The Curious History of Joshua Ramdinkka

by Jack Ginesi

“For though we share one planet, we inhabit many worlds.” - Barisko VollotiJoshua Ramdinkka is having a bad day…that makes 14,768 and counting. It's not like he asked to take over the running of the celebrated Ramdinkka vineyard but, as the last of his distinguished line, what choice did he have?The suspicion that great grandfather's ghost is trying to muscle his way back into the family business isn't helping matters. Nor is the fact that his alter ego has accidentally killed the village mime. Now it seems the council is just itching to bulldoze his beloved family home. But is Joshua a victim or the architect of his own misfortune? The answer is staring him in the face but, with the Grim Reaper dogging his every step, can he really cheat death and reclaim his life or is he destined to fall foul of a classic cinematic cliché? Set in a bygone world of vineyards and village life, this is a novel about the choices we make and how they make us. It's about living in the shadow of greatness, the perils of discovering you are God and the realisation that no one else will ever see the world quite the way you do.The Curious History of Joshua Ramdinkka explores how we create our own reality. It is an intriguing and provocative tale of one man’s history, played out against the backdrop of a small, southern European village - filled with gloriously eccentric characters - and told with a wry, offbeat sense of humour. The book examines the relationship between life and death and raises numerous metaphysical questions, whilst touching on a number of spiritual themes. Whilst fiction, this thought-provoking book invites the reader to examine patterns in their own life. The idea that human experience is a matter of perception, and that all truth is subjective, is a powerful theme.

346 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2014

Reviews

[James R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across this gem at a friend's house. I love books that try something different and this book certainly fits the bill. It is a rather surreal story set in a small village during the twentieth century. The first part of the book is a kind of collection of short anecdotal stories, and things don’t really start to pull together until about a third of the way through. The lack of plot could put some people off, but it makes up for it with a glorious cast of characters, a wicked dark humour, and some thought-provoking ideas. I suspect it is the kind of book that would benefit from multiple read-throughs, unfortunately, I’ve had to return my friend’s copy and I can’t find another one for love nor money. Gutted.

[William Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest books I have ever read. A story of a small town, a true masterpiece of "Dark Humour".

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

We are born, we live, we die. The story of everyone’s life. We have no control over our birth or our death (most people anyway). We should, however, be able to control how we live………

Joshua Ramdinkka is born to a farming family in a small village in Italy. Throughout his life he seeks an answer to why he is here. Though Joshua is the main character his thread seems very thin and rarely appears during the first half of the book. The reader meets many other eccentric characters of the village that come and go quite readily. Many die unexpectedly and in weird ways……………some humorous. In fact there are so many characters coming and going that they can be hard to keep track of.
As Joshua seeks the reason for his being on this earth he falls deeper and deeper into despair ultimately failing where he should have succeeded. Did he fail because no one believed in him or because he did not believe in himself? Did that feeling come from others or from his own internal turmoil?

Joshua’s life truly comes together in the last quarter of the story. This is where you feel you get to know him but then it seems too late………or, is it?

The story is written in such a way that I felt like someone was telling me about a really long, strange dream. Dreams can take unexpected turns at any moment and this story often does. This is the kind of book I would file in my “artsy” category if I had one because to read it means you have to figure out what the author is trying to say (it may not be the same for everyone). This would be the kind of book a literature teacher would enjoy having her/his students interpret. Not something I enjoyed doing in school.

*I read and reviewed this book on request.*

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3-1/2 stars...I read for character, and I got so sad over what the author did to Joshua...

Think a cross between CINEMA PARADISO and DON QUIXOTE with a touch of magic realism...a tiny village in Italy...quirky people come and go...vignettes of oen resident and then another...and one family, the Ramdinkkas, running throughout...can I just say, 'Ramdinkka' DOES NOT sound Italian...

As a child, Joshua was irrepressible, brave, inquisitive, imaginative. But his father made sure that didn't last long. All those wonderful qualities were forced to a tiny corner of his soul, and he never regained the courage to be that wonderful kid.

The last of his line, Joshua tries to hold the village, and his vinyard together, but the 20th century is not kind to him or his home. He quests for answers...the most important one is , why?

There were times the story seemed to meander here and there...I followed, because I loved Joshua.

He does get answers...but I'm still sad for him.

[June Staff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book - thought provoking, insightful, humorous, at times exciting with some surprisingly tender and touching moments. Some wonderful characters are contained within this book and it made me eager to keep on reading. I will definitely re-read this book at some point as I feel that new things will be discovered on a second read, there seemed to be so much in it and I am not sure that I took it all in the first time. There are so many facets to this book that makes it an interesting voyage of discovery into oneself.

[Christie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I sent my comments to authoright for private review.