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There are currently 20 member reviews
for In the Garden of Monsters
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Ann B. (Kernville, CA)
Fascinating setting, fun twist on Persephone myth, but couldn't get behind the characters
An amnesiac unable to remember her childhood, Julia Lombardi is an artists' model in 1948 Italy. An artist herself, she jumps at the opportunity to model for the celebrated Salvador Dalí. The catch is that she must do so in the creepy Sacro Bosco, a garden full of giant mythological monsters. The place and its dark and enigmatic host, Ignazio, feel familiar, but in a way that terrifies her. Why does Ignazio seem so familiar, and why does Dalí ceaselessly insist that Julia consume pomegranate when she clearly dislikes the fruit? Many more surreal and Dalíesque questions ensue, as this twist on the Persephone myth plays out.
As somone who enjoys foodoir and vivid food writing, I was excited that food was such a prominent focus in the novel. And the food did sound delicious, but it was mostly listed as menu items. I would have liked the flavors, smells, and sensations of the foods to be described in more detail, but Julia kept bailing on meals because of the same fears and creepy feelings. I wanted "Like Water for Chocolate" and got characters who annoyed me rehashing the same conversations and repeating the same trepidations and confusions. That said, I was interested enough in the mystery to keep reading until the end.
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Wilhelmina H. (Russell Springs, KY)
Just Too ... Something
I did not enjoy reading this book. I kept picking it up, reading a few pages and then setting it down to find something else to do. I just could not connect with any of the characters - maybe there was too much mythology for me or it was too surreal. I don't often struggle to finish a book but this one was a chore for me. I'm glad to see there are others who thoroughly enjoyed it though.
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Carol N. (San Jose, CA)
Persephone Myth Retold
Filled with many descriptive meals and beautiful descriptions of Sacro Bosco, Italy's garden of monsters, "The Garden of Monsters, is the gothic retelling of the Greek Persephone myth. It is not my favorite type of story; however, it is well written and provides its readers with some most interesting characters.
Julia Lombardi is a young artist with amnesia who takes a lucrative job to model for artist Salvadore Dali in a remote villa in Italy, era 1948. I found her character to be rather annoying and a bit childish. There are ghosts, visions and even a murder involve as we met Dali's horrible wife, Gala and the villa's creepy host, Ignazio.
Honestly, I don't know why this book just didn't do it for me. I have always rather enjoyed Greek myths and was curious to learn a bit more about Dali and his lifestyle. However, the never-ending descriptions of food, drink, table setting became off-putting and not especially to my taste. This reader felt as if I had just witnessed another food show on the Food Network. The addition of Salvador Dali and his wife seemed to confuse me at times, their conversations were certainly not of the 1948 era, a time when their sexual uniqueness was not so openly displayed. If you are into
mythology, this book is for you. If not perhaps you need to pass it by for a book more to your taste.
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Elizabeth L. (Langhorne, PA)
Wanted to leave the table
Having previously read Circe by Madeline Miller, which was a thrilling retelling of Greek mythology, I chose to review In the Garden of Monsters. Unfortunately, the comparisons stop at the reference to Greek mythology. I found Ms. King's writing to be quite repetitive in her descriptions of how the characters felt, behaved, and thought. The endless descriptions of food, drink, table settings and the servers became mildly nauseating especially when the menu included frogs, larks, and boars. The main character, Julia, was vexing and childish. The addition of Salvador Dali and his wife, Gala, enriched and confounded the plot. Many of the conversations and events including them did not seem plausible, especially for 1948. Given that the story is a surreal fantasy, why include actual people? Yet, I must admit that I wanted to know how the novel ended and how Julia would ever figure out what was really happening to her. If you are a lover of mythology, then you might enjoy this book.
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Barbara B. (Harlingen, TX)
In the Garden of Monsters
I don't think I should be reviewing this book. It is totally out of my reading genre. If you love or even just like Greek/Roman mythology this is the book you want to read.
Imagine Salvador Dali in Italy's Garden of Monsters to re-create the story of Persephone and Hades in his artwork. The result is a tale of myth, mystery, magic , even a bit eerie and romantic.
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Connie K. (Oldsmar, FL)
Too Big a "Chunk of Arils and Pith"
In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King was listed as historical fiction so I chose to review it. In the author's own notes, she refers to it as a Gothic novel and an ode to food, combining her fascination with Dali's art and personality, Greek and Roman mythology, and the culinary arts. Perhaps just too many ingredients for this tale which reads like a silly romance and is 50% fantasy.
It's 1945 and the lead female character is offered a thousand bucks to be muse to Dali for about a week, which in 2024 dollars is about $13,000 - a lot of cash to a want-to-be artist. She's whiny, inexperienced and insecure which made her a perfect doormat for the rest of the characters, and difficult for the reader to bond with. Her main enemy in the story are pomegranate seeds! She fears and evades them ad nauseum.
Some scenes describing menus items and costumes were imaginative and interesting and, at least in my opinion, a much-appreciated break to the convoluted "plot."
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