in a surprise. My thanks to the author and the Penguin First to Read program for a complimentary copy. Show Less
LibraryThing member seeword
Read this in a day. Two couples, one with a ten year old daughter, both with flawed marriages, vacation together in Italy. Awful things happen and each of the four adults tells their version in alternating chapters. Nicely told with interesting characters and a bit of mystery and suspense. Library
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LibraryThing member gpangel
Siracusa by Delia Ephron is a 2016 Blue Rider Press publication.
Edgy, suspenseful, and utterly absorbing!!
The synopsis promises the reader a trip to Italy, to Siracusa, in particular, with two married couples, Lizzie and Michael and Finn and Taylor. What starts off as a seemingly ideal and romantic
Lizzie and Michael have been married for a good while, but are childless. He’s a famous writer, while Lizzie sticks to smaller projects. The couple are vacationing with Finn and Taylor, along with their pre-teen daughter, Snow.
Finn and Lizzie share a romantic past, which immediately brings tension to the situation. Michael’s always working on his novel, even it’s just in his head, and is constantly preoccupied, but, he is also hiding a huge secret, one that has him obsessing, but is weighing him down at the same time.
Taylor is totally disconnected from everyone, but her daughter, to the point of unhealthy obsession, as well as constantly trying to look chic, well dressed and put together, while, Snow suffers from extreme shyness, and quietly lurks in the background, allowing her mother to smother her at will.
The location is central to the story almost like a character in unto itself. The old world charm should be soothing, relaxing, and romantic, but turns out to be anything but, as events unravel with lightning speed once they arrive in Siracusa.
Each of the adult characters tells the reader their version of events as they unfold, which highlights their self-absorption, and weaknesses, proving they are flawed on many levels, and I can’t I sympathized with any of them all that much, but did wind up cheering for one them in the end. The story is very well written, moves along at a brisk pace, and pops with sassy dialogue, and a bit of dark humor thrown in for good measure.
I was on the edge of my seat almost from the beginning, sensing something catastrophic was going to occur, while I watched the two couples try to create the illusion of a solid marriage, while they duke it out verbally and emotionally, riding a train that was obviously headed for derailment, but I never in a million years could have guessed how things would end up. There is a stunning development that leads to an even bigger and more shocking twist, you will never see coming, one that will change the lives of these five people forevermore.
I really liked this book and appreciated the author’s style, which is original and refreshing.
This story is deceptively clever, deliciously wicked and sly, and will leave you both amused and unsettled!
Fans of contemporary fiction will enjoy this one, but so will those who enjoy novels of suspense and mysteries.
4 stars
Edgy, suspenseful, and utterly absorbing!!
The synopsis promises the reader a trip to Italy, to Siracusa, in particular, with two married couples, Lizzie and Michael and Finn and Taylor. What starts off as a seemingly ideal and romantic
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vacation quickly deflates as the two couples experience marital discord, divulge and uncover secrets and sins, and flirt with disaster until it all blows up spectacularly. But underneath this explosive veneer, something far more sinister is brewing, something that will slowly sneak up behind you, and when it finally taps you on the shoulder, the hair will stand up on the back of your neck and shivers will run down your spine, and ultimately leave you shaken and very, very, uneasy. Lizzie and Michael have been married for a good while, but are childless. He’s a famous writer, while Lizzie sticks to smaller projects. The couple are vacationing with Finn and Taylor, along with their pre-teen daughter, Snow.
Finn and Lizzie share a romantic past, which immediately brings tension to the situation. Michael’s always working on his novel, even it’s just in his head, and is constantly preoccupied, but, he is also hiding a huge secret, one that has him obsessing, but is weighing him down at the same time.
Taylor is totally disconnected from everyone, but her daughter, to the point of unhealthy obsession, as well as constantly trying to look chic, well dressed and put together, while, Snow suffers from extreme shyness, and quietly lurks in the background, allowing her mother to smother her at will.
The location is central to the story almost like a character in unto itself. The old world charm should be soothing, relaxing, and romantic, but turns out to be anything but, as events unravel with lightning speed once they arrive in Siracusa.
Each of the adult characters tells the reader their version of events as they unfold, which highlights their self-absorption, and weaknesses, proving they are flawed on many levels, and I can’t I sympathized with any of them all that much, but did wind up cheering for one them in the end. The story is very well written, moves along at a brisk pace, and pops with sassy dialogue, and a bit of dark humor thrown in for good measure.
I was on the edge of my seat almost from the beginning, sensing something catastrophic was going to occur, while I watched the two couples try to create the illusion of a solid marriage, while they duke it out verbally and emotionally, riding a train that was obviously headed for derailment, but I never in a million years could have guessed how things would end up. There is a stunning development that leads to an even bigger and more shocking twist, you will never see coming, one that will change the lives of these five people forevermore.
I really liked this book and appreciated the author’s style, which is original and refreshing.
This story is deceptively clever, deliciously wicked and sly, and will leave you both amused and unsettled!
Fans of contemporary fiction will enjoy this one, but so will those who enjoy novels of suspense and mysteries.
4 stars
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LibraryThing member bookofsecrets
Two couples, both with rocky marriages, travel to Rome and Siracusa on a joint vacation. Michael and Lizzie live in New York City, while Finn and Taylor hail from Portland, Maine. There's also a 5th wheel on their Italian holiday - Snow, 10-year old daughter of Finn and Taylor, and a child I can
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program.
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only describe as peculiar. Actually, the whole group is odd, and downright unlikable, yet I couldn't put this book down. Lots of secrets, lies, and betrayal, and as each of these characters tells his or her side of the story, you have to wonder who's reliable and what it is all leading up to. There was always an ominous feeling that something bad was just around the corner. This was my first Delia Ephron novel, and I enjoyed her writing style very much. Complex, messed up characters and a nice build up of tension.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Penguin's First to Read Program.
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LibraryThing member brangwinn
I finished the book only because I loved visiting this area of Sicily. Unfortunately, there was not one character with whom I could identify. They were shallow self-centered people. That being said, these were the type of people needed in order to make the horrible murder of one husband’s lover
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realistic. Show Less
LibraryThing member pgchuis
Two couples, Michael and Lizzie, and Finn and Taylor (plus daughter Snow) take a holiday together in Italy. Michael's lover, Kathy, turns up at the hotel and disasters (plural!) ensue.
The story is told by way of chapters in the first person by each of the four adults and there is a fair amount of
The ending was satisfying in many ways, but morally troubling.
The story is told by way of chapters in the first person by each of the four adults and there is a fair amount of
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build up and examination of the two marriages as well as descriptions of the enigmatic (i.e. plain weird) Snow. Snow's relationship with her mother, Taylor, was unsettling to say the least and the chapters from Taylor's perspective were excellent.The ending was satisfying in many ways, but morally troubling.
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LibraryThing member Dunsh01
This really was difficult for me to star.
On the one hand - I found all the characters immensely dislikeable, which makes you wonder how to connect with a book when you really don't connect to the characters.
On the other hand, an author who can keep you reading when you really don't feel like you
New Yorkers Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, a journalist, travel to Italy with their friends from Maine—Finn; his wife, Taylor; and their daughter, Snow. “From the beginning,” says Taylor, “it was a conspiracy for Lizzie and Finn to be together.” As lies and infidelities of the past and present threaten to surface, Snow, only ten years old and hovering dangerously on the precipice of a more adult drama, becomes the catalyst for catastrophe.
This books makes you think twice about going on couples holidays with friends! And when those friends are barely friends in the first place, with interlinked pasts and shared secrets, well, it is a recipe for disaster.
I found myself watching the story unfold with almost voyeuristic pleasure, like watching an impending disaster - you should look away, but you know you can't.
The story is told retrospectively, from the view point of Michael, Finn, Lizzie and Taylor and was an interesting commentary on marriage, relationships, life, desire and the way people use others for their own means.
As one half of a 40-something couple who holidays frequently with friends, I found myself wondering if people really behave in this manner - would you go on a couples holiday where you'd had an intimate relationship with one half of the other couple? Do writers (Michael) really only consider their relationships in terms of the content it gives them for their next best seller? Not to mention I also had a good hard review of some of my past holidays - looking for undercurrents!
In the end I am still undecided as to whether I really liked the book or not. But it certainly deserves 3 stars for keeping my reading til the last page and then making me think and question.
On the one hand - I found all the characters immensely dislikeable, which makes you wonder how to connect with a book when you really don't connect to the characters.
On the other hand, an author who can keep you reading when you really don't feel like you
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want to invest in the characters has to have some huge degree of skill!New Yorkers Michael, a famous writer, and Lizzie, a journalist, travel to Italy with their friends from Maine—Finn; his wife, Taylor; and their daughter, Snow. “From the beginning,” says Taylor, “it was a conspiracy for Lizzie and Finn to be together.” As lies and infidelities of the past and present threaten to surface, Snow, only ten years old and hovering dangerously on the precipice of a more adult drama, becomes the catalyst for catastrophe.
This books makes you think twice about going on couples holidays with friends! And when those friends are barely friends in the first place, with interlinked pasts and shared secrets, well, it is a recipe for disaster.
I found myself watching the story unfold with almost voyeuristic pleasure, like watching an impending disaster - you should look away, but you know you can't.
The story is told retrospectively, from the view point of Michael, Finn, Lizzie and Taylor and was an interesting commentary on marriage, relationships, life, desire and the way people use others for their own means.
As one half of a 40-something couple who holidays frequently with friends, I found myself wondering if people really behave in this manner - would you go on a couples holiday where you'd had an intimate relationship with one half of the other couple? Do writers (Michael) really only consider their relationships in terms of the content it gives them for their next best seller? Not to mention I also had a good hard review of some of my past holidays - looking for undercurrents!
In the end I am still undecided as to whether I really liked the book or not. But it certainly deserves 3 stars for keeping my reading til the last page and then making me think and question.
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LibraryThing member ValNewHope
I am a sucker for a book with an unreliable narrator, and this one has four. The story is told by each of 4 people (2 married couples) who vacation together with one couple's pre-teen daughter. I loved piecing together the story by combining their narratives. It's both plot and character driven.
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Good read! Show Less
LibraryThing member karenvg3
A very interesting back and forth telling of a horrific couples' trip. Although I was able to figure out what was going to happen early on, it did not stop me from wanting to see how it would all play out . It was fast paced and kept me interested. Can I say creepy child? 3 1/2-4 ⭐️
LibraryThing member BraveNewBks
Finished this late last night. I really enjoyed it, so don't let the 3-star rating fool you -- it was interesting and well-written and generally, well, enjoyable.
At the same time, I don't think I'll carry much of this with me, having finished it. Five star reads are the ones that stick with me,
The book revolves around two couples, one of which brings along their preteen daughter, on a joint vacation to Italy. It's never quite clear to me why these two couples would choose to vacation together, as they don't seem to have a ton of shared history as couples (the husband of one couple and the wife of the other used to date, and it's hard for me to buy that both of the other partners are OK hanging out with their spouse's ex nonstop) or even like each other all that much.
I also found myself constantly struggling to remember which man was which. One of them was a restaurateur struggling with a cigarette addiction, and one of them was a semi-famous writer whose latest book is stalled, who's cheating on his wife with an astoundingly dumb young blond. But which one is named Finn and which one is named Michael? Which one is married to Lizzie and which one to the neurotic one in weird clothes, whose name I can't remember even though I finished reading this book literally 12 hours ago? Which one is the father of kid (whose name, sadly, is Snow)? How old is the kid again, that she can be holding hands with a man not her dad, but it's apparently not sketchy in the least? Seriously, one minute I think she must be 5 years old, the next she must be at least 15. (Turns out I should have split the difference.)
There's a twist that was actually a surprise to me, and reasonably satisfying, though in retrospect it seemed obvious and I am slightly ashamed that I missed the obvious cues.
All in all, the characters just didn't come alive for me, and while bits of the inevitable relationship drama certainly rang true, I guess I didn't care enough about the characters for that drama to be worthwhile.
That said, if this were made into a movie, I would watch it. Not quite Gone Girl, but enough of the sortof romantic comedy turned dark to be interesting, and quite a lot of the book was very visually appealing.
At the same time, I don't think I'll carry much of this with me, having finished it. Five star reads are the ones that stick with me,
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that I find myself thinking about and wanting to talk to people about. Four star reads are the ones where something pretty great stands out clearly to me, such that it's earned at least a temporary place in my memory. Siracusa, for whatever reason, fell short of that bar.The book revolves around two couples, one of which brings along their preteen daughter, on a joint vacation to Italy. It's never quite clear to me why these two couples would choose to vacation together, as they don't seem to have a ton of shared history as couples (the husband of one couple and the wife of the other used to date, and it's hard for me to buy that both of the other partners are OK hanging out with their spouse's ex nonstop) or even like each other all that much.
I also found myself constantly struggling to remember which man was which. One of them was a restaurateur struggling with a cigarette addiction, and one of them was a semi-famous writer whose latest book is stalled, who's cheating on his wife with an astoundingly dumb young blond. But which one is named Finn and which one is named Michael? Which one is married to Lizzie and which one to the neurotic one in weird clothes, whose name I can't remember even though I finished reading this book literally 12 hours ago? Which one is the father of kid (whose name, sadly, is Snow)? How old is the kid again, that she can be holding hands with a man not her dad, but it's apparently not sketchy in the least? Seriously, one minute I think she must be 5 years old, the next she must be at least 15. (Turns out I should have split the difference.)
There's a twist that was actually a surprise to me, and reasonably satisfying, though in retrospect it seemed obvious and I am slightly ashamed that I missed the obvious cues.
All in all, the characters just didn't come alive for me, and while bits of the inevitable relationship drama certainly rang true, I guess I didn't care enough about the characters for that drama to be worthwhile.
That said, if this were made into a movie, I would watch it. Not quite Gone Girl, but enough of the sortof romantic comedy turned dark to be interesting, and quite a lot of the book was very visually appealing.
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LibraryThing member nkmunn
Wow, if this book were a concert I would be on my feet, if it were a play I'd be back from intermission on time, if it were a road trip I'd stop at every roadside attraction & watering hole just so it wouldn't be over too soon .
it's not perfect, but it's perfectly engaging and very hard to put down
it's not perfect, but it's perfectly engaging and very hard to put down
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! Four stars because I reached for it with my first cup of coffee and picked it up time after time after bedtime when I should have been sleeping instead ! Relentless, memorable & readable all at the same time. Show Less
LibraryThing member kbranfield
4.5 stars.
In Siracusa by Delia Ephron, two couples' vacation in Italy is the perfect recipe for disaster. Two troubled marriages one enigmatic, manipulative child secrets = a vacation to remember for all the wrong reasons.
New York couple Michael and Lizzie join their Portland, ME friends Finn,
Lizzie is a bit of a free spirit whose writing career is frustratingly stalled. Devoted to Michael, she knows all of his secrets but she lovingly overlooks his faults. She is hoping the trip will close the distance that has suddenly appeared between them, but she is still a little drawn to her ex-boyfriend Finn.
Michael is a Pulitzer prize winning author whose latest novel is not going as well as he would like. He is not at all thrilled with the joint vacation and he spends a good part of his day trying to avoid Lizzie. Michael is charming and larger than life and he easily captivates both Snow and Taylor during their vacation.
Finn owns a thriving restaurant but he is surprisingly immature and not overly observant. Fun-loving, flirtatious and laidback, he is a hands-off dad who lets his wife have her way in pretty much every aspect of their life. The events in Siracusa definitely leave their mark on him and he is the only one who makes any effort to get help dealing with happened while they were there.
Taylor is controlling, obsessive and completely clueless about everything. She believes Snow can do no wrong and she is so blinded by love for her child that she cannot (or will not) see how manipulative her daughter is. Dismissive of Finn, she makes no effort to hide her contempt for her husband and she refuses to shoulder her share of the blame for their dysfunctional relationship. Of the four adults, Taylor is the least likable and her viewpoint of the events certainly seems to be the most skewed.
Snow is quiet and unassuming but it does not take long to see how sly and manipulative she is. She takes full advantage of her father's inattention and her mother's inability to see through her antics. Snow is thoroughly enthralled by Michael and it is easy to see how his sudden attention to her leads to her crush on him. Taylor thoroughly underestimates her daughter while Finn is quietly amused by Snow's cunning which does not bode well for anyone who crosses her path.
Siracusa by Delia Ephron is a fiendishly clever novel that is fast-paced and compelling. The characters are deplorable and their behavior is appalling but the plot is so spellbinding it is easy to overlook the unsavory characters. A sense of foreboding permeates the story right from the very first page and despite the feeling that something pretty awful is going to happen, the conclusion is still incredibly shocking.
I highly recommend this well-written novel to readers of contemporary literary fiction.
In Siracusa by Delia Ephron, two couples' vacation in Italy is the perfect recipe for disaster. Two troubled marriages one enigmatic, manipulative child secrets = a vacation to remember for all the wrong reasons.
New York couple Michael and Lizzie join their Portland, ME friends Finn,
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Taylor and daughter Snow for what should be an idyllic Italian vacation. Told in retrospect from the four adults points of view, their trip starts innocently enough but it is quite clear that, at some point, things began to rapidly deteriorate once they arrive in Siracusa. While none of the characters are particularly likable, they are certainly colorful and interesting and the sequence of events leading up to the disastrous end of their stay in Siracusa is riveting.Lizzie is a bit of a free spirit whose writing career is frustratingly stalled. Devoted to Michael, she knows all of his secrets but she lovingly overlooks his faults. She is hoping the trip will close the distance that has suddenly appeared between them, but she is still a little drawn to her ex-boyfriend Finn.
Michael is a Pulitzer prize winning author whose latest novel is not going as well as he would like. He is not at all thrilled with the joint vacation and he spends a good part of his day trying to avoid Lizzie. Michael is charming and larger than life and he easily captivates both Snow and Taylor during their vacation.
Finn owns a thriving restaurant but he is surprisingly immature and not overly observant. Fun-loving, flirtatious and laidback, he is a hands-off dad who lets his wife have her way in pretty much every aspect of their life. The events in Siracusa definitely leave their mark on him and he is the only one who makes any effort to get help dealing with happened while they were there.
Taylor is controlling, obsessive and completely clueless about everything. She believes Snow can do no wrong and she is so blinded by love for her child that she cannot (or will not) see how manipulative her daughter is. Dismissive of Finn, she makes no effort to hide her contempt for her husband and she refuses to shoulder her share of the blame for their dysfunctional relationship. Of the four adults, Taylor is the least likable and her viewpoint of the events certainly seems to be the most skewed.
Snow is quiet and unassuming but it does not take long to see how sly and manipulative she is. She takes full advantage of her father's inattention and her mother's inability to see through her antics. Snow is thoroughly enthralled by Michael and it is easy to see how his sudden attention to her leads to her crush on him. Taylor thoroughly underestimates her daughter while Finn is quietly amused by Snow's cunning which does not bode well for anyone who crosses her path.
Siracusa by Delia Ephron is a fiendishly clever novel that is fast-paced and compelling. The characters are deplorable and their behavior is appalling but the plot is so spellbinding it is easy to overlook the unsavory characters. A sense of foreboding permeates the story right from the very first page and despite the feeling that something pretty awful is going to happen, the conclusion is still incredibly shocking.
I highly recommend this well-written novel to readers of contemporary literary fiction.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
2 couples go on a vacation to Italy, and their trip is filled with deceit and trickery. Lizzie and Michael are both writers. Finn owns a restaurant, and his wife, Taylor, is the head of the Portland, ME tourism bureau. They have a young daughter, Snow, who is very shy. The story is told from the
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perspective of each of the adults. Neither marriage is what it should be. Lies and deceit and not being good enough is present in each marriage. No one is who you expect. Things unravel in Siracusa. A really sad commentary on marriage and cheating. Show Less
LibraryThing member bobbieharv
Two couples and a child, all thoroughly unlikable, go on vacation, followed by the waitress one of the husbands is having an affair with. I disliked them all so much I skimmed a lot in the beginning, but then read to the end. I did like the device of chapters alternating with each of the four
I only read this because I requested Left on Tenth from my library and they suggested this - I expect Left on Tenth will be better, since it is not fiction and, I imagine, not about unpleasant people!
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characters.I only read this because I requested Left on Tenth from my library and they suggested this - I expect Left on Tenth will be better, since it is not fiction and, I imagine, not about unpleasant people!
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LibraryThing member melaniehope
A good, tense read with complicated characters. The book is told from the point of view of 2 couples on a vacation in Italy. Theses people are not likable. They are dissatisfied with their lives, involved in relationships outside their marriage and even unhappy with their trip location. One of the
It is a good read for seeing the unraveling of these 4 adults. Most complex is the character of Snow who appears innocent and suffering from a severe form of shyness. However, she is the only character that the readers do not get to see her point of view. We never get to understand what Snow is really capable of. Great book for its build up of suspense and intrigue, but definitely hard to feel any compassion or concern for the characters. I received a complimentary e-book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
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couples has brought their only child, eleven year old Snow.It is a good read for seeing the unraveling of these 4 adults. Most complex is the character of Snow who appears innocent and suffering from a severe form of shyness. However, she is the only character that the readers do not get to see her point of view. We never get to understand what Snow is really capable of. Great book for its build up of suspense and intrigue, but definitely hard to feel any compassion or concern for the characters. I received a complimentary e-book from the publisher in exchange for a review.
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LibraryThing member bayleaf
Siracusa by Delia Ephron is proof that I can dislike all of the characters in a book and still like the book. Lizzie and Michael are married; Taylor and Finn are married and have a child named Snow. Lizzie has planned a trip for the five of them to Siracusa, a historic city in Sicily. Never a more
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mismatched group of holiday revelers, the trip is doomed from the very beginning. Lizzie and Finn have a history together from before Taylor and Michael entered the picture. Michael is having an affair with Kath, a hostess in a restaurant he and Lizzie frequent back home in NYC and Taylor and Snow, well, they are perhaps the most interesting of all. The book is very effectively told in alternating points of view and I found Taylor’s to be the most entertaining and intriguing. When Snow is drawn to Michael and away from her mother’s influence and Kath, Michael’s lover, shows up unexpectedly, the story turns darker and totally drew me into wondering what would happen next and to whom. This novel was an unexpected pleasure for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member zmagic69
Two couples (Lizzie and Michael) (Finn and Taylor their daughter Snow) with little in common, Finn and Liz were a couple for a week or so many years back.
They all decide to go on vacation to Italy. And everything falls apart. Including the point of the story.
Was it supposed to be funny? It barely
I didn’t care about any of the characters they were all total stereotypes of where they lived or their jobs.
They all decide to go on vacation to Italy. And everything falls apart. Including the point of the story.
Was it supposed to be funny? It barely
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is. In capable hands - think Neil Simon it would have worked instead it was incredibly anticlimactic.I didn’t care about any of the characters they were all total stereotypes of where they lived or their jobs.
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Awards
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Fiction — 2016)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016
Physical description
304 p.; 9.27 inches
ISBN
0399165215 / 9780399165214