Rated of 5
by Victrola (Boston, MA) Disappointing Journey
The Lovers by Vendela Vida
This “coming of adult” awareness novel starts off strong as we meet Yvonne who has returned to Turkey where she honeymooned with her recently deceased husband. The story spirals down as Yvonne seeks answers about her life, her family and her future. What she finds did not really ring true for me and I thought the pivotal event was not really believable. What saved the novel was the author’s easy to read writing style coupled with her astute descriptions and realistic dialogue. Friends tell me that her first novel is far better so I’ve placed it in my shopping cart.
Rated of 5
by Marion S. (Los Angeles, CA) The Lovers
I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't, in fact, put it down. The author vividly captures the subtle images of Turkey, and the bond that exists between husband and wife, and mother and daughter. I would recommend it to all women, mothers, and daughters alike who have at one time, questioned their role as parents and wives and believe that hope can be redeemed.
Rated of 5
by Vicki R. (Casa Grande, AZ) A haunting, moving tale
The Lovers is a moving tale of a widow's self discovery while on a trip to Turkey, where she honeymooned with her deceased husband. From the first paragraph, I was instantly transported into Yvonne's world--the heat, dust, and the unfamiliar, sometimes bizarre, landscape of Turkey, and the strange and interesting cast of characters she meets during her travels. The book is, at times, odd and almost uncomfortable to read, but in the end I was moved to tears with empathy for Yvonne. As the parent of an adult daughter I felt her pain at missing her child and her sense of being alone in the world.
I enjoyed Vida's previous novel, Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name, more, but I know that The Lovers will haunt me for days to come, with its intense strangeness and the connection of Yvonne's story to aspects of my own life. I enjoy how Vida spins tales set in unfamiliar locations. Reading her books opens our eyes to other cultures--with their different customs, attitudes and behavior--but also reminds us how our struggles as human beings are, indeed, universal.
Rated of 5
by Katherine Y. (Albuquerque, NM) Begins with such promise, then dwindles
This book is very short - almost a novella. The plot is very intriguing ,the characters are interesting and I admired the author's writing style, but I wanted to see more happen between the characters before the ending arrived. As it was the ending felt abrupt and not wholly believable because it seemed to come too fast. I wanted to spend more time alone in the main characters head to see how she came to the feelings she had at the end of the book.
Rated of 5
by Sarah C. (Cape Girardeau, MO) Coming of age for "women of a certain age"
Very interesting story of one woman's quest to "find" her true self after children have come of age and life changes leave her alone. Any woman of "a certain age" can relate to some part of this book. Told in a interesting easy to read setting.
Rated of 5
by Phoenix M. (Eclectic, AL) The Independent Yvonne
Yvonne is a widow wishing to take a proactive way of dealing with her grief. She travels alone to Datca, Turkey to remember some of the adventures she enjoyed with her husband. The places are not quite the same, but Yvonne is ready for a new outlook on life in general. Yvonne was told by one grief counselor that she was trying to become invisible.Yvonne sets out to prove that statement entirely wrong. She takes a boat trip to Cleopatra's Island with Deniz, has tea with Ozlem and strikes up a friendship with a local shell collector named Ahmet. Vida provides humor also. Just wait to see what Yvonne finds in one of the guest rooms in the house she rented.
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of 5
by Victrola (Boston, MA) 
of 5
by Marion S. (Los Angeles, CA) 
of 5
by Vicki R. (Casa Grande, AZ) 
