The Savage garden

[Angie and Robert]

By Mark Mills a mystery set in Tuscany published 2007. had rave reviews, especially by the Telegraph, who writes these things? have they actually read the book?.It was for me an unlikely plot, the main character was a silly young man who was amazingly mature considering he was only supposed to be in his very early 20s, and the novel was set in 1958. All very unbelievable with no humour to redeem it. Anyone else read it?
A

[Nicola D]

I wholeheartedly agree with your comments. I was really disappointed. The main character as you said was extremely weak in fact all the characters were really stereotyped and very stilted. I felt that the actual style of writing was particularly bad, very wooden and clumsy. Also at the beginning of the book I had to keep going back and re-reading bits as it was very disjointed.

I surprised myself by actually finishing it. These days I normally give up if I don't like a book, but perservered with this one as it was set in Italy.

To sum up what a load of rubbish!! We bought the hardback as well.

Happy reading

Nicola (Umbria)

[deborahandricky]

Originally Posted by Angie and Robert

By Mark Mills ..... who writes these things?
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In this case I think his name was Mark Mills .......Sorry

Ps Welcome back .........

[Angie and Robert]

Duh Ricky was referring to the reviewers!, thank you for the welcome back, blasted computers, snail paced broadband!
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[PennyWhite]

I read it in Italy and enjoyed it, just didn't really understand why it was set in 1958, maybe to have the bad feelings left over from the war. It was one of Richard and Judy's short list for the summer read which was enough of a recommendation for me. He was a bit silly but also rather funny without altogether realising it (I thought) and the whole story about the garden was rather haunting and atmospheric. Maybe it was because we were a bit out in the sticks ourselves that I stuck with it.

[ed foley]

Yeah I had a similar reaction. I got a bit fed up with him keep unravelling mysteries and then having to explain how he had unravelled them and the clasical allusions that enabled him to solve each problem

[cathnmike]

I loved it! Horses for courses I guess. It was just a bit different to the usual "I bought a house and then look what happened" Italy books. The plot was unbelievable to a large extent but then "the willing suspension of disbelief" is what makes a lot of fiction enjoyable. It kept me turning the pages well into the night - but I did doze off eventually and finished it the next day.

[She-Wolf]

Yes, I must say I was a mite disappointed with this book. My OH bought it for me at Stansted, and I was hoping for an absorbing read. I found it frustrating, repetitive, and rather condescending, and the ending was a flop. Like others, I persevered with this book against my better judgement, but I don't think it will be on my 're-read for pure enjoyment' pile!