After a rather steady diet of contemporary thrillers and plot driven novels, I was craving something more slow and savoury like a classic, and this was just the ticket! Thanks Pam!
Written in 1922, it’s a delightfully funny and surprising premise, well executed, and just old and charming enough to be classic, while still being quite readable. It reminded me of Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome which had the same timeless and slyly humorous quality, but was also razor sharp at pointing out the tiny human failings that keep life interesting.
The four women at the center of The Enchanted April are alike only in their dissatisfaction with their everyday lives. They find each other—and the castle of their dreams—through a classified ad in a London newspaper one rainy February afternoon. The ladies escape to what they expect to be a pleasant holiday, but don’t anticipate that the month they spend in Portofino will awaken and transform them. Considering when this book was written, it’s remarkable how these women dared to cast off societal conventions and managed to get away for some self-care.
The book especially underscores the healing and refreshing power of a change of scenery and the psychological benefits of travel–something we have all missed during a time of restrictions. It’s noteworthy that this novel came out just after the Spanish flu epidemic.
There also is a Miramax movie of The Enchanted April made 20 years ago, which I would love to see.
Joanne's Reading Blog 
Couldn’t resist, so we just watched the movie (US Amazon $3.99). While I enjoyed it Jeff did ask ‘what was that movie actually about?’
I look forward to reading the book after I make a dent in the current pile because Three Men in a Boat is a lifetime favorite and I’m going to assume the book is better than the film (as usual).
Thanks for mixing it up Joanne.
Haha, you are a courageous woman, to watch a movie with your husband about a bunch of women fleeing to Italy to get away from their husbands! I haven’t seen the movie yet, but it is already 20 years old, and I suspect the book is way better, even though it was written 100 years ago!! I think the book was about personal reflection and how a change of scenery can be refreshing for that, not just for yourself but for your loved ones as well. It was written just after the Spanish flu epidemic so there may be something to that as well, a reaction to restrictions and finding a sense of freedom.
Well considering the Spanish Flu context I am looking for 3 women to join me at a castle in [fill in the blank with any country that will allow us in]….
Pick me pick me!! 🙂