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City of Illusions
A yearning for change puts Laura on the road to Rome but her marital problems, muted in cool Seattle, become magnified in the glare of the Roman sun. Will she find happiness in the Eternal City or are her dreams of happiness only an illusion?
Book Synopsis:
Laura longs for warmth and excitement in her marriage and her life. Her impulsive response to a job posting in Italy leads her to cook Jake’s favorite Italian dinner to persuade him to take the leap from the comfortable confines of Seattle to unknown Rome. But the move turns out to be anything but a holiday. Behind the fountains, trattorias, and facades of ancient buildings lurk scheming art dealers and a Machiavellian co-worker who impact Laura’s marriage in ways she never imagined.
Will Laura find love among the ruins? Or will her dreams turn out to be illusions?
Book Synopsis:
Laura longs for warmth and excitement in her marriage and her life. Her impulsive response to a job posting in Italy leads her to cook Jake’s favorite Italian dinner to persuade him to take the leap from the comfortable confines of Seattle to unknown Rome. But the move turns out to be anything but a holiday. Behind the fountains, trattorias, and facades of ancient buildings lurk scheming art dealers and a Machiavellian co-worker who impact Laura’s marriage in ways she never imagined.
Will Laura find love among the ruins? Or will her dreams turn out to be illusions?
210 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
About the author
Judith Works
4 books102 followersHaving lived a basically boring life until early middle age, it was time for something interesting to happen. So I went to law school. It was fun but in the end didn't make much difference until my degree and the chance meeting with a long missing friend combined to provide an opportunity to escape into a new life in Rome, Italy. My husband and I spent ten years living the dolce vita (with a few hiccups on the way). My memoir, Coins in the Fountain, recounts those exciting years.
Now retired, I travel as often as possible in between volunteering for arts and literary organizations. I love to collect old travel books.
My novel, The Measure of Life, is now available. It is set in Rome and Vashon Island near Seattle. Nicole's life is turned upside down after sharing a cappuccino and cornetto with her Italian tutor.
Now retired, I travel as often as possible in between volunteering for arts and literary organizations. I love to collect old travel books.
My novel, The Measure of Life, is now available. It is set in Rome and Vashon Island near Seattle. Nicole's life is turned upside down after sharing a cappuccino and cornetto with her Italian tutor.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 17, 2015
In City of Illusions, the author gives the reader an Innocents Abroad story about a U.S. American couple who discover what the life of the expatriate worker in Rome, Italy, is really like, while offering the reader a glimpse at Rome's many attractions, distractions, and faults.
The Americans are a thirty-something married couple from Seattle, Washington, whose marriage has serious cracks, and whose characters have even more cracks. The book could be seen as the study of a crumbling marriage, set in Rome, Italy.
The story of Europe's decadence corrupting naïve Americans, Innocents Abroad, has been a favorite of authors for generations. The freedom of being way from family, religious and social pressure proves to be too much for puritanical, law-abiding Americans again and again.
"...safe Seattle where life had always seemed under control and people were normal."
At times the story was like watching a train wreck, as the husband and wife made one poor decision after another, with equally poor justifications for doing so. Their limited, safe lives before they went to Rome, leave them ill-prepared for what they encounter, and for what they learn about themselves.
I found two points addressed in the book to be very interesting: blogs and romanticized Italy. Being a modern book about plugged in people, the author mentions the seemingly overwhelming need some people feel to keep a blog about their life, for all the world to read.
The truth about too many blogs, however, is shown to be that they are too often merely a new version of autobiographical-fiction that people use to boost their self-esteem, and to make others envious. The protagonist muses at one point that:
"Reading about other people's delightful lives, however, only brought an unwelcome comparison..."
Most interesting is the portrayal of people who've dreamed of a romanticized Italy, egged on my too many romanticized and sanitized blogs, and those people's reactions when they encounter the real deal.
Rome is not the Rome from the film Roman Holiday. Rome is a big, congested, dirty, chaotic, noisy, expensive city that is flooded with tourists, and with beggars and thieves, at times seemingly in equal number.
The view of Rome as something other than what people expect is nothing new. The Early Renaissance artist Giotto provides the quote about Rome that gave the author the title of this book:
"Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions, and the city of yearning."
One of the expatriates the couple meet in Rome explains:
"...living in Rome is either a one or a two, or a nine or ten. Not much in between. And some days it's both."
The story is believable for the most part, although the ending convinced me less than the rest of the book. The writing is fluid and confident, with the narrative style of third-person limited used throughout, varying the point of view from the wife to the husband, but beginning and ending with the wife's point of view.
The biggest difference from the classic Innocents Abroad sagas is the ending. In the 19th and 20th century versions, the protagonists usually ends up seriously wounded or dead (think Daisy Miller). In this modern incarnation, the protagonists are given relatively happy endings. The classic tragedy has morphed into a contemporary saga of self-realization.
City of Illusions is an Innocents Abroad saga about two immature, self-centered, naïve, insecure, morally-challenged, passive-aggressive, thirty-something U.S. Americans who are forced to grow up, at least a bit, during a one year stay in Rome, Italy.
Please visit my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews. I received a review-copy of the book.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
The Americans are a thirty-something married couple from Seattle, Washington, whose marriage has serious cracks, and whose characters have even more cracks. The book could be seen as the study of a crumbling marriage, set in Rome, Italy.
The story of Europe's decadence corrupting naïve Americans, Innocents Abroad, has been a favorite of authors for generations. The freedom of being way from family, religious and social pressure proves to be too much for puritanical, law-abiding Americans again and again.
"...safe Seattle where life had always seemed under control and people were normal."
At times the story was like watching a train wreck, as the husband and wife made one poor decision after another, with equally poor justifications for doing so. Their limited, safe lives before they went to Rome, leave them ill-prepared for what they encounter, and for what they learn about themselves.
I found two points addressed in the book to be very interesting: blogs and romanticized Italy. Being a modern book about plugged in people, the author mentions the seemingly overwhelming need some people feel to keep a blog about their life, for all the world to read.
The truth about too many blogs, however, is shown to be that they are too often merely a new version of autobiographical-fiction that people use to boost their self-esteem, and to make others envious. The protagonist muses at one point that:
"Reading about other people's delightful lives, however, only brought an unwelcome comparison..."
Most interesting is the portrayal of people who've dreamed of a romanticized Italy, egged on my too many romanticized and sanitized blogs, and those people's reactions when they encounter the real deal.
Rome is not the Rome from the film Roman Holiday. Rome is a big, congested, dirty, chaotic, noisy, expensive city that is flooded with tourists, and with beggars and thieves, at times seemingly in equal number.
The view of Rome as something other than what people expect is nothing new. The Early Renaissance artist Giotto provides the quote about Rome that gave the author the title of this book:
"Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions, and the city of yearning."
One of the expatriates the couple meet in Rome explains:
"...living in Rome is either a one or a two, or a nine or ten. Not much in between. And some days it's both."
The story is believable for the most part, although the ending convinced me less than the rest of the book. The writing is fluid and confident, with the narrative style of third-person limited used throughout, varying the point of view from the wife to the husband, but beginning and ending with the wife's point of view.
The biggest difference from the classic Innocents Abroad sagas is the ending. In the 19th and 20th century versions, the protagonists usually ends up seriously wounded or dead (think Daisy Miller). In this modern incarnation, the protagonists are given relatively happy endings. The classic tragedy has morphed into a contemporary saga of self-realization.
City of Illusions is an Innocents Abroad saga about two immature, self-centered, naïve, insecure, morally-challenged, passive-aggressive, thirty-something U.S. Americans who are forced to grow up, at least a bit, during a one year stay in Rome, Italy.
Please visit my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews. I received a review-copy of the book.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
March 25, 2015
I enjoyed a lot to read this book: it is a strange and exciting feeling to see my city through the eyes of a foreigner, I had never happened. Dishes, utensils and many other things for us are obvious seem almost alien objects (such as mocha coffee).
Laura and Jack are a young couple from Seattle, she has a freelance job and he teaches. Laura, however, feel the need to change something: her marriage is in crisis, has almost thirty years and wants to try a new adventure. She reads so many fascinating things to people who have left America to live in a European city, is "infected" by the enthusiasm of their stories on blogs and decides to do an interview for a job in Italy and is taken. She will have to live and work in Rome for a year. She is euphoric, Jack is not at all excited but decides to take a year sabbatical and go with her. He'll use the time available to paint. But when they land their dream collides with the harsh realities of everyday life: the room of their hotel is not the best, don't know the language and it becomes difficult to order in a bar or a restaurant. Laura seattles in easily thanks to her colleagues but Jack seems to fade more and more into himself. The flight to Rome will help them to save their marriage?
It 's a story truly captivating, engaging, realistic, one sees that the author knows well the feelings and places that describes to have lived them firsthand.
One of the protagonists of this book is surely Rome with its wonders but also with its many flaws. It's a city a bit chaotic to live: there is so much traffic, bad roads, buses always late, people a bit rude but then you take a nice walk on the Janiculum, where you can see the whole city, and you know how to do to love it so much.
If you want to come and live for some time in Rome or just fly here with the imagination is the book for you.
Laura and Jack are a young couple from Seattle, she has a freelance job and he teaches. Laura, however, feel the need to change something: her marriage is in crisis, has almost thirty years and wants to try a new adventure. She reads so many fascinating things to people who have left America to live in a European city, is "infected" by the enthusiasm of their stories on blogs and decides to do an interview for a job in Italy and is taken. She will have to live and work in Rome for a year. She is euphoric, Jack is not at all excited but decides to take a year sabbatical and go with her. He'll use the time available to paint. But when they land their dream collides with the harsh realities of everyday life: the room of their hotel is not the best, don't know the language and it becomes difficult to order in a bar or a restaurant. Laura seattles in easily thanks to her colleagues but Jack seems to fade more and more into himself. The flight to Rome will help them to save their marriage?
It 's a story truly captivating, engaging, realistic, one sees that the author knows well the feelings and places that describes to have lived them firsthand.
One of the protagonists of this book is surely Rome with its wonders but also with its many flaws. It's a city a bit chaotic to live: there is so much traffic, bad roads, buses always late, people a bit rude but then you take a nice walk on the Janiculum, where you can see the whole city, and you know how to do to love it so much.
If you want to come and live for some time in Rome or just fly here with the imagination is the book for you.
December 2, 2014
Judith Works sets a fine stage in historical Rome, which is also her previous home, for Laura and Jake's first experience being expats. Laura is thrilled and curious, Jake is bored and restless. People can get themselves into trouble when they're bored and Jake is no exception. While reading this intriguing romp, I was taken back to the same piazzas I wandered through several years ago with Judith's clear descriptions. She also gives the reader a good sense of culinary delights which Italian food offers. A good read!
January 20, 2015
I have a friend who went on a tour of Italy with her husband. He was not enthused about going, and when they got there he stayed one day, then flew home. She continued on the tour and had a wonderful time. With some couples there's a lot to be said for separate vacations. Maybe that's what Jake should of done! Stay home in rainy Seattle and let Laura go off for her year in Rome. Of course then you wouldn't have such a great story to read. This novel has great characters, both good and bad, plus all of Rome as a backdrop. The descriptions of all those Italian dishes made my mouth water!!!!
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November 26, 2014Archived
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
mystery
April 7, 2015For review and star rating please visit InD'tale magazine online, June 2015 issue http://www.indtale.com/reviews/contem...
July 5, 2026
A lovely trip to wonderful Rome. I really enjoyed this book which has both intrigue and a love story, though this is not a romance novel. Through the story of an American couple, Laura and Jake, the author takes you to some of her favorite places in and around Rome, which coincidentally are my favorite places too. Judith Works knows these secret and not so secret places from her years living and working in Rome. She knows that Volpetti is the shop to visit in Rome when you need to put together a party featuring authentic Roman dishes. She knows the very best wines and the best food to savor in Italy. I enjoyed her descriptions of Roman life and what it is like to arrive in the city as an expat and neophyte dropped in a place that magically assaults all of your human senses from your first day. Very few writers know about the wonders of towns like Sutri, Tivoli or Viterbo and the author takes her characters there in an interesting tale about the underground criminal world trading in ancient artifacts and smuggled art. If you love Italy and especially if you have fond memories of Rome, this is a book that you will absolutely enjoy.
December 21, 2014
City of Illusions
By Judith Works
There’s no place like Rome. With its abundant architectural and artistic riches, Rome celebrates more than 2,500 years of history. Judith Works’ City of Illusions has given me an exciting taste of contemporary Rome, with its historical backdrop and with its shadows of intrigue. Et tu Brute? This novel is an exotic work of fiction that transported me inside a beautiful culture, and a troubled marriage. Will our heroine excavate love from among Roman ruins?
Rome was not built in a day. Great things, great places, and great marriages are not achieved without effort and patience. Something that looks so good on the surface you realize can be deceptive as you delve into its layers. As the story progresses, Judith skillfully peels back those layers in each of her characters, revealing their motivations and dramas. From the start, I’m interested in the stormy relationship shown between Laura and her husband Jake. Just like the characters, I found myself fervently hoping that a change of scene could be arranged, and could be the way to a happily-ever-after. And Rome is full of surprises.
This author beautifully paints the story, to match the incredible cover art on the book. I really appreciate how generous Judith is with her description of Rome and the characters’ surroundings. Along with the famous sites, the reader is treated to a view into the Roman culture that only expats experience. It includes every day conversations with residents, visits in their homes, and descriptions of the wonderful meals. That’s right, not just the food, eating is presented as a cultural event. We also get a taste of the language scattered throughout the book in little phrases and descriptions, which is really fun. Try reading those out loud. It’s fascinating following our characters through their daily routines, and even more so following them as they stray from their daily routines.
Judith is the right author to imagine a novel like The City of Illusions. She interrupted her life in process to temporarily work at the United Nations office in Rome and live there as an expat. Her love for Rome and Italy shines through every page, and translates into a wonderful stage for this novel of adventure and intrigue.
Thereby hangs a tale . . . .
By Judith Works
There’s no place like Rome. With its abundant architectural and artistic riches, Rome celebrates more than 2,500 years of history. Judith Works’ City of Illusions has given me an exciting taste of contemporary Rome, with its historical backdrop and with its shadows of intrigue. Et tu Brute? This novel is an exotic work of fiction that transported me inside a beautiful culture, and a troubled marriage. Will our heroine excavate love from among Roman ruins?
Rome was not built in a day. Great things, great places, and great marriages are not achieved without effort and patience. Something that looks so good on the surface you realize can be deceptive as you delve into its layers. As the story progresses, Judith skillfully peels back those layers in each of her characters, revealing their motivations and dramas. From the start, I’m interested in the stormy relationship shown between Laura and her husband Jake. Just like the characters, I found myself fervently hoping that a change of scene could be arranged, and could be the way to a happily-ever-after. And Rome is full of surprises.
This author beautifully paints the story, to match the incredible cover art on the book. I really appreciate how generous Judith is with her description of Rome and the characters’ surroundings. Along with the famous sites, the reader is treated to a view into the Roman culture that only expats experience. It includes every day conversations with residents, visits in their homes, and descriptions of the wonderful meals. That’s right, not just the food, eating is presented as a cultural event. We also get a taste of the language scattered throughout the book in little phrases and descriptions, which is really fun. Try reading those out loud. It’s fascinating following our characters through their daily routines, and even more so following them as they stray from their daily routines.
Judith is the right author to imagine a novel like The City of Illusions. She interrupted her life in process to temporarily work at the United Nations office in Rome and live there as an expat. Her love for Rome and Italy shines through every page, and translates into a wonderful stage for this novel of adventure and intrigue.
Thereby hangs a tale . . . .
December 6, 2014
In City Of Illusions, Seattle couple Laura and Jess’s year abroad manifest in a roller-coaster ride of infidelity, corruption, and murder.
Have you ever wanted to take a year to live abroad? If the life of an expatriate sounds exotic to you, or if leaving a rainy US city for the excitement of one of the top 5 travel destinations entices you, or if you ever thought a change in location would spice up your waning marriage, then City Of Illusions is your book.
Unfortunately for protagonist, Laura – who longs for love, children and a full life – these aspirations of a life changing year abroad with her reluctant husband Jess, don’t go as planned. As Jess drifts away, Laura learns about her new home, Rome, new culture, friends and job, alongside some hard lessons about married life and the disturbing magnitude of her bored husband’s Roman adventures.
As Laura becomes disheartened over her marriage, she begins to fall in love with Rome and what it offers – leading her to an affair. Jess dabbles in the dark side of Rome, antiquity theft, sex and criminal escapades – he gets in deeper. While he searches for a way out of Rome with his life, Laura’s quest is to stay.
Rome is a city of many layers, literally, from the partially unearthed Forum to the glitzy hotels to the Vespa crowded alleyways. It’s a culture you can get lost in figuratively and literally, but one we globe-trekkers have been drawn to since there were planes to take us across the globe. In City Of Illusions, author Judith Works knows her stuff. She actually lived in Rome for many years, actually was an expat, and her descriptions take me back to the place I loved when I visited – every sound, every nuance, is organic to the Rome I remember.
Combined with true knowledge of Rome and its culture, Judith Works takes her readers on a journey of love, loss and self-discovery in City Of Illusions.
Have you ever wanted to take a year to live abroad? If the life of an expatriate sounds exotic to you, or if leaving a rainy US city for the excitement of one of the top 5 travel destinations entices you, or if you ever thought a change in location would spice up your waning marriage, then City Of Illusions is your book.
Unfortunately for protagonist, Laura – who longs for love, children and a full life – these aspirations of a life changing year abroad with her reluctant husband Jess, don’t go as planned. As Jess drifts away, Laura learns about her new home, Rome, new culture, friends and job, alongside some hard lessons about married life and the disturbing magnitude of her bored husband’s Roman adventures.
As Laura becomes disheartened over her marriage, she begins to fall in love with Rome and what it offers – leading her to an affair. Jess dabbles in the dark side of Rome, antiquity theft, sex and criminal escapades – he gets in deeper. While he searches for a way out of Rome with his life, Laura’s quest is to stay.
Rome is a city of many layers, literally, from the partially unearthed Forum to the glitzy hotels to the Vespa crowded alleyways. It’s a culture you can get lost in figuratively and literally, but one we globe-trekkers have been drawn to since there were planes to take us across the globe. In City Of Illusions, author Judith Works knows her stuff. She actually lived in Rome for many years, actually was an expat, and her descriptions take me back to the place I loved when I visited – every sound, every nuance, is organic to the Rome I remember.
Combined with true knowledge of Rome and its culture, Judith Works takes her readers on a journey of love, loss and self-discovery in City Of Illusions.
December 15, 2014
An American in Rome. For every woman who has ever dreamed of changing her destiny, this is the book! Judith Works latest book will intrigue, surprise, and teach you – lessons about yourself, the world and maybe even about love and marriage.
City of Illusions is about a young-ish couple staid in their respective careers who are at a crossroads in life – and in their marriage. Sound familiar? Laura is certain that the geographic cure will solve all the ills of her life and uses manipulation to cajole her husband, Jake, into agreeing that an exciting dash to Rome will spice up their droll existence.
Jake, infuriatingly passive, agrees (and for this I hated him already!) For many reasons I have made Laura the heroine in this story – until a fatefully bad error in judgment threatens to undo her new life.
But City of Illusions isn’t only about Laura’s challenges – and Jake's failings. In a style reminiscent of “Gone Girl” we have another “didn’t see it coming” husband – very different situation, but I was speed reading and cheat-reading to figure out just how tangled Jake’s life was going to become as he scurried around to cover the tracks of his dangerously bad decisions.
You see, Jake is an artist – bored and at loose ends – and in Europe a naïve American artist = antiquities fraud opportunities.
Part mystery, part travelogue; long on European art gallery tours, with a large portion of marriage in the raw stages, City of Illusions equals a worthy page-turner!
My recommendation?
Do NOT skip to the last page! The ending will take your breath away, so savor the suspense!
January 3, 2015
As a 50 year resident in Italy and a writer myself I am very picky about books and blogs that attempt to narrate life in Italy, romantic Roman escapades and other publications of that type.
I cringe when I see some of the inaccuracies, stereotypes and fluff that fill up the majority of articles by “one month wonders” who pass through Rome,Florence or Venice and then write an article, an ebook or a guide to all those things they think are important . Have you ever noticed just how many top ten lists clog the internet?
Since I had enjoyed Judith Works earlier book, Three Coins in the Fountain , I was curious to check out her latest publication, City of Illusions. The story based on a young couple moving to Rome for a season could be a bit autobiographical (as Three Coins was ) but Works decided to make this book a fiction novel so she could include more touchy material to the basic story line: tombaroli, culture shock, trailing spouse problems.
The author’s plot and action is 100% believable for she also lived in Rome for years and therefore is able to tell it like it really is. She does not hide the grim and dirty bits , but mixes them in with delightful descriptions of monuments, wonderful food and photo- worthy piazzas.
Rome and the Tuscia-Etruria hinterland near Viterbo and the Lake of Bolsena play a special part in the book. Here the naïve expats find themselves accepted into local lifestyle with invitations to holiday parties at a villa. They also take part in nefarious doings such as tomb robbing and even a death. A page turner, it kept my attention until the very end.
Mary Jane Cryan
www.elegantetruria.com
I cringe when I see some of the inaccuracies, stereotypes and fluff that fill up the majority of articles by “one month wonders” who pass through Rome,Florence or Venice and then write an article, an ebook or a guide to all those things they think are important . Have you ever noticed just how many top ten lists clog the internet?
Since I had enjoyed Judith Works earlier book, Three Coins in the Fountain , I was curious to check out her latest publication, City of Illusions. The story based on a young couple moving to Rome for a season could be a bit autobiographical (as Three Coins was ) but Works decided to make this book a fiction novel so she could include more touchy material to the basic story line: tombaroli, culture shock, trailing spouse problems.
The author’s plot and action is 100% believable for she also lived in Rome for years and therefore is able to tell it like it really is. She does not hide the grim and dirty bits , but mixes them in with delightful descriptions of monuments, wonderful food and photo- worthy piazzas.
Rome and the Tuscia-Etruria hinterland near Viterbo and the Lake of Bolsena play a special part in the book. Here the naïve expats find themselves accepted into local lifestyle with invitations to holiday parties at a villa. They also take part in nefarious doings such as tomb robbing and even a death. A page turner, it kept my attention until the very end.
Mary Jane Cryan
www.elegantetruria.com
November 12, 2015
Meet Jake & Laura Miller … Laura is fast approaching thirty, recently had a miscarriage & wants to leave their ‘steady’ life in Seattle for an adventure in Rome.
She gains employment, the rather sulky husband doesn’t but reluctantly agrees to tag along on the basis it’s only for one year. Laura has hopes & dreams of a romantic lifestyle in the ancient city .. reality hits a bit hard. We get taken on a journey of the more squalid side of the city away from the tourist attractions.
Jake is bored & soon finds ‘other’ things to occupy him but what has he got himself involved in? Is it a danger to the marriage or will there be a happy-ever-after .. there are numerous dubious characters, some who are fairly difficult to like & I don’t think I actually felt any concern for either Laura or Jake there wasn’t a connection. I did find it strange that they both embarked on this journey without any simple knowledge of the language.
I enjoyed some parts of the book, I have been to Rome so it was nice to reminisce about such places as the Trevi Fountain etc but other bits left me feeling as though something was lacking. I have to say I found the constant reference to food/drink annoying after a while .. it felt like I was wading through a menu. This could stem from the fact Laura dabbled with the idea of writing a blog but it didn’t hang together, frankly if you remove all the food/drink mentions the book would be a lot shorter!
It did pick up pace nearer the end & I was curious to know what happened & wasn’t disappointed with the ending.
She gains employment, the rather sulky husband doesn’t but reluctantly agrees to tag along on the basis it’s only for one year. Laura has hopes & dreams of a romantic lifestyle in the ancient city .. reality hits a bit hard. We get taken on a journey of the more squalid side of the city away from the tourist attractions.
Jake is bored & soon finds ‘other’ things to occupy him but what has he got himself involved in? Is it a danger to the marriage or will there be a happy-ever-after .. there are numerous dubious characters, some who are fairly difficult to like & I don’t think I actually felt any concern for either Laura or Jake there wasn’t a connection. I did find it strange that they both embarked on this journey without any simple knowledge of the language.
I enjoyed some parts of the book, I have been to Rome so it was nice to reminisce about such places as the Trevi Fountain etc but other bits left me feeling as though something was lacking. I have to say I found the constant reference to food/drink annoying after a while .. it felt like I was wading through a menu. This could stem from the fact Laura dabbled with the idea of writing a blog but it didn’t hang together, frankly if you remove all the food/drink mentions the book would be a lot shorter!
It did pick up pace nearer the end & I was curious to know what happened & wasn’t disappointed with the ending.
February 26, 2015
How much can really change in 1 year, is it possible for someone to change their live so completely in a single year? Laura didn't intently plan it that way; she simply wanted to try living abroad for a year to spice things up for her and her husband. Moving to Rome truly seemed for a way for her and her husband Jake to reconnect with each other. But not everything always goes as planned….
Rome through Laura and Jake’s eyes was in the beginning was far from what one pictures one of the most romantic cities in the world. More it seemed everything they described in their first months there seemed tainted by their relationship troubles; like they were 2 people seeming a city of disappointment because they just couldn’t seem to enjoy it together.
The changes and growth by both characters in this book was refreshing, added to that the beautiful depictions of Rome and areas surrounding it and the very detailed description of various foods throughout the book left me with a story I couldn't put down. For Laura and Jake Rome really did become a city of illusions.
This was a fantastic read that truly takes you to on tour of Rome and will allow you to fall in love with it even if you have never been there!
Rome through Laura and Jake’s eyes was in the beginning was far from what one pictures one of the most romantic cities in the world. More it seemed everything they described in their first months there seemed tainted by their relationship troubles; like they were 2 people seeming a city of disappointment because they just couldn’t seem to enjoy it together.
The changes and growth by both characters in this book was refreshing, added to that the beautiful depictions of Rome and areas surrounding it and the very detailed description of various foods throughout the book left me with a story I couldn't put down. For Laura and Jake Rome really did become a city of illusions.
This was a fantastic read that truly takes you to on tour of Rome and will allow you to fall in love with it even if you have never been there!
December 27, 2014
Have you ever considered taking a job in a foreign country where you don’t know the language? Are you adventurous enough for it? Brave enough? Laura is restless and wants a change in her life. Her marriage is shaky so she wants to try something new. She applies for a job with the United Nations in Rome. Her husband reluctantly agrees to go along for the one-year commitment.
I enjoyed reading of their attempts to make Italy their new home – the culture, the food, trying to make new friends. However, I had some difficulty with the writing itself. The transitions within the chapters tended to be abrupt. I frequently had to stop and re-read portions to determine where I was supposed to be after the transition. And the story was a bit too contrived for me. Shaky marriage, only going to get worse in these conditions. Two fairly self-centered individuals turned lose in a foreign country – they do exactly as would be expected – affairs, gullibility. Then the story had to quickly wrap up with a “they lived happily ever after”.
You can tell that Ms. Works loves Rome. She paints a beautiful picture of it. Too bad it is spoiled by such immature characters.
I enjoyed reading of their attempts to make Italy their new home – the culture, the food, trying to make new friends. However, I had some difficulty with the writing itself. The transitions within the chapters tended to be abrupt. I frequently had to stop and re-read portions to determine where I was supposed to be after the transition. And the story was a bit too contrived for me. Shaky marriage, only going to get worse in these conditions. Two fairly self-centered individuals turned lose in a foreign country – they do exactly as would be expected – affairs, gullibility. Then the story had to quickly wrap up with a “they lived happily ever after”.
You can tell that Ms. Works loves Rome. She paints a beautiful picture of it. Too bad it is spoiled by such immature characters.
March 27, 2015
City of Illusions reminded me of what my grandmother once told me, "If we could see what is coming at us in life, at breakneck speed sometimes, we'd never move an inch toward changes and making decisions." Unfortunately for Laura, the protagonist, an attempt to rekindle the flames of her marriage by moving to Rome for one year, dramatically alters her life with her husband Jess.
Judith Works writes and describes a city she loves and knows well; it's obvious from her beautiful descriptions of the nuances, complexities, smells, and food of Rome. But despite living in one of the world's most beautiful and romantic cities, the characters, Laura and Jess, two lonely, disappointed souls, just can't seem to connect and enjoy their new experience. Their dissatisfaction leads them to adultery, theft, and despair in Rome's underworld.
City of Illusions is an intriguing, well-told story story of love, loss, and extreme disappointment, and Rome does indeed become a City of Illusions for the characters. If you have the desire to visit or revisit Rome this weekend, pick up City of Illusions--you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend this book.
Judith Works writes and describes a city she loves and knows well; it's obvious from her beautiful descriptions of the nuances, complexities, smells, and food of Rome. But despite living in one of the world's most beautiful and romantic cities, the characters, Laura and Jess, two lonely, disappointed souls, just can't seem to connect and enjoy their new experience. Their dissatisfaction leads them to adultery, theft, and despair in Rome's underworld.
City of Illusions is an intriguing, well-told story story of love, loss, and extreme disappointment, and Rome does indeed become a City of Illusions for the characters. If you have the desire to visit or revisit Rome this weekend, pick up City of Illusions--you won't be disappointed. I highly recommend this book.
December 7, 2014
City of Illusions by Judith Works brings to the reader the flavor and spirit of Rome.
When Jake and Laura Miller move to Rome so that Laura can work as an editor for the United Nations, they hope to rejuvenate their crumbling marriage. Will the romance of Italy help bring about a change in attitude? Will they find that missing spark and rekindle what they once had?
City of Illusions is rich in Italian lore, its food, architecture, sense of style and gentle landscapes. The book also recognizes the difficulties expatriates have in this country of contradictions. Author Judith Works speaks of Italy from personal knowledge. Her previous book, Coins in the Fountain, is a memoir about working in Rome for the United Nations. City of Illusions, a novel, brings a ring of truth to a romantic situation and also sheds reality on living within another culture.
City of Illusions is a fun book to read, and a treasure of information for readers who are drawn to Italy.
When Jake and Laura Miller move to Rome so that Laura can work as an editor for the United Nations, they hope to rejuvenate their crumbling marriage. Will the romance of Italy help bring about a change in attitude? Will they find that missing spark and rekindle what they once had?
City of Illusions is rich in Italian lore, its food, architecture, sense of style and gentle landscapes. The book also recognizes the difficulties expatriates have in this country of contradictions. Author Judith Works speaks of Italy from personal knowledge. Her previous book, Coins in the Fountain, is a memoir about working in Rome for the United Nations. City of Illusions, a novel, brings a ring of truth to a romantic situation and also sheds reality on living within another culture.
City of Illusions is a fun book to read, and a treasure of information for readers who are drawn to Italy.
July 9, 2015
There’s nothing like traveling to a different country while sitting in your comfortable chair at home. That’s what happens when you begin to read City of Illusions. The story started out slow then gradually built to a level of anticipation that told me I was going to be up very late that night. The author’s descriptions of the food made me hungry and her ability to take me walking through the streets of Rome with her characters was remarkable. I felt I was there, feeling all of the emotions Laura was experiencing. A different take on the life of an ex-pat, it’s not all hearts and flowers, but the nitty gritty emotional journey of finding yourself in a foreign country, not fluent with the language and growing ever more distant from your husband. A very good read that will leave you wanting more.
December 19, 2014
Judith Works takes a reader on a visit into Rome as she dissects the illusions in the lives of Laura and Jake, a married couple now living in Rome. We see the sights and taste the luscious meals with them as their individual confidences as well as their marriage falls apart.
I found myself wanting to shout to them to think before they made one fateful decision after another, but they didn't listen, instead leaving me reading and wondering how they'd get themselves out of the predicaments they created.
I enjoyed the vistas Judith painted, the amazing breadth of knowledge she has about Rome (and surrounding environs)and her explanations of wonderful meals they experienced while living as ex-pats. I'd pack my bag tomorrow and head to Italy if I could take Judith along as my guide!
I found myself wanting to shout to them to think before they made one fateful decision after another, but they didn't listen, instead leaving me reading and wondering how they'd get themselves out of the predicaments they created.
I enjoyed the vistas Judith painted, the amazing breadth of knowledge she has about Rome (and surrounding environs)and her explanations of wonderful meals they experienced while living as ex-pats. I'd pack my bag tomorrow and head to Italy if I could take Judith along as my guide!
February 2, 2015
Jake and Laura Miller are living with a marriage gone stale, so when the opportunity to work a year in Rome presents itself, Laura jumps at the chance. Jake reluctantly goes along. Laura is hoping the chance to live in the beautiful city of Rome will bring love back into their disintegrating marriage. But while Laura works at the United Nations, Jake finds himself drawn into the seamier side of life. As expatriates, they each have to learn how to navigate in this new environment. Unfortunately, the paths they choose results in their being pulled further and further apart.
Beautiful Rome, the City of Illusions, is really the main character in this book. The author weaves the sights, sounds and smells of the city so seamlessly into the very fabric of her novel.
Beautiful Rome, the City of Illusions, is really the main character in this book. The author weaves the sights, sounds and smells of the city so seamlessly into the very fabric of her novel.
November 19, 2014
Great Story! Jake and Laura are a couple who hope to renew their relationship by "changing things up" by moving to Rome for one year. Real life hits them hard as they enter the "romantic life" of the paintings and ruins. Its fun to read about all the places in Italy. The author writes it so you feel like you are there. You visit famous, and not so famous, places. You get a feel what its like to live the expatriate life and how complications can arise, revealing the city's underbelly. With twists and turns the story unfolds of Jake and Laura finding happiness (or do they? No spoilers here). Wish I could taste some of the food described in the book and see the beautiful locations.
December 22, 2014
Great read! I've always loved Rome and Italy since my first visit when I was fifteen... many years ago. This book took me back there with all my memories, but this story with its suspense soon kept me reading faster and faster. I had to know how Laura and Jake would survive their year in this fascinating city. This is a great winter book, perfect for reading in front of a fire, with a good glass of Chianti, of course.
March 5, 2015
An interesting, easy read that I found hard to put down. Despite the main characters being fairly unlikable, and honestly, not that bright, I still found myself interested in what they were doing and where they would end up. Like I said, many of their choices made me want to give them a good smack upside the head, but nonetheless I enjoyed it. If nothing else, the descriptions of Rome and it's food (the food!) were wonderful and really made the setting come to life.
March 18, 2015
Interesting read, I was asked to read and review City of Illusions.
I can honestly say I rather liked the story. Though I had to put it down a few times so as not to throw my kindle across the room over Jake. Talk about an arrogant, self-obsessed prick. I couldn't believe he was so gullible not to realize what Stella was about. Laura being such a doormat for him got to me as well.
I would be glad to read more from this author.
I can honestly say I rather liked the story. Though I had to put it down a few times so as not to throw my kindle across the room over Jake. Talk about an arrogant, self-obsessed prick. I couldn't believe he was so gullible not to realize what Stella was about. Laura being such a doormat for him got to me as well.
I would be glad to read more from this author.
May 9, 2015
Laura is an unhappy woman trying to find some last hope to save her marriage; a very real dilemma that readers can sympathize with.
Read full review in the 2015 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2015 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
November 2, 2015
Just not my cup of tea. Lots of turmoil and secrets. Lots of information about places to visit in Italy.
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