Reviews

The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton

cgstitch's review against another edition

mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

emblepemble's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

chantelmccray's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars. Compulsively readable and extremely satisfying. Once I found time to read it, I couldn't put it down. I had to know the answer to the mystery at the center of this story!

andreagraves's review against another edition

5.0

I had to reread this book, and I loved it even more! It was easier to follow since I remembered the 100+ year timeline and was written so well. This is a timeless favorite that will always be in my top 3 fav books of all time. This won’t be the last time I reread it.

lsm's review against another edition

4.0

I haven't done a lot of reading lately but when I did this was the book I turned to. I genuinely enjoyed it. I was even pleasantly surprised by some of the twists, not that I'm a plot genius, but I can usually see 'em coming. I like Ms. Morton's writing and am a sucker for books that take place around grand houses and gardens. This one fit the bill. It's the multi generational story of women and the mystery of how they are connected. I liked it!

lmannes6's review against another edition

3.0

listening to it as audiobook. good, but kind of dragged on

mamamac1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

criscarth's review against another edition

3.0

Good characters, world building, setting.
Only 3 stars because it was just too slow and predictable.

elmiathebookaddict's review against another edition

4.0

‘Memory is a cruel mistress with whom we all must learn to dance.’

Quick Summary

At Nell's joyous 21st birthday party her world falls apart when her father tells her she was adopted as a 4-year-old in 1913, seemingly abandoned on an Australian wharf and unable to remember her name. The knowledge shatters her self-image and changes the course of her life. In the end, it is her granddaughter Cassandra, haunted by her own griefs, who in 2005 follows in Nell's footsteps to finish the journey of discovery and fit together all the missing pieces.

Thoughts

I loved the poetic writing style, and it has very pretty prose. I also like the complexity of the subplots - they served an even more satisfying reading experience. The only thing I didn't like was the occasional slow pacing that caused me to stop reading for days or even weeks. Overall a very good read, though.

Who this book is for

Readers who enjoy historical fiction, subtle romance, and a bit of a mystery will surely love The Forgotten Garden.

'She did as she felt, and she felt a great deal.'

Related Books

The Cider House Rules by John Irving; Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah; The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

celticrockgirl's review against another edition

5.0

I wish goodreads had half stars, I would give this 4.5 stars. I really liked this story, but it got confusing at times! It jumps between 3 time periods unraveling a mystery bit by bit, and I felt like I needed to keep a chart or timeline to remember things that happened in the different eras to the different characters... That said, it kept me turning pages late into the night to fully figure out all the mysteries in this family. The author paints detailed pictures of everyone, and of the places and times where the story takes place. There were things in it that reminded me of other stories (mostly the Secret Garden, and a little of Mansfield Park), but there was much that was original to the story as well. I would recommend this if you like historical and intriguing stories!