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La recette secrète des rêves
Un collier sur lequel est gravé le nom d'une île inconnue et l'enivrante odeur de gâteaux aux épices que laissait sa mère, Edda, dans son sillage… C'est tout ce dont dispose Elettra pour partir à la recherche de son passé et sauver son avenir. Car Edda est dans le coma et la petite pâtisserie familiale, au bord de la faillite. Alors, Elettra fait le voyage jusqu'à l'île du Titan, le bout de terre perdu au coeur de la Méditerranée qui a vu naître sa mère. C'est sur cette petite île, dont le vent traîne dans son sillage des légendes ancestrales et les saveurs de son enfance, entourée d'une communauté de femmes mystérieuses et passionnantes vivant à l'abri des regards, qu'Elettra va découvrir l'histoire de sa mère, mais aussi une part d'elle-même. Un roman inoubliable sur le pouvoir de la nourriture et la force du passé, capable de vous transporter sur une île fascinante et secrète où tout peut arriver, aux côtés d'une femme à la recherche de ses racines. « LE ROMAN QUI A CAPTÉ L'ATTENTION DE L'ÉDITION INTERNATIONALE ! »
416 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
March 4, 2019
Elettra’s mother Edda is in a coma. Elettra and her mother have had a very tenuous relationship, as Elettra often felt her mother was pushing her to be a baker liker herself. She also stopped Elettra from doing what she wanted, which was journalism. Elettra also struggles to comprehend why Edda is so secretive and closed up about her past. All she knows is it has to do with an island. When the bakery she has been running has to close, Elettra takes off to this island to learn more about her mother’s past. There she discovers a convent and a small community of women. But what does it have it do with her mother?
For me this was a rather strange read. I never understood or connected with Elettra at all, or really any of the women. I was never convinced by the characters. They never came alive. I also found an island that treated women and in particular women as if they were shadows or non-existent very hard to accept. That wasn’t the only issue. Maybe it was the translation into English but on page 321 two characters suddenly disappear from the scene and I was left scratching my head, wondering what I had missed. I went back and reread. No mention of the characters, just gone. This pulled me out of the story. What happened to them only is explained about 30 pages later. By then I didn’t really care.
There is mystery, romance, food and women working in community – all the ingredients of what should have been a recipe for a captivating read. But I found the story plodded along. Although I was interested in some aspects of the story, I felt I had to force myself to keep going. Toward the end I started to skim, just to get through it. Recipes are included throughout the book. Since I’m not interested in baking I skipped over them. Some people may enjoy this book but it was just an okay read for me. I was glad when I finished it.
For me this was a rather strange read. I never understood or connected with Elettra at all, or really any of the women. I was never convinced by the characters. They never came alive. I also found an island that treated women and in particular women as if they were shadows or non-existent very hard to accept. That wasn’t the only issue. Maybe it was the translation into English but on page 321 two characters suddenly disappear from the scene and I was left scratching my head, wondering what I had missed. I went back and reread. No mention of the characters, just gone. This pulled me out of the story. What happened to them only is explained about 30 pages later. By then I didn’t really care.
There is mystery, romance, food and women working in community – all the ingredients of what should have been a recipe for a captivating read. But I found the story plodded along. Although I was interested in some aspects of the story, I felt I had to force myself to keep going. Toward the end I started to skim, just to get through it. Recipes are included throughout the book. Since I’m not interested in baking I skipped over them. Some people may enjoy this book but it was just an okay read for me. I was glad when I finished it.
April 5, 2024
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
It was the quaint cover that drew me to this book. However, inside the story was dull, dry and stale. It all felt rather wooden and I remained unconvinced by the protagonist.
It was the quaint cover that drew me to this book. However, inside the story was dull, dry and stale. It all felt rather wooden and I remained unconvinced by the protagonist.
March 29, 2018
This isn’t a bad little book. It is ok. It certainly made me wish for a holiday in Italy and made me extremely hungry when reading it. The premise of the book is really good. The characters are great and I did enjoy reading it. But I also thought that the book was a little drawn out. I think that if it was a little more condensed and it had all the fabulous receipts at the end of the book. Instead of breaking up the story. It would have been better to read. But all in all. I thought it was a good book.
June 8, 2018
This book has made me want to check out Sardinia and book a holiday and also enjoy some of the delicious tasting food on my travels! I've read a couple of books this year that have made me look up more about the setting because it sounds so idyllic.
The book is full of secrets, rounded characters and a fascinating sounding convent alongside mouthwatering recipes that make you dream of being inside the pages of this book. We travel back to discover more about Elettra's mum which is really interesting.
The book is full of secrets, rounded characters and a fascinating sounding convent alongside mouthwatering recipes that make you dream of being inside the pages of this book. We travel back to discover more about Elettra's mum which is really interesting.
March 21, 2018
When Elettra's mother is still not recovering from a coma and the bakery she ran with her has to close leaving debts, Elettra decides to leave everything behind to find out more about her secretive mother's past. Her quest brings her to a convent on a small Italian island, where the answers to the questions she seeks reveal much more than she ever expected!
While this book was good and the main premise of the story interesting, it was too drawn out with unnecessary detail. Had it been more condensed, and the recipes added to the end rather than breaking up the flow between chapters, the overall story would have been cleaner and a much more enjoyable read. I liked the characters, and the descriptions of the crumbling convent and their attempts to put it back together again. I also liked the way the story concluded, bringing the threads of Elettra and her mother's stories together nicely. There are many plus points to the book, I just feel the story would have been better if told more concisely.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While this book was good and the main premise of the story interesting, it was too drawn out with unnecessary detail. Had it been more condensed, and the recipes added to the end rather than breaking up the flow between chapters, the overall story would have been cleaner and a much more enjoyable read. I liked the characters, and the descriptions of the crumbling convent and their attempts to put it back together again. I also liked the way the story concluded, bringing the threads of Elettra and her mother's stories together nicely. There are many plus points to the book, I just feel the story would have been better if told more concisely.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2018
I found this book tedious. It initially showed promise, but not long in I felt there was something missing.
Plots were thin and predictable, the style was borderline juvenile and it dragged on to a point I skim read to finish it just to prove to myself that there wouldn’t be any surprises. There weren’t.
Perhaps it was the translation, but the author’s style may be better suited to writing novels for teenage girls. Nice try but it didn’t work for me.
Plots were thin and predictable, the style was borderline juvenile and it dragged on to a point I skim read to finish it just to prove to myself that there wouldn’t be any surprises. There weren’t.
Perhaps it was the translation, but the author’s style may be better suited to writing novels for teenage girls. Nice try but it didn’t work for me.
May 14, 2018
Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review
My sister has shelves of books like The Little Italian Baker in her house, and last time I was visiting I thought it was time to see what she was reading.
The Little Italian Bakery is a sweet story, full of betrayals, secrets, lies.
As the title may have given away, there is baking involved in this story - a lot! And what it did do was make me crave cake the whole time I was reading!
Elletra's story is captivating and heartbreaking all at the same time. I got angry for her. I got angry with her. My heart hurt for her - and all the ladies on the island. I just wanted them all to find their happy.
What I did like about this book is that that these were all strong women, women who stood up to the bullies and the bad guys. I liked that they never gave up, never surrendered (Oh wait, am I quoting Galaxy Quest here?) and in the end they won everyone over.
There are some wonderful recipes throughout the story - though I felt that maybe they would have been better of listed together at the end of the story, as they did sometimes take me out of the flow of the story. However, this could just be me.
It also made me hanker for an Italian holiday - and I may have checked out airfares there whilst i was reading *runs off to check bank balance again*
My sister has shelves of books like The Little Italian Baker in her house, and last time I was visiting I thought it was time to see what she was reading.
The Little Italian Bakery is a sweet story, full of betrayals, secrets, lies.
As the title may have given away, there is baking involved in this story - a lot! And what it did do was make me crave cake the whole time I was reading!
Elletra's story is captivating and heartbreaking all at the same time. I got angry for her. I got angry with her. My heart hurt for her - and all the ladies on the island. I just wanted them all to find their happy.
What I did like about this book is that that these were all strong women, women who stood up to the bullies and the bad guys. I liked that they never gave up, never surrendered (Oh wait, am I quoting Galaxy Quest here?) and in the end they won everyone over.
There are some wonderful recipes throughout the story - though I felt that maybe they would have been better of listed together at the end of the story, as they did sometimes take me out of the flow of the story. However, this could just be me.
It also made me hanker for an Italian holiday - and I may have checked out airfares there whilst i was reading *runs off to check bank balance again*
April 24, 2018
This book is like a refreshing shot of limoncello; zesty, fresh and mouthwatering!
Firstly, I must say this book is a foodie’s delight and full of delicious baking & drinks; aniseed bread, sweet focaccia, almond biscuits, lemon jellies, amaretti, rose wine. There are authentic recipes dotted throughout the chapters for most of the treats too! I sometimes get disappointed that books featuring café/bakery/food in the title often lack food goodies in the meat of the story which so often is the main reason I’ve picked the book in the first place!
Another delight is the stunning backdrop of the Italian island Elettra visits. You really can picture the wild beauty of it, feel the searing heat and of course smell the descriptive scents of wild flowers, salt, herbs and sunshine (even on a drab, chilly UK April day). Like all good travel fiction books, this completely emersed me in amongst the area, so I felt I was present within the island, the community and the drama.
Though set in the present day there is a distinctive historical vibe to this story; as it tracks Elettra’s mother’s past, and the background of the commune on the reclusive island, you feel transported back to simpler but arduous times where tradition, trade, and honour are important. Though hard to reconcile with progressive attitudes, the themes of ostracism, misogyny and corruption are still ingrained in some societies and communities, and though antiquated to myself reading this story, still relevant to the area written about. I felt it important to absorb this perspective, not challenge it, as the story is written by an Italian woman and based on her knowledge and experiences of Sardinia (when you read the author’s acknowledgements).
It definitely has a vibe of books like Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Chocolat etc for the history & island charm, and the travel & romance of Isabelle Bloom, Jo Thomas & Mandy Baggot books, so if you are a fan of any of these then I definitely think you’ll enjoy The Little Italian Bakery.
There was I felt moments where the story was padded out; for example a scene would be set for a confrontation between characters but then the paragraphs would go off at a tangent along some other memory or flashback that felt disjointed. There were times that I felt I lost track of the timeline the story was on and how long Elettra had been on the island, and some parts felt unnecessarily long. However, overall I enjoyed this very emotive and lyrical story of generations of women and the bonds they shared.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hayley Camis at Little Brown for sending me a copy that I could review in my own words.
Read all my reviews on https://beereaderbooks.wordpress.com
Firstly, I must say this book is a foodie’s delight and full of delicious baking & drinks; aniseed bread, sweet focaccia, almond biscuits, lemon jellies, amaretti, rose wine. There are authentic recipes dotted throughout the chapters for most of the treats too! I sometimes get disappointed that books featuring café/bakery/food in the title often lack food goodies in the meat of the story which so often is the main reason I’ve picked the book in the first place!
Another delight is the stunning backdrop of the Italian island Elettra visits. You really can picture the wild beauty of it, feel the searing heat and of course smell the descriptive scents of wild flowers, salt, herbs and sunshine (even on a drab, chilly UK April day). Like all good travel fiction books, this completely emersed me in amongst the area, so I felt I was present within the island, the community and the drama.
Though set in the present day there is a distinctive historical vibe to this story; as it tracks Elettra’s mother’s past, and the background of the commune on the reclusive island, you feel transported back to simpler but arduous times where tradition, trade, and honour are important. Though hard to reconcile with progressive attitudes, the themes of ostracism, misogyny and corruption are still ingrained in some societies and communities, and though antiquated to myself reading this story, still relevant to the area written about. I felt it important to absorb this perspective, not challenge it, as the story is written by an Italian woman and based on her knowledge and experiences of Sardinia (when you read the author’s acknowledgements).
It definitely has a vibe of books like Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Chocolat etc for the history & island charm, and the travel & romance of Isabelle Bloom, Jo Thomas & Mandy Baggot books, so if you are a fan of any of these then I definitely think you’ll enjoy The Little Italian Bakery.
There was I felt moments where the story was padded out; for example a scene would be set for a confrontation between characters but then the paragraphs would go off at a tangent along some other memory or flashback that felt disjointed. There were times that I felt I lost track of the timeline the story was on and how long Elettra had been on the island, and some parts felt unnecessarily long. However, overall I enjoyed this very emotive and lyrical story of generations of women and the bonds they shared.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hayley Camis at Little Brown for sending me a copy that I could review in my own words.
Read all my reviews on https://beereaderbooks.wordpress.com
December 19, 2021
Warm and delicious and filled with some intriguing recipes. The Little Italian Bakery is about Elettra, a young woman whom her mother is in coma, her family bakery is failing and unanswered childhood life, went to the Titan Island, in search for her mother's past and her origin. There, Elettra encountered people and secrets she never imagined she would encounter, which making her more afraid to move on with her life because of the past.
I think this book is okay. There were parts that were too long for me (which I think unnecessary) and they sometimes dragged the story on and on but not really in a fascinating way. Most of the recipes' titles were in Italian (I think?), and I kinda feel lazy to google them anymore as the story went by.
Personally, I think Elettra is such a strong character. She absolutely knew what she wanted in her life and her partner. What frustrated her was the secrets her mother, Edda, were keeping from her, and the failing bakery she never wanted in the first place. Elettra found answers in the convent and the joy of baking in the end. I kind of have expected the plot next, based on Lea's and Isabelle's secrecy of the convent. Overall, the story is quite okay, although there were some parts that're quite boring for me.
I think this book is okay. There were parts that were too long for me (which I think unnecessary) and they sometimes dragged the story on and on but not really in a fascinating way. Most of the recipes' titles were in Italian (I think?), and I kinda feel lazy to google them anymore as the story went by.
Personally, I think Elettra is such a strong character. She absolutely knew what she wanted in her life and her partner. What frustrated her was the secrets her mother, Edda, were keeping from her, and the failing bakery she never wanted in the first place. Elettra found answers in the convent and the joy of baking in the end. I kind of have expected the plot next, based on Lea's and Isabelle's secrecy of the convent. Overall, the story is quite okay, although there were some parts that're quite boring for me.
August 10, 2019
This was a book I've wanted to read for a while and so glad I did it's also my first book by this author and won't be the last. So well written and great characters and full of friendship and romance and learning about your family in a magical place and learning to enjoy cooking again and of course plenty of food. The setting is amazing and you want to go and visit so lovely with great character perfect summer read.
Elettra has a mother who is in a coma and the family bakery sadly had to close down so she feels so alone. She has a locket with the name of a mystery island on that is the only thing that gives her hope and comfort so she decides to leave and go to the island. She really wants to learn the truth of her past which her mother has kept a secret so she goes with a one way ticket to the island. Once she gets there will she learn about her past and she makes friends with people and will she find a love for baking again and be happy.
Great read
Elettra has a mother who is in a coma and the family bakery sadly had to close down so she feels so alone. She has a locket with the name of a mystery island on that is the only thing that gives her hope and comfort so she decides to leave and go to the island. She really wants to learn the truth of her past which her mother has kept a secret so she goes with a one way ticket to the island. Once she gets there will she learn about her past and she makes friends with people and will she find a love for baking again and be happy.
Great read
July 18, 2018
Elettra and her mother Edda have a difficult relationship. There’s a lot Elettra doesn’t know about her mother, Edda won’t share anything about her past or Elettra's father. When Edda slips into a coma Elettra takes over the family bakery, but she isn’t as successful as her mother and she isn’t able to keep it up. To escape the despair, she needs a change of scenery and decides to travel to Titan Island, the place Edda apparently grew up. Will Elettra find some answers there?
Elettra’s search leads her to a dilapidated convent with three female inhabitants. Widows are frowned upon on the island and the convent has offered two of them a safe place to stay. Lea is running the place, but she has trouble keeping it afloat. The women aren’t well liked on the island and have no means to make money. Lea generously offers Elettra a place to stay though. There’s a connection between the convent and Edda. Will Elettra finally find out more about her mother’s past and what’s the effect of her stay in the convent on the other inhabitants? Elettra can cook, but can she bring more than just good food?
The Little Italian Bakery is a beautiful emotional story about family, secrets of the past and food. I loved the gorgeous Titan Island and the convent, it’s an interesting setting. The island is incredibly strange and not filled with kindness and happiness, but Elettra does find what she needs there and discovering more about her roots has a healing effect on her. She’s a little bit lost, because her mother had too much influence over her life and it was interesting to watch how she discovers herself. She finds her own connection with food instead of just her mother’s and her kindhearted and curious nature help her and make things difficult at the same time, a fascinating combination that leads to a terrific story.
Valentina Cebeni’s descriptive writing style and relaxed pace perfectly suit The Little Italian Bakery. Island life might seem peaceful, but there's a lot going on beneath the surface. I loved how Valentina Cebeni makes her story layered, little things sometimes matter a lot and she clearly understands the complexity of the situation the convent is in and every emotion that comes with it. The relationships between the women are strained and difficult, but not hopeless and much can be gained through honesty and making sense of the past. I was incredibly curious about Edda’s secrets and the reason she kept Elettra in the dark and loved finding out more. The Little Italian Bakery is an intriguing story with plenty of unexpected twists and a fantastic heartwarming ending.
Elettra’s search leads her to a dilapidated convent with three female inhabitants. Widows are frowned upon on the island and the convent has offered two of them a safe place to stay. Lea is running the place, but she has trouble keeping it afloat. The women aren’t well liked on the island and have no means to make money. Lea generously offers Elettra a place to stay though. There’s a connection between the convent and Edda. Will Elettra finally find out more about her mother’s past and what’s the effect of her stay in the convent on the other inhabitants? Elettra can cook, but can she bring more than just good food?
The Little Italian Bakery is a beautiful emotional story about family, secrets of the past and food. I loved the gorgeous Titan Island and the convent, it’s an interesting setting. The island is incredibly strange and not filled with kindness and happiness, but Elettra does find what she needs there and discovering more about her roots has a healing effect on her. She’s a little bit lost, because her mother had too much influence over her life and it was interesting to watch how she discovers herself. She finds her own connection with food instead of just her mother’s and her kindhearted and curious nature help her and make things difficult at the same time, a fascinating combination that leads to a terrific story.
Valentina Cebeni’s descriptive writing style and relaxed pace perfectly suit The Little Italian Bakery. Island life might seem peaceful, but there's a lot going on beneath the surface. I loved how Valentina Cebeni makes her story layered, little things sometimes matter a lot and she clearly understands the complexity of the situation the convent is in and every emotion that comes with it. The relationships between the women are strained and difficult, but not hopeless and much can be gained through honesty and making sense of the past. I was incredibly curious about Edda’s secrets and the reason she kept Elettra in the dark and loved finding out more. The Little Italian Bakery is an intriguing story with plenty of unexpected twists and a fantastic heartwarming ending.
April 7, 2017
Nachdem ich bereits einige positive Kritiken zu "Die Zitronenschwestern" gelesen habe, wurde ich sehr schnell neugierig und habe der Geschichte somit gerne eine Chance gegeben. Hier habe ich mir eine unterhaltsame und gleichzeitig nachdenklich stimmende Geschichte erhofft und diese zum Glück auch erhalten.
Valentina Cebeni besitzt einen angenehmen und gleichzeitig einfühlsamen Schreibstil, der mir sehr zugesagt hat, sodass ich sich die Geschichte leicht und schnell lesen lässt und mich gut unterhalten konnte. Die Figuren sind allesamt gut ausgearbeitet, man lernt sie ausreichend kennen und auch die Dialoge lesen sich gut, ohne holprig zu wirken. Sehr schön ist es auch, dass in dieser Geschichte sehr viele Rezepte eingebaut wurden, die man leicht und schnell nachkochen kann und dadurch auch das typische Mittelmeer-Gefühl mit all seinen Facetten erhält.
Erzählt wird hier die Geschichte von Elettra, deren Mutter im Koma liegt und um ihr Leben kämpft. Da Elettra ihrer Mutter auch weiterhin nah sein möchte, möchte sie mehr über die Herkunft und Vergangenheit ihrer Mutter herausfinden und reist dafür nach del Titano, einer kleinen Insel im Mittelmeer, auf der ihrer Mutter gelebt hat. Dort begegnet Elettra jedoch vielen verschwiegenen Menschen, sodass es lange dauert, bis sie Antworten über ihre Mutter erhält. Dabei schließt sie sich auch einer WG aus mehreren Frauen an, um weitere Antworten zu erhalten, allerdings erfährt sie dabei auch, dass auf der Insel nicht alles rosarot ist und besonders ein Teil der Insel gemieden wird: Wo die Witwen leben, die nur als schwarze Frauen bekannt sind...
Mit "Die Zitronenschwestern" wurde hier eine wahrlich interessante und spannende Geschichte geschaffen. Die Inselbewohner sind stellenweise urig, stellenweise unberechenbar und geheimnisvoll, sodass man hier mit Elettra sehr viel entdecken und das ein oder andere Geheimnis lüften kann. Dabei werden auch Elettras Lebensverhältnisse und ihre Familie durchleuchtet, was ich sehr interessant fand und Elettra somit auch gerne auf ihre Reise nach Antworten begleitet habe.
Das Cover ist ein absoluter Hingucker und passt hervorragend zur Geschichte, sodass es im Bücherregal einen Ehrenplatz erhalten hat. Auch die Kurzbeschreibung konnte mich vom ersten Moment an überzeugen, sodass ich dem Buch sehr gerne eine Chance gegeben habe.
Kurz gesagt: "Die Zitronenschwestern" ist eine fesselnde, einfühlsame, spannende und nachdenklich stimmende Geschichte mit interessanten und vielseitigen Charakteren und vielen Geheimnissen, sodass ich das Buch sehr gerne gelesen habe. Bitte mehr davon!
Valentina Cebeni besitzt einen angenehmen und gleichzeitig einfühlsamen Schreibstil, der mir sehr zugesagt hat, sodass ich sich die Geschichte leicht und schnell lesen lässt und mich gut unterhalten konnte. Die Figuren sind allesamt gut ausgearbeitet, man lernt sie ausreichend kennen und auch die Dialoge lesen sich gut, ohne holprig zu wirken. Sehr schön ist es auch, dass in dieser Geschichte sehr viele Rezepte eingebaut wurden, die man leicht und schnell nachkochen kann und dadurch auch das typische Mittelmeer-Gefühl mit all seinen Facetten erhält.
Erzählt wird hier die Geschichte von Elettra, deren Mutter im Koma liegt und um ihr Leben kämpft. Da Elettra ihrer Mutter auch weiterhin nah sein möchte, möchte sie mehr über die Herkunft und Vergangenheit ihrer Mutter herausfinden und reist dafür nach del Titano, einer kleinen Insel im Mittelmeer, auf der ihrer Mutter gelebt hat. Dort begegnet Elettra jedoch vielen verschwiegenen Menschen, sodass es lange dauert, bis sie Antworten über ihre Mutter erhält. Dabei schließt sie sich auch einer WG aus mehreren Frauen an, um weitere Antworten zu erhalten, allerdings erfährt sie dabei auch, dass auf der Insel nicht alles rosarot ist und besonders ein Teil der Insel gemieden wird: Wo die Witwen leben, die nur als schwarze Frauen bekannt sind...
Mit "Die Zitronenschwestern" wurde hier eine wahrlich interessante und spannende Geschichte geschaffen. Die Inselbewohner sind stellenweise urig, stellenweise unberechenbar und geheimnisvoll, sodass man hier mit Elettra sehr viel entdecken und das ein oder andere Geheimnis lüften kann. Dabei werden auch Elettras Lebensverhältnisse und ihre Familie durchleuchtet, was ich sehr interessant fand und Elettra somit auch gerne auf ihre Reise nach Antworten begleitet habe.
Das Cover ist ein absoluter Hingucker und passt hervorragend zur Geschichte, sodass es im Bücherregal einen Ehrenplatz erhalten hat. Auch die Kurzbeschreibung konnte mich vom ersten Moment an überzeugen, sodass ich dem Buch sehr gerne eine Chance gegeben habe.
Kurz gesagt: "Die Zitronenschwestern" ist eine fesselnde, einfühlsame, spannende und nachdenklich stimmende Geschichte mit interessanten und vielseitigen Charakteren und vielen Geheimnissen, sodass ich das Buch sehr gerne gelesen habe. Bitte mehr davon!
May 31, 2017
2/3 des Buches waren unterhaltsam und für gemütliche Lesestunden zu empfehlen. Die letzten Kapitel zogen sich wie Kaugummi und waren voller unrealistischer und unnötiger Dramen und passten vom Tempo her auch überhaupt nicht mehr zum Anfang des Buches. Die Geschichte zerfasert ab der *Enthüllung* und man gewinnt den Eindruck, dass die Autorin ab da noch irgendwas schreiben musste - egal was, Hauptsache noch ein paar Kapitel mehr. daher nur 3 Sterne, zu mehr reicht es nicht
January 8, 2024
Ein Buch, das einen von einer italienischen Insel träumen lässt! Zwischendrin gibt es auch immer wieder Rezepte, die Elettra backt. Man kann gut mit ihr mitfühlen, wie sie sich der Vergangenheit und ihren eigenen Verletzungen stellt und zu sich selbst findet. Gleichzeitig ist es kein seichter Roman, da auch Themen wie Trauer, Tod, häusliche Gewalt und Bindungsangst vorkommen.
July 25, 2020
A feel good read - brimming with strong characters, friendship, love and mystery. A delight from start to finish.
April 5, 2017
Cover
In dieses Cover habe ich mich sowas von verliebt. Es ist quasi das Bild, das den Sommer einfängt. Ich kann die Zitronen auf meiner Zunge schmecken und habe förmlich die salzige Meeresluft in der Nase.
Meine Meinung
Elettra ist eigentlich Journalistin, doch seit der Erkrankung ihrer Mutter leitet sie deren Bäckerei. Völlig verzweifelt macht sie sich schließlich auf den Weg nach Italien, um dort herauszufinden, was ihre Mutter erlebt hat. Sie stößt auf eine starke Ablehnung und Verschwiegenheit der Bewohner. Nur in dem alten Kloster wird sie Willkommen geheißen, doch auch dort scheint nicht alles normal zu sein.
Nun ja, das Buch lässt mich persönlich etwas verstört zurück. Der Stil der Autorin ist sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig, genau wie die Geschichte. Fangen wir mit den seltsamen Bräuchen der Insel an. Diese ist zweigeteilt. Auf der einen Hälfte leben die "normalen Menschen", auf der anderen Witwen und die Bewohner des Klosters. Soweit ich das verstanden und noch in Erinnerung habe, wird mit diesen Menschen nicht mehr gesprochen und sie tragen nur noch schwarz. Da bei einem großen Unwetter vor einigen Jahren, viele Männer umgekommen sind, gibt es verhältnismäßig viele Witwen auf der kleinen Insel.
Elettra macht sich zwischen all der Ablehnung auf die Suche nach der Geschichte ihrer Mutter. Diese ist mehr oder weniger tragisch und ich muss ehrlich sagen, das ich die meiste Zeit von diesem Buch mehr verwirrt war, als das es mir irgendetwas erklärt hätte oder verständlich machen konnte. Selbst am Ende bin ich immer noch verwirrt und Zweifle daran, dass ich es richtig verstanden habe.
Obwohl durchaus viel passiert und die Geschichte großes Potential besitzt, bin ich nicht überzeugt davon. Es konnte mich einfach nicht erreichen. Der Stil der Autorin ist manchmal sehr steif und nicht immer so angenehm zu lesen. Ich habe mich schwer damit getan.
Die kleine Liebesgeschichte, die es in diesem Buch auch gibt, ist ebenso etwas seltsam. Manchmal frage ich mich, ob es die überhaupt gebraucht hätte, oder ob man sie nicht vielleicht etwas weiter in den Fokus hätte rücken sollen.
Mich hat das Buch mit sehr gemischten Gefühlen zurück gelassen und ich muss auch sagen, dass ich nicht das Bedürfnis verspüre, es ein weiteres Mal zu lesen. Ich bin eher froh, dass ich es geschafft habe, damit fertig zu werden. Daher vergebe ich schweren Herzens zwei Monster von fünf. Mich konnte das Buch nicht überzeugen und ich habe mich sehr schwer damit getan. Das Cover und der Klapptext klangen allerdings sehr vielversprechend.
Mehr Rezensionen auf meinem Blog Valaraucos-Buchstabenmeer
In dieses Cover habe ich mich sowas von verliebt. Es ist quasi das Bild, das den Sommer einfängt. Ich kann die Zitronen auf meiner Zunge schmecken und habe förmlich die salzige Meeresluft in der Nase.
Meine Meinung
Elettra ist eigentlich Journalistin, doch seit der Erkrankung ihrer Mutter leitet sie deren Bäckerei. Völlig verzweifelt macht sie sich schließlich auf den Weg nach Italien, um dort herauszufinden, was ihre Mutter erlebt hat. Sie stößt auf eine starke Ablehnung und Verschwiegenheit der Bewohner. Nur in dem alten Kloster wird sie Willkommen geheißen, doch auch dort scheint nicht alles normal zu sein.
Nun ja, das Buch lässt mich persönlich etwas verstört zurück. Der Stil der Autorin ist sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig, genau wie die Geschichte. Fangen wir mit den seltsamen Bräuchen der Insel an. Diese ist zweigeteilt. Auf der einen Hälfte leben die "normalen Menschen", auf der anderen Witwen und die Bewohner des Klosters. Soweit ich das verstanden und noch in Erinnerung habe, wird mit diesen Menschen nicht mehr gesprochen und sie tragen nur noch schwarz. Da bei einem großen Unwetter vor einigen Jahren, viele Männer umgekommen sind, gibt es verhältnismäßig viele Witwen auf der kleinen Insel.
Elettra macht sich zwischen all der Ablehnung auf die Suche nach der Geschichte ihrer Mutter. Diese ist mehr oder weniger tragisch und ich muss ehrlich sagen, das ich die meiste Zeit von diesem Buch mehr verwirrt war, als das es mir irgendetwas erklärt hätte oder verständlich machen konnte. Selbst am Ende bin ich immer noch verwirrt und Zweifle daran, dass ich es richtig verstanden habe.
Obwohl durchaus viel passiert und die Geschichte großes Potential besitzt, bin ich nicht überzeugt davon. Es konnte mich einfach nicht erreichen. Der Stil der Autorin ist manchmal sehr steif und nicht immer so angenehm zu lesen. Ich habe mich schwer damit getan.
Die kleine Liebesgeschichte, die es in diesem Buch auch gibt, ist ebenso etwas seltsam. Manchmal frage ich mich, ob es die überhaupt gebraucht hätte, oder ob man sie nicht vielleicht etwas weiter in den Fokus hätte rücken sollen.
Mich hat das Buch mit sehr gemischten Gefühlen zurück gelassen und ich muss auch sagen, dass ich nicht das Bedürfnis verspüre, es ein weiteres Mal zu lesen. Ich bin eher froh, dass ich es geschafft habe, damit fertig zu werden. Daher vergebe ich schweren Herzens zwei Monster von fünf. Mich konnte das Buch nicht überzeugen und ich habe mich sehr schwer damit getan. Das Cover und der Klapptext klangen allerdings sehr vielversprechend.
Mehr Rezensionen auf meinem Blog Valaraucos-Buchstabenmeer
July 6, 2018
http://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/2018/0...
Elettra’s quest to find out more about her mother’s past is prompted by an otherworldly encounter while visiting her mother, Edda, in hospital. Having previously given up her own hopes and dreams, she becomes driven by an all encompassing passion to uncover the secrets she’s grown up with and sets off for the convent of Saint Elizabeth on Titan’s Island.
The moment Elettra sets foot on the island there is mystery in what she sees and throughout the story there are mysteries to uncover with the residents in the community. Much is hidden which makes it difficult for Elettra to find out anything so she has to use subterfuge herself to glean anything of meaning. With the economy failing and the islanders spirits already downtrodden, the fight with the mayor seems insurmountable. It’s going to take something special to reawaken the memories of the old ones of how it used to be on the island …
Valentina Cebeni’s writing style is poetic which drew me in to the settings and the people. I enjoyed experiencing a very difficult culture to my own! I did find it difficult to like Elettra … with her quest seeming to exclude everything else I found her cold and dismissive and I couldn’t warm to her at all. It’s a shame we didn’t get to know her when her own dreams and desires were burning brightly as I think it’s possible she would have been a very different person. My favourite character has to be Isabelle. Down to earth, she’s a women with wisdom to share with those around her.
The time Elettra spends in the convent bakery brings magic with the ingredients coming together. I loved this! For me this offset the overall feeling of melancholy of this story. (If you enjoy baking you’ll love that recipes are interspersed at strategic points throughout the story, recipes such as the important Pane All’Anice).
This story is not a light and summery read as you might imagine from the cover and the setting. Yes there is friendships, love, baking, community and hope but there’s also the underside of life … secrets, greed and politics, domestic violence and ignorance. The overall feeling for me was one of melancholy.
The Little Italian Bakery shows us there are no wrong decisions – that we will find our way eventually and be all the richer for the experiences we have along the way.
Elettra’s quest to find out more about her mother’s past is prompted by an otherworldly encounter while visiting her mother, Edda, in hospital. Having previously given up her own hopes and dreams, she becomes driven by an all encompassing passion to uncover the secrets she’s grown up with and sets off for the convent of Saint Elizabeth on Titan’s Island.
The moment Elettra sets foot on the island there is mystery in what she sees and throughout the story there are mysteries to uncover with the residents in the community. Much is hidden which makes it difficult for Elettra to find out anything so she has to use subterfuge herself to glean anything of meaning. With the economy failing and the islanders spirits already downtrodden, the fight with the mayor seems insurmountable. It’s going to take something special to reawaken the memories of the old ones of how it used to be on the island …
Valentina Cebeni’s writing style is poetic which drew me in to the settings and the people. I enjoyed experiencing a very difficult culture to my own! I did find it difficult to like Elettra … with her quest seeming to exclude everything else I found her cold and dismissive and I couldn’t warm to her at all. It’s a shame we didn’t get to know her when her own dreams and desires were burning brightly as I think it’s possible she would have been a very different person. My favourite character has to be Isabelle. Down to earth, she’s a women with wisdom to share with those around her.
The time Elettra spends in the convent bakery brings magic with the ingredients coming together. I loved this! For me this offset the overall feeling of melancholy of this story. (If you enjoy baking you’ll love that recipes are interspersed at strategic points throughout the story, recipes such as the important Pane All’Anice).
This story is not a light and summery read as you might imagine from the cover and the setting. Yes there is friendships, love, baking, community and hope but there’s also the underside of life … secrets, greed and politics, domestic violence and ignorance. The overall feeling for me was one of melancholy.
The Little Italian Bakery shows us there are no wrong decisions – that we will find our way eventually and be all the richer for the experiences we have along the way.
May 13, 2018
Life and love and secrets on a fictional Italian island in the MEDITERRANEAN
A novel set on Titan, a fictional Italian island in the Mediterranean. It is situated between Corsica and Sardinia.
Food and Italy, a bit of sunshine and romance, and a whiff of ethereal mystery. What’s not to like?
Elettra’s bakery has failed, her heart just wasn’t in it. Her Mother, who taught her the fundamental and creative baking skills, lies in a coma nearing death. Life feels just so two dimensional until Elettra is prompted to go to the island of Titan, which has a strong – if unexplained – connection with her Mother. Her mother has worn a necklace with Titan engraved on it, dedicated to St Elizabeth, the patron saint of bakers (and, as it happens, of countesses, death of children, falsely accused, the homeless, nursing services, tertiaries, widows, and young brides!).Too many secrets have left Elettra battling her way through a lacklustre life. She needs answers.
She thus arrives on Titan and ends up lodging at the crumbling ruin of the convent, run by Lea. Other women reside there, making it almost a co-operative concern. As the story progresses, tensions have to be handled and difficulties circumnavigated. Gradually an unfolding history helps her to piece together much of her mother’s life, amidst the walls of the covent, echoing with religion and history. The Mistral winds blow over the island heralding change and redemption, no doubt a fleeting nod to Joanne Harris’s novel Chocolat.
Secrets are uncovered and remarkable parallels between lives become clear, as friendships grow and change. The story is crowned by a love interest, and love itself in its various forms, together with wonderfully evocative food descriptions, meld together as the overarching themes. Recipes are included for some of the baking delicacies featured.
It is at heart a novel with a melancholic feel, tempered by full-on life that can only mean Italy. Sometimes the story verges on being a little lugubrious and that can make it a little heavy-going at times. It is not to my mind a “feel good holiday romance” as advertised on Amazon, a description that makes light of the deep relationships and life issues that the novel addresses.
A novel set on Titan, a fictional Italian island in the Mediterranean. It is situated between Corsica and Sardinia.
Food and Italy, a bit of sunshine and romance, and a whiff of ethereal mystery. What’s not to like?
Elettra’s bakery has failed, her heart just wasn’t in it. Her Mother, who taught her the fundamental and creative baking skills, lies in a coma nearing death. Life feels just so two dimensional until Elettra is prompted to go to the island of Titan, which has a strong – if unexplained – connection with her Mother. Her mother has worn a necklace with Titan engraved on it, dedicated to St Elizabeth, the patron saint of bakers (and, as it happens, of countesses, death of children, falsely accused, the homeless, nursing services, tertiaries, widows, and young brides!).Too many secrets have left Elettra battling her way through a lacklustre life. She needs answers.
She thus arrives on Titan and ends up lodging at the crumbling ruin of the convent, run by Lea. Other women reside there, making it almost a co-operative concern. As the story progresses, tensions have to be handled and difficulties circumnavigated. Gradually an unfolding history helps her to piece together much of her mother’s life, amidst the walls of the covent, echoing with religion and history. The Mistral winds blow over the island heralding change and redemption, no doubt a fleeting nod to Joanne Harris’s novel Chocolat.
Secrets are uncovered and remarkable parallels between lives become clear, as friendships grow and change. The story is crowned by a love interest, and love itself in its various forms, together with wonderfully evocative food descriptions, meld together as the overarching themes. Recipes are included for some of the baking delicacies featured.
It is at heart a novel with a melancholic feel, tempered by full-on life that can only mean Italy. Sometimes the story verges on being a little lugubrious and that can make it a little heavy-going at times. It is not to my mind a “feel good holiday romance” as advertised on Amazon, a description that makes light of the deep relationships and life issues that the novel addresses.
August 10, 2018
It was awful, I hate to say. Immature plot, poorly written with two dimensional characters who spoke in stilted and obvious statements. Nice idea for the story line but a shame on execution.
September 18, 2018
Difficilmente abbandono un libro, un po’ per ostinazione, un po’ perché spero fino alla fine di ricredermi. La ricetta segreta dei sogni di Valentina Cebeni però lo avrei mollato volentieri se non avessi dovuto leggerlo per una Challenge!
Non mi è piaciuto per niente, ho faticato ad arrivare alla fine e terminarlo è stato un vero sollievo.
La protagonista del romanzo, Elettra Cavani, sente di aver rinunciato ai propri sogni per colpa di sua madre Edda. Avrebbe voluto fare la giornalista e invece, non solo è cresciuta scontrandosi continuamente con lei per sapere la verità su chi fosse suo padre, ma all’improvviso, dopo che la madre si è sentita male ed è entrata in coma, ha dovuto definitivamente accantonare le sue ambizioni e mandare avanti la panetteria di famiglia.
Ma lei non è brava come Edda. I suoi dolci e i suoi impasti non sono altrettanto buoni e non ha un ricettario a cui far riferimento perché sua madre le ripeteva in continuazione che
«La cucina non si scrive ma si sente, e la carta non ti servirà a un bel niente se non sai usare queste»[le mani]
Un giorno, in ospedale, incontra Eva, una signora che sembra conoscere sia lei che sua madre, e che la invita a preparare dei panini all'anice e portarli al convento di Santa Elisabetta, sull'isola del Titano, con la promessa che lì avrebbe trovato tutte le risposte che da sempre cercava.
Questa è solo la premessa. Elettra ovviamente partirà, si recherà al convento di Santa Elisabetta, dove sua madre è cresciuta e dove, i misteri sul suo passato sembrano infittirsi; dovrà scontrarsi con i pregiudizi degli isolani e la ritrosia di alcune persone che sembra facciano di tutto per metterle i bastoni tra le ruote.
È difficile spiegare cosa non ha funzionato, secondo me, in questa storia, perché non c’è niente che mi sia piaciuto.
Prima di tutto il nodo centrale di questo romanzo.
Cosa ci sia di così terribile nel passato di Edda che non possa essere rivelato alla figlia io proprio non l’ho capito. Può essere una storia dolorosa, probabilmente da non raccontarle fintanto che era bambina, ma una volta cresciuta, tra una focaccina da impastare e un biscotto da infornare la cara Edda poteva anche dire a sua figlia la verità su suo padre…..
Secondo poi la trama, che non saprei in quale altro modo definire se non banale e scontata, senza un minimo di originalità. L’escamotage delle ricette ogni tot capitoli è un cliché ormai troppo inflazionato per suscitare interesse o stupore. Il mistero che Elettra si affanna così tanto a scoprire si intuisce praticamente subito, perciò girarci intorno per così tante pagine è veramente estenuante e a farne le spese è stata proprio la figura della protagonista che mi è risultata immediatamente antipatica.
Pessima come investigatrice e piena di contraddizioni nella vita! “Tua madre non ti ha voluto dire niente sul suo passato e su chi fosse tuo padre? Lea, Isabelle e le altre donne conosciute nel convento, non sono state subito sincere con te? Ma quel poveraccio di Adrian di cui ti sei perdutamente innamorata e che inspiegabilmente ricambia, che cavolo c’entra? Perché devi farlo penare così alludendo a verità troppo complesse che non ti permettono di vivere pienamente quest’amore per poi dimenticartene immediatamente appena ti sfiora……
Gli altri personaggi non sono da meno, scialbi e facilmente dimenticabili.
Per non parlare poi dei problemi insormontabili che sembrano affliggere il convento e che si risolvono in un quarto d’ora in maniera veramente assurda…….
Ah si…logicamente dopo oltre 300 pagine di ammorbamento arriva il lieto fine!
Non mi è piaciuto per niente, ho faticato ad arrivare alla fine e terminarlo è stato un vero sollievo.
La protagonista del romanzo, Elettra Cavani, sente di aver rinunciato ai propri sogni per colpa di sua madre Edda. Avrebbe voluto fare la giornalista e invece, non solo è cresciuta scontrandosi continuamente con lei per sapere la verità su chi fosse suo padre, ma all’improvviso, dopo che la madre si è sentita male ed è entrata in coma, ha dovuto definitivamente accantonare le sue ambizioni e mandare avanti la panetteria di famiglia.
Ma lei non è brava come Edda. I suoi dolci e i suoi impasti non sono altrettanto buoni e non ha un ricettario a cui far riferimento perché sua madre le ripeteva in continuazione che
«La cucina non si scrive ma si sente, e la carta non ti servirà a un bel niente se non sai usare queste»[le mani]
Un giorno, in ospedale, incontra Eva, una signora che sembra conoscere sia lei che sua madre, e che la invita a preparare dei panini all'anice e portarli al convento di Santa Elisabetta, sull'isola del Titano, con la promessa che lì avrebbe trovato tutte le risposte che da sempre cercava.
Questa è solo la premessa. Elettra ovviamente partirà, si recherà al convento di Santa Elisabetta, dove sua madre è cresciuta e dove, i misteri sul suo passato sembrano infittirsi; dovrà scontrarsi con i pregiudizi degli isolani e la ritrosia di alcune persone che sembra facciano di tutto per metterle i bastoni tra le ruote.
È difficile spiegare cosa non ha funzionato, secondo me, in questa storia, perché non c’è niente che mi sia piaciuto.
Prima di tutto il nodo centrale di questo romanzo.
Cosa ci sia di così terribile nel passato di Edda che non possa essere rivelato alla figlia io proprio non l’ho capito. Può essere una storia dolorosa, probabilmente da non raccontarle fintanto che era bambina, ma una volta cresciuta, tra una focaccina da impastare e un biscotto da infornare la cara Edda poteva anche dire a sua figlia la verità su suo padre…..
Secondo poi la trama, che non saprei in quale altro modo definire se non banale e scontata, senza un minimo di originalità. L’escamotage delle ricette ogni tot capitoli è un cliché ormai troppo inflazionato per suscitare interesse o stupore. Il mistero che Elettra si affanna così tanto a scoprire si intuisce praticamente subito, perciò girarci intorno per così tante pagine è veramente estenuante e a farne le spese è stata proprio la figura della protagonista che mi è risultata immediatamente antipatica.
Pessima come investigatrice e piena di contraddizioni nella vita! “Tua madre non ti ha voluto dire niente sul suo passato e su chi fosse tuo padre? Lea, Isabelle e le altre donne conosciute nel convento, non sono state subito sincere con te? Ma quel poveraccio di Adrian di cui ti sei perdutamente innamorata e che inspiegabilmente ricambia, che cavolo c’entra? Perché devi farlo penare così alludendo a verità troppo complesse che non ti permettono di vivere pienamente quest’amore per poi dimenticartene immediatamente appena ti sfiora……
Gli altri personaggi non sono da meno, scialbi e facilmente dimenticabili.
Per non parlare poi dei problemi insormontabili che sembrano affliggere il convento e che si risolvono in un quarto d’ora in maniera veramente assurda…….
Ah si…logicamente dopo oltre 300 pagine di ammorbamento arriva il lieto fine!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2020
Vorne weg muss ich auch in dieser Review sagen, dass ich kein wirklicher Romanleser bin und mich dieses Genre eher wenig interessiert. Dieses Buch habe ich allerdings geschenkt bekommen und wollte es daher natürlich trotzdem gerne lesen.
Der Einstieg fiel mir ziemlich schwer, aber nach 50 bis 100 Seiten war ich dann in der Geschichte drin, kam auch gut voran und das, obwohl ich mit den Charakteren nicht so recht warm wurde. Trotzdem finde ich, dass es eine schöne Geschichte war, die die folgenden Themen gut miteinbezieht: Liebe, Familie, Freundschaft, Gemeinschaft, Heimat, Herkunft / die eigene Identität, Verlust, Trauer und Hoffnung.
Ich fand es gut,würde es aber trotzdem nicht nochmal lesen, daher 3,5/5 Sternen.
Der Einstieg fiel mir ziemlich schwer, aber nach 50 bis 100 Seiten war ich dann in der Geschichte drin, kam auch gut voran und das, obwohl ich mit den Charakteren nicht so recht warm wurde. Trotzdem finde ich, dass es eine schöne Geschichte war, die die folgenden Themen gut miteinbezieht: Liebe, Familie, Freundschaft, Gemeinschaft, Heimat, Herkunft / die eigene Identität, Verlust, Trauer und Hoffnung.
Ich fand es gut,würde es aber trotzdem nicht nochmal lesen, daher 3,5/5 Sternen.
July 28, 2022
I found this book quite frustrating and didn't like being drip-fed the information so slowly 😑
I struggled to connect with the main character as I felt all of her conversations and relationships were really stilted including with Adrian which was a shame as I liked him. The recipes were cute and the story was a great idea but I found it hard to really get immersed in unfortunately.
I struggled to connect with the main character as I felt all of her conversations and relationships were really stilted including with Adrian which was a shame as I liked him. The recipes were cute and the story was a great idea but I found it hard to really get immersed in unfortunately.
August 12, 2022
Hard for me to get into but did enjoy the storyline. Very repetitive, she mentioned her mums clouded past every other page and it became tedious. We are aware as the reader why you're on Titan Island it didn't need repeating. A nice ending though, but the translation was confusing. Set in Italy but many French links and French words. 3/5
August 26, 2024
I was very much looking forward to reading this book, loved the cover and the thought the journey of discovery through baking on a little Italian island would make a fantastic story. And it was a good concept and the characters were good but some I just didn't connect with.
But the story was quite repetitive and long winded and took a while to get to the point of why Elettra went on this journey (to find out more about her mother!). It just seemed to drag on and I found I lost interest after a while but I did eventually finish it.
Not a favourite of mine although I loved the recipe inclusions and the descriptions of the breads that Elettra made as they made me hungry.. Overall an okay book but with a bit of polish it could have been a great book.
The Little Italian Bakery
Valentina Cebeni
Hachette Australia
But the story was quite repetitive and long winded and took a while to get to the point of why Elettra went on this journey (to find out more about her mother!). It just seemed to drag on and I found I lost interest after a while but I did eventually finish it.
Not a favourite of mine although I loved the recipe inclusions and the descriptions of the breads that Elettra made as they made me hungry.. Overall an okay book but with a bit of polish it could have been a great book.
The Little Italian Bakery
Valentina Cebeni
Hachette Australia
Read
February 19, 2020It made me want to go and live on a small Italian island. With the scent of lemon and almonds, aniseed and amaretti biscuits, not to mention the divine bread. Loved the recipes, enjoyed it.
February 27, 2020
Loved the recipes in between the chapters!
February 16, 2023
DNF at 100 pages. I think I’ve read too many thrillers. These types of stories just send me to sleep!
February 18, 2016
Sono 3 stelle e mezzo
http://labibliotecadieliza.blogspot.i...
La lettura di questo libro mi ha spiazzata perché è un libro che non puoi leggere e basta, è un libro che devi sentire e vivere e che devi anche assorbire. E' uno di quei libri che mi piace definire "densi" perché in 350 pagine ti raccontano una vita. In questo caso, la vita che Valentina Cebani ci racconta è si quella di Elettra ma anche quella della comunità che vive sull'Isola del Titano, una comunità chiusa e tradizionalista, in cui le donne non hanno voce in capitolo e in cui la tradizione legata al mare da il ritmo alla vita, alla nascita e alla morte. Dal momento in cui Elettra vi approda ho avuto come la sensazione che il tempo del romanzo si fermasse, non ci troviamo più in un qui e ora, ma in una sorta di fase sospesa, in cui il passato dell'isola si unisce al presente. L'isola, con le sue tradizioni e la sua atmosfera quasi ancestrale, spicca nel romanzo e da un senso a tutta la storia. Mi ha ricordato Hogwarts per Harry Potter o Lansquenet per Chocolat ... ambientato in un altro posto l'intera struttura sarebbe crollata. Invece in questa sperduta isoletta troviamo il punto forte del romanzo, insieme agli aromi e alle ricette che impregnano le sue righe e ti fanno venire fame pagina dopo pagina.
Lo stile della Cebeni è molto descrittivo e non solo ti fa immaginare ma ti fa veramente vedere le mani che affondano nell'impasto morbido e colloso e si chiudono, movimento dopo movimento, sentire il rumore ritmico dei coltelli che tritano noci o ancora il calore confortante ma anche estenuante dei forni. Niente viene lasciato al caso, i pensieri e le emozioni vengo sviscerate in ogni loro più piccola parte. Anche per questo, come dicevo è un libro denso: leggere una pagina ha il doppio potere di svuotarti e di riempirti.
Ovviamente c'è la controparte. Uno stile così ricco di descrizioni indubbiamente non rende la lettura scorrevole. Io ad esempio sentivo proprio la necessità di tanto in tanto di fermarmi e di affrontare quello che avevo letto.
Ho trovato la storia molto affascinante, soprattutto nella sua prima metà, perché l'autrice da al lettore tanti fili narrativi su cui riflettere (la ricerca di Elettra, la storia del Convento, la tempesta devastante), fili che hanno evidentemente un legame ma che non si riesce ad afferrare subito. Quello che invece mi ha poco convinta è la soluzione finale che viene data troppo presto e che toglie un po' quel gusto per il mistero che invece era stato così ben costruito all'inizio.
In conclusione, penso che questo libro racchiuda in se una bellissima storia, forte e intensa, ma anche che per leggerlo non bisogna andare di fretta, bisogna avere il tempo di afferrare tutte le sfaccettature che vengono proposte e per immergersi in questa storia, guardare con gli occhi di Elettra la bellezza decadente del convento, sentire il profumo dei panini all'anice e il rumore del mare che si abbatte sugli scogli.
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La lettura di questo libro mi ha spiazzata perché è un libro che non puoi leggere e basta, è un libro che devi sentire e vivere e che devi anche assorbire. E' uno di quei libri che mi piace definire "densi" perché in 350 pagine ti raccontano una vita. In questo caso, la vita che Valentina Cebani ci racconta è si quella di Elettra ma anche quella della comunità che vive sull'Isola del Titano, una comunità chiusa e tradizionalista, in cui le donne non hanno voce in capitolo e in cui la tradizione legata al mare da il ritmo alla vita, alla nascita e alla morte. Dal momento in cui Elettra vi approda ho avuto come la sensazione che il tempo del romanzo si fermasse, non ci troviamo più in un qui e ora, ma in una sorta di fase sospesa, in cui il passato dell'isola si unisce al presente. L'isola, con le sue tradizioni e la sua atmosfera quasi ancestrale, spicca nel romanzo e da un senso a tutta la storia. Mi ha ricordato Hogwarts per Harry Potter o Lansquenet per Chocolat ... ambientato in un altro posto l'intera struttura sarebbe crollata. Invece in questa sperduta isoletta troviamo il punto forte del romanzo, insieme agli aromi e alle ricette che impregnano le sue righe e ti fanno venire fame pagina dopo pagina.
Lo stile della Cebeni è molto descrittivo e non solo ti fa immaginare ma ti fa veramente vedere le mani che affondano nell'impasto morbido e colloso e si chiudono, movimento dopo movimento, sentire il rumore ritmico dei coltelli che tritano noci o ancora il calore confortante ma anche estenuante dei forni. Niente viene lasciato al caso, i pensieri e le emozioni vengo sviscerate in ogni loro più piccola parte. Anche per questo, come dicevo è un libro denso: leggere una pagina ha il doppio potere di svuotarti e di riempirti.
Ovviamente c'è la controparte. Uno stile così ricco di descrizioni indubbiamente non rende la lettura scorrevole. Io ad esempio sentivo proprio la necessità di tanto in tanto di fermarmi e di affrontare quello che avevo letto.
Ho trovato la storia molto affascinante, soprattutto nella sua prima metà, perché l'autrice da al lettore tanti fili narrativi su cui riflettere (la ricerca di Elettra, la storia del Convento, la tempesta devastante), fili che hanno evidentemente un legame ma che non si riesce ad afferrare subito. Quello che invece mi ha poco convinta è la soluzione finale che viene data troppo presto e che toglie un po' quel gusto per il mistero che invece era stato così ben costruito all'inizio.
In conclusione, penso che questo libro racchiuda in se una bellissima storia, forte e intensa, ma anche che per leggerlo non bisogna andare di fretta, bisogna avere il tempo di afferrare tutte le sfaccettature che vengono proposte e per immergersi in questa storia, guardare con gli occhi di Elettra la bellezza decadente del convento, sentire il profumo dei panini all'anice e il rumore del mare che si abbatte sugli scogli.
February 22, 2020
Lovely easy read, wanting you to read on to see how things end
July 5, 2018
I believe this book was published by the same publisher as The Little Paris Bookshop. I loved the little Paris Bookshop, This one how ever was on the other end of the 5 star rating for me.
I found this book tedious and that surprised me and I was looking forward to reading it. It initially showed lots of promise, but not long in I wanted to give The protagonist a slap, and her poor mother no wonder she went in to a coma to get away from her. Even at the end of the book I could not put my finger on why the book bored me so much. Was it the Translation part or just the fact that Elletra was so annoyingly self centered or there was so much sugar in the baking. I found her telling the story always went back to how everyone made her feel and how what they did seemed to let her down. Next sentence she loved them again Other Characters were interesting but none were developed very well.
The Plot dragged on to a point I skim the last quarter just to finish it, and I rarely do that. It really had a school girl read to it.
I found this book tedious and that surprised me and I was looking forward to reading it. It initially showed lots of promise, but not long in I wanted to give The protagonist a slap, and her poor mother no wonder she went in to a coma to get away from her. Even at the end of the book I could not put my finger on why the book bored me so much. Was it the Translation part or just the fact that Elletra was so annoyingly self centered or there was so much sugar in the baking. I found her telling the story always went back to how everyone made her feel and how what they did seemed to let her down. Next sentence she loved them again Other Characters were interesting but none were developed very well.
The Plot dragged on to a point I skim the last quarter just to finish it, and I rarely do that. It really had a school girl read to it.
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