Hindsight: A Novel

by Mindy Tarquini

"Tarquini's innovative concept is paired with realistic characters and sparkling wit, making this enjoyable novel a keeper."
--Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

2017 Benjamin Franklin IBPA Award: Gold

Redbook Magazine, Best Books of 2016

Finalist, General Fiction -- 2016 USA Best Book Awards

EUGENIA PANISPORCHI LIVES WITH HER MOTHER, TEACHES CHAUCER, AND REMEMBERS ALL HER PAST LIVES. SHE IS DESPERATE TO CHANGE HER FUTURE

Born this time around into a South Philadelphia Italian-American family so traditional, she and her siblings are expected to marry in birth order, Eugenia lives a simple life―no love connection, no controversy, no complications. Her hope is that the Blessed Virgin Mary (who oversees her soul's progress) will grant her heart's desire, the option to choose the circumstances of her next life. But when a student reveals he shares her ability, Eugenia suddenly finds herself setting up a Facebook page and sponsoring a support group for others like her, an oddball odyssey, during which she discovers she must confront her current shortcomings before she can break the cycle and finally live the life of her dreams.

A layered contemporary fable, Hindsight reminds us to live this life like it's the only one we'll have.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2016

Reviews

[Shirley]

A very complicated book...halfway through I found that I had insufficient grounding and started over...close attention must be paid to the plethora of rich detail presented. An amazing romp through the lives of a disparate band of people trying to learn who they are and more importantly who they want to be. Thirty-three year old Dr. Eugenia Panisporchi spins this tale from the home of her mother in South Philadelphia. Ma P irons the underwear for all three of her grown children! Very entertaining...a multi-level thought-provoking adventure.

[M F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a NetGalley read, so I'll try and write a proper review at some point.

I really liked the concept of this, a variant on reincarnation stories wrapped up with ideas about forgiveness and the past. Plus it manages to get Chaucer and history into there, which always helps. However, it was difficult to follow, the story muddled to the point where I felt I was always missing part of the information. I feel like there was probably a solid plot under there, but certain details stayed in the author's mind and weren't clear enough in the book for a reader to follow without additional information. Although it was especially difficult at the start of the book and I started to understand more and more as it went on, I still felt there were missing pieces by the time I reached the end.

My other major issue was that there were a LOT of characters, all of them introduced within a very short space of time. This was partly because the protagonist/narrator remembers her past lives, and so she describes characters both how they are, and how they used to be. The reader doesn't just have to keep up with her now-brother -- we also need to know that he's her then-cousin, just as this now-plumber may or may not be a then-villain. Especially at the beginning of the book, this led to a lot of confusion as I tried to get my head around all the names and which ones went with which character, so it may have been more effective if they'd been introduced more gradually.

The three stars this book earned were for its potential and the fact that despite its plot confusion, I kept reading. However, it felt somewhat unpolished and I would definitely have enjoyed it more if I hadn't found the narrative full of gaps that were never quite filled in.

[Chocolategoddess · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to be pretty interested in reincarnation until I read some books containing "proof" of reincarnation and realised that the "proof" was shaky enough that a fourteen year old could see through it. I still think it's a cool concept, so I was excited to read Hindsight.

Sadly, I gave up at the 20% mark. The book opens with Eugenia arguing amongst her family as they're about to go to a rushed wedding. She's been picked to be a bridesmaid at her brother's wedding. Throughout this scene we're shown that Eugenia remembers her previous incarnations, and that the reincarnating is guided by the Blessed Virgin Mary, who seems only to want Eugenia to live a good solid Catholic life time after time. Eugenia complains about this for a bit.

Then she complains about some other stuff.

Then she complains about more stuff.

Then she complains about past stuff.

Then she complains about skinny women.

Then she complains and complains and complains and it never really lets up.

That's one of the reasons I gave up reading this. Eugenia is unpleasant, dull, and unreasonably petty. I could handle unpleasant, but not dull. The pettiness got on my nerves because she seems to go around hating everyone and whining about them constantly.

Some of the whining may be valid. Much of it is aimed at people who she knew in a previous life. From what I understand, her brother used to be her cousin, and people like that crop up randomly throughout her lives, their relationship to her changing often. Within the first few chapters the number of people she knew in her past lives expands rapidly as they all seem to pop up at the same time. A local professor, the bride, a student, a plumber who is somehow related to someone maybe? And a bloke called Stanley who it's immediately made blatantly obvious that he'll become the love interest even though he randomly felt up the professor (who he isn't dating) right in front of Eugenia within seconds of meeting her.

It's a LOT of characters to introduce in such a short time and it's made endlessly more confusing because we're not only introduced to who they are right now, but who they were in the past. This could be fine if it were done in a concrete way, but instead Eugenia's narrative is frustratingly vague about the whole thing. The blurb claims she "remembers all her past lives", but I think that may be an exaggeration--it's more like she has the possibility of having her past-life memory jogged. I think. It's pretty confusing because you'll be reading a conversation and then bam she has a mini flashback to a past life in a town called Oberholt, but the flashback is vague and Eugenia either doesn't understand them, or Tarquini writes her understanding poorly.

As a result, at 20% of the way through I have no idea what the heck is happening. There are three threads to this book as far as I can tell. The modern track, where Eugenia may or may not be dating Stanley (we only see one disastrous first date where she uses Stanley, but then he come crawling back for more for some reason?) and has a hate-on for everyone else. The Oberholt track, where most of the modern characters have past lives, most of which messed Eugenia's past life up. The Chaucer track, which may be fleshed out later, but at this point it's largely Eugenia (a Chaucer lecturer) talking about his stories and comparing the characters and plots to things that have happened in her Oberholt life, in the present, and maybe in a a past life where she met Chaucer?

It's pretty hard to summarise any of this because, as stated, I have no clue what's happening. The relationships in the modern period are confusing and lacking in motivation much of the time. Maybe the motivation is based on the past lives I'm confused about, because the Oberholt period is fuzzy and vague. I think Tarquini probably did a TON of research on something called the Thirty Years War, and set the Oberholt life during that, but then forgot that the majority of her readers will have no clue what the Thirty Years War is. Maybe it's slowly revealed through the book, but it's not good to leave the reader wondering why something is so significant to the protag. Does Eugenia actually remember and Tarquini's holding stuff back for "suspense", or does she only remember the confusing snippets and we're supposed to be confused? The Chaucer stuff just added to the confusion, because I haven't read Chaucer. I suspect there may be lots of clever little comparisons, but the trouble is that the text feels like it relies on the reader understanding their significance. That's ok for some academic text or something, but the tone of this book is basically popular women's fiction. I wasn't expecting to need a background in Middle English literature to understand it. The focus is on Eugenia's wild relationships with people, not on Chaucer, so again ... what.

I'll talk about tone a bit. This book is trying so hard to be funny. The way the words are put together, it's like string after string of joke. Unfortunately this gets really wearing because it's so simplistic and there's little variation and it's not actually funny. I do not get the feeling that Eugenia is a lover of Chaucer. She reads as being shallow, and frankly stupid. Many of the "jokes" are kind of revolting because they're women-hating-on-women-and-themselves nonsense. The whole thing is also trying so hard to be "snappy" that it felt disjointed and irritating, and really didn't help the "none of this makes sense" atmosphere.

Finally, I'm going to talk about plot structure. I'm 20% of the way through and I have no clue what this story is about. I think the "inciting event" of the book is that all these past life characters have popped up out of nowhere, and Eugenia needs to ... deal with that ... somehow? The blurb says she's trying to pick her next life and there's some evidence of that in the text, but really it's all lost in the vast swathes of confusion. At 1/5th of the way through the book, I really should have some kind of direction. I don't need plots spelled out to me, but if I can't find one when I'm specifically looking AND have the blurb to guide me? Not good.

I feel like this book has a really great idea hidden inside it. I even feel like the writing could work, if it was edited properly. Unfortunately, Tarquini wasn't able to draw that out herself (maybe use skilled beta readers next time?), and the "publisher" didn't either. I just did a spot of research on this "publisher" and discovered it's a "hybrid publisher" who has "the author, invest in [their] project upfront". Which clears everything up, really. It's a vanity publisher who did everything they could to help sell the book, but didn't really do anything to help improve the book. They didn't even proofread it properly, as I found an instance where they'd left "must of" instead of changing it to "must have". There were quite a few other errors too. It's a shame, but at least I know not to read books "published" by Sparkpress again.

I received a copy of this book for free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My last life, I got to be Greek. But not in actual Greece. I got to be Greek in Northeast Philadelphia, a life almost exactly like the one I'm living now. Except I crossed myself in the opposite direction when I prayed."

This novel has just the right amount of humor that I needed. There have been many novels about psychics and women with different mystical gifts, but not quite like Hindsight. Eugenia isn't Greek this time, but Italian American and she can see many of her past lives, which becomes more fantastical when those she has been connected with before manage to be in her life again. The Virgin Mary (yes, you read that right) can't seem to stop meddling and give her the only thing she prays for- the life that fits her, a good happy life, one as she wishes to live it. Currently she is keeping things simple, living unattached, trying to avoid a difficult tangled life- but is there ever such a thing? Life always finds it's way in, doesn't it? She can refuse love all she wants, but you can't be alive and remain unaffected.

A student soon reveals to Eugenia that the gift isn't hers alone, there are others like her! She starts a support group and finds that hiding never works for anyone. Is each life more than another chance at perfecting herself? The people of the past, does she see them as they really were, the whole picture? Was reality colored? Can we ever really see people or ourselves fully, understand every action, thought, feeling, moment? All we have is our perception and even that is deeply flawed. Every life has been a chance to be better, but what is better? Misunderstandings are something we all suffer from, like a blindness, whether we have a million lives or one. Hindsight is a funny gift, at some point we all have it, and can rue the mistakes we've made unintentional or not.

This novel is both comical and thought provoking. It is certainly uniquely entertaining, so if you are on the search for something different and humorous while also insightful, this is it.

Publication Date: November 8, 2016

SparkPress

Via https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

A multi-layered story that adds magic and a complex story into one good read. You will be entertained and delighted while reading this story. There are lessons to be learned in this book that will leave the reader thinking.

[Sabrina Mcmillin · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most troubling things God could ever do is give you exactly what you want. Something tells me this is a quote I once read in the form of a needlepoint pillow, but who knows? Google certainly doesn’t. But I digress...

Hindsight’s premise entertains a few undoubtedly common wishes and questions. “What if reincarnation exists?” “What would happen if I could remember my past lives?” “Oh, what amazing things I could do if only I had more time.” With “thirty-three” years of life under her belt, Eugenia Panisporchi is jaded about her gift of hindsight, which is ultimately something of a burden. This story is an important lesson in not expecting something for nothing.

The most resonant part of Tarquini’s groundbreaking first novel is its dedication to the cultural experience of growing up Catholic and Italian. This element is universal in the same way the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding is -- no matter your religion, race, or cultural heritage, if you have a big, crazy family, you know those characters and are reminded of your own brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, parents and grandparents. In this regard, Hindsight is feel-good lit, folks.

Adding yet another fabulous dimension, I enjoyed the role of Geoffrey Chaucer and the Thirty Years’ War in Eugenia’s journey. Any story that can create a personal connection between readers and what are traditionally dry textbook assignments and frantic AP Literature quizzes is fine by me. (Side note: After all, Hamilton HAS inspired bored teenagers to become interested in the nitty-gritty of the American Revolution and what it meant to create the Constitution.) As a bookworm who loves intertextuality (the connection between two texts), I will have to crack open The Canterbury Tales for a deeper look with Hindsight in mind. I hope that Tarquini will continue with this theme in her future works.

Overall, I think this is a good read, especially for a first novel. I would like to see how the author’s voice develops in the next few years and give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Debi Stout · Rating 4 out of 5]

As most of you know, I've had the privilege of being a part of the BookSparks 2016 Fall Reading Challenge. Today's post is one of the December books on the list. The "Course Title" for this book is "Contemporary Fables", and the Department is "Magical Realism".

So with that description I'm sure you want to know what's the book all about? Glad you asked.

The protagonist to this "fable" is Eugenia Panisporchi. She's a 33-year old Chaucer professor and she isn't quite like the rest of the world - she remembers all of her past lives and that makes her desperate to change her future. Once she realizes that she's not the only person in the world with this ability, she begins to connect with others and then learns that she must address her current life shortcomings before she can ever stop the cycle of her repeated lives and live the life of her dreams.

Hindsight's story is very face paced - in fact, I had to re-read the beginning to remember the characters because there were so many, so fast. Tarquini describes how the characters are and how they used to be. As a reader, I felt like I almost had to make a chart to keep track of the characters so that I'd remember which ones went with which life and story. (Of course, I also suffer from short term memory loss too.)

The story is well written and the transitions between this world and past worlds are written very smoothly. In fact, it seems so effortlessly blended together that you almost miss it, so be careful when you're reading this story. Once you realize how it's written, Hindsight becomes a very enjoyable read. The story is also an important lesson in not expecting something in exchange for nothing. The author has done a great job leading us through the topic of reincarnation. I liked the book enough to look forward to Ms. Tarquini's next book!

I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publishers and BookSparks as part of the Fall Reading Challenge 2016 (#FRC2016) in exchange for this post.

[Melissa Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an English teacher and history buff, Tarquini's novel speaks to my liberal arts' soul. The narrator's voice is reminiscent of Faulkner's stream of consciousness but with a witty humor that makes you laugh out loud. The protagonist is relatable and the plot is intriguing and engaging, different from many books on the shelves today. The novel was also a challenge to read and unpredictable which I very rarely find in modern novels. Throughout my reading, I could't help but think how much my students would appreciate the allusions presented in the novel and the connective element of literature. I highly recommend this book to English teachers and laymen who want to add something unique and creative to their repertoire.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hindsight by Mindy Tarquini is a novel about previous life memories. The central character, Eugenia has the second-sight and it works backward. She remembers her past lives and the Virgin Mary speaks to her, to offer advice and commentary. In each of these lives she remembers the people from 400 years previous in Bavaria, and she recognizes them in each of her lives. This tale of shared past lives is reminiscent of Robinson's "The Years of Rice and Salt" in which people of the same village repeated their lives together until their Kharmic debts where fulfilled. Eugenia is determined to stop her repeated lives. Through the text she falls in love and marries, saves her friends and brother, aids to punish the villain, and through it discovers that many of the villagers had the same recurring memories of the past, even her brother. Hindsight is a clear, well written text, with attractive font, and good organization.

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

messed me up. eugenia can be capatost'. appreciate i calabrese, amedigaln. reads like my family twenty yrs ago.

[Beth Surdut · Rating 3 out of 5]

As if life isn’t complicated enough—too old to be living at home with her overbearing and superstitious Italian Catholic mother and listening to a meddling Virgin Mary—Chaucer professor Eugenia Panisporchi remembers her many past lives. Flawed, confused, cranky, very funny, and holding onto centuries-old grudges, Eugenia wrestles with finding closure in a world where death is less an ending than the beginning of a new chapter.
Like life, this book is messy and frustrating, intelligent and clever, and quite a good ride, especially if you enjoy puzzles, wordplay, and esoterica. As other readers have pointed out, there is need of a chart to keep track of the characters. So come prepared to make your own extended genealogical map as you go. Otherwise, you’ll be paging back and forth trying to remember the histories of the many characters that travel through time in a large variety of incarnations.
To a reader’s benefit, this book can’t be easily categorized. There are amusements for historians and linguists; bemusements for those of us who come from cultures in which food equals love, marriage equals fulfillment, and honor has no equal.
I tell people that I hope there is reincarnation, because I’m not going to get everything done in one lifetime. But the current life is the one I am living, and this book make it clear that holding onto the past or wishing for the future impinges on the present.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eugenia Panisporchi has 'hindsight', the ability to recall her past lives. Eugenia lives in contemporary South Philly, where the biggest danger is auto accidents and ambulance-chasing lawyers, but centuries ago, in a past life, she lived in a town in Germany engulfed by the passions and violence of the religious wars of the Reformation. Memories of the events of those tumultuous times, lost love, murder, betrayal, still torment Eugenia, and others around her who also have hindsight. With the aid of a guardian angel, Eugenia must find her way through this dark wood of memory and guilt towards understanding and forgiveness. And the guardian angel isn't all that much help.

The story is told through Eugenia's voice, charming, sassy, and satiric. The setting is blue-collar, Roman Catholic, Italian-American South Philly, where family and religion run deep but are constantly in collision with the twenty-first century world. The texture, depth and detail of Eugenia's family and surroundings are skillfully handled, and enrich this novel. The story is told through multiple mysteries, some in the past, some in the present, a love triangle, a lawsuit of absurdity and complexity to rival Bleak House. Bit by bit, through struggle and serendipity, Eugenia pieces together what really happened hundreds of years ago, and what she must do today to set things right.

[Yuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindsight by Mindy Tarquini is a must read! From the first sentence, “My name is Eugenia Panisporchi.”, the reader is drawn into the world of an Italian American heroine who is funny and witty, and must come to terms with characters from the past that keep popping up into her present life. Eugenia, who teaches Chaucer at Temple University, lives at home with her mother, not because she wants to but because she has “no choice”. The author keeps the reader totally engaged page after page as Eugenia encounters her past lives of lost love and murder, and eventually moving towards understanding and forgiveness.

The story, as told through Eugenia’s voice, is funny, vibrant and witty. The transitions from past to present are smooth and beautifully written, thus keeping the reader able to keep track of all the characters in Eugenia’s life. As Eugenia must confront her current unhappiness, so that she can live fully in her present life as, “We don’t know how long we’ll be here, so it’s good to be here while we are”. This first book by Tarquini is a wonderful reading experience. I would highly recommend this book to any reader!

[Molly Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea behind Hindsight interested me from the beginning: what if reincarnation existed? And what if you could remember your past lives? Tarquini addresses these ideas wonderfully and creatively and even accurately – if you can believe anyone could do that! Hindsight is fast-paced, witty, and quirky whose characters are dynamic; they are simultaneously frustrating and loveable. The book moves quickly from the get go. It is a bit difficult to get your bearings in the beginning – many important characters are introduced in the first few chapters, so pay attention! Transitions between this world and past worlds are smooth and sometimes difficult to detect, so it requires a very careful reading. Once you get your bearings, the book is incredibly enjoyable. The voice of Eugenia is so strong and vibrant and just plain funny. Tarquini has done a wonderful job addressing a topic that I’ve never once seen tackled before, and in such an imaginative and delightful way!

*I received and advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Cecil Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who has grown up as a first or second generation American with specific expectations of how their life should develop, Tarquini's Hindsight will entertain the thoughts you have had in quieter moments. The way in which the characters actions and mannerisms are described by the narrator has a certain nostalgia that can remind readers of the difficulties and hilarities that many people growing up in ethnic households encounter.

The plot of the story follows the witty narrator, Eugenia Panisporchi, who has the supernatural ability to remember her past lives. The memories of the past life she has lived begins to interrupt her current life in the 21st century and with the help of a guardian angel she begins to face the challenges of reconciling the past and present. Overall, the the multiple plot lines are blended well and create a story that has serious depth while maintaining an entertaining sardonic humor. The author takes big risks in creating such a story that reader benefits from by being immersed in a truly novel and engaging story.

[Lane Gallett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book is unique and something I'm not familiar with: the protagonist is able to remember her past lives (hence, hindsight), so her interactions with everyone in the present day is influenced by her experiences with whom they were in a past life.

This is almost as confusing for the narrator as it is for the reader. As some other reviews have mentioned, the characters are introduced pretty quickly in the beginning of the book. Add to that the fact that each character has multiple lives being portrayed through the narrators view, and there are so many personas and situations to track.

Overall, good book & good concept. It's a light read with a very casual voice, relatable style, and even bits of history thrown in. You'll definitely enjoy this if you're looking for something to mix up the current lineup on your nightstand.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea behind the book about hindsight and atoning for sins of past lives but the book was difficult to follow at times. Several times I found myself rereading a scene and still not quite understanding what was happening or what the connection was between the characters. There are a lot of characters and I found it difficult to keep straight who each of them were and what their connections were to each other in each of their lives. Despite this, the book was still a page turner and I could not put it down.

As a side note, if you enjoyed this book, you might also enjoy My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares. It also deals with the concept of hindsigh (though this book does not call it hindsight) but it is more poetically written and it gives you a clearer picture of snippets and relationships in different lives of the main character and deals with fewer characters so it is easy to understand the important connections.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Hindsight very much. The premise is slightly outside of my comfort zone, but I liked it nonetheless. This is the first book I've read about reincarnation. At first I had trouble suspending my disbelief, but as I immersed myself in the gripping prose I finally was able to let my "real" world lens go.
The author truly enjoys the writing process and it shines through in her imaginative characters and the interesting connections between them. This book contains many, many characters that are hard to keep straight, but all of the characters introduced play an important role in the story, so it is well worth the mental effort to keep track of them.
Occasionally, I had trouble distinguishing Dr. Panisporchi's current world from her past world and lives, but this issue cleared up as the book progressed.
This book was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Debrouillarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! The premise is innovative but not precious or pushy-innovative, the characters are compelling - strange enough to be interesting but not so out there that I couldn't relate, and the plot had enough twists and turns to keep me turning pages into the middle of the night. Eugenia (whose erstwhile boyfriend can't keep her name straight) has hindsight, and keeps meeting people she knew in one of her previous lives, and reliving those moments rather than enjoying the moments she could be having with those people today. It's a compelling read because, while I don't have hindsight, I can get caught up in what-might-have been or what-this-could-possibly-become instead of enjoying the moment. I felt that I was reading a rare book that explored a topic never explored before in a way that made it feel like I had lessons to learn from it, and felt at home in the story.

[Liz Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few chapters rapidly introduced a number of characters so interesting and important to the plot, that I had to re-read a handful of lines to make sure I correctly committed them to memory. As I progressed, I found that the humorous dialogue and witty turn of phrase made the story flow more seamlessly, making this novel a page tuner and easy recommendation to friends, family, and anyone that just wants a good laugh.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[MavelleRunda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was funny, quirky, reference-filled and thrilling, and none of those descriptors came at another’s expense. The idea of reincarnation being visible in the opposite direction has always been a fascinating idea to me, and to not only know I'm not the only one who thinks so, but to have it fleshed out in a novel was a joy. The characters are charming, each in their own way (even Carlotta!). If you’re interested in Chaucer, enjoy Italian delicacies, or just want a real page-turner of a book, Mindy Tarquini’s Hindsight is definitely my recommendation.

[Sharon R A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tarquini's debut novel sparkles with wit and humor while taking us along for the ride with Eugenia Panisporchi's current life in modern day Philadelphia. Problem is Eugenia's always meeting up with characters from her past lives in her current day life as a Chaucer professor.

Eugenia's life becomes even more complicated when a freak accident occurs and events spin out of control. Eugenia just wants to make her
own choices but the road is long between her present life and the next. Thoroughly enjoyable and well written.

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindsight is a must read! A lyrical Italian Catholic story set in South Philly but intertwined with Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Tarquini's captivating layered tale reveals wit, humor and delightful turns from characters wrought by a master. Slipping in and among her past lives, the heroine Eugenia crosses centuries, cultures and continents. Tarquini's writing is fresh with bursts of dark humor that bring a chortle, and a plot that thoroughly satisfies. A great gift for the holidays!

[Lisa DeWaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hindsight definitely had a new and different concept that I really enjoyed. It's a story about a Chaucer professor who has the ability to remember past lives. It's very thoughtful and fast past and definitely holds your interest. I had to go back and read parts of it again to catch some things I missed. It has wonderful humor and thoughtful, imaginative characters and it's definitely worth reading. I think I'll go through it a second time to see if there were parts I missed. Recommended.

[Jimmie Polo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful easy read. Generally I enjoy fantasy. This book has just the right amount of reality and fantasy to keep me engaged. Such a unique way to delve into the intricacies of reincarnation, and what that would or could be like. Love all the little details in the descriptions. A wonderfully complicated book.

[Kathryn Mohrman · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ THIS BOOK! Tarquini has a wicked, irreverent, quirky sense of humor that kept me smiling. The story unfolds from different perspectives as the reader learns more about past lives in Oberholt, Germany. And the ending was a big surprise!

[Racheal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love this book but I read it all the way through because there were aspects of the main character that charmed me and yet I wasn't captivated enough to read more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Usually a great book hooks me and I'm flying through entire chapters while hours melt away without notice... not so with this book.

Eugenia Panisporchi, the main character, has Hindsight, which allows her to be conscious of her past lives. Her surrounding family, friends, and acquaintances, whether aware or not, have played roles in her past lives that make her relationships vary with them, as old grudges and misunderstandings are kept from previous lives. I love the scoops of Italian-American culture heaped into this book here and there but I found some of the literary and philosophical references to be a bit too heady for my tastes and an interruption to the main story arc. This is a very smart book but many times its academic commentary on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (a vary prominent thread in this book... if you've never read it, stop immediately and re-read plus do a little work in perhaps a Cliffs Notes to gain literary critiques about each character) and other philosophical and spiritual themes were so dense that I'd lose the thread of the story or the relationship while chewing through the text.

All in all, there were flashes of brilliant storytelling in this book but the academic headiness combined with shifting time lines and a large cast of (double-casted, when reviewed via "hindsight") characters make it a little bit of a slog to get through at times. The ending was a nice touch and was satisfying, which is why I gave this book an extra star...

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eugenia Panisporchi teaches Chaucer at Temple University. She lives in South Philly with her mother and sister and is haunted by her past lives. She wants a change for the future. People born with a caul on their heads have foresight; people born with cauls on their hineys are stuck with the past. Dr. Panisporchi has a recurring student who attends all her courses and drives her crazy. They may share a past connection along with many non-academic contacts. Friedrich works several extra jobs so he appears at weddings, restaurants, and other venues. Eugenia is sure he is stalking her. The Italian American extended family provides a host of entertaining asides as well as constant character interactions. Everybody knows everybody and most have opinions on everything. Readers will enjoy Eugenia’s struggle with her past and the people (in past and current incarnations) on her journey. Entertaining and recommended.

Readalikes:
Annabel Monaghan – Same Time Next Summer; Virginia Kantra – Meg and Jo; Colleen Oakley – You Were There Too; Jennifer Weiner – That Summer; Miranda Cowley Heller – The Paper Palace; Josie Silver – One Day in December; Abbi Waxman – The Bookish Life of Nina Hill; Rebecca Serle – In Five Years; Jana Casale – How to Fall Out of Love Madly.

Pace: Fast-paced
Character: Authentic; Likeable; Snarky
Storyline: Character-driven; Intricately plotted
Writing style: Witty; Engaging
Tone: Humorous; Poignant;
Frame: South Philadelphia, contemporary; Oberholt, Bavaria, 400 years ago
Themes: A new life, a past life; Redemption

Red flags/Trigger warning: An incident of sexual assault; Some violence

[Katie O. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The MC's daily life is a murky stew of current events and invading past lives. The premise is intriguing. Yet the writing style does a disservice to this tension since the writing itself is not clear. The MC is surrounded by a large cast of heroes and heretics and she spends a lot of the plot figuring out who is who and from when/where each hails. Of equal importance is determining who else has hindsight, too. Again, this puzzle is not well-managed for the reader's experience. There is a difference between muddled writing and not revealing too much (to the reader), too soon. By the last third of the novel, clarity finally holds sway. The larger themes - guilt, responsibility, revenge, forgiveness, restitution, hubris, and eternal peace - play out in a sort of murder mystery. Some complicated romances and deep-seated family traditions (Italian) offer both poignancy and humor. The plot is firmly grounded in story elements from Dante and Chaucer; readers with a firm grasp on those writings probably will have an advantage for connecting to this story's details, character motives and inside jokes.

[Sandra Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously original with a quirky voice that sets Mindy Tarquini in a league of her own, Hindsight is an entertaining story about a woman with the ability to see her past lives, who is desperate to find a way to break this curse.

"But here's the bitch about memory. It allows us to return to a moment. And leaves us helpless to change it."

In order for Eugenia to find peace in her future she must first come to terms with her past. As present choices mirror past actions Eugenia will have to decide if she can forgive others, and herself, for actions that have haunted her for hundreds of years.

Told with a distinct style and mildly irreverent tone, Hindsight blends comedy and insight into an engaging story with a brave, yet satisfying, conclusion.