The Savage Garden
5 journalers for this copy...
Synopsis:Amazon.co.uk
A haunting tale of murder, love and innocence lost set in post-war Tuscany from the award winning author of 'The Whaleboat House'. Behind a villa in the heart of Tuscany lies a Renaissance garden of enchanting beauty. Its grottoes, pagan statues and classical inscriptions seem to have a secret life of their own -- and a secret message, too, for those with eyes to read it. Young scholar Adam Strickland is just such a person. Arriving in 1958, he finds the Docci family, their house and the unique garden as seductive as each other. But post-War Italy is still a strange, even dangerous place, and the Doccis have some dark skeletons hidden away which Adam finds himself compelled to investigate. Before this mysterious and beautiful summer ends, Adam will uncover two stories of love, revenge and murder, separated by 400 years! but is another tragedy about to be added to the villa's cursed past?
A haunting tale of murder, love and innocence lost set in post-war Tuscany from the award winning author of 'The Whaleboat House'. Behind a villa in the heart of Tuscany lies a Renaissance garden of enchanting beauty. Its grottoes, pagan statues and classical inscriptions seem to have a secret life of their own -- and a secret message, too, for those with eyes to read it. Young scholar Adam Strickland is just such a person. Arriving in 1958, he finds the Docci family, their house and the unique garden as seductive as each other. But post-War Italy is still a strange, even dangerous place, and the Doccis have some dark skeletons hidden away which Adam finds himself compelled to investigate. Before this mysterious and beautiful summer ends, Adam will uncover two stories of love, revenge and murder, separated by 400 years! but is another tragedy about to be added to the villa's cursed past?
Despite the very slow pace of this novel I found it hugely atmospheric. Maybe especially so because I know some of the places mentioned personally, A particular favourite being Bomarzo, The Sacred Wood.
Will definitely appeal to lovers of Italy, Gardens their histories and thrillers. It was only my interest in these first two that kept me turning the pages at first because I found I was almost halfway through before the mystery pulled me in properly. I was pulled in very slowly by the mystery of the two interrelated murders, committed four hundred years apart. It is believed that there is some sort of curse that will be lifted if the riddle of these deaths can be solved.
The protagonist Adam Strickland who is studying the Renaissance Garden at Villa Docci in Tuscany for his university thesis, by personal invitation is unwittingly drawn in by the family to help solve the mystery. Adam successfully uncovers the mysteries of the garden, completely unaware of the danger he is putting himself in, by nosing around into the dark past of the Docci family.
After the slow start I was surprised at how gripping this mystery eventually became.
I am going to suggest this title to my husband before deciding how it should travel.
Will definitely appeal to lovers of Italy, Gardens their histories and thrillers. It was only my interest in these first two that kept me turning the pages at first because I found I was almost halfway through before the mystery pulled me in properly. I was pulled in very slowly by the mystery of the two interrelated murders, committed four hundred years apart. It is believed that there is some sort of curse that will be lifted if the riddle of these deaths can be solved.
The protagonist Adam Strickland who is studying the Renaissance Garden at Villa Docci in Tuscany for his university thesis, by personal invitation is unwittingly drawn in by the family to help solve the mystery. Adam successfully uncovers the mysteries of the garden, completely unaware of the danger he is putting himself in, by nosing around into the dark past of the Docci family.
After the slow start I was surprised at how gripping this mystery eventually became.
I am going to suggest this title to my husband before deciding how it should travel.
1. SIGN UP for this bookray by sending me a Private Message. Order of participants will be juggled between geography, date of request and shipping limitations. Late additions may be added to the end of the list.
2. When the person before you on the list finishes reading the book, they will send you a Private Message for your postal address. If you no longer wish to read it, or wish to be moved in the list let them (and me!) know and I will move you down/off the list.
3. WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE BOOK please make a journal entry so everyone knows it has safely arrived.
4. WHEN YOU FINISH THE BOOK, make another journal entry telling us what you thought - did you like it? Did you think it was well-written?
5. CONTINUE THE BOOKRAY by sending a Private Message to the person after you on the bookring list and request their postal address. Please check back here for the latest distribution list. If the person doesn't respond within 7-10 days (use your judgement), please PM the next person, and then me, so I can update the bookray list.
6. END OF THE RAY, The last person on the ray could try and continue the ray or just give/mail the book to someone else who might like to read it, an RABCK perhaps?
FireOpal Italy
Melamura Italy Here Aug 08
bookmaniac70 Bulgaria Please skip as acquired a copy elsewhere Aug 08
Maireen Italy
Chas04 UK (Mail UK EU at push)
2. When the person before you on the list finishes reading the book, they will send you a Private Message for your postal address. If you no longer wish to read it, or wish to be moved in the list let them (and me!) know and I will move you down/off the list.
3. WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE BOOK please make a journal entry so everyone knows it has safely arrived.
4. WHEN YOU FINISH THE BOOK, make another journal entry telling us what you thought - did you like it? Did you think it was well-written?
5. CONTINUE THE BOOKRAY by sending a Private Message to the person after you on the bookring list and request their postal address. Please check back here for the latest distribution list. If the person doesn't respond within 7-10 days (use your judgement), please PM the next person, and then me, so I can update the bookray list.
6. END OF THE RAY, The last person on the ray could try and continue the ray or just give/mail the book to someone else who might like to read it, an RABCK perhaps?
FireOpal Italy
Melamura Italy Here Aug 08
bookmaniac70 Bulgaria Please skip as acquired a copy elsewhere Aug 08
Maireen Italy
Chas04 UK (Mail UK EU at push)
Journal Entry 4 by LindyLouMac at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Sunday, June 29, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (6/30/2008 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
En route to FireOpal. Her first Bookray which I hope she will enjoy.
En route to FireOpal. Her first Bookray which I hope she will enjoy.
Arrived at destination today!
Thanks to LindyLouMac for sending it, and looking forward to a good read.
Will contact the next person on the list once I've read it :-)
Thanks to LindyLouMac for sending it, and looking forward to a good read.
Will contact the next person on the list once I've read it :-)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Partly because I've lived in Italy for so long now that it's all quite familiar when reading a book set in Italy (I would also use this opportunity to read Extra Virgin by Annie Hawes, which is set in the present day-ish).
I liked that this was set in post-war Italy, and in the better off side of society.
The only thing that didn't ring true for me was that our hero got lucky sexually far too easily (imho).
Italy 25 years ago, southern families still actually used strict chaperones and curfews on their young women (I kid thee not).
Imagine in the late 50s.
Here in this book we are in upper-class Tuscany and therefore not the South, but I still feel he used a bit of poetic licence there to liven things up. Fair enough.
I really enjoyed the garden puzzle and how he solved it, very Italian that!
Like LindyLouMac, I have been to the lovely Bomarzo Woods (referred to in the book), with its huge weird sculptures, which is a bit off the main tourist track, unfortunately (or fortunately, as we were the only people there the day we went)!).
I was expecting a different twist at the end, however.
Partly because I've lived in Italy for so long now that it's all quite familiar when reading a book set in Italy (I would also use this opportunity to read Extra Virgin by Annie Hawes, which is set in the present day-ish).
I liked that this was set in post-war Italy, and in the better off side of society.
The only thing that didn't ring true for me was that our hero got lucky sexually far too easily (imho).
Italy 25 years ago, southern families still actually used strict chaperones and curfews on their young women (I kid thee not).
Imagine in the late 50s.
Here in this book we are in upper-class Tuscany and therefore not the South, but I still feel he used a bit of poetic licence there to liven things up. Fair enough.
I really enjoyed the garden puzzle and how he solved it, very Italian that!
Like LindyLouMac, I have been to the lovely Bomarzo Woods (referred to in the book), with its huge weird sculptures, which is a bit off the main tourist track, unfortunately (or fortunately, as we were the only people there the day we went)!).
I was expecting a different twist at the end, however.
This book was sent to Melamura today, Tuesday July 22, 2008.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Controlled release (sent on continuing BookRay)
Controlled release (sent on continuing BookRay)
book safely received from FireOpal. sorry for delay in updating but it arrived while we away in the UK for a short break.
This book was brilliant, again probably more enthralling as its setting is Tuscany (not a million miles away from where I live). I agree a slow start but once I was engrossed I couldn't put it down. I was a little worried about the references to Roman gods and great works of literature like Dantes Divine Comedy as these are things I know little about, but it was all very well explained so I needn't have worried. This book is highly recommended and I would like to read his other novel at some time in the future. Will send off to next reader asap.
Received from Melamura this morning . . my second BC book to arrive via Mr Postman this week.
It wasn't until I was well into this book that I began not wanting to put it down, which unfortunately I had to! Sorry I've had it so long . . waiting for address of next on the ring.
Bomarzo is my nearest village and this is the third book I've read where its Park has been mentioned. It's really worth a visit.
Bomarzo is my nearest village and this is the third book I've read where its Park has been mentioned. It's really worth a visit.
Next on the list for this book, Chas04 UK, has asked to be skipped. As she was the last name on this ray, I will pass this to a friend.
Sorry I haven't journaled sooner but have been away, I picked this book up at a BC lunch and will read it asap. I have a few to get through at the moment but was told that there was no rush to finish.
