In her delightful reimagining of A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Amanda Craig slyly serves up a witty cross-cultural farce, a modern...
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May 19, 2010
Elizabeth
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Dec 16, 2009
Sarah
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Finished Love in Idleness by Amanda Craig. I hardly know what to say. Perhaps I could start off by saying that even if you have a fascination with Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream you don't have to work it into your novel.
When I first started Love in Idleness, so many characters were thrown at me that I was about to walk away from the book--which I hardly ever do. Finally I figured out the relationships (kind of) and the nationalities (sort of) and saw where Craig was taking me More...
When I first started Love in Idleness, so many characters were thrown at me that I was about to walk away from the book--which I hardly ever do. Finally I figured out the relationships (kind of) and the nationalities (sort of) and saw where Craig was taking me More...
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Aug 06, 2011
Jayne
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If this book was a motor vehicle, it would be a classic motorbike, perfectly tuned and polished, inexplicably coupled to a sidecar full of cack. I liked the early stages, the characterisation, and the interplay between the characters. There were some very witty and wry observations made, particularly concerning the experiences of an American ex-pat in London, and some interesting discourse on the nature of relationships and contrasting parenting styles. Polly and Theo were particularly fascinati
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Apr 30, 2011
Vivienne
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A delightful re-telling of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer's Night Dream' with a little homage to 'A Room with a View'.
I think my appreciation of this novel was helped by having read other works by Craig as while her books are 'stand-alone', she does have characters that cross-over from one to the other.
In this book Polly Noble, who was one of the main characters in 'Hearts and Minds', is seen in her earlier married life and Ivo Sponge, who featured in 'A Vicious Circl More...
Jul 27, 2009
Cowgirl4christ16
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I listened to this book on tape, and really did not like it. It had alot of stuff in it that I do not personally agree with for one thing,along with some unnecessary crudeness. But another reason I did not like it is that it randomly copied "A Midnight Summer's Dream" towards the end of the book, so it lacked creativity and the ending felt thrown together. The characters were not really likable either, the kids were brats, half of the adults acted like children and the other half lack
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Feb 21, 2011
Vero
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Midsummer Night's Dream is shifted to Tuscany and a house party of deeply unattractive characters with whom it is impossible to identify. Indeed, the characters are stereotypes rather than being people we could ever hope to care about. I purchased this book after reading Craig's most recent book, which I loved, but I found Love in Idleness to be sorely disappointing.
Aug 12, 2011
A Midsummer Night's Dream set in modern day Italy. Theo and Polly have rented a villa in Italy and invited various friends and family members along. But the sultry weather, the dream-like atmosphere and the vivid imaginings of the kids are too much for
Mar 18, 2010
Ali
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I picked this up randomly at the library and thought it was kind of interesting. It's an interpretation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which is a pretty fanciful play, but I thought the author handled it in a creative way.
Dec 21, 2008
Lauren
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They say this is a 'reimagining' of Midsummer, but it doesn't take a turn for Shakespeare until 2/3 of the way through and then it's so ridiculously close to the plot that you know what the next word will be. Not good.
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Apr 23, 2009
Beth
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Light and escapist. Very frivolous, but as a take-off of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, I guess it should be. I enjoyed the setting- felt like a mini vacation each time I settled down to read.
Aug 12, 2008
Garnette
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Reading Shakespeare's Mid-Summer Night's Dream in an enchanting 21st Century novel, post Harry Potter, is quite satisfying. I finished just at dawn well pleased with the book. The writing is well-crafted, Nan Talese as editor always a plus. Tuscany, hot, rose-scented, slightly fey fairies, believe-able children and Shakepeare's golden threads throughout.(Bron's understanding of Rama poignant - that paragraph worth the whole book). I especially loved the women, how they sorted their lives out. Ly
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Oct 17, 2009
Hatgirl
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This is a really fun Under the Tuscan Sun/Midsummer's Night Dream type of novel. Good summer reading or a light read for anytime.
Aug 10, 2011
Danka
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A good read for your summer holiday, especially if you like Shakespearian atmosphere and enjoy the beauties of Tuscany.
Jun 25, 2010
Brenda
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a frothy, frilly beach-read and the complete works of william shakespeare walk into a bar. they both get really drunk and leave together, and nine months later, "love in idleness" is born.
this is one of those books that you take to the park when the weather is warm, or curl up with under a blanket when you *wish* the weather was warm. it's a quick, light modern interpretation of one of shakespeares quickest, lightest plays. it's like cotton candy for the brain.
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this is one of those books that you take to the park when the weather is warm, or curl up with under a blanket when you *wish* the weather was warm. it's a quick, light modern interpretation of one of shakespeares quickest, lightest plays. it's like cotton candy for the brain.
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Jun 07, 2009
meliss
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May 09, 2010
Annie
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very disappointed. Loved the setting, but thought the Midsummer Night's Dream influence was tired.
May 25, 2011
Vicky
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Very easy to read. I don't mind the story being ridiculous - I'm happy just to enjoy the Italian summer setting.
Jul 17, 2008
Linda
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The conflicts of modern life. Allusions to Shakespeare effortlessly incorporated. Vivid characters. Fresh, memorable metaphors. A touch of magic. Innocence. Deviltry. All this, plus a plot that twists, turns, and makes you laugh and think at the same time. Love in Idleness is good enough to warrant a second perusal, just to catch the delicious detail missed in the first reading.
Jul 31, 2008
Susie
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I will go with the reviewers summary "In her delightful reimagining of A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Amanda Craig slyly serves up a witty cross-cultural farce, a modern-day tale of love and lies set against the magical landscape of Tuscany." I read the book a long time ago, but remember how good it was.
Jan 29, 2010
Sarah
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The enchanting Casa Luna, a villa near Cortona, become the scene for a family vacation that forces each traveler to discover significant differences in himself or herself, in a modern-day story of love and lies, set against the backdrop of Tuscany, based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Jul 25, 2008
Caoimhe
rated it:
What a load of rubbish. Ridiculous, totally implausible story which I feel I've wasted my time reading. All the characters are extremely unsympathetic and the final denouement a complete anticlimax, not that I was that excited by the story in the first place. Got nothing going for it.
May 26, 2008
Josette
rated it:
Very lighthearted story about several adults (and a few kids) leaving their comfort zones during a vacation in Tuscany. Read it just for the wonderful imagery of the beautiful Tuscan countryside! It won't make you think too deeply--this one is a great beach read.
Jul 24, 2007
Elisha
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This is a modern re-telling of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" set in Tuscany. I say stick to SHAKESPEARE, lol!
