Doesn't quite reach the heights of Elizabeth and Her German Garden, but there are so many passages that just sing so joyously, and others that might have been lifted from Austen- others that are horribly dated, some terribly modern, or grasping their way towards being so.

My thoughts on this book and Elizabeth and Her German Garden may be found here at Book Riot: http://bookriot.com/2016/10/18/readin...

Beautiful, beautiful writing! Only 3 things I regret: 1) apparently this was the sequel to a previous book, which I wish I had read first, 2) the book really should be read sitting outside under a tree in the summer, not on a business trip to Albuquerque in November, and 3) there was a terribly discordant judgmental passage in the book about children born out of wedlock, but I suppose Von Arnim was a product of her time and I shouldn't be too surprised.

”What a blessing it is to love books. Everybody must love something, and I know of no objects of love that give such unfailing returns as books and a garden.”

I suspect that most readers will come to this having read (and enjoyed) Elizabeth and her German Garden, its predecessor. The book picks up where it has left off, with a reiteration of her attempts to create a garden (with its successes and failures), but from the first page she announces her intention and desire “to be alone for a whole summer and get to the very dregs of life.”

The book is divided into months - and each month has at least two topics on which the author dwells on at some length. Probably my favourite comes near the beginning, in June, when she describes favourite authors and how they are suited to different moods and landscapes.

”Books have their idiosyncrasies as well as people, and will not show me their full beauties unless the pace and time in which they are read suits them.”

Much given to what she describes herself as “rhapsodies”, Elizabeth’s flights of fancy are tempered by her sly sense of humour and self-awareness. Although she takes her garden very seriously, she tends to poke fun at nearly everything else - and since she does not have visitors to gently mock in this novel (with the exception of some soldiers in September), she goes into far more detail about the locals and their strange beliefs and ways. The German passion for essen (eating) is also discussed, with much humour (and some disgust), and there are many opportunities to contrast the higher and lower nature of her fellow Germans.

“Love and sorrow appear to be flowers of civilisation, and most to flourish where life has the broadest margin of leisure and abundance.

The Man of Wrath (her husband) and the April, May and June babies make cameo appearances again, but this book is almost entirely about Elizabeth - and her passionate love of solitude and the beauties of her garden. I enjoyed her below description of women, but don’t think it much applies to this unique and self-sufficient woman. I would love to read a really good biography of her.

Women have ”a good deal of ivy nature still left in her, and an unhealthy caring for sympathy and support.”

Seguito ideale de "Il giardino di Elizabeth", questo secondo capitolo risulta un po' meno brioso del primo ma comunque resta godibile. Quello che si mantiene alto è lo stile della Von Arnim che è brava a descrivere luoghi e sensazioni senza ripetersi. Sembra un libro che parla del niente ma ne parla talmente bene...

I read this author just for her descriptions of gardens. Inspirational. I should reread every summer.

What can I say, it's Elizabeth von Arnim, one of my favorite writers. Love her wriitng and this book was no exception.

Not all of this book ages well, especially when Elizabeth leaves her garden to explore the village. But her writing is at its absolute best when she is describing her books, her flowers and her conversations with the Man of Wrath and her babies.

Un altro libro della quotatissima Mary Annette Beauchamp che ho scoperto da poco e che ho apprezzato per le bellissime riflessioni di un'anima che sembra così affine alla mia!

Per tutto il tempo non ho desiderato altro che rotolarmi sui prati, correre per le colline fiorite e di stendermi sulle morbide distese erbose ad ammirare le nuvole. Tanto che, quando comparivano i vari personaggi mi sentivo disturbata nella quiete proprio come Elizabeth.

È una lettura anche divertente, a mio parere;
durante una convivenza forzata con un militare per non far scendere il silenzio Elizabeth cerca di parlare delle cose più disparate tra cui qualche pettegolezzo, se non fosse che, qualsiasi persona nominava si rivelava essere un parente di quest'ultimo. Allora i pettegolezzi diventano lodi e in merito a ciò l'autrice scrive:

"lodare la gente è un lavoro ingrato: ce la metti tutta, ma sai benissimo di non essere affatto convincente. Non sanno forse tutti che è impulso naturale martoriare gli assenti?"

Rispetto al "Giardino di Elizabeth" do' una stellina in meno sia perché questa edizione non contiene la traduzione dei numerosi termini tedeschi presenti (a differenza del primo libro che fortunatamente li aveva perciò non mi appariva tutto insensato) facendomi capire e apprezzare di meno la lettura, sia perché il primo libro è troppo "più bello" e non riesco a metterli sullo stesso livello.

#solitarysummer2019 readalong on IG hosted by @booksbythecup and @rendezvous_with_reading - July 2019

"L’amore per i libri è una vera benedizione. Ognuno deve amare qualcosa, e io non conosco oggetti d’amore che immancabilmente ti ricambino come i libri e un giardino."

I often like books where very little action actually takes place. However, at the moment, this is not one of those times. So one day I'll look into my never-finished shelf and see this sitting there, and maybe pick it up. I love the witty, perhaps sardonic at times, fun tone.
I've since come back to this book while I am in another von Arnim reading kick. It was extremely enjoyable! I love this author and I'm grateful she wrote all she did. This stuff is timeless and amusing. Plus there are so many descriptions of gardens, books, and solitude. Just what I was thirsting for in a book.

Elizabeth's ability to communicate how she feels in nature and how her relationship with the wild beauty of the outdoors compares to her relationships with other people or society, is so full of universal truth and stunning imagery. Her ability to know herself and know the true beauty of nature, and so poignantly write about these things keeps me transfixed. I found her writing on the relationship of her mood to the seasons and weather so true. I very much admire not only her cheerful and insightful style of writing, but also her general attitude and outlook on life, as one I would like to adopt myself. The more "boring" portions of this short story still very accurately reflect a relationship to everyday life, and therefore aren't so boring after all. I loved this story as a picture of an every day life lived with purpose and a knowing understanding of how to prioritize what makes you happy, regardless of what others think.