Pia G.’s review of The Torture Garden > Likes and Comments
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Haunting review: equally disturbing and inviting, just like the novel
I’ve heard of the name of this book but I really don’t know much about it! Cool you read it 🤓
19th century horror? Now, that's sounds like a very off putting read!
🩸📖
What a fabulous review. How come I've yet to read this is beyond me.
Jonfaith wrote: "Haunting review: equally disturbing and inviting, just like the novel"
Yes, it seduces and repels at the same time, which is probably why I ended up seeing Clara through Mossa’s Elle in the first place. Neither of them lets you look away comfortably.
Patrick wrote: "I’ve heard of the name of this book but I really don’t know much about it! Cool you read it 🤓"
Patrick, I think knowing very little might actually be the best way to enter this one. The title sounds sinister enough, but it still doesn’t quite prepare you for how beautiful, grotesque and oddly seductive that garden becomes.😅
Berengaria wrote: "19th century horror? Now, that's sounds like a very off putting read!
🩸📖"
Very off-putting, yes and very deliberately so. It keeps handing you flowers and then reminding you what they’re growing out of.
Chris wrote: "Good lord, that was intense."
Chris, that was pretty much my state by the end. Mirbeau somehow makes beauty and revulsion sit at the same table and then refuses to let either one leave.
Debbie Y wrote: "What a fabulous review. How come I've yet to read this is beyond me."
I think this is one of those books that waits until you’re in exactly the wrong mood to ambush you. If you do pick it up, Clara will make sure you don’t leave the garden quite as clean as you entered.
Next
The pinnacle of French decadent lit. Next up: Sebastian Roch.
Richard wrote: "Next
The pinnacle of French decadent lit. Next up: Sebastian Roch."
Richard, I haven’t read Sebastien Roch yet, but I’ll definitely look into it. Thank you!
What a review Pia! ❤️❤️
Sounds intense! Another to add to my TBR!
Gayle wrote: "What a review Pia! ❤️❤️
Sounds intense! Another to add to my TBR!"
Gayle, this one really does feel like walking into a garden you know you probably shouldn’t enter and then realizing you don’t actually want to leave.🙃 I hope you get to meet Clara at some point.
Khalid wrote: "Lovely review!"
Thank you, Khalid!
Your reviews are always so well written, Pia. They are like reading an engrossing short story. I've never heard of The Torture Garden, but you have definitely piqued my interest in it!
K wrote: "Your reviews are always so well written, Pia. They are like reading an engrossing short story. I've never heard of The Torture Garden, but you have definitely piqued my interest in it!"
Thank you! The book itself has such a theatrical, feverish atmosphere that Clara, especially, kept slipping out of the role of a character for me and turning into an image I just couldn’t get out of my head.
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Jonfaith
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Sep 27, 2026 02:30PM
Haunting review: equally disturbing and inviting, just like the novel
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I’ve heard of the name of this book but I really don’t know much about it! Cool you read it 🤓
19th century horror? Now, that's sounds like a very off putting read! 🩸📖
What a fabulous review. How come I've yet to read this is beyond me.
Jonfaith wrote: "Haunting review: equally disturbing and inviting, just like the novel"Yes, it seduces and repels at the same time, which is probably why I ended up seeing Clara through Mossa’s Elle in the first place. Neither of them lets you look away comfortably.
Patrick wrote: "I’ve heard of the name of this book but I really don’t know much about it! Cool you read it 🤓"Patrick, I think knowing very little might actually be the best way to enter this one. The title sounds sinister enough, but it still doesn’t quite prepare you for how beautiful, grotesque and oddly seductive that garden becomes.😅
Berengaria wrote: "19th century horror? Now, that's sounds like a very off putting read! 🩸📖"
Very off-putting, yes and very deliberately so. It keeps handing you flowers and then reminding you what they’re growing out of.
Chris wrote: "Good lord, that was intense."Chris, that was pretty much my state by the end. Mirbeau somehow makes beauty and revulsion sit at the same table and then refuses to let either one leave.
Debbie Y wrote: "What a fabulous review. How come I've yet to read this is beyond me."I think this is one of those books that waits until you’re in exactly the wrong mood to ambush you. If you do pick it up, Clara will make sure you don’t leave the garden quite as clean as you entered.
NextThe pinnacle of French decadent lit. Next up: Sebastian Roch.
Richard wrote: "NextThe pinnacle of French decadent lit. Next up: Sebastian Roch."
Richard, I haven’t read Sebastien Roch yet, but I’ll definitely look into it. Thank you!
What a review Pia! ❤️❤️Sounds intense! Another to add to my TBR!
Gayle wrote: "What a review Pia! ❤️❤️Sounds intense! Another to add to my TBR!"
Gayle, this one really does feel like walking into a garden you know you probably shouldn’t enter and then realizing you don’t actually want to leave.🙃 I hope you get to meet Clara at some point.
Khalid wrote: "Lovely review!"Thank you, Khalid!
Your reviews are always so well written, Pia. They are like reading an engrossing short story. I've never heard of The Torture Garden, but you have definitely piqued my interest in it!
K wrote: "Your reviews are always so well written, Pia. They are like reading an engrossing short story. I've never heard of The Torture Garden, but you have definitely piqued my interest in it!"Thank you! The book itself has such a theatrical, feverish atmosphere that Clara, especially, kept slipping out of the role of a character for me and turning into an image I just couldn’t get out of my head.