ABL Review At-A-Glance
Ø Title: Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel
Ø My Rating: 4.5
Ø Genre: Historical Fiction, Magical Realism
Ø Author:
James Markert
James Markert
Ø Format:
ARC Paperback*
ARC Paperback*
Ø Publication Date: April 9, 2019
Compare To:
Goodreads Synopsis
For
years, guests of the Tuscany Hotel could leave their pasts behind and live
among fellow artists. Now guests of a different sort fill the rooms, searching
for their memories—no matter the cost.
years, guests of the Tuscany Hotel could leave their pasts behind and live
among fellow artists. Now guests of a different sort fill the rooms, searching
for their memories—no matter the cost.
Run by renowned sculptor Robert Gandy and his
wife and muse, Magdalena, the Tuscany Hotel hosted guests of a certain
kind—artists, actors, scientists, and engineers who left their worries behind
so that they could create their latest masterpieces. Surrounded by lore, the
hotel was rumored to free the mind and inspire artists’ gifts. But tragic
circumstances force Robert and his family to move.
wife and muse, Magdalena, the Tuscany Hotel hosted guests of a certain
kind—artists, actors, scientists, and engineers who left their worries behind
so that they could create their latest masterpieces. Surrounded by lore, the
hotel was rumored to free the mind and inspire artists’ gifts. But tragic
circumstances force Robert and his family to move.
After thirteen months at war, Vittorio Gandy is
haunted by memories, and his former life is unrecognizable. Once a gifted
painter, now he can’t bear the vivid, bleeding colors on a canvas. His young
son doesn’t remember him, and his wife, Valerie, is scared of him. But the most
disconcerting change is in Vitto’s father, Robert Gandy, who has fallen from
being a larger-than-life sculptor to a man whose mind has been taken by
Alzheimer’s.
haunted by memories, and his former life is unrecognizable. Once a gifted
painter, now he can’t bear the vivid, bleeding colors on a canvas. His young
son doesn’t remember him, and his wife, Valerie, is scared of him. But the most
disconcerting change is in Vitto’s father, Robert Gandy, who has fallen from
being a larger-than-life sculptor to a man whose mind has been taken by
Alzheimer’s.
When Robert steals away in the night, Valerie,
Vitto, and his new acquaintance and fellow veteran John go to the only place
Robert might remember—the now-abandoned Tuscany Hotel. When they find him
there, Robert’s mind is sound and his memories are intact.
Vitto, and his new acquaintance and fellow veteran John go to the only place
Robert might remember—the now-abandoned Tuscany Hotel. When they find him
there, Robert’s mind is sound and his memories are intact.
Before long, word gets out that drinking from
the fountain at the hotel can restore the memories of those suffering from
Alzheimer’s and dementia. The rooms once again fill up with guests—not artists
this time, but people seeking control over their memories and lives. Vitto
desperately wants to clear his own mind, but as he learns more about his
mother’s life and her tragic death, he begins to wonder whether drinking the
water comes at a price.
the fountain at the hotel can restore the memories of those suffering from
Alzheimer’s and dementia. The rooms once again fill up with guests—not artists
this time, but people seeking control over their memories and lives. Vitto
desperately wants to clear his own mind, but as he learns more about his
mother’s life and her tragic death, he begins to wonder whether drinking the
water comes at a price.
A story of father and son, memories lost and
found, artists and their muses, Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel explores the
mysteries of the mind, the truth behind lore, and the miracle of inspiration.
found, artists and their muses, Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel explores the
mysteries of the mind, the truth behind lore, and the miracle of inspiration.
My Thoughts…
This is one of those books that you read that
you know when you are reading will stick with you. You can feel the characters making their mark
on your heart and memory. Even from the
introduction of the Tuscany Hotel, James Markert begins to weave his spell on
your imagination. When the characters
finally enter the hotel, the reader is given exacting detail into what I think
of as the main character of this story. The
setting is so thoughtfully written that you can’t help but imagine what can
be. The hotel seems tinged in grey, but
the possibility of a return to glory twinkles in the edge of your imagination.
you know when you are reading will stick with you. You can feel the characters making their mark
on your heart and memory. Even from the
introduction of the Tuscany Hotel, James Markert begins to weave his spell on
your imagination. When the characters
finally enter the hotel, the reader is given exacting detail into what I think
of as the main character of this story. The
setting is so thoughtfully written that you can’t help but imagine what can
be. The hotel seems tinged in grey, but
the possibility of a return to glory twinkles in the edge of your imagination.
You meet the hotel and realize, this is
possibility. This is hope. Like life, you have to look through your past,
see through your fear, see through what is in order to imagine what could be. For Vitto, and Magdelana, and most of us, it’s
that first step that the hardest and the trickiest. The crux of this book lies in trying to find
out how to accomplish facing your past without losing your present.
possibility. This is hope. Like life, you have to look through your past,
see through your fear, see through what is in order to imagine what could be. For Vitto, and Magdelana, and most of us, it’s
that first step that the hardest and the trickiest. The crux of this book lies in trying to find
out how to accomplish facing your past without losing your present.
This book has almost everything I could possibly
want. Mythic creatures, beautiful
landscapes, foreign locales, intriguing characters, beautiful art, and
wine. Uplifting and tragic at the same time. There are a lot of things I could
say about how wonderful this book is, but honestly you should read it for
yourself. I am really going to miss my
time at the Tuscany Hotel.
want. Mythic creatures, beautiful
landscapes, foreign locales, intriguing characters, beautiful art, and
wine. Uplifting and tragic at the same time. There are a lot of things I could
say about how wonderful this book is, but honestly you should read it for
yourself. I am really going to miss my
time at the Tuscany Hotel.
* Special thanks to James
Markert, Thomas Nelson, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of Midnight at the
Tuscany Hotel in exchange for an honest review.
Markert, Thomas Nelson, and TLC Book Tours for providing a copy of Midnight at the
Tuscany Hotel in exchange for an honest review.
Great review! I just got a copy of this one and can't wait to start it!
I've seen this compared to The Lost Girls of Paris on a few blogs as well. This book sounds pretty wonderful and I have it on my summer reading list so I have high hopes! Thank you for being on this tour.
Sara @ TLC Book Tours
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