nocto's review against another edition
4.0
A tale of a French chateau and a family that zaps back and forth in time and takes turns with various characters. Lots to like about it and I enjoyed the read. I was mildly worried because I'd read reviews saying that the ending was a bit anti-climatic, but, perhaps because I'd read those reviews, I didn't mind the ending at all.
aly_p's review against another edition
1.0
this twaddle doesn't even deserve a woman walking away on its front cover
toria's review
3.0
A couple, Kate and Stephen Glover, rent a house in a rural French Village, hoping to recover from their stressful jobs and refresh their marriage. The peaceful setting affects the couple in very different ways. Kate’s emotional well being is enhanced by the peaceful location. However, Stephen is bored by the village setting and challenged by the unfriendliness of the village’s inhabitants. The villagers seem uncultured and emotionally inhibited. They soon learn that the inhabitants of this community have a history that they dare not explore. On the surface, the historic French village, at the heart of this novel, looks at peace with itself and its past. But, it has a rotten secret at its core. That secret is embodied by a decaying building which casts a shadow over the whole community. Gradually, Kate is drawn to the building. It seems to have a hypnotic effect on her. She is told that the building has had a long history of pain and suffering. The building has pain and death built into its very structure. She is shown the tombstone of a person who died a tragic death in the grounds of the building. The building seems to be absorbed by pain and that pain seems to cast a shadow on the village.
This book works well as both: a piece of weird fiction, reminding me of Shirley Jackson; and as a piece of historical/generational writing. The darkness within the text mirrors the darkness of the setting. I have only one reservation concerning this work. I question the need of the epilogue. The story seems to end well in the final chapter, leaving enough room for the reader to form their own opinions concerning the fate of the house. It does not need the epilogue with its attempts to tie up the loose ends.
This book is a history of a house, a house that is saturated with sorrow and that overwhelms those who live in its shadow. It explores the way that history can, and does, cast a cloud over the lives of human beings. The book will live with you for a long time. http://literarystuff.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/we-all-ran-into-the-sunlight-by-natalie-young-httpwww-goodreads-combookshow10850022-we-all-ran-into-the-sunlight/
This book works well as both: a piece of weird fiction, reminding me of Shirley Jackson; and as a piece of historical/generational writing. The darkness within the text mirrors the darkness of the setting. I have only one reservation concerning this work. I question the need of the epilogue. The story seems to end well in the final chapter, leaving enough room for the reader to form their own opinions concerning the fate of the house. It does not need the epilogue with its attempts to tie up the loose ends.
This book is a history of a house, a house that is saturated with sorrow and that overwhelms those who live in its shadow. It explores the way that history can, and does, cast a cloud over the lives of human beings. The book will live with you for a long time. http://literarystuff.wordpress.com/2013/01/16/we-all-ran-into-the-sunlight-by-natalie-young-httpwww-goodreads-combookshow10850022-we-all-ran-into-the-sunlight/
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