Bizarre Malta

by Fiona Vella, Oliver Gatt

Hand in hand with Fiona Vella and Oliver Gatt we walk through untrodden paths. This book sets out to be totally different - It beckons readers to the corners tucked away in the fold of the islands' geography or in the nooks of their history where the attraction lies in mysterious, weird, inexplicable buildings or phenomena.

Such a 'guide book' has never been done before, certainly not on the systematic scale that the authors have undertaken in this volume. they introduce the realm of the opaque, the paradoxical, the irrational, the absurd, the impervious. Gatt and Vella do it in a pleasant, engaging way, with flair, backed up by compact research

Genres: History, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2018

Reviews

[Abigail Albani · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative, it gave me info on places I didn’t even knew they existed... well done

[Nicolas Chiaraviglio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great, not terrible.

[Vanni Pulé · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a fascinating and colourful array of events, structures, objects and people in the Maltese islands that sometimes defy logic or that do not fit into the mainstream culture. The locals can use this information to widen their knowledge about their home country’s most peculiar features. On the other hand, visitors, especially those with a penchant for anomalies, can visit some of the features that are still extant and can experience for themselves these bizarre aspects of Malta. Profusely illustrated, this book provides a springboard for further research. I have two issues that I feel could have been done better. Some chapters seem to end too abruptly and deserve further development, like the one about the plant exclusively growing on the ‘fungus rock’. The whole book could have been better organized in categories like, for example: buildings, formations , curious objects, fauna & flora, events, etc. Nevertheless, it is an unconventional outlook providing pleasant reading while stimulating deeper analysis of some of the topics.

[Gus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly interesting book that feels more like a tour guide than anything.

Unlike other books in the "Bizarre Country" style, this is focused almost entirely on physical locations or artifacts (half of which no longer exist and/or are inaccessible to the public), rather than history or politics. These topics are also touched but tangentially.

Where there's history, it's usually something to do with the Catholic church or some bombing (surprise, surprise).

Overall, I can only recommend this if you're interested in the more obscure (if often mundane) slices of life across these tiny islands, as opposed to more books about WW2 or the Templars.

There's plenty of pictures to keep you interested.

[Vanessa Bugeja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hardly ever rate a book with 5 stars but this is a gem of a book. There were so many quirky facts about our little island that I didn't know about and I want more! This is a must read for visitors and locals alike.

[Theya Absey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting read, full of information about places that I hardly even knew they existed, even when I live on the same island, or if I did I didn’t know how much rich of a history they had, take the Ghaxaq tower as one example.

Highly recommend this book. Well researched and written.

[Fiona Vella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE BOOK if you love the sense of wonder.

[Albert Galea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and informative book about the lesser known facts and places in Malta.

[Christabel Sciberras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great concept!! Looking forward for the next one!

[Andrew Mallia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely rate a book 5 star, but I did with this one due to the mysteries, bizarre stories and historical content it pleasantly provides to its readers. I hope that a second volume will follow.

[Mad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting enough, if at times the accuracy is questionable. Am certainly glad to have read about the largest Great White ever caught after having returned from my trip.