I won’t give a summary here, as other reviewers have already
very efficiently done so.
I really enjoyed reading this book. Tonia Parronchi’s
practically flawless prose flows beautifully and is at times poetic. The story itself is a mix of fairytale
romance and mystical folklore, which I haven’t come across before. I must say that the enchanted Cypress did
not appeal to me much to start with, but as I progressed with the story, I
understood that it added an interesting dimension to Annie’s new life in Italy.
I generally read two or three books at a time, and The Song
of the Cypress was the one I wanted to settle down with an hour or so before
bedtime because it is so uplifting and positive. Rural Italy comes alive, with fabulous descriptions, traditional
anecdotes and a welcome helping of local produce served up at sunny picnics,
village feasts, or cosy meals for two in front of the fire. Everything is rather perfect, but I
enjoyed this indulgence – it was refreshingly uplifting and a great way to
de-stress at the end of the day.
If I had to mention something negative, I’d say that the
pace did stall from time to time, where there was occasional repetition,
verbosity or inaction. However, if
you’re looking for a nice dose of romantic escapism, coupled with an authentic
overview of life in a Tuscan village, written by an author who knows how to
write, this book definitely fits the bill.
Thank you Bev, so glad you enjoyed the book.
ReplyDeleteI did. Keep up the great work.
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