mimireads320's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book more then the two stars I am giving it. It started out slow for me, but I had hoped that the characters would have developed more.
I liked the storyline- two friends from childhood, now into adult world, reconsidering their relationship with each other- and wondering if it is something more. However, I thought it was so dramatic at parts- almost like a bad soap show- that the point or message of the book was lost. As much as the characters were involved with each other- I still felt at the end of the novel, I really didn't know ANY of them and wondered did they get ANYTHING from each other?
I wanted more from the relationship of Laurence and Gina then just the physical realtionship that I read about- I saw no proof that a substantial relationship was ever there-even as children...I wanted more from the relationship of Hilary and and Laurence- the ending, "i am coming home" "okay, lets work on it."...seriously, it doesn't work like that in the real world- there were nothing to show that their marriage was real or worth to fix- I wanted more out of the Fergus character..I felt nothing towards him. Did Sophy learn anything by the end of the chapter? I am frustrated...i became interested in Vi- thought she was the only character with some depth- but then I was disappointed that her character sort of flatlined.
I guess I am disappointed. It wasn't a terrible book- I just struggled to get through it and felt left down.
I liked the storyline- two friends from childhood, now into adult world, reconsidering their relationship with each other- and wondering if it is something more. However, I thought it was so dramatic at parts- almost like a bad soap show- that the point or message of the book was lost. As much as the characters were involved with each other- I still felt at the end of the novel, I really didn't know ANY of them and wondered did they get ANYTHING from each other?
I wanted more from the relationship of Laurence and Gina then just the physical realtionship that I read about- I saw no proof that a substantial relationship was ever there-even as children...I wanted more from the relationship of Hilary and and Laurence- the ending, "i am coming home" "okay, lets work on it."...seriously, it doesn't work like that in the real world- there were nothing to show that their marriage was real or worth to fix- I wanted more out of the Fergus character..I felt nothing towards him. Did Sophy learn anything by the end of the chapter? I am frustrated...i became interested in Vi- thought she was the only character with some depth- but then I was disappointed that her character sort of flatlined.
I guess I am disappointed. It wasn't a terrible book- I just struggled to get through it and felt left down.
nursena's review
4.0
Trollope's writing is really captivating. I really enjoyed it.
I must say, though, if you like plot-ridden stories, this is not a book for you. This is a very character-ridden story. I genuinely loved the drama and the dynamics these two families had. Exploring each and every character and their minds, emotions and ideals have been so much fun.
Fergus and Dan are easily my most favourite characters and then of course, there's Gus.
I recommend reading this book, if you're not really looking for an exciting ride, but a pleasant journey through an old town. Joanna Trollope has a way with writing the very sentence you have been thinking for yourself for ages, but couldn't put it into words before. Often enough, I stopped reading and took notes of some words or passages that I liked the way they sound.
I must say, though, if you like plot-ridden stories, this is not a book for you. This is a very character-ridden story. I genuinely loved the drama and the dynamics these two families had. Exploring each and every character and their minds, emotions and ideals have been so much fun.
Fergus and Dan are easily my most favourite characters and then of course, there's Gus.
I recommend reading this book, if you're not really looking for an exciting ride, but a pleasant journey through an old town. Joanna Trollope has a way with writing the very sentence you have been thinking for yourself for ages, but couldn't put it into words before. Often enough, I stopped reading and took notes of some words or passages that I liked the way they sound.
eupomene's review against another edition
4.0
This is my favorite of the four Joanna Trollope books I've read. A moving tale of two marriages and the children within, and what happens to everyone when one marriage breaks up and the other founders. There is betrayal and redemption here, and while I predicted quite a bit of it, I didn't mind.
nursena's review against another edition
4.0
Trollope's writing is really captivating. I really enjoyed it.
I must say, though, if you like plot-ridden stories, this is not a book for you. This is a very character-ridden story. I genuinely loved the drama and the dynamics these two families had. Exploring each and every character and their minds, emotions and ideals have been so much fun.
Fergus and Dan are easily my most favourite characters and then of course, there's Gus.
I recommend reading this book, if you're not really looking for an exciting ride, but a pleasant journey through an old town. Joanna Trollope has a way with writing the very sentence you have been thinking for yourself for ages, but couldn't put it into words before. Often enough, I stopped reading and took notes of some words or passages that I liked the way they sound.
I must say, though, if you like plot-ridden stories, this is not a book for you. This is a very character-ridden story. I genuinely loved the drama and the dynamics these two families had. Exploring each and every character and their minds, emotions and ideals have been so much fun.
Fergus and Dan are easily my most favourite characters and then of course, there's Gus.
I recommend reading this book, if you're not really looking for an exciting ride, but a pleasant journey through an old town. Joanna Trollope has a way with writing the very sentence you have been thinking for yourself for ages, but couldn't put it into words before. Often enough, I stopped reading and took notes of some words or passages that I liked the way they sound.
ditte's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
em_beddedinbooks's review
3.0
Not one of the best Joanna Trollope that I have read, nevertheless an engaging story of human relationships and their fallacies.
This book deals with two families, who are friends with each other, and how the other family is affected, when one husband leaves his wife for no apparent reason. As Trollope goes on to say, 'the consequences were somewhat like one oak being uprooted, falling upon the one standing behind it, causing a mass uprooting to occur'
I didnt like the parents much - they seemed too shallow and purposeless.
The kids were good - Sophie, the single child of the couple who initially separate, and 3 boys of the other family, in varying stages of teens.
I loved the premises, descriptions and thought processes much better than the actual story line.
4 stars for description, 2.5 stars for the story - average 3 stars.
Overall, a readable book.
This book deals with two families, who are friends with each other, and how the other family is affected, when one husband leaves his wife for no apparent reason. As Trollope goes on to say, 'the consequences were somewhat like one oak being uprooted, falling upon the one standing behind it, causing a mass uprooting to occur'
I didnt like the parents much - they seemed too shallow and purposeless.
The kids were good - Sophie, the single child of the couple who initially separate, and 3 boys of the other family, in varying stages of teens.
I loved the premises, descriptions and thought processes much better than the actual story line.
4 stars for description, 2.5 stars for the story - average 3 stars.
Overall, a readable book.
ratherhazy's review
4.0
This is the first book I have read by Joanna Trollope. I can't say for certain that it will be my last.
I originally gave the book three stars, thinking I wanted to give it two, but I would give it three since I actually read the whole book without speed reading to the end like I do with most books. Since my review is a few days after I finished it I also think of it with fresh eyes. It was an interesting story, with characters of all ages, genders, types, so that there were many different perspectives on what was happening with the story. The book reminded me of Peerless Flats by Esther Freud.
I originally gave the book three stars, thinking I wanted to give it two, but I would give it three since I actually read the whole book without speed reading to the end like I do with most books. Since my review is a few days after I finished it I also think of it with fresh eyes. It was an interesting story, with characters of all ages, genders, types, so that there were many different perspectives on what was happening with the story. The book reminded me of Peerless Flats by Esther Freud.
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