I finished Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim last Thursday on my way home just as the metrorail train I was on pulled into the station. I have been reluctant to write about the book, not because I didn’t like it–oh I loved it!–but because I wanted the book’s spell to last as long as possible. Since it has now been wrapped into the spell that is Rebecca I figure it is safe to write about.
There are so many of you who love this book that I was worried about what might happen if I didn’t like it. But from the first paragraph I knew there was no way I was not going to love Lotty or Rose and later Scrap and even Mrs. Fisher.
Since I can’t assume I am the last person on earth to read the book, it is the story of Mrs. Wilkins–Lotty–who, while sitting at the club, reads an ad in the newspaper about an Italian castle for rent for the month of April. Outside is dreary, cold and rainy London March, and Lotty dreams of a vacation from her life. She notices that Mrs. Arbuthnot–Rose–is reading the paper too and is looking at the very spot on the page where the ad for the castle is. Lotty has scrimped and saved and put by a little nest egg but it is not enough for her to finance the trip on her own, so she gets up the nerve to approach Rose.
One thing leads to another. They decide to let the castle and through an ad of their own, bring on board two other women amongst whom expenses can be split. None of them have known each other before, and all of them want to escape from something. Lotty, who is miserable because she has been so good, is certain that Rose is even more miserable because Rose has been very, very good tirelessly helping the poor.
The castle is at San Salvatore, and it turns out to be everything they had imagined and more. The sun shines, the sky is blue, the gardens are forever surprising with something new and beautiful in bloom, and the sea calls out for notice too. The women are all transformed in ways they least expected. And dear Lotty who seems so dingy and dull in London, becomes a shining butterfly filled with life and love for all. San Salvatore may be the catalyst for all four women, but it is Lotty’s transformation and her charming ability to see what is going on with each of the women that makes it all so irresistible.
When Lotty invites her husband I thought it would be all over. But Mellersch (what a name!) turns into a humorous character, completely clueless as to what is really going on with the women around him. There were so many times that I worried something would spoil the Italian idyll, but nothing ever did. It was beautiful and charming to the very end.
Even in all the book’s lightheartedness, it still manages to incorporate serious ideas. Lotty saying they were miserable because they have been so good is true. She means that they have worked so hard on the behalf of others, that they have taken nothing for themselves. With Scrap, a beautiful and wealthy woman, we are given to thinking about what it means to be beautiful and how beautiful women can be forced into being someone they don’t necessarily want to be. And Mrs. Fisher shows us that living always in the past isn’t really living at all. When she starts to feel as though she might burst out into green buds all over, I laughed with delight.
The movie version of Enchanted April should arrive from Netflix by Friday when I think I will be able to take a long enough break from school to watch it. I can hardly wait. My Bookman is reading the book now and so far he likes it.
I haven’t read the book, but the movie is absolutely one of my all-time favorites. You can’t help but feel happy watching that movie. Hope you enjoy it!
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Yes! I was so hoping you’d love this book. I know it’s hard to read a book everyone raves about because you just know you’ll be the one who doesn’t like it. Anyway, glad that didn’t happen in this case. And, I hope you’ll find the movie version just as fun. I actually got to see a theater version as well and was so impressed with the casting and how they transformed the set from cold, dreary England to sunny, beautiful San Salvatore. They even had rain on the set!
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Lovely review. I actually haven’t read it in ages, and now I want to go back to it again. I keep thinking I ought to write about this book, but afraid I won’t be able to do it justice.
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I’ve never seen the movie for fear that it won’t be as marvellous and irresistible and life-enhancing as the book. So glad you loved it. I think it’s one of the most encouraging novels ever.
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I’ve always wanted to read this and your review tells me I will love it – sounds like a perfect summer read as well!
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Thanks for the review… sure sounds like an enchanting read for the summer. From the 40 titles in my recent ‘loot’, I have Rebecca, but not EA. Maybe I’ll start with Rebecca first, since you mentioned it.
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Even reading your review evokes such a nice feeling. Love books that remain not only in your head, but in your heart.
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Oh, and Von Arnim was such an interesting character in her own right. Her biography is fascinating.
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The movie is so cute too! I adored this book and I’m so glad you did too. Isn’t Lotty wonderful? I kept holding my breath, afraid something would spoil it all — but it was *just right* the whole time — nothing wrecked the magic, and everything was marvelous and delightful. I thought the power play between Rose and Mrs. Fisher was hilarious, too.
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The movie sounds like a perfect candidate for Movie Night at the Sanctum Sanctorum; but, I have to read the book first. I just skimmed your post, because I want the book to be a surprise. Can’t wait to see if my library has it.
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So glad you loved it! Thanks for sharing your beautiful review. I think I may look into Von Arnim’s bio now too.
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I’ve heard so many good things about this book. I’m not sure why I haven’t read it, yet.
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So glad to hear you loved this one! It’s one of my favourites, and I think this is an instance where the movie holds up to the book quite well. The casting was perfect. Hope you will enjoy that too!
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I’ve seen (and loved) both Enchanted April and Rebecca but haven’t read either book. Shame on me! I think they would make good summer reading.
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I loved the movie but it now occurs to me that I must read the book.
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Enchanted April is on the top of my tbr pile. I can’t wait to start it – hopefully later today!
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I love this book (and Rebecca, too!). This is a case where the movie lives up to the expectation you’ve got after reading the book. It was just recently released on DVD and I really must buy a copy. If I’ve ever wanted to escape into the pages of a book–this is definitely one of them! So glad you enjoyed it.
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I’ve never read the book or seen the movie, so I’m in for a treat! This sounds like a lovely book, and I’m sure I’d enjoy it. It sounds great for when I want something peaceful and happy but also with some weight to it.
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Hmmm… This could be the summer read I’m looking for!
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Catching up with your site, haven’t read it in ages, sorry for lack of attention / comments etc.
Interesting to spot this book mentioned. Two friends and I are doing a seasonal reading challenge this year (off the blogs). Each season we give a book to each other that is somehow connected to the season – title, plot, setting etc.
For my spring gift to one friend I chose this. I hadn’t heard of it, but as her birthday is in April I thought she might like it. I think she enjoyed it too.
I wonder if you will stumble across of our other seasonal choices…
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