Customer Reviews

The Almond Picker: A Novel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Maria Rosalia Inzerillo, also known a La Mennulara (the woman who gathers almonds) lived in a small Sicilian town called Roccacolomba; her death came very suddenly although many knew she had been ill for some time.

Rumours and gossip begin to spread like wild fly through the streets of Roccacolomba and everybody it seemed had there own story to tell. Who really was this woman? Her humble beginning of nothing more than a peasant farmer's daughter and as a young girl forced to become a maid for the wealthy Alfallipe family, only to end up manager of the Alfallipe estate. How is this possible? How did this happen? How rich was Mennulara and where has all the money disappeared too? Could it simply be Mennulara squander the Alfallipes fortune? Everybody knew she was hard working and everyone had a reason to hate her.

These Unanswered questions send the remaining Alfallipe family scurrying after the rumours; quite whispers in corners become uncontrollable. Who were Mennulara enemies? Who would pay their respects at her funeral and what was the local mafia chief doing there? Only time will tell.

This is a beautiful woven tale full of gossip, intrigue and corruption. Each chapter gives you the hint that not all is what it seems only wanting you to read on. Rumours unfold and you begin to get the feeling that even in death Mennulara had a plan. This book holds you in it's grip and slowly it begins to answer all your questions. I thought this was wonderfully put together, you really get the feel of a small Sicilian town where you can imagine how talk and gossip flows through it.

The Author Simonetta Agnello Hornby Pondered on an idea of writing this novel while delayed on a British Airways flight from Palermo-London. Inspiration brought on in the strangest of places. I can only hope Simonetta is currently writing her second novel without the delay. Congratulations on such an intriguing first novel.

I loved this book - the characters were well-drawn and multi-dimensional, and I got a real feeling for the setting: a small town in Sicily. The author tells the tale beautifully, in an unfamilar style: sure, I had to pay attention, but as I did, I was rewarded as the story was revealed. The ending wrapped up in a totally satisfactory way, and I finished the book feeling that I had read something truly marvelous and well-crafted.

Don't miss this one! It's a true, hidden gem, and I would definately look for more work from this author.

Would I have picked out this book on my own? Despite its pretty cover I probably wouldn't have. But it was the current selection for the book club I'm joining so I dove in.

To me, the first few chapters were a bit dry -- somehow reminding me of Jane Austen -- lots of characters and background stuff. But somewhere around the the third chapter or so, I was involved. I was living in this little Sicilian town and observing the nuances and mannerisms and relationships involved.

The story was delightful -- at times a "morality" piece and other times just plain good mystery. All in all, it's the first book I read straight through in a few sittings since high school -- when I used to read simply for pleasure. It took precedence over work, TV and even, on one occasion, a dinner out.

If you want to escape to a different time and place and find intriguing people -- pick up this book and dive in. You won't regret it!

Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

I picked this book up from the library shelf, attracted by the cover picture of a fruit tree in blossom and the relatively small size (5"X7"). I noted that it was over three hundred pages. My usual method for deciding on a book is to read the first paragraph and if it grabs my attention, I take it home. This book was a wonderful surprise. I started reading the first page and could not stop.
It is the story of the life of a servant in the household of the town's most prominent family. The town is a small one in Sicily. This in itself was fascinating as I knew little about Sicily.
The author develops a captivating tale through the eyes of most of the townspeople. This, in turn involves you in the lives of all of them. You become a member of this charming community.
I heartily recommend this book. In fact, I am going to purchase a copy for a gift for my Sicilian descended daughter-in-law.

This is the sort of book you read with a smile on your face throughout, the same way you would watch a Fellini movie. A small town in Sicily reacts to the death of one of its most interesting characters, and what is revealed is a magnificent panorama of life, carefully unfolding before you. A totally satisfying read. Thank you, Simonetta Agnello Hornby.

Like one of the other reviewers, I too came upon this book on the shelf at the library and was attracted by its slight size - as I ride the train every day, I love to have small, light books I can easily carry in my purse - along with it's lovely cover. The description on the inside flap sealed the deal for me. I am particularly drawn to generational family stories - especially those that involve intrigue, deception, and potentially explosive secrets.

This book did not disappoint. I found it very easy to read with very well-drawn characters and a plot that had many suprises without making it feel overly complicated or ridiculous. The author's style was quite straight-forward and clean but brought the people and their town to life beautifully.

I enjoyed it so very much I think I read it in 3 days or less. If you are looking for a charming, entertaining, and interesting story, I highly recommend this one.

I loved this book - the characters were well-drawn and multi-dimensional, and I got a real feeling for the setting: a small town in Sicily. The author tells the tale beautifully, in an unfamilar style: sure, I had to pay attention, but as I did, I was rewarded as the story was revealed. The ending wrapped up in a totally satisfactory way, and I finished the book feeling that I had read something truly marvelous and well-crafted.

Don't miss this one! It's a true, hidden gem, and I would definately look for more work from this author.

This is not a novel with an active protagonist. You can't sit back and just let a movie take place in your head. The many characters in small town Sicily weave their own straw into what will become a complex basket of a tale, but it's slow in coming. I wasn't trying to force memorize who was whom or who had said what prior; I just read each chapter and enjoyed the descriptions. Eventually the story becomes gripping.

It's not the novel you can't put down in the first half. Rather, you can put it down and attend to life, and the more you return to it, the less long you can leave it on the table. The last quarter is where details start to spill and the secrets are revealed.

There is so much of Italy, of Sicily, in the book that you do feel as though you just got off the plane from there, as if you just read a book in Italian, even after reading this English version.

This novel is by far the best I've read in the past 6 months. It's an adult-version fable full of legends and morality. At first I was a bit overwhelmed by all the characters that swamped in in each chapter, but later I learned to keep in mind only the very key names, which in turn made my reading a lot more enjoyable.

It may be a potboiler but it held my attention. A good story.