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The Fig Eater

2.92 of 5 stars 2.92 · rating details · 1,593 ratings · 281 reviews

When a young woman's body is discovered in the summer of 1910 Vienna, the Inspector's wife is certain the figs found in her stomach during the autopsy are the clue to the identity of the murderer--for there are no fresh figs in Vienna at this time of year.

Paperback, 311 pages

Published March 6th 2001 by Back Bay Books (first published March 1st 2000)

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Community Reviews

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Aug 10, 2008 Shelah rated it 1 of 5 stars

A woman (based on Dora, a patient of Sigmund Freud) is found murdered in a Vienna park and a police inspector and his wife use two very different methods (scientific and intuitive) to race to solve the crime.

My sister had this book several years ago and I loved the cover and wanted to read it. A few weeks ago I bought my own copy and set to reading it. I noticed that it only had two and a half stars from amazon, but was undaunted-- it was exactly the kind of book that I would like. But it was se...more

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Jul 26, 2007 Lauren rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book made me very grumpy. You see, it's the first book I've read since my daughter Ava was born 2 months ago. I was really excited to finally have time to read, and I spent a little downtime with The Fig Eater each night. The writing was fine, and the descriptions of early 20th-century Vienna were interesting, but ultimately this turned into a sort of werewolf book (actually, no "sort of" -- it's a werewolf book), and the final solution to the crime was just not that satisfying. All rather...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Jessa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I don't know what to give this book.

I loved reading it. I read it in a couple days, during my commute, stayed up late, because I wanted to see how it would all work out.

UNFORTUNATELY I can totally see why people are unhappy.

SPOILERS, so don't read further if you don't want it spoiled.

Here are some of the INSANE number of questions you are left with at the end of the book, in no particular order.

1. WHO TOOK A CRAP BY DORA'S BODY?
2. How did Dora come in possession of the fig she ate?
3. Who thought...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Terri Garrett rated it 1 of 5 stars

The main thing I have to say about this book is: WTF! Let me tell you, there WILL be a SPOILER ALERT so if you have any interest in actually reading this book...stop here.

I am not the kind of person who likes to give out the ending of books or movies...but, the ending was just so out of left field...its the only reason I have anything to say.

Basic premise: A woman, Dora, is murdered in turn of the century Austria.

The history of Austria and the descriptions are good...the writing itself is fine...more

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Jun 25, 2008 Jeanette rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A young woman is found murdered in a Viennese park near the end of the summer in 1910. Only a few clues are found near the body, and the Inspector makes meticulous note of these in his notebooks. He has learned the psychological study of crime under Professor Hans Gross, now considered to be the father of criminology. The Inspector takes a very rational approach to his examination of the facts. [return][return]Meanwhile, his wife, Erszebet, a Hungarian adept at Romany arcana, launches her own in...more A young woman is found murdered in a Viennese park near the end of the summer in 1910. Only a few clues are found near the body, and the Inspector makes meticulous note of these in his notebooks. He has learned the psychological study of crime under Professor Hans Gross, now considered to be the father of criminology. The Inspector takes a very rational approach to his examination of the facts. [return][return]Meanwhile, his wife, Erszebet, a Hungarian adept at Romany arcana, launches her own investigation of the murder secretly from her husband. Her approach is based more sentiment and emotion. Erszebet and a young British friend, Wally, secretly read the Inspector's notebooks, but augment his facts with intuition, superstition and their own exploration. The fact that the dead woman ate a fresh fig right before she died, Erszebet is convinced, holds a clue as to who the killer is, as there are no fresh figs grown this time of year in Vienna. [return][return]Jody Shields incorporates fascinating details of turn-of-the-century Vienna into this mystery. She researched botanical information about figs and added these facts to the story in an interesting and unobtrusive manner. [return][return]Jody Shields incorporates fascinating details of turn-of-the-century Vienna in this mystery. She researched botanical information about figs and added these facts to the story in an interesting and unobtrusive manner. [return][return]Patricia Kilgarriff's reading on this audiocassette was wonderful. She read the beautiful-sounding Hungarian terms as if Hungarian was her first language, and I found myself anticipating these terms throughout the reading. (The terms sounded beautiful even if they meant terrible things).[return][return][return][return]There were a few things I didn't like about the book: there were several red herrings that I thought were a bit too superfluous, and except for the details about the figs, Shields may have tried to pack in too many details for a smooth reading. [return][return][return][return]It was hard to stop listening to this audiobook. I'd bought the cassette set for ten dollars at a used book store and had to dig up a clunky old cassette player to play it. Once I started, I lugged that cassette player around with me until I finished.(less)

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Jan 16, 2010 David rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 29, 2007 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: the Viennese, detectives

Shelves: booksofthepast

I've read a number of reviews of this book that say it was disappointing, lacking in style, and that it fell short of its plot goals. I disagree on all accounts. I thought that Jody Shields had a wonderful writing style and that her characters all came together to create a very well rounded cast. The contrasting methods by which the detective and his wife explore the murder of young Dora (the detective through science and fact, the wife through intuition) were perfectly suited to the characters....more

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Sep 01, 2012 J Earleywine rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wish I could give this book a 3 1/2 star rating, but without that option, I'm rounding up to a 4 to make up for the, ahem, misplaced criticism of some of the other reviews.

Perhaps part of the problem is that the book cover, as one reviewer mentions, is pretty. Therefore, people enter a book—a work of fiction that quite explicitly sets out to re-imagine Freud's most famous case as a murder and investigation—as if they had picked up a pleasure fiction book rather than an extended work of researc...more I wish I could give this book a 3 1/2 star rating, but without that option, I'm rounding up to a 4 to make up for the, ahem, misplaced criticism of some of the other reviews.

Perhaps part of the problem is that the book cover, as one reviewer mentions, is pretty. Therefore, people enter a book—a work of fiction that quite explicitly sets out to re-imagine Freud's most famous case as a murder and investigation—as if they had picked up a pleasure fiction book rather than an extended work of research, metaphor, and intrigue. People seem to miss the point that this is as much an investigation into the setting of Freud's work, which has enormously affected the way that we view the world today in many ways, as it is a fictional whodunnit. The clues in the murder investigation are as much for the reader to decipher as they are for the sleuths in the book; that is, they move beyond clues to become tropes, and some of the symbols move beyond the containment of the story to refer back to Freud's case itself, his methods, and how clashes of cultures and treatment of women in the early 1900s must have affected or been further affected by the way he approached and delivered his work. Symbols and themes, such as the fig, fire, photography, the nose, tarot, and creatures of myth, are used very deliberately to explore questions of perception, morality, sexuality, and identity (both individual and cultural) and even ways of knowing.

SPOILER ALERT, THIS ¶ (One reviewer points out that the elusive fig tree, the fruit of which Dora ate before she died and doesn't grow naturally in Vienna, is found near the end of the novel, but the author "drops it like a hot potato!" I think the reviewer is missing the point that that's where the reader was supposed to pick it up. The fig was noticed by the Inspector, who represents a masculine way of seeing the world, but dismissed as tangential evidence. His wife, whose way of seeing is rooted in myth and instinct and who represents the oppressed and mysterious feminine, persistently searches for a fig tree growing in Vienna throughout the book. When she finds the buried tree in the doctor's garden—the doctor representative of Freud and other "progressives" in the treatment of both mental ailments and women in the early 20th century—yet that is not a clue to Dora's murder, it is left alone. But a little later, the Inspector notes that everyone who knew Dora was guilty. I may be wrong, but I think the author didn't drop it like a hot potato, but speak volumes about the case, the story, the characters and the reader in that choice, and it's no mistake that the book's name is "The Fig Eater.")

The author chose a rich and fertile cultural landscape, as well as a pivotal moment in modern thinking where ghosts of the past still lingered, to set an ingenuous and layered exploration of culture. It would be possible to explore the meta-landscape and interaction with the reader in-depth and make a book of the review itself.

The difficulties I had with the book had less to do with imposing my own expectations upon fiction and more to do with the limitations of fiction. Many of the writing's strengths reside in the bounds of poetry, film noir and even literary criticism (which, I just realized, is yet another reason choosing Freud was so brilliant). But the strength of those genres impose limitations when applied to fiction. The book is very noire and I loved entering the world of Vienna, 1910, a world inhabited by strong people with private aims and desires who exhibit little warmth, much like the ornate and imposing buildings and the austere climate in much of the book. Some of the language is breathtakingly nuanced and rich in multiple-layered symbolism and poetry, but language that occupies the place between minimalism and breathtaking, unexpected ornament, much like art nouveau, cannot sustain itself or the reader's grasp for the length of a book.

Overall, I would recommend this book for its novelty (and the film-like way you enter the landscape) and thought-provoking qualities, but make no mistake: It's not a lazy summer read, nor is it one of those difficult-yet-rewarding aspiring classics. It's a work of art in short form, a beautiful and richly provocative illustration (like one of the fin-de-siecle-world posters from that area so prized today), a darkly playful romp through analysis and art. While it explores important themes, it doesn't make any definitive statement, but it does add to the conversation. I have a feeling the book may have been even more interesting and rewarding to research and write than it was to read. (less)

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Jan 15, 2012 Susan Howard rated it 3 of 5 stars

Bookclub choice of mine, recommended to me by Anne O'Donnell. Strange, psychological twists, most of the girls didn't like the book because of it being a dark, psychological type. However, they talked about it ALL night and have mentioned it numerous times--so though not everyone finished it or liked it, it made an impression on all of them!

Vienna, 1910 - Freud's Vienna, a city of horse-drawn carriages, masked balls, and gaslit cafes hovers on the threshold between darkness and light, superstiti...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Tony rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-crime-detection

THE FIG EATER. (2000). Jody Shields. ***1/2.
This is a very good first novel from this author, though there are numerous flaws that I’m sure have been pointed out to her by this time. It is a mystery set in Vienna in 1910-1911. A young woman was found in a public park. She had been strangled. There were no clues as to whom the assailant might have been. The investigation is headed up by an inspector from the police force. He is a very good policeman; fact driven and operating by the book. Sudden...more THE FIG EATER. (2000). Jody Shields. ***1/2.
This is a very good first novel from this author, though there are numerous flaws that I’m sure have been pointed out to her by this time. It is a mystery set in Vienna in 1910-1911. A young woman was found in a public park. She had been strangled. There were no clues as to whom the assailant might have been. The investigation is headed up by an inspector from the police force. He is a very good policeman; fact driven and operating by the book. Suddenly, his wife, Erszebet, enters into the fray. She begins her own investigation of this murder, but her approach is one based on superstition and the supernatural. “His wife treats objects with the same reverence, but she is motivated by superstition. She has a profound respect for bad luck and its prevention.” Erszebet is of Hungarian descent, and has a wide knowledge of gypsys and their powers. She allies herself with a young English girl, Wally, and takes off in the pursuit of the killer. The two investigators provide the tension in the book, although you have to be awed by the supernatural to believe that the tension exists. The investigation uncovers quite a few sexual relations between the dead girl and her father’s best friend, and more. Sex in society at that time was not talked about, so it took on the trappings of a subterranean pleasure. Needless to say, the real murderer was discovered, but only after lots and lots of tangents into gypsy lore and the supernatural. Red herrings abound. The very title of the book is a red herring that is disposed of in the later part of the novel. The novel attempts to infuse itself with the trappings of a thriller, but never quite makes it. We find out – after the novel is done and the author adds her comments in the reader’s guide – that the book ws inspired by a book by Sigmund Freud, entitled, “Dora: An Analysis of a Case of Hysteria.” The author used the name Dora, but approached the case from the back end. Aside from the use of the name and some of the motivations from Freud’s book, I suspect that the author made up all the rest from broadcloth. Anyway...there’s of obvious research showing in the novel, but little fleshing out of the characters. There is probably an audience for this book. Unfortunately, it isn’t me – though I won’t use that fact to knock it down. Recommended – with reservations.
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Jun 27, 2011 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

This is a hard one for me. I liked the mystery but had a really hard time with the writing style. It was very disjointed and choppy. Also I didn't realize that this was based on Freud's Dora until I started doing some research for my book club. Then I could see the parallels.

Set in Vienna in 1910, Dora is murdered and trying to find the murderer is becoming a hard task to do. The book follows two investigations, the Inspector's and his wife, Erszebet's. His is methodical and analytical while her...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Shuriu rated it 2 of 5 stars

The tree bears three distinct crops of fruit. First, figues fleurs, or florones, which mature in May in warmer countries and in June in colder climates. Figues ordinaires are the second and largest crop, harvested in late August. Figues automnales remain on the tree over winter and are picked in spring. Dora had eaten figues ordinaires, a souvenir of summer's end. (p. 37)

Occasionally when his sense of separateness from her is too strong, he secretly studies the objects connected with her. The sh...more The tree bears three distinct crops of fruit. First, figues fleurs, or florones, which mature in May in warmer countries and in June in colder climates. Figues ordinaires are the second and largest crop, harvested in late August. Figues automnales remain on the tree over winter and are picked in spring. Dora had eaten figues ordinaires, a souvenir of summer's end. (p. 37)

Occasionally when his sense of separateness from her is too strong, he secretly studies the objects connected with her. The shoes she's worn tell him which market she's visited, her choice of hat reveals the importance of an errand, the angle of her comb and brush and the thin frost of talcum powder on the bureau indicate whether she hurriedly left the house, or even left the house at all. (p. 45)

In Hungarian, the word wife is a proper noun, which means "my halfness," Erszebet has explained to him. She rarely says the word, and allows him to use it only during the moments of their deepest intimacy. (p. 46)

The Inspector has taken Franz under his wing. He tutors him, carefully asking his opinion before giving his own to help him hone his skills. He encourages him to be more "womanish," to observe relationships between people, to offer neutral comfort, to read silence and gesture, to ask questions in such a way that the person who answers will reveal information beyond words. "Let each witness tell you what they want to say. The more they protest and claim something is an unimportant matter, the closer you must watch and listen."
....He frequently quotes the philosopher Plutarch, who instructed men to listen in silence, without asking questions, an thoughtfully consider what they'd heard afterward. This will develop an internal voice of reason. (p. 84)

All I can tell you, the Inspector would say, is that randomness and listening will reveal the truth. (p. 85)

Now he no longer needs to be careful wit his questions. Her character is uncovered; Rosza is scornful and self-righteous. for the moment, she's even forgotten she's a beautiful woman and dropped her flirtatious mannerisms. Although he believes in words as well as observation, it always surprises him when they strip away a defense. (p. 267)

One evening, the violent quality of her lovemaking left him feeling even more isolated. (p. 298)

He was secure with his concept of Erszebet as his wife, her days filled with small errands, busywork he couldn't fathom. He was confident all her efforts were directed at him, at the temple of their marriage. He is no longer certain of this.
But he won't judge her. He says nothing; his strategy is to listen and observe. He wills himself into the role of the good disciple, setting a Banquet of Silence for her. He waits for her to reveal herself. (p. 298)(less)

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Jul 29, 2012 Lisa Lap rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read, fiction, mysterythrillers

I was sadly disappointed in this book as I felt the premise was better than the actual story. The opening sequence seemed promising with the intrigue of a murder, however, as we were introduced to all the characters there was a lot of confusion on to how some of them knew each other, why they were relevant, and several storylines while overlapping didn't reach resolutions by the end of the book. The main character, Dora, was an unsympathetic girl with a very unlikeable family and an unfortunate...more

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Feb 08, 2009 Regina rated it 2 of 5 stars

I just couldn't get into this novel. I'm not sure why exactly - it was well written, well researched (the description of 1910 Vienna and Hungarian folklore were in-depth and interesting) and it had what promised to be a riveting plot line.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem to work. I found the book difficult to follow at times. I constantly found myself rereading sections because the transitions were choppy. The characters were not fully realized. Hoping that the book would "pick up", I trudged thro...more

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Jul 20, 2008 Janemarple rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 02, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a good book. It started out kind of slow and I honestly considered putting it down but it did pick up and I really started to enjoy it. It’s a mystery set in Vienna in the early 1900’s. It’s really interesting how the main character the Inspector investigates in that time period, in that area of the world. During this time period only men were inspectors so the Inspector is a man but interestingly enough his wife is also caring on her own investigation of the case at hand. This dual inv...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Hooma rated it 3 of 5 stars

I finished this book last night. After all the build up and the sleuthing and the random pieces of "evidence" that the reader came across, the end of the book was less than spectacular.

Nonetheless, I would recommed this book because it is still a great read. I have fallen in love with Vienna, especially the way it was at the turn of the century. The culture, arts, and social scene seem so incredible, and the author seems to draw you into that time period so effectively that you feel like you are...more

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Aug 14, 2011 Marla rated it 2 of 5 stars

Oh, goodness. The cover of this book is gorgeous and the description of the back cover had me itching to read it: Murder? In Vienna? In 1910? Yes, please! What could be better than a mash-up of historical fiction and murder mystery? Unfortunately, my expectations must have been miscalibrated because this book totally missed the mark for me.

The story follows the Inspector (who remains nameless) as he investigates the death of Dora, a young girl from a well-to-do Viennese family whose throttled bo...more Oh, goodness. The cover of this book is gorgeous and the description of the back cover had me itching to read it: Murder? In Vienna? In 1910? Yes, please! What could be better than a mash-up of historical fiction and murder mystery? Unfortunately, my expectations must have been miscalibrated because this book totally missed the mark for me.

The story follows the Inspector (who remains nameless) as he investigates the death of Dora, a young girl from a well-to-do Viennese family whose throttled body is found dumped in the Volksgarten. The Inspector uses all of the latest investigatory techniques to track down the killer (autopsy, taking shoe impressions, combing through the park and Dora's clothes methodically for forensic clues) but continually hits dead ends. The Inspector's wife, Erszebet, takes an unusual interest in the case and launches her own parallel investigation with the help of Wally, an English nanny with whom she is friends.

Sounds all well and good, right? Except there were so many things that frustrated me that I don't even know where to begin. Erszebet strongly ascribes to the superstitious beliefs of old and employs them in her investigation to a maddening degree. She regularly steals evidence from her husband (such as the jarred contents of Dora's stomach or his investigation notes) and makes her own watercolors and copies of them for later use. By the time she was lovingly reproducing a photograph of a suspect's disease-ridden penis in purple and blue water colors I was ready to throw this book across the room. Her investigation with Wally seemed downright dangerously meddlesome and I kept expecting them both to be murdered in the middle of the book. Heck, I was ready to do it myself! I think none of this would have been so frustrating if I had any feel for who the characters were, but I didn't. They all seemed like cardboard, their actions and motivations maddeningly nebulous. I had no idea why the Inspector would even have married a woman like Erszebet, or how they could possibly have been in love since they seemingly had nothing in common.

Another major complaint I had with this book was the pace. Because nothing. ever. happened. As soon as it seemed like the story was about to make a break and I thought, "Ok, finally, here we go!"...it didn't. It was like Jodi Shields was trying every possible way to stall the progression of her story - to what effect, I'm not sure. This book should have been marketed more as a character study instead of a zippy murder mystery, but even that would have been disingenuous because the characters are so thinly drawn. As for the ending, which others on here have also called out, it was a bit of a "WTF" moment. To put it mildly.

The reason I gave it two stars instead of just one is because the writing, though choppy and unusual, still had some very elegant turns of phrase. And this book also oozed atmosphere - thanks in part to the writing style - which is something that many writers struggle with. I just wish that the story were tighter and the characters were real. I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't.

On the plus side, I now know what a fiaker is because its featured on every single page. Along with coffee, cake, and cold looks.

(less)

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Oct 27, 2012 Maggi rated it 2 of 5 stars

I found this book very intriguing at first with its meticulous descriptions of forensic investigation in the early 1900's. The setting of Vienna is created so evocatively you can almost see, hear and taste it (extra points for pastry description!). However, the plot wears thin with the Inspector's wife doing her own strange gypsy investigation of the murder case her husband is trying to solve. Ok, fair enough, sometimes plots bog down; that I can accept, but (view spoiler)...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Ally Wampler rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ahh Dora, not the explorer my mind assosciates with the name. Unfortunately I didnt know much about Freud's Dora (other than what I quickly read on Wikipedia). But as my college years will prove, Wikipedia was enough to get by and appreciate Shield's imagined tragic end for Dora - again not the explorer, unless you count sexually exploring older gentlemen and possible ladies too?

Anywho, it was a somewhat intriguing mystery, with a race between the inspector and wife (unbeknownst to them) to disc...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Patricia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Disturbing, grotesque, sensual, intelligent, darkly fanciful. Grounded in understanding of the pscyho-socio background of Freud's Vienna and Hungarian folk belief. Shields's writing style is beautifully restrained, leaning towards screenplay. It is more novel than whodunnit. Multitudinous themes are woven into the story: the interplay between superstition and science in the fin-de-siecle, the culture blend of Austria Hungary, of Germanic/Anglo Europe with Slavic, Hungarian and Gypsy Europe, wome...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Hayes marked it as could-not-finish · review of another edition

Nope. Got half way through and realized that I didn't care a fig about any of it. (Ha... I made a funny!) I closed the book in the middle of a paragraph, nay, in the middle of a sentence, which for me is tantamount to not playing the last resolving note of a scale.

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Dec 02, 2010 Sarah S. rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sarah by: Laura B.

Shelves: book-club

Oh boy...where to start with this one. First off, the teaser on the back flap clearly portrays this book as a thrilling murder mystery, "a page turning tale of murder, sleuthing, and sexual secrets". In actuality, it is a character study, focusing mostly on the inner workings of the Inspector and his wife, their backgrounds, their suspicions and superstitions. In fact, a massive portion of the book details how these two characters interact with each other, and this has no bearing that I can see...more

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Aug 26, 2009 Judith rated it 3 of 5 stars

I rarely read murder mysteries, but this one was exceptional. Set in Vienna in 1910, it presented such an interesting view of detective work in the early days. I loved the descriptions of street scenes in Vienna as well as the food and the fashionable clothes. The book also involved interesting psychological portrayals of the various characters and their sexual passions and perversions. Just when you think nothing can surprise you, this book will shock and amaze you from start to finish. I didn'...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Akd200 Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well, I finished it, I was very curious what u'all thought of the book and I am not surprised by what I read. I never got sucked into this book, mostly because the spattering of Hungarian words into the sentences was way too distracting. Mixing foreign words into English sentences only to snob up your words should be outlawed; this practice in this book made no sense.

I liked elements of this book, and that was the only reason I made it through it. I liked how early detective work was described....more

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May 28, 2009 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fascinating premise: an inspector investigates the murder of a young woman found dead in a park in turn-of-the-century Vienna. While he investigates using conventional methods (interviews, police reports, autopsy reports), his wife, who is Hungarian and is descended from gypsies, conducts a parallel investigation, following more ethereal clues that include her intuition, "vibes" from items that belonged to the girl, tarot card readings, etc. All of this warrants a unpredictable, shocker of an en...more

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May 31, 2013 Rebekah Lewis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: women, murder-drama, detective, victorian-fiction, historical-fiction

Woah! I can't believe this book received such "meh" reviews!

Alright, there are MANY unbelievable parts of this story... like... a million - but it's still a neat read in that it reads out like a film noir set in early 1900's Vienna. The setting is unusual and highly descriptive. The characters are an awesome hot mess, full of problems and pitfalls that make the storyline both painfully suspenseful and memorable. This isn't an intellectual read but it sure is a fun one. Don't expect anything but...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Margaret Gillette rated it 2 of 5 stars

Wow - what a slog! The high-light of this book was saying 'fiaker' out loud. Which is good because it is repeated 42 times on every page. Given the lack of significance of the actual fig (other than as a metaphor for lady parts and a plot furthering device) I think that a better title would have been 'Daughter's Fiaker' or something along the lines.

I would recommend this book to anyone who feels that the pace of life around them is too fast. This read is guaranteed to stop time for you. Its also...more

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Aug 23, 2007 Gloria rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book has been a bit 'slow' for me. I'm almost finished and have been picking it up and putting it aside for a couple of months.

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Mar 22, 2012 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, historical, mystery

There isn't anything inherently wrong with this book I guess. The characters are OK. The writing does a decent job setting the scene and capturing the historical context. But there is SO little that actually happens. The story just kind of drags along from one uneventful scene to the next. Even the solving of the mystery was anticlimactic. You're just kind of meandering along with the detective and his odd wife and oh yeah, the murderer just happens to be ____. The actual solution to the murder...more

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About Jody Shields

Jody Shields is the former design editor of the New York Times Magazine and a former editor at Vogue, House and Garden, and Details. She has written several screenplays and has a master's degree in art. Her prints are in various collections, including the Museum of Modern Art. She lives in New York.

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Quotes from The Fig Eater

“She once told him about the mysterious trampled-down places found in fields, which the peasants superstitiously called werewolves' nests. Coming across one of these sites, she fell to her knees and buried her face in the flattened yellow grasses, hoping to inhale the odor of a werewolf, a csordásfarkas. As if his scent was a charm. She smelled nothing but hay burned by the afternoon sun.” — 1 person liked it

“The fig tree grows its flowers strangely inside out, concealed within the soft interior of the fruit. Erszébet imagines the fig's hidden fairy weight of seeds, grown in sweetness that is also a darkness. Like treasure in a cave.” — 1 person liked it

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/72257.The_Fig_Eater?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344263610l/72257.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/72257.The_Fig_Eater?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Fig Eater by Jody Shields[/url]

The Fig Eater

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