Review: “Garden of Eden” is a well-written novel with a complex plot and fascinating characters
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 15, 2013
Eden Renee White has never been an ordinary girl, at least not since the day the Catchers found her family. Helpless, she watched them taking her brothers and sisters: she knew that they would arrive sooner or later, they always come, but she has no idea who they are or what they want from the kids. When Catchers come, they take the children and kill anyone who opposes them. But that is also the day when she met Will, a boy a year older, with whom she soon find herself to share a long imprisonment, since her mother decides to lock them up in the attic of their home for their own safety. It’s been four years now since that day, four years that she felt guilty for running away secretly from home and for not be captured by the Catchers. Eden has always been different from his brothers, they are blonde, beautiful and talented, while she has dark hair and ice-colored eyes and lastly she is strange. Since the evening before the arrival of Catchers she can hear voices and that night happened also something else: she found a black leather book and a mysterious man gave her a ring pictured with a leopard, which can move.This is more or less the plot of the first part of the novel, the second entitled “The Island” refers to the arrival on the island of Eden and Will, who were captured by Catchers.Eden is a strong character, I liked her from the very beginning because of her strong hope in being able, sooner or later, to escape, to get away from the attic where she is locked. Of course, when her parents are not there, Eden and Will can get out, but they always come back. She does not have the typical personality or any concerns of an ordinary girl, and she could not have them because of the long years of imprisonment and the faults she thinks she has. Will is also a very interesting character, especially for the lapels after the arrival on the Island. And then there’s Tom, the guy with the emeralds green eyes and red hair. The relations between them are realistic and also very mysterious, especially as regards the bond between Will and Tom.The characters all move in very small or extremely large space: the attic, the school, the forest. But there is always the nature the place that Eden loves most and where most interesting things happen.There are many questions that crowd the head of Eden (the narrator of the entire novel): Why they are on the island? What Catchers want from children? And above all, what really hides the Island?Some answers (also quite disturbing) will follow along the novel, others remain unresolved, especially since this is the first book of a series.The only flaw is the interrupted ending. I would have preferred a less abrupt end, however, it has increased my interest in the sequel.“Garden of Eden” is a well-written novel with a complex plot and fascinating characters: definitely the kind of book to read all in one breath, immersing ourselves in its atmosphere.Rating: 4.5/5