ayshin's review against another edition
2.0
I felt the story started off slow. I got to a point in the story where I was unsure if I wanted to continue reading the story. I couldn't imagine myself in Nell's shoes. I felt detached from the story. It didn't pull me in. And I felt like I was reading someone else's story but I struggled to remember if I had read something similar to it before.
Maybe one day, I'll get back to it, but at this point in time, it didn't keep me motivated to continue reading.
Maybe one day, I'll get back to it, but at this point in time, it didn't keep me motivated to continue reading.
calcitestar's review against another edition
4.0
A little hard to get into but once past the first few pages it opens out to span 5 generations which is zips between at an alarming, but necessary rate. Fairy tales and families. Art and garden all feature dusted with a tiny dusting of magic.
koalathebear's review against another edition
3.0
As the blurb discloses, the mystery of the novel is who is the little girl found abandoned on the ship to Australia from England? Why was she alone on the ship and to whom did she belong? The mystery unfolds over several generations, hopping from the early 1900s, to the thirties, to the seventies and then to 2005. The story is told in the third person but as each chapter jumps to a different period of time, the focus is on a different female character - Eliza Makepace, Nell O'Connor and Cassandra. At first the jumping was a little jarring but oddly enough, it wasn't terribly confusing. Each chapter set out quite clearly the time period and the location and it wasn't difficult to keep the circumstances of each woman in your head.
For me, the English scenes were probably the most gripping, the tale of Eliza's childhood and growing up in poverty. The scenes in Australia were a little less successful - they were strangely 'sunny' and didn't really fit into the very dark and menacing tone of the story.
It's difficult to discuss much of this novel without giving away spoilers because even going summarising the beginning or some of the characters gives away important plot-lines.
So, all I will say is ...
1. All of the female characters seem a little aloof and it's hard to get to know them.
2. The motivations at one point for a pivotal decision never really seem to make sense to me, love and loyalty aside
3. The very minor love story appears tacked on, although I quite liked it - it was sweet and an uplifting moment in an otherwise rather depressing novel
4. By the end of the book, when you realise what's happened and why, you really do feel sorry for the little girl making the journey over on her own
5. The novel is interspersed with stories from the fairy tales written by Eliza Makepeace - these are rather charming
6. Is there any ancient English family that doesn't seem to have a Dark Tragic Secret and Countless Misfortune in their past?
7. This is very much a woman's book for women - much like The Joy Luck Club, the men are very sketchily drawn and for the most part aren't particularly sympathetic. Weak, evil or unmemorable.
8. Did I see the ending coming? Yes, there were a few plot elements that were a little predictable although that didn't detract from the story. The only problem was that the predictability made it a little bit hard to reconcile with how Deep and Dark the mystery was supposed to be.
I read the trade paper back edition so it was quite a heavy read although only 488 pages. For a library book, it was a good read although I probably wouldn't have shelled out the $25 to buy it. I'm not in a book club any more, but this is certainly the sort of book that we would have read when I was in a club
For me, the English scenes were probably the most gripping, the tale of Eliza's childhood and growing up in poverty. The scenes in Australia were a little less successful - they were strangely 'sunny' and didn't really fit into the very dark and menacing tone of the story.
It's difficult to discuss much of this novel without giving away spoilers because even going summarising the beginning or some of the characters gives away important plot-lines.
So, all I will say is ...
1. All of the female characters seem a little aloof and it's hard to get to know them.
2. The motivations at one point for a pivotal decision never really seem to make sense to me, love and loyalty aside
3. The very minor love story appears tacked on, although I quite liked it - it was sweet and an uplifting moment in an otherwise rather depressing novel
4. By the end of the book, when you realise what's happened and why, you really do feel sorry for the little girl making the journey over on her own
5. The novel is interspersed with stories from the fairy tales written by Eliza Makepeace - these are rather charming
6. Is there any ancient English family that doesn't seem to have a Dark Tragic Secret and Countless Misfortune in their past?
7. This is very much a woman's book for women - much like The Joy Luck Club, the men are very sketchily drawn and for the most part aren't particularly sympathetic. Weak, evil or unmemorable.
8. Did I see the ending coming? Yes, there were a few plot elements that were a little predictable although that didn't detract from the story. The only problem was that the predictability made it a little bit hard to reconcile with how Deep and Dark the mystery was supposed to be.
I read the trade paper back edition so it was quite a heavy read although only 488 pages. For a library book, it was a good read although I probably wouldn't have shelled out the $25 to buy it. I'm not in a book club any more, but this is certainly the sort of book that we would have read when I was in a club
nicole49's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
esher14's review against another edition
4.0
This book is incredibly long... and for the first half... incredibly boring... but by Part Two I was stuck. It's got an amazing finish.
kaestrong's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
apalu's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
This book got me by surprise. I expected to be bored at least just a little (because it is quite a chunkster) but it was interesting all the way. The ending dragged a little bit but not too much.
If you are ever in a mood for a mystery and family drama, give it a try.
If you are ever in a mood for a mystery and family drama, give it a try.
jmartin31545's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25