General Chat

Please review The Forgotten Garden and sepulchre

Sorry to confess I didn't get to read either this month - I saw the Forgotten garden in Tesco and was going to get it another time I was in and, typically, couldn't find it the next time. I found Sepulchre in the library but had it in mind we were reviewing Labyrinth for some reason so didn't get it and then when I realised my mistake that had gone as well! I am reading The House at Riverton, also by Kate Morton, at the moment so may review that on the other thread.
I look forward to reading your reviews and will try to do better next month!

Kate

Sepulchre

I confess I found the first half of this book boring, frustrating and annoying. All that wandering around the streets of Paris AND naming all the damn streets - which as far as I could tell wasnt really important to the main story line, resulted in my doing quite a lot of page skimming..OK, stumbling across the fortune teller was important but as far as I could make out, the fact that she was researching her book on Debussy was quite a minor thing as he was only a minor social acquantance of Leonie and her family. But maybe I missed something with my skimming. lol

But I did enjoy reading the 2nd half, even if I did find bits of it a bit "sketchy" and the ending "hurried" - and some things I found unexplained, but again, maybe I skimmed past the relevent bits. I found the lifes and tragic events of Leonie's family interesting to follow but thought Meredith's character a tad boring, for all her importance in the story.

And a pet peeve of mine is books that are littered with French words, sayings or sentences! Ok - now and then they were translated into English but if a book is written for the English speaking market, then please keep it in English! lol

I have only just started reading the Secret Garden and am enjoying it so far, even if I do find the jumping back and forth in time a tad annoying and difficult to follow.

I have only got a third of the way through Speculchre and have had a hard time getting into up until now, so I can't really provide a review yet. Ah but I did like the comment made that 'when researching you write everything down'.

The Secret Garden was not available here, so no review for this one from me.

Michelle

Hi everyone,


Sepulchre

Certainly gripped my interest in the opening pages The description of Paris in 2892 was reverting, could almost see and hear the events as they happened. Made me aware of my lack of knowledge of French History at this (or any other time).
I could quite sympathise with Leonie.

I quite enjoyed Meredith's story too, especially her investigations in France. Felt however that her family history had been rather laid on with a trowel, perhaps trying to make her a more sympathetic figure.

Got bored with the Tarot card story. I realise that it was partly the cards that held the two worlds together, but somehow I just didn't buy it, maybe just not in the mood for sinister stuff.

To summerize an over long and very heavy book that was very good in parts.

--------------------------------

Forgotton Garden

Riverting ... This book held me from start o finish. Now I even want to read the Fairy Stories of Eliza Makepeace.

I was the little girl lost in 1913, journeying alone to Australia.
I was the grandmother in 1975, going back to England to discover her roots and rediscover her past.

I was Cassandra in 2005, going to England to try to make sense of everything.
I felt as if I lived every moment with them.
As a reader, I knew that there had to be a twist in the story and guessed that Eliza must be Nell/Ivory's mother, but didn't work out the how and the why.

An easy to read book that kept be thinking.

Will read more books by this author.

Tess

Hi All

Sepulchre

Read half and that was pushing it! Couldn't get into the story at all, which was a shame as i loved her other book. Gave up as a lost cause but was gutted as had had this book bought for me in hardback at christmas and was looking forward to reading it ..to be very disappointed.

The Forgotten Garden

I loved this book so much i didn't want it to end. The story line was fantastic, the characters very believable and i would have loved a mystery to unravel like this in my family! Like Tess i want to read Eliza's fairy stories to! I have loved both books by this author and would definately read more.

Cathy

Sepulchre - Kate Mosse

Like most people here I found the book quite difficult to get into to start with, but once I got going there was no stopping me!

The languages of French and Occitan didn't really put me off the book as I can speak a bit of French and Spanish so I could grasp most of what was being said. What did annoy me though was the use of american words such as 'purse' and 'trunk'. I know Meredith was American but Kate Mosse is British writer and I'm a British reader.

I absolutely loved the part of the story set in the past and got totally lost in 1890s France. But, as Mary-Jane said, I did find Meredith's character a bit unexciting.

All-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it a marked improvement on Labyrinth.


The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Can you tell I like this book? lol. I couldn't put it down.

Kate Morton has a knack of blending the stories from different time lines so seemlessly. With most time slip novels there seems to be a natural break between the past and present where you think "I'll put it down now and come back to it later". Not so with this book. Maybe it was that I was so engrossed in the story.

I too had worked out that Eliza was Nell's mother but it didn't spoil the story for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed The House at Riverton....I absolutely loved The Forgotten Garden. I can't wait for Kate Morton's next book

Jeanette x

I am thinking hard about these, as I read them both within a week and have read several other books since!

Sepulchre

I really got into this book straight away and loved it. Couldn't put it down!I have an interest in Tarot myself, so really enjoyed this aspect. I loved both of the stories within the Novel and have now bought the Labyrinth to read too.

The Forgotten Garden

Again, another book I couldn't put down. Got a bit confused sometimes, mixing up Cassandra and Nell, but soon realised! Loved the book. It was truly a lovely story and I was so glad Cassandra found out the truth in the end. Felt sad, however, that Nell never got to return to her cottage. I think Kate Morton is a great author.

AL

Review the Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.
She certainly tells a good tale. However, I did find the three time shifts between 1913, 1975 and 2005 made it a bit difficult to get into at first. The story didn’t seem to flow well, seemed a little disjointed. With the three eras there were of course also three sets of characters to adjust to which made it even more complicated.
It was a good story though interwoven with fairy stories and I may well read it again at some stage. I have to admit that I did guess who was Nell’s mother quite early on. A worthy successor to The House at Riverton and I did enjoy it.
Of the two though I think I preferred the House at Riverton.

Review Sepulchre by Kate Moss

Wow! What a book. I must admit that when I saw it, it was a bit daunting because of its size. But having read and enjoyed Labrynth I was sure it would be a good read, and I was not disappointed.
We were given, murder, the Occult – Tarot, I learnt a lot in that chapter, ghosts, genealogy - intrigue, mathematics, - who else looked up FIBONACCI on the net? Then also music with a bit about Debussy and romance.
Another book where we shift between time scales, this time two, 1891 and 2007 I think she does this better than Kate Morton, it was easier to see the connection between the two scenarios than it was in The Forgotten Garden.
I found Sepulchre very hard to put down, I was thoroughly engrossed in it and (always the mark of a good book) was really sad to finish it, while also wanting to know the end of the story. Really enjoyed it and hope she writes another one.
What a lot of research must have gone into this one though.
Did anyone read the notes for reading groups at the end. I have to admit to not spotting the two characters who were in Labrynth and still can’t think who they were. Anyone who read Labrynth with us who can enlighten me?

Reading through the other reviews now, strange that we aren't all in complete agreement over the books, although most of us so far liked them. Thank you for the reviews.

Ann
Glos

Must be more reviews surely.

Ann

Review from Gill

Sepulchre review



I enjoyed every bit of this book, the investigations, the Tarot and the genealogy side of it.

Each chapter written with just enough story to keep you going through each of the two time spans, both women in the main character parts having the same keen interest in snooping. I particularly liked the blend of old times and modern times buildings being used with very little change to the structure or décor.

I cried with the sadness and death, but I couldn’t wait for that murdering creep to get his just deserts, and all the mysteries around Debussey. I would recommend this book to everyone, in fact I went to the charity shop and managed to get a copy of the authors 1st book Labyrinth, can’t wait to start that one.

Hi Ann

I didn't actually read the reading group notes this time. Will go and have alook

I've had a look. I did think while I was reading Sepulchre that the name Audric Baillard rang a bell, and I did think that there seemed to be more about his character than I was understanding....like he was very worldy wise and a bit mysterious. I actually wasn't convinced that he did die (did it say so?) or that the book Meredith was reading was by his ancestor. I actually thought it was by him and that he actully lived for hundreds of years....as daft as that sounds.

Whether he is a character from Labyrinth, I can't remember. And I certainly can't think who the other one could have been

I thought the book was by his ancestor. will have to look though the book again now!!!

I can't remember who I gave Labyrinth to...think it might have been Mum. I might have to take it on holiday to read again!

I thought that the book hinted that he had lived for hundreds of years. Didn't quite state it though.

I can't find Labrynth either, think i must have lent it to my daughter.

Ann
Glos

Ann....it was Meredith who assumed the book must have been written by his ancestor. It was my own take on it that it was actually Audric himself. As Tess says it seemed to hint at him living for years but not actually say so