The Garden of Eros

by Dorothy Bryant

Clean, bright used copy with tight binding. NEVER a library book.

Genres: Fiction

170 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1979

About the author

Dorothy Bryant was born in San Francisco in 1930, second daughter of Joe and Giuditta Calvetti, both born in Balangero, a factory town near Turin, Italy, and brought to the United States as children. Bryant became the first in her family to graduate from college, and she earned her living teaching (high school and college) until 1976. She began writing in 1960 and has since published a dozen books of fiction and non-fiction. Her plays have been performed in the Bay Area and beyond.

Bryant is known for her mystical, feminist and fantastic novels and plays that traverse the space between the real world and her character's inner psyche or soul. Her book The Kin of Ata are Waiting for You was described by Alice Walker as "One of my favorite books in all the world".

Reviews

[Megha Dutta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
I really liked this book. It was short, simple, and told a really interesting story. The book was paced well, and the structure was unique and creative. By the end of the book, i loved how the Ceylon had a very clear character, in that everything she said and did fit with her character perfectly. Bryant conveyed feelings of tension, relief and apprehension really well, which is why the pacing was good. Some of the paragraphs were a little redundant, but i don’t think it took away from the book. Bryant also translated some really beautifully nuanced but relatable thoughts that were lovely to read. Overall good read👍

[Elizabeth Santaromita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real, Raw, Female. A special read and one of a kind. Hugely underrated. A fire in the belly that draws sparks in the eyes.

Quote:
No medals. No one caring about whether or not I was brave. Don’t tell about it, not like man in battle. No one wants to hear. Old wives’ tales. Disgusting. Women talking about childbirth, disgusting. Men talking about killing, exciting. Giving life is messy. No glory, no heroism. Just bare-arsed grunting and pushing.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Dorothy Bryant novel I read. And it inspired me to read many more. This book is an easy read, but I really like the alternate chapters - now versus history, and the giving birth in a remote location with no support and no sight is compelling and well written.

[Beverly Schorr · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an great book. It is a well written story about a blind woman having a baby in a cabin in the woods, alone.