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booksnug's review
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. It is beautifully written in an engaging style and the descriptions of Srinigar and the mountains of northern India really made me want to visit the area. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book and was really looking forward to finding out what happened to all the interesting characters the author had introduced. Then... the second half of the book felt increasingly dull and hard to believe and it became it a bit of a slog. In the end (spoiler alert), most of the character's stories ended badly or with a lack of resolution which left me feeling unsatisfied. It's a shame as it was a great premise and a lovely setting.
arcshade3001's review against another edition
3.0
A beautiful story, but one that deserved better telling.
dozylocal's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I'm not entirely sure why I didn't want to give this book 4 stars, especially as everyone else who's read it from my book club has given it at keast that many, but there you go :) It was two parallel stories about two generations where the granddaughter is trying to unravel the story behind her grandmother's high quality pashmina which is only discovered after the death of her father. Her only clues are a photo, a lock of hair, and the knowledge that her grandparents did work as missionaries in Kashmir prior to and during WW2. There are some lucky coincidences and the story slowly unfolds in both timelines. Sometimes there are some random interjections about the granddaughter's past too - but I'm not sure those were always entirely relevant. I did enjoy this book.
susannavs's review against another edition
3.0
Parts of this didn't need to be in the book (circus, possibly the magician, Lotus's fate), and I think the historical bits were much more interesting, but was an easy read about solving a mystery from your family's past.
sarah2507's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-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
4.5
A lovely read with a historical element. Endearing characters flipping between past and present.
margaret21's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely book, well researched and offering a real flavour of Kashmir, both in the present day, and back in the wartime years of the 1940s. There are 2 time frames here. The present day, when Mair from the Welsh valleys conceives the wish to vist the part of Kashmir where her grandparents were missionarie; and the story from the war years, when Nerys and her husband participate in long-gone ways of life as members of the British community there. Mair's involvement in her grandmother's past, her increasing desire to unpick the mysteries surrounding aspects of Nery's life, are always believable, the coincidences never far-fetched. These are characters to believe in, a story-line to relish, and a tale to become absorbed in over several winter evenings.
cathodg's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book but like others preferred the older story to the present day one. I felt the characters were wonderfully created and a colourful English world in 1940's India was so easy to picture. Without spoiling anything I also loved the choice of ending of both stories
bethberry18's review against another edition
4.0
Very atmospheric. Didn’t always need quite so much detail. Really interesting storyline. I liked that it was different from other WWII era novels I’ve read.
sassispring's review against another edition
3.0
This was a recommended read for my book club. I really wanted to enjoy the book and I pushed myself through the story, however, I found that I was bored. Yet the story itself was quite interesting, so to be bored told me that it was more the telling of the story that was dragging me down. It felt many times like moving through mud where you can see the end clearly, but struggle to get there. I skipped through the book to the end.