Black Water Lilies

Neptune dies!!! What!!! Then he gets back up. 😵 Okay it's more like a 4.5 stars. The book started out slow, really slow and it took me a while to get the reading bug but I did. Oh boy, the book takes you on a trip, the climax was completely unexpected and I thought I had an inkling to what was going on but I didn't. Then the end of the book itself was another shocker. I really like the writing style, mixing up the present with memories that appear to happen now but are simply just memories. It was really interesting how the writer brought everything together. The only thing I wish I did was read the book in French. All in all, an absolutely great read.

Until the last chapters I thought that it was the worst book I've read in my life, getting ready to finish it as soon as possible and give it a "1/5": my first impression was that the horrible plot was saved only due to the fascinating facts about life of Claude Monet and wonderful picturesque descriptions of Giverny village where he lived. I was very disappointed by some (fake) plot holes, lack of logic, empty and boring characters, incredibly awkward and dry love scenes. Additionally, starting from the middle of the book I was sure to know who the main antagonist was, but... I was both right and wrong! The last chapters blew my mind but at the same time connected all the dots and made everything clear and obvious. However, not in a very honest way. So, to sum up, the first half of the book was making me suffer, but the final chapters changed my impression. I recommend the "Black Water Lilies" to people who like slow narrations and nature descriptions, and at the same time who can tolerate some imperfect writing skills and little inconsistencies. Not for the classic detectives lovers.