I can't put my finger on what it was but something was missing in this novel. The start is so evocative and made me eager to dive in and read about these three generations of Venetian women transplanted, by marriage to London and on in to Cornwall. The detailing of Alexa's 18th birthday ball were so rich I read on eagerly.
Unfortunately, I found the story to be, ultimately, very disappointing. I think the main reason for this is the character of Alexa. She is a very unworldly girl and also incredibly self-centred. To me this was epitomised by her time away at boarding school. She made no friends and held herself apart from her classmates, from the text it would appear that they did not shun her but rather she shunned them. I understand that she was grieving the loss of her mother but this sets the benchmark for all her future interactions with people.
Unfortunately, I found the story to be, ultimately, very disappointing. I think the main reason for this is the character of Alexa. She is a very unworldly girl and also incredibly self-centred. To me this was epitomised by her time away at boarding school. She made no friends and held herself apart from her classmates, from the text it would appear that they did not shun her but rather she shunned them. I understand that she was grieving the loss of her mother but this sets the benchmark for all her future interactions with people.