|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
Please review The Forgotten Garden and sepulchre
|
