The Enchanted April

Wow, what a lovely surprise. The audiobook recording I borrowed (Blackstone Audio from the 1990s) was fabulous and I listened to the entire thing; I'm not sure if this would be a 5 star book had I only read it, but at least 4. Nadia May (she pronounces her name with a long a in the first syllable) was brilliant and I also give kudos to the producer, et al.

Lottie, shy and awkward, reads an ad about renting a house in Italy for a month (called a small castle) but can't quite afford it with her nest egg. She manages to talk to the woman sitting near her and the two of them end up renting the house; they get two other women (none of them knew each other prior to this) to share it with them. If the women weren't all adults I'd call this a coming of age story although of course it's not. This is an under read gem.

It’s very much of its time and I enjoyed escaping into that world for a short time. A pleasant book.

This is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. It is a quiet, gentle book. There is no mystery, thrill-seeking, or dark figures haunting this castle in Italy. This is the story of 4 women who spend a month together on vacation, and become who they are meant to be. No car chases, no murders, just beautiful descriptions of an incredible garden. Just as the characters are rejuvenated, readers will be rejuvenated as well. The characters are lovely, and the kind of people I would to know. I have read this small, beautiful book many times, and it never disappoints. The charming and delightful rebirth of these characters as they experience spring was the perfect tale to start off the new year, in this warm spring-like winter we have been experiencing where I live. I finished the book just as the first real cold weather of the season is setting in. The warm, cozy feeling engendered by this story will help keep me warm through the bitter cold and return to work.

oh i wanted this to be good...wanted this to be e.m. forster femme adjacent story...but i never felt attached to any of the characters. this is the last time i take a recommendation from booktok

estoy de acuerdo con que hay temas que deben analizarse desde un punto de vista más crítico pero hoy le ganó mi nostalgia a la objetividad y por eso sin pensarlo, 5⭐️

The 1992 film introduced me to the story of The Enchanted April and after reading the book I can say that the film is both a faithful adaptation and an improvement on the book. The pacing of the book is too slow. I think the author was trying to relate the lazy pace of the holiday in Italy through the meandering set up to the story but she takes it too far. The story could benefit from having about a third of the book edited out. There is too much time spent on having each woman waffle about her desire to take a holiday and her fears of abandoning her duties at home. A couple examples of these feelings would suffice but it seems that each woman must go through this process three or four times! By the time they had made it to the castle and had relaxed enough to invite their husbands and lovers I felt ready for a holiday myself. I was exhausted from reading their progress to the castle.

A charming book about four very different, unhappy Englishwomen who rent an old castle in San Salvatore, Italy for the month of April in the 1920s and rediscover themselves in the process.

The Enchanted April is about a group of english women wanting a break from their lives and their husbands. In order to do so they answer an advert in a newspaper promising wisteria and sun at an Italian castle. There they become unlikely friends and find a new lease of life. I went into this book hoping for a leisurely read that would transport me to Italy, and that's exactly what this book did. The descriptions of wisteria 'tumbling over itself' and the 'marigolds so brilliant that they seemed to be burning' just can't help but make you feel as if you were right there with the characters soaking in the sun and smelling the heavenly flowers. This is certainly not a plot heavy novel. While there is definitely character conflict it never seems like a big deal, as if the golden light of the sun burns all the problems away. It's like the castle in Portofino is it's own fantasy land where your problems don't seem as big and it casts a spell on you that makes you feel joy and love. There is some conflict at the end, but again, if you're looking for a book with lots of drama between characters, this just isn't it. In a way the ending surprised me with how mellow it was. Even though the women are flawed, they are loveable in their own ways. Mrs Fisher is an old woman who has a sense of propriety, a product of the Victorians, and wants to keep to herself. Lady Caroline is a beautiful widow who just wants to be left alone. Even when she is being cold people are overwhelmed by her charming looks. Mrs Wilkins is an odd, shy woman that grows into herself. Mrs Aburthnot has spent her life being charitable and selfless but wants to be selfish for once. I love how they start not particularly liking each other but through the restorative ways of nature heal them and give them the ability to be more loving and to enjoy life. Basically this was a delightful read. I'd recommend particularly if you are someone that usually read women's fiction but want to pick up a classic. I can't wait to read more from this author.

3.5 stars

At times, this book was a wonder, an ode of beauty and love. But mostly, it was a boring fest...

This is an all-time favorite of mine. Not a lot happens, which usually doesn't hold me, but the characters and their dilemmas held me captive. I love von Arnim's writing style.