emiiisen's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
carls_d's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Twee families vinden hun lotsbestemming onlosmakelijk met elkaar verbonden door een tragisch verleden. De loop der gebeurtenissen herhaalt zich onontkoombaar...
Verlies nooit je geloof in de schoonheid en de goedheid van de menselijke natuur. Je moet soms alleen wat harder je best doen om die te zien.
Het spel met tijd vormde een doeltreffende manier om het verhaal te ontrafelen. Op een zeker punt werd het echter voorspelbaar en het einde had beknopter gemogen. De manier waarop Grania zich aan het einde gedroeg, stoorde me vanwege haar onvermogen om haar gevoelens te uiten. Ook deden de hoofdstukken van Aurora naar mijn mening afbreuk aan het verhaal. Over het algemeen was het een plezierig boek dat vlot las. Heb zelfs een paar tranen gelaten.
Thematiek in het boek: liefde, familiegeschiedenis, oorlog, sociale klasse
kiki_99's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sonia_reppe's review against another edition
3.0
I liked one of Lucinda Riley's newer books so much that I sought out one of her earlier books; it wasn't quite as good, but I enjoyed it. Do all of Riley's books start in the present and then jump back to historical times to tell a long-ago character's story? The writing was pleasant but not as tight or impressive as the other book I read; also, this ending went on way too long. This was four stars until the last 50 pages--too drawn out! 3.5 stars. I will read more of Lucinda Riley--her newer ones.
booksbycc's review
4.0
I started this book with a bang and halfway through came the end of year work load and then the holidays. Hello Book Buddies
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
Travel to Ireland with Lucinda Riley in this tale of family secrets over the years. Stunning locations and settings and a saga spanning decades.
The small figure was standing perilously close to the edge of the cliff. Her luxuriant, long read hair had been caught by the strong breeze and was flying out behind her
And we are immediately transported to the cliff in Ireland where we meet Aurora with the scene set with such passion and evocative writing that you can also feel the wind in your hair and concern that the child is too near to the edge of the cliff. but then this is Lucinda Riley’s writing - as she not only takes you to the story and the characters but the setting is also a character in itself.
London in war time is grim and dangerous, the West coast of Ireland, rural and carefree and New York painful to remember. Each location draws on the story and reveals secrets about the characters and the importance of belonging.
The settings themselves are wide ranging and deeply descriptive - we are taken to World War I and II, contemporary Ireland and New York and meet a large cast of characters from a variety of social backgrounds along the way.
But the thread woven in and out of each page along that journey is the story of Aurora, the enchanting little girl who is the link between the two feuding families and a catalyst for change. she holds the key to the mystery and the developing relationship between Grania and the girl is lovely to see. Aurora is enchanting and playful and fresh - in every way.
As we start to discuss Aurora’s backstory, this is the most enchanting part of the novel but the story of her mother and Grania’s mother is the most upsetting part of the whole story. Yet, just like the war time setting where we meet another figure, it is yet another thread in the overall weave of a history and past that is important to present day.
An historical jigsaw puzzle with the enchanting girl on the cliff at the centre.
The small figure was standing perilously close to the edge of the cliff. Her luxuriant, long read hair had been caught by the strong breeze and was flying out behind her
And we are immediately transported to the cliff in Ireland where we meet Aurora with the scene set with such passion and evocative writing that you can also feel the wind in your hair and concern that the child is too near to the edge of the cliff. but then this is Lucinda Riley’s writing - as she not only takes you to the story and the characters but the setting is also a character in itself.
London in war time is grim and dangerous, the West coast of Ireland, rural and carefree and New York painful to remember. Each location draws on the story and reveals secrets about the characters and the importance of belonging.
The settings themselves are wide ranging and deeply descriptive - we are taken to World War I and II, contemporary Ireland and New York and meet a large cast of characters from a variety of social backgrounds along the way.
But the thread woven in and out of each page along that journey is the story of Aurora, the enchanting little girl who is the link between the two feuding families and a catalyst for change. she holds the key to the mystery and the developing relationship between Grania and the girl is lovely to see. Aurora is enchanting and playful and fresh - in every way.
As we start to discuss Aurora’s backstory, this is the most enchanting part of the novel but the story of her mother and Grania’s mother is the most upsetting part of the whole story. Yet, just like the war time setting where we meet another figure, it is yet another thread in the overall weave of a history and past that is important to present day.
An historical jigsaw puzzle with the enchanting girl on the cliff at the centre.
omeganebula's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death of parent, Cancer, Abandonment, Suicide, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
Minor: Mental illness and Child death
ilsetenvoorden's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It was easy to read and went trough it quickly. It was lovely to read. But;
It was really predictable. Everything I thought would happen next, happened a lot of the time. That made it not so exciting. No out of sudden experiences or events.
It was really predictable. Everything I thought would happen next, happened a lot of the time. That made it not so exciting. No out of sudden experiences or events.
gunadh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0