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In the Garden of the Fugitives
In the Garden of the Fugitives | Ceridwen Dovey
8 posts | 7 read | 4 to read
Almost twenty years after forbidding him to contact her, Vita receives an email from Royce. Once, he was her benefactor and she was one of his brightest protges. Now Royce is ailing and Vita's career has stalled, and both have a need to settle accounts. Beyond their shared, murky history, both have lost beloveds, one to a strange disappearance, another to an untimely death. And both are trying to free themselves from deeper pasts - Vita from the inheritance of her birthplace, Royce from the grip of the ancient city of Pompeii, and the secrets of the Garden of the Fugitives. Between what's been repressed and what has been excavated are disturbances that reach back through decades, even centuries. Profoundly addictive and unsettling, In the Garden of the Fugitives is a masterpiece of duplicity and counterplay, as brilliantly illuminating as it is surprising - about the obscure workings of guilt in the human psyche, the compulsion to create and control, and the dangerous morphing of desire into obsession. It is the breakthrough work of one of Australia's most exciting emerging writers.
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SW-T
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Mehso-so

Liked the letter format, and the writing style was good, but in the end, the secrets, suspense, and location weren‘t enough to make the narrators likable, which isn‘t a necessity, but helps. Time to browse my TBR piles....

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Sophoclessweetheart
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I‘m halfway through In the Garden of the Fugitives and I‘m so conflicted on it. The writing is wonderful and the plot line is interesting but the characters are such horrible, unlikable people and it‘s so dark that I find myself cringing at it. I‘m unsure... it‘s giving me major TSH vibes but it‘s so cringeworthy I‘m not sure if that‘s enough to make me like it? #newrelease #bibliophile #bookaddict #booklover #bookblog #bookblogger

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Sophoclessweetheart
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I‘m on the final episode of Roman Empire but I‘m fighting to stay awake so I think it‘s time for bed. I‘ve really enjoyed learning more about Emperor Commodus, that poor misguided soul. I‘m also really enjoying this book, it‘s so sophisticatedly twisted and dark and is giving me The Secret History vibes. I‘m a fan. Anyway, goodnight and sweet dreams beautiful souls. #newrelease #bibliophile #bookaddict #booklover #bookblog #bookworm #bookblogger

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Sophoclessweetheart
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{#currentlyreading — In The Garden of the Fugitives} 🌻🖤

Thank you again to the lovely @cat_snaps17 and @penguinukbooks for sending me an early copy of this book. It is released July 5th by Hamish Hamilton, a penguin imprint. Described as a taut, dark and sophisticated tale of power and obsession. Keep your eyes out for my review within the week! #bookish #bookaddict #booklover #bibliophile #bookworm #bookblogger #bookblog #newrelease #arc

51 likes1 stack add
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SW-T
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“My last voluntary contact with you, seventeen years ago - you can‘t have forgotten - was a letter saying I never wanted to hear from you again. A request you‘ve chosen to ignore.” This is a series of letters between a stalker and an artist reminiscing about a dark shared past. Not too far in, but it‘s got potential so far.

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Sophoclessweetheart
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{#bookmail — Thank you @cat_snaps17 and @penguinukbooks} ??

I‘ve received an arc of In The Garden of the Fugitives by Ceridwen Dovey from the lovely Cat at Penguin for review. It hits stores 5th July 2018 RRP (ce.99 and it is a tale of passion and obsession, it is partly set in Pompeii and my love for that place knows no bounds! It looks great, sounds great! #bookaddict #booklover #bookblog #bookworm #bibliophile #bookaddict #newrelease

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bitterbear
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So far so good...

23 likes1 stack add
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Abailliekaras
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Panpan

An original book with assured writing, exploring guilt & obsession. Rave reviews so I urge you to try it. It wasn‘t for me. Told in letters relating stories from many years ago, it‘s historical rather than being in the story itself - it feels stale. The narrators are so unlikeable I didn‘t care if they lived or died (he‘s a stalker; she‘s an amateur artist wallowing in self-pity). Interesting themes drowned in stale action & factual download.

CarolynM I have a copy of this because I thought it sounded interesting. Now I'm not so sure! 6y
Abailliekaras @CarolynM oh no please don‘t let me put you off! I‘d love others to read it so I know what I‘m missing. It has rave reviews elsewhere! 6y
CarolynM You're probably not missing anything. I find a lot of these things don't live up to the hype. We'll see. I'll try to remember to tag you when I post a review. 6y
35 likes3 comments