Το τέλειο άρωμα του έρωτα. Μια μαγική, αισιόδοξη ιστορία στα χρόνια πριν τον Πρώτο Παγκόσμιο πόλεμο. Το μοναδικό σπίτι που γνώρισε στη ζωή της η Pόζα, η Pόζα με τα πλούσια κόκκινα μαλλιά, είναι το μπορντέλο Λούνα, όπου τη μεγάλωσαν με αγάπη η μαντάμ K και οι γυναίκες που δουλεύουν εκεί. H Pόζα είναι περίεργη και βιάζεται να μεγαλώσει, για να παίξει κι αυτή το "παιχνίδι" που της λένε ότι παίζουν τα κορίτσια κι οι άντρες σ' αυτό το σπίτι. Όμως ένα γύρισμα της τύχης την αναγκάζει να φύγει από τη Λούνα και να πάει να μείνει με την Iζαμπέλ, μια ηλικιωμένη γυναίκα που οι γείτονες τη θεωρούν μάγισσα, και μόνο η Pόζα βλέπει στο πρόσωπό της μια μοναχική, τρυφερή γυναίκα, με πάθος για τ' αρώματα και τα έλαια. Kοντά της η Pόζα θα μάθει τα μυστικά της τέχνης της, αλλά όταν χρειαστεί να σώσει τον άντρα που αγαπάει, το "τέλειο άρωμα" δεν θα είναι αρκετό.
Lina Simoni was born in Genoa, Italy and has been a resident of the US since 1988. She is the author of two novels, award-winning "The Scent of Rosa's Oil" (Kensington 2008,translated into German and Greek) and "The House of Serenades" (Moonleaf Publishing 2012). She is also the author of "Sofia's Rainbow" (Laura Furlan illustrator), a children's book that donates to children's literacy programs. At the moment she is working on her third novel, "The Cabinet Spell," and on a collection of short stories. Simoni lives in California with her two cocker spaniels, Biscuit and Simon.
Μαγικοί αέρηδες που μεταφέρουν σαγηνευτικά αρώματα, σε στενά σκοτεινά σοκάκια. Ένα κορίτσι που αρέσκεται να διαβάζει ερωτικά ποιήματα στους πελάτες του, μια τσιγγάνα και μια γριά "μάγισσα". Μαγικό όσο λίγα αυτό το βιβλίο. Θες να μάθεις τι σου μέλλει το αύριο? Θα σου το πει η άμμος… Θες να ξελογιάσεις το αγόρι με τα γαλάζια μάτια? Βρες το ένα κ μοναδικό άρωμα για σένα τρίψε λίγο επάνω σου, έπειτα ψάξε βρες τον κ ξελόγιασε τον με γητειές… Μην του πεις ποια είσαι… ασ’ τον να σε αναζητήσει… Υπέροχο. Θα έβαζα 5 στα 5 αν στα πρώτα κεφάλαια δεν σταματούσε τη δράση τόσο πολύ για να μας περιγράψει με τόσες λεπτομέρειες το παρελθόν των ηρώων. Είμαι χαρούμενη που δεν κουράστηκα αρκετά ώστε να το αφήσω, γιατί λίγο μετά κατάλαβα οτι άξιζε τον κόπο. Η συνέχεια σε επιβραβεύει. Εν τέλει, ένα είναι το σίγουρο, το άρωμα της Ρόζας, όντως, έχει την δύναμη να σε ξελογιάσει.
I was hooked by the end of the third sentence, when it became obvious that this author was writing about a place she knew. I've never been to Italy, and I rely on books to take me there. This one accomplished it beautifully. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, and being a person who has dabbled in blending oils, I was doubly charmed. But that's only a small part of the story. It is character-driven, my kind of story, and I'm already sad that I won't be reading about Rosa, Renato, Madame C. and Isabel anymore. The one odd thing I did occasionally notice was that the characters seemed to talk more like New Yorkers than Italians, although it didn't really bother me; it just made me curious. When I finished the book and read about the author, I realized why.
I don't read very many romances, at least I haven't in a while, but saw this one and it just looked good. I loved it and didn't want it to end. Its magical and based on trust in a loving relationship, despite how the story begins.
From Amazon: Set in the beautiful port city of Genoa, Italy, at the turn-of-the-century, The Scent of Rosa's Oil is a magical story that attests to the strength of longing, the consequences of betrayal, and the nostalgic memories only a one-of-a-kind fragrance can evoke . . .
The only home Rosa has ever known is the Luna brothel, where she's lovingly cared for by Madam C and all the women who work there. Madam C shelters Rosa from what really goes on at the Luna by telling her they play a game with the men who visit. Naturally, Rosa is curious and can't wait until she grows up so she can also play the game.
But when a twist-of-fate forces Rosa to leave the Luna after her sixteenth birthday, she goes to stay with her new friend Isabel, an old woman who distills oils. The strange smells and smoke that emanate from Isabel's shack have deemed her a witch to the locals, but only Rosa sees a lonely, tender woman with a passion for making beautifully-scented oils. Enchanted by the intoxicating fragrances around her, Rosa becomes Isabel's apprentice, learning the art of extracting a flower's essence and selling the oils in the town square.
Soon everyone in Genoa is talking about the pretty, young girl with the lush locks of red hair who sells aromatic oils in the piazza. Some say she has the oil to cure whatever ailment one has, while others say her oils will capture the heart of a special person. Indeed, Rosa has learned Isabel's secret for creating her own "perfect oil"--a unique fragrance that holds a mysterious power.
Now Rosa needs a miracle to make Renato, the man she has fallen in love with, see past the ugly rumors he's heard about her and the Luna brothel. Disguising herself with a black wig and dabbing her special fragrance on her wrists, Rosa sets out to win Renato. But how long can Rosa keep her true identity hidden? And when destiny intervenes, challenging their love in unforeseeable ways, they'll need a magic even greater than the scent of Rosa's oil. . .
A timeless, moving tale, The Scent of Rosa's Oil transports readers on an enthralling, unforgettable journey. . .
Το λατρεψα! Σε ταξιδευει στην Ιταλια του περασμενου αιωνα, μεσα σε γευσεις, μυρωδιες και χρωματα! Υπεροχη, τρυφερη ιστορια, για την αγαπη, τη συνδεση των ανθρωπων και την τρυφεροτητα! Σε πολλα σημεια συγκινητικο! Πολυ παραστατικη αφηγηση! Νομιζα οτι θα μυριζα το αρωμα της Ροζας, καθως και ολα τα αρωματα που αναφερθηκαν στο βιβλιο! Ενα οσφρητικο ταξιδι στη Γενοβα και οχι μονο! Το συστηνω σιγουρα!
I choose this book randomly off the library shelf mainly because I loved the beautiful, colorful Italian theme cover. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. glad I followed my intuition & picked up the book.
Mitreißende Geschichte in unvergesslichen Szenario. Erinnert dezent an "das Parfum", ist jedoch weniger lahm erzählt und liest sich romantischer. Eher ein besserer Liebesrom. 👍🙂
"The Scent of Rosa's Oil" is the story of Rosa, a young Genoan woman born to a prostitute and orphaned at birth in the late 19th century. Her guardian is Madam C, the proprietor of a much-loved brothel called the Luna, who shields Rosa from the game played on the second floor of her house.
For Rosa's 16th birthday party, she wears a special perfume distilled by her peculiar friend Isabel, and before the evening's over, the mayor, enchanted by the scent, ends up playing the game with Rosa. (Rosa, unbelievably, doesn't realize what's going on nor has she ever seen a naked man before.) When their tryst is discovered, Madame C, who has pined for the mayor for years, hurls Rosa onto the street. The orphan seeks refuge with Isabel and hides her born-in-a-brothel past from her new beau, longshoreman Renato (who is also susceptible to Isabel's perfume), but when Renato's life and their love are threatened, Rosa must decide what truths are worth the risk of losing him.
This is an entertaining coming of age turn of the century romance starring a likable protagonist. Fans will enjoy the heroine's abrupt rush to adulthood following Rosa's olfactory tryst.
Στο βιβλίο αυτό δύο πράγματα πλανώνται στον αιθέρα. Ο έρωτας και τα αρώματα που φτιάχνει η Ιζαμπέλλα με τη βοήθεια της Τραμόντο.
Αν και ο τίτλος κεντρίζει το ενδιαφέρον κάθε ρομαντικής και ευαίσθητης ψυχής που ψάχνει τον απόλυτο έρωτα διαβάζοντας το νοιώθεις πως τελικά δεν ήταν αυτό που είχες στο μυαλό σου. Όχι ότι το βιβλίο δεν είναι καλό αλλά σου αφήνει μια χροιά απογοήτευσης τελειώνοντας το, γιατί περίμενες κάτι διαφορετικό. Το πως είναι αυτό το κάτι το διαφορετικό δεν μπορώ να το περιγράψω, μπορώ όμως να πω με σιγουριά πως δεν άγγιξε την ψυχή μου.
One of the two books I "picked up" in Italy at a convent we were staying at. Don't worry, I leave behind as many books in community bookshelves as I pick up! --Dreadfully amateurish. Nice story idea but poorly written. Don't bother.
Thanks, Kerry, for recommending this book. You're right, I did enjoy the magical aspects of the story. The power of one's own special scent is something else. My favorite character was Isabel. This is a love story where all ends happily and everyone gets what they want. Pleasant.
A fun book to read. It has a similar feel as, Like Water for Chocolate. A little bit mystical. It is set in Italy and I think the author is Italian. I'm glad I read it.