By the #1 bestselling author of Under the Tuscan Sun, Bella Tuscany and In Tuscany, Swan is a haunting novel set in the deep South...
read full description
reviews
Feb 14, 2011
Sandra
rated it: 
The world of Ginger and her brother J.J. is shaken when their mother Carolina commits suicide while they are children. Now, as young adults, their mother's body is torn from her grave. In examining the body for clues that might reveal the grave robber's identity, police discover that rather than a suicide, the mother's death was a murder. Are the grave robber and the murderer the same person?
The book is set in the fictional town of Swan, Georgia. Frances Mayes' descriptions of the s More...
The book is set in the fictional town of Swan, Georgia. Frances Mayes' descriptions of the s More...
Apr 20, 2011
Barner
rated it: 
It appears I like this novel more than other readers: I LOVED it. Francis Mayes, author of "Under the Tuscan Sun," has written a novel taking place at an archelogical dig in Itlay, a humid, small town of Swan, Georgia, and, finally, Palo Alto, Ca. A brother and sister, close in their appreciation and love for one another, are survivors of family tragedies, and the events of the book give them an opportunity to re-define their love for and understanding of their parents and their knowl
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 07, 2007
Dottie
rated it:
Well -- let's just say that the critiques of this book are misleading. This is a fine light, romantic Southern gothic tale of family members who don't always know the whole story and is told in Mayes usual fine style and language. Made for good reading in my opinion.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 08, 2010
Susan
rated it:
Frances Mayes’ primary talents are describing the setting and character development. Although the plot is weak and the ending doesn't really answer any questions, I really wanted to know as much as I could about JJ and Ginger Mason and their hometown Swan, Georgia.
As they meet together to rebury their mother JJ and Ginger must relive the events of their mother's suicide. During this tumultuous week characters are introduced and reintroduced allowing them to resolve chapters of their More...
As they meet together to rebury their mother JJ and Ginger must relive the events of their mother's suicide. During this tumultuous week characters are introduced and reintroduced allowing them to resolve chapters of their More...
Oct 24, 2011
Dianne
rated it: 
I love everything I have read from Frances Mayes: "Bella Tuscany", "Under the Tuscan Sun", "A Year In The World". I didn't know she had written fiction so I was excited to find this book but, and I hate to say this, I was a little disappointed.
The story line and the characters were good, but the first few chapters felt like running in water. I couldn't get going. Several times I thought about quitting and moving on to something else, but I felt an obliga More...
The story line and the characters were good, but the first few chapters felt like running in water. I couldn't get going. Several times I thought about quitting and moving on to something else, but I felt an obliga More...
Jul 01, 2009
Sandy
rated it: 
The troubled Southern family is the plot. The trouble revolves and radiates out from a central character who, although dead, has impacted and continues to impact the lives of the rest of the cast. Untangling the confusion about this woman's death leads to resolution for most of the rest of the cast of players. Frances Mayes is a good story teller. She has a pleasing way of constructing her stories and using words.
Jan 28, 2010
Jane
rated it:
I listened to this book on tape while I took walks, over a period of about 6 weeks, and the fact that it held my attention throughout that long timespan amazes me. I liked the main characters and the story. Interestingly, the mystery is not solved at the end, so the reader is left wondering who killed Catherine, the mother of the two main characters, Ginger and JJ. Their development is what really matters.
Jul 14, 2010
Emily
rated it:
Starts out well and remains interesting until the end when the author seems to just want to end the book. She also kept adding characters and giving them meaningless chapters. The main characters find out after 20 yrs that their mother was murdered rather than committed suicide and they are just like "whew I feel better knowing that" and just go on with their lives.
Oct 03, 2009
Karen
rated it:
This slow moving book recalls life in a small town in Georgia. Generations of family and friends bog down as the book progresses. Interesting in the end but a loose conclusion.
Jul 20, 2010
Sandra
rated it:
Frances Mayes has proven herself to be as exciting a writer of fiction as she is of non-fiction. Swan is a wonderful book of the South and its people.
Jun 08, 2009
Picked this up for a flight, and took me awhile to get thru it, the print is so small. Interesting plot, but did not like the ending. Seemed too contrived.
May 14, 2009
Gregandemy
rated it:
really hard to get into, but Im glad I stuck it out. Once I got into it more, I enjoyed the book. a fun read, a little mystery that was well done. I liked getting to see the clues a long the way, but still not quite sure how it all worked together
Apr 22, 2010
Gail
rated it:
Pretty well written and enjoyable. Almost want to check out the south, Italy for sure!
Jun 26, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
I love her writings and have read all her books. Ending to this a little surprising, tho'.
Oct 15, 2011
Teresa
rated it:
interesting story about a secretive southern family. nice portrait of a small southern town contrasts with Italy and California.
Oct 11, 2009
Cynthia
rated it:
A Southern story about what happens when two children
believe their Mother committed suicide.
believe their Mother committed suicide.
Apr 25, 2011
Ppflieger
rated it:
Very disappointed in the ending - seemed rather abrupt and it didn't answer the question as to who and why the body was exhumed from the grave.
Aug 09, 2009
Hilary
rated it:
I picked this off the shelf yesterday, after letting it live there for too too long. So far, it's as if Faulkner and the Ya-Yas got together for a little something on the side. We'll see...
Sep 23, 2010
Lisa
rated it:
It had some nice features, but overall it felt like the author went overboard with too, too many characters. Mayes clearly loved her story, and loved the town she created, but I failed to see the relevance of some of the people she "brought to life." It distracted me from what should have been an interesting storyline.
Dec 28, 2010
Heather
rated it:
Just as lyrically beautiful as her Tuscan memoirs, Mayes puts into words the feeling of living in small time South of the states. There are many beautiful images, quotable quotes, and characters in which I could relate. Though I was a bit disappointed in how quickly the book ended, it was another one of those reminders of how much I love Frances Mayes.
Apr 29, 2008
Garfield
rated it:
After really enjoying Frances Mayes Tuscany books, just had to add this one to my collection. I've always loved quirky southern characters and Swan certainly fit the bill. Love her writing style anyhow and wasn't disappointed in this work of fiction
Mar 03, 2011
Gigi
rated it:
I sometimes judge the quality of a book as to whether the characters stay with me. I find myself missing some of the characters from this book. I'd like to check on them and find out what they are up to now. To me, that is the mark of a great book.
Sep 01, 2009
Karen
rated it:
Slow and unexciting read...and then all of a sudden it ended leaving only implied answers to all the questions posed by the plot.
May 28, 2008
Heather
rated it:
i wasn't sure what to expect from the first novel by Frances Mayes. while i love her non-fiction work, i was worried i would hate her fiction work. not so! i loved this novel . . . hope she writes more : )
Sep 29, 2008
Suzanne
rated it:
The story is of a brother and sister, how the suicide of their mother affected their lives. When their mother's grave is disturbed, questions regarding her unexpected death are finally answered.
Jun 22, 2009
Donna
rated it:
A great summer read...I hope she writes a sequel!! (by the auther of Under the Tuscan Sun)...quite different...a very southern read...I screamed at the end!!
