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Susan A. (Placitas, NM)
Otherworldly Wanderings
I so enjoyed Crystal King's previous historical fiction offering set in Italy's past—Ancient Roman and Italian Renaissance. This latest novel, an inventive Gothic work, reaches into the mid-20th Century yet clearly echoes people and places of both earlier periods. And these reflections are vividly and frighteningly expressed through warning voices, supernatural events, and mysterious occurrences that the main character, 24-year old artist Julia Lombardi, encounters in the eerie Sacro Bosco, the Sacred Grove. This wild, overgrown, sculpture-strewn garden of the book's title is no Garden of Eden tempting Eve with
…more its forbidden fruit. In this scary place detested pomegranate seeds, instead, propel Julia to her inevitable fate.
As the story unfolds the relationship to Roman myths and Renaissance pasts is revealed. A rich cast of characters, including Julia's handsome, possessive host and the surrealist artist Dalí and his contentious wife, participate in out-of-this-worldly gatherings and dangerous explorations that ultimately lead to the story's immortal conclusion.
Not quite the well-developed reimagining of powerful mythical women of recent literature but a clever modernization of ancient Roman/Greek mythology that see Proserpina/Persephone once again reclaimed by her Underworld king. (less)I was drawn to this book because it took place in Italy, had Salvador Dali as a character, referenced mythology, and contained descriptions of fabulous meals. The author did a great job of integrating all of these elements. I know quite a bit about Dali and Gala, and I felt they were realistically portrayed, as were all of the characters. I didn't need to be familiar with the mythology because the pertinent points of the myths were included in the novel. The story was mysterious and very entertaining. I think this book would be enjoyed by fans of the All Souls series by Deborah Harkness.
Paula B. (Albuquerque, NM)
Enchanting Adult Fairy Tale
Elements of a mundane trip to the country mixed with creepy haunted places pulls you quickly into this revisitation to a Greek myth. The actual site of the Garden of Monsters is also enticing to travel planners. The detailed description of the country estate enhances the eerie feelings of reality even when supernatural events seem to happen. It makes you want to pack your bags and head to Italy. Reread the love story of Hades and Persephone, an ancient tale of enticement and romance, to fully comprehend the nuances of the tale. This book is an enjoyable revisitation to a story that has been rewritten over the centuries.
Rebecca R. (Western USA)
Well Written Gothic Mythology Blend
I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever liked a story from Greek or Roman mythology. Although a reader does not need to be an ancient mythology scholar to enjoy this book, I do recommend that any reader who does not know who Persephone/Proserpina (Greek/Roman) is should find a brief online summary of her and her mythological relationship to Hades. This will allow the reader to enjoy the clues skillfully incorporated into author Crystal King's modern retelling. The book's opening pages quickly introduce and raise interest in the 24-year-old protagonist, Julia Lombardi, whose unexplainable malady is
…more going to play a role in her money-making opportunity to pose for famed artist Salvador Dali.
I felt that the 292 pages sped by, and I found the author's additional information at the back of the book not only fascinating but helpful in explaining Gala's behavior (because I read these pages before I started the book and recommend this to future readers.) The resource material is about both Dali and his poly-amorous wife Gala with additional sources listed: a Dali YouTube video and the author's recipe website. The book was so well written that I am now curious to go back and read the author's debut novel from 2017. I give this a strong 4 rating. (less)Julia is a woman with no past. She remembers nothing! Now a model, she's hired by artist Salvador Dali and his wife Gala. The site is Italy's Garden of Monsters. The Garden has statures of the Greek Gods and Goddesses. She begins to see and feel unusual sensations, making her feel that she's been there before. Ignazio seems early familiar to her. I don't want to give away more the story. The characters are interesting and well-written. I liked learning about Salvador Dali and his wife. Utilizing real people, such as the famous Dali's, made the story seem more plausible. I'm not very familiar with Greek mythology
…more so it was good to learn more about it. It's a different genre than my usual reading but it was a good change of pace. (less)"In the Garden of Monsters" takes place immediate post WW2 in Italy with a modern revisioning of the myth of the abduction of Persephone by Hades, the god of the underworld. Julia is an artist, just graduated from the Art Academy in Rome, who has no memory of her past life. But when hired by Salvadore Dali as his muse and taken to a strange palacio and garden, something about her past is in the background. The handsome maître d'/caretaker of the villa draws her into that past. The descriptions of the palace, the food, and the Garden of Monsters are beautiful and intriguing. (I certainly want to look this place
…more up next time I am in Italy) The characters are appealing. Something sinister is constantly in the background. Statues that move; a strange green light; a library with secret passages; and supernatural powers imbued with the servants and the handsome caretaker, Ignazio. It bogs down a bit in the middle sections, as the descriptions of each day drag into repetitiveness. Too many detailed descriptions of meals, too many descriptions each day of the painting location, too many mentions of pomegranates. Too many Dali and his wife's temper tantrums. (But it also provides some interesting insight into Dali and his wife) And its supernatural, scary, elements somehow do not really scare the reader. But it is a compelling and fascinatingly original story, that familiarizes us with Greek Mythology. (less)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
…more 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. (less)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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