The book’s attempt to charm has the opposite effect. The mad excess Greer seems to be aiming for in his extended early descriptions of the villa, for instance, is tiresome and stodgy — and this from a writer usually so light of touch ... There is only a story of friendship to give order to the chaos, with the result that when events of significance do happen — a sudden death, a daring heist, incriminating revelations about the fictional Baronessa’s past — they get lost in the crush.
Do you fancy reading a funny, charming novel to take your mind off things? The American author Andrew Sean Greer reckons he can answer your prayers ... Does he pull it off? The answer is… hmm ... The problem with this, and with Greer’s aim of making us laugh, smile, enjoy, relax, be charmed and so on, is that for all the frantic antics, it’s not really funny very often. He does do his best ... It feels forced, as though Greer decided to write a funny book, then pressed his will on the material rather than letting the story and characters decide what they wanted it to be ... Overall it’s a step down from Greer’s intentions.
Richly descriptive, wonderfully written ... Splendidly paced, this bildungsroman is, in keeping with Greer’s signature qualities, funny, moving, and quietly profound from start to finish.
Greer has become a virtuoso at crafting charmingly episodic novels ... Greer has created a delightfully eccentric tale filled with colorful characters and unusual developments ... Seductive.
If you’re looking for a work of fiction that’s charming from start to finish, Villa Coco is the book for you. It’s seductively entertaining from the get-go ... Greer’s novel is a Tuscan romp that overflows with sunshine and surprises while providing a deep meditation on growing up, growing old and navigating the many crossroads in between.
Charming ... Greer breathes life into the Baronessa and her world and captures its appeal to Geoffrey, fashioning the novel into a box of treasures. This light and airy bildungsroman is great fun.
