Reviews

The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons

tinuviel1892's review

emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.0

anna_pengu's review

slow-paced

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

1.0

At first, I enjoyed the vivid and detailed descriptions the author gave for every piece of landscape around Elise, the main character. However, it started to wear thin about halfway into the book and the overly long and flowery descriptions started to feel like they were there to pad out the length of the book. This also really bogged down the pacing, as these long passages fill out the bulk of the book whenever nothing else is happening. 

The characters, especially Elise herself, were difficult to find interesting. Relationships aren't built very realistically and the one at the end, specifically, just felt icky to me considering how it comes together after the tragic revelation just before it.

Overall, this book was a struggle to get through and I definitely started skimming the long passages of describing animals on a hill, the sound of waves on a shore, and so on and so forth. A very uninteresting read with a middling plot that doesn't really go anywhere satisfying.

kolson687's review

4.0

This is a beautifully written book that has a strong sense of time and place. The upstairs/downstairs is reminiscent of Downton Abbey but there is not a lot of overlap as it pertains to the characters. I love historical novels based on real events so the author's note at the end really added to my enjoyment of the book. If you enjoy historical fiction set in the English country side I would recommend this book.

sdelcharco's review

3.0

A good enough read. Some parts didn’t seem to be believable for the time period.

nicolegiordano's review

3.0

A quick, easy read. The story was a little too predictable, but the characters were like-able. A good summer read.

frankanalysis's review against another edition

3.0

I thought it all went a bit strange when Elise married her ex-fiancée-to-be’s Dad.

reydeam's review

4.0

I have just finished reading this book, and am trying to come to grips with the emotions rolling around inside of me. Such sadness yet hope and love are abound too. I am soaking in the emotions provoked by the words on these pages. I was certainly drawn into the book and tore through the pages as I needed to know Elise's story; how it turned out for her. I will write out my thoughts further after I have had more time to absorb and discuss this very-very good story.

carliekw's review

4.0

Listened to the audiobook, it was slow to get into but then I really enjoyed it. Good narrator. Very visual descriptions, took me back to England.

mostlyfated's review

3.0

Overall it is a good book. However, I find the character of Elise/Alice near the end rather disappointing.

ansl's review against another edition

5.0

Oh, I loved it!

Uitgelezen februari 2012

Herlezen december 2013. Ik wil het nog altijd hebben, ik vind het nog altijd een heel mooi boek.

Herbegonnen december 2015. Dit wordt mijn 2 jaarlijks december-leesboek denk ik :p.
Uitgelezen op nieuwjaarsdag 2016. Oh, zo mooi, maar zo triest.

December 2018: Oké, tot nu toe gaat dit effectief mijn tweejaarlijks-december-leesboek zijn :D. Ik hou van dit boek, ik hou van de personages, ik hou van Tyneford, ik wil ook naar het Zuiden van Engeland van voor WO2!

December 2022: nu wat langer dan 2 jaar, maar kom. Blijft een triest boek.