Before Ever After
I was very excited to be receiving this book and loved the concept of it. The story kept me interested, the attention to historical detail and obviously thorough historical research I found impressive. I kept wishing that such a tour actually existed because I would like nothing more than to go on a tour of Europe in a Volkswagen van, exploring places that tourists never go.
However, I was a little disappointed in the writing, which seemed self concious and a little over the top, as though the author was trying to sound literary, but didn't quite make it.
I think it is well worth reading and makes a great read for a virtual tour of Europe.
Rated of 5
by Kathleen Z. (oxford, mi)
Fan of the Spoken or Written Word?
A kind of modern day twist on "The Gift of the Magi" and "Romeo and Juliet". I liked the book. If you know someone who adds an extra dimension to conversation, just by using a word not usually placed in a particular sentence, but given the particular circumstance you find yourself in...the word is perfect, then you have and idea of the writing ability of this author. The conversation between the characters, as well as individual thoughts and feelings, are about as real as you can get. I see the movie coming, instead of a feather floating around (as in Forest Gump) you will hear and egg cracking or see Shelley tripping.
Rated of 5
by Cathy R. (Scottsdale, AZ)
Before Ever After
Not sure if I loved the book or just liked it. All the elements were there--love story, time travel, historical novel--but the sexual innuendos and chicken themes were distracting. It is a light read with deeper undertones that had they been developed would certainly have warranted a higher rating for the book.
Rated of 5
by Kristin P. (Elburn, IL)
Before Ever After
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was one of the most creative books that I have read in years. It was well-executed and unlike other recent books that stretch the creativity bounds- Before Ever After's creativity was believable. This book is a great individual read, however, I would not recommend the book for a book club. This book exemplifies the art of storytelling, but it is not set-up for the typical book club analysis. If you like Audrey Niffenegger give this book a try.
Rated of 5
by Jeanne C. (Ventura, CA)
Not for Me
I loved the quirkiness of Amanda Sotto’s writing, the delightful coupling of unexpected items. I had a hard time following the storyline at times; it felt disjointed. The book is well-written. However, the many vignettes of suffering, pain, and destruction depressed me and nearly caused me to stop reading the book. The depressing vignettes did have a purpose in the weaving of the story, but perhaps there were just too many of them. The ending was a surprise.
Rated of 5
by Ivy P. (Doylestown, PA)
Detailed and Interesting
I found “Before Ever After” to be consistently enjoyable. The language and tone was fun yet thoughtful and tended to remind me to laugh more than I expected. I liked the intriguing mix of mystery, eclectic locales, and especially the main character’s curiously amusing observational style. I’m not sure I would recommend it for a typical book club, but I do admit that I thought there was actually quite a lot that I would discuss with a close friend. I enjoyed reading this book in many sittings, but I delighted in it most when I really got a chance to sit down and spend real time soaking up the constantly changing settings and moods.
Rated of 5
by Laurel (CA)
Sands of Time
Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto is full of interesting historical vignettes while telling the story of a romance. Although the idea of the book is quite interesting, I liked the story better than the writing. It is a quick read.
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