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A review by lauriestein
The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons
2.0
This book did not draw me in, at all. In fact, I was so little engaged that I did something that I almost never do, to wit, I skimmed the last couple hundred pages just to see how it turned out. Without certain redeeming qualities in the plot (The Hunger Games, e.g.), I have little patience for first-person female narrators with only the flaws that one would cop to in a job interview.
The comparisons to Downton Abbey are shallow at best. None of the supporting characters are given any depth, as Julian Fellowes does well; they never become more than caricatures. Really none of the principals, either, save Mr. Rivers, had enough depth for me to care two straws about them, which is something I regret to say about a World War II novel that should really be very touching.
I would read (and not skim) this book were it written from the perspective of Mr. Rivers, though, if only because he must (must!) have a more nuanced worldview than Elise. She seriously bugged.
The comparisons to Downton Abbey are shallow at best. None of the supporting characters are given any depth, as Julian Fellowes does well; they never become more than caricatures. Really none of the principals, either, save Mr. Rivers, had enough depth for me to care two straws about them, which is something I regret to say about a World War II novel that should really be very touching.
I would read (and not skim) this book were it written from the perspective of Mr. Rivers, though, if only because he must (must!) have a more nuanced worldview than Elise. She seriously bugged.