The Villa in Italy |
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Elizabeth Edmondson
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Pages: 432 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0007223773
Pub: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Pub date: 2006-12-04
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 774
Reader Reviews:
Gentle Mystery (0/0 people found this helpful)
This novel really is a feel good read, the setting is lovely and the characters each with their own demons are the kind of characters you come to care about. The story begins in 1957, when each of four strangers recieve instructions to go to a villa in Italy to recieve a bequest, the deceased, a woman none of them has ever heard of. There are plenty of secrets waiting to be revealed at the villa, as they and the reader slowly begin to discover the secrets that each of the four legetees has, and the connexion they have to the mysterious Beatrice Malaspina. This is a novel as relaxing as the villa in which it is set. An enjoyable, gentle mystery, about people facing their demons and trying to put their lives in order.
Spoilt by the style (0/0 people found this helpful)
The magical effect on four strangers brought together for a month in Italy is a theme previously explored by Elizabeth von Arnim in `The Enchanted April'. The reasons for their being in Italy differ, but the spell cast, and the effect on troubled lives, is similar. In `The Villa in Italy', the contrast with post-war austerity makes the month in the villa all the more magical.
Whilst I first read `The Enchanted April' many years ago and have since re-read it, I would not bother to re-read `The Villa in Italy'. Even so, it is not without merit. It is an intriguing puzzle that revolves around the will of the late Beatrice Malaspina who, strong-minded while living, dominates the story even from the grave. The legatees hail from disparate backgrounds. They had never met their benefactress and had no idea why they were named in her will. Apart from loose hints and a tenuous link with George, an atomic physicist who knew Beatrice Malaspina's daughter, there are few clues as to why they have been selected or how the old lady knew so much about them. Then all is revealed in a rush in the final pages.
At times the story felt far-fetched and unreal, but what spoilt it for me was the style. Much of the dialogue seemed unnatural (it would sound worse, no doubt, if read aloud), and elsewhere the text was awkward and stilted. The language needed tightening to remove superfluous words and unnecessary adjectives. For all that, it's a pleasant enough read if you fancy something light and unchallenging, but you're not missing much if you give it a miss.
A charming summer story (1/1 people found this helpful)
I thoroughly enjoyed this old fashioned, friendly, life affirming story. It all worked out in the end as it should if that isn't too much of a spoiler. I read it quickly and happily, immediately passing it to my mother who I knew would enjoy the puzzles, personalities and pictures painted in perfect prose.
What a disappointment! (5/9 people found this helpful)
I bought this book to read on holiday and, had it not been the only novel I took with me, I would not have persevered. The story is all right, and just about worth plodding through, and the flavour suitably Italian, but the style? Oh dear! I found the writing style and use of vocabulary poor and ponderous. Instead of sharing this book with my group of friends, as we generally do with novels we have enjoyed, I left it in a hotel in Italy - not worth bringing home! I shall not be tempted by any other novels by this author, when there are so many others who write better.
Complex Mystery (6/6 people found this helpful)
Ive recently read this book, and enjoyed it very much. It is very well written and researched, and the location of the Villa Dante is described beautifully. The author goes to great lengths to build a visual image of the villa, the town, beach and other areas, which truly sets a wonderful scene. The story itself if well thought out, and is complex in areas, but can be followed easily. Again it is full of small details which make it more realsistic. The characters are all very well developed, and we get a good insight into what they are all like at home, and in this unusual situation. I do agree with a previous reader that the only flaw is they do seem to 'gel' together awfully quickly and with great ease, even though they are complete strangers in a country unfamilar to them in this possible dangerous situation. The ending I felt was good, but seemed rushed. The whole book is full of long description and detail, and then suddenly the end is revealed to us in a matter of paragraphs, and is not what you expect. Still a very satisfing ending though.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> By Period -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)