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sarahkayel's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
grace85's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - I liked it better than the first book; it captured me more. Still a bit weird. Inconsistencies in a series really bug me though (Damerosehay was not in their family for generations - they bought it when David was 5.)
cimorene1558's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favourite Elizabeth Goudge books. Lovely, literate, caring, but not easy Christian fiction is what this is. There is romance and happiness, but also a great deal of pain and sorrow. And I would write more, but there's a kitten chewing on my arm!
lizwisniewski's review against another edition
2.0
It started out charming, then proceeded to charming/annoying, and then just went to annoying. I had to put it down 2/3s of the way - the dialogue began to work so that all the characters intuitively finished the thoughts of others, in a rather nauseating way. I started wanting to spend time with these people and then became completely disgusted by their treacle. I must admit that reading it was a bit of a novelty, never had a book started so wonderfully and ended so abominably.
snowdropreverie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cpruskee's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mamatoca's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
A lovely follow up to A Bird in the Tree. Themes of home, self-sacrifice, and family. Ends at Christmas.
rachelb36's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
This book didn't have much of a plot... it just sort of meandered. I didn't really like any of the characters, and they all seemed to magically understand each other's deepest thoughts and emotions... it was strange.
There was also some profanity, which I wasn't expecting.
However, there were a few quotes I did like:
".... it was homemaking that mattered. Every home was a brick in the great wall of decent living that men erected over and over again as a bulwark against the perpetual flooding in of evil. But women made the bricks, and the durableness of each civilization depended upon the quality, and it was no good weakening oneself for the brick-making by thinking too much about the flood." p 48
"... a wood is a foreshadowing of the fact of paradise. The trees, the flowers, the birds and animals, they all seem at their happiest in a wood, as though they were redeemed already." p 163
"Struggle is divine in itself, but to ask to see it crowned with success is to ask for that sign which is forbidden to those who must travel by faith alone." p 172
This book didn't have much of a plot... it just sort of meandered. I didn't really like any of the characters, and they all seemed to magically understand each other's deepest thoughts and emotions... it was strange.
There was also some profanity, which I wasn't expecting.
However, there were a few quotes I did like:
".... it was homemaking that mattered. Every home was a brick in the great wall of decent living that men erected over and over again as a bulwark against the perpetual flooding in of evil. But women made the bricks, and the durableness of each civilization depended upon the quality, and it was no good weakening oneself for the brick-making by thinking too much about the flood." p 48
"... a wood is a foreshadowing of the fact of paradise. The trees, the flowers, the birds and animals, they all seem at their happiest in a wood, as though they were redeemed already." p 163
"Struggle is divine in itself, but to ask to see it crowned with success is to ask for that sign which is forbidden to those who must travel by faith alone." p 172
tatyr's review against another edition
4.0
Elizabeth Goudge is a brilliant writer. She posses the ability to craft sentences and interesting characters like no other. Her writing style is very descriptive and slow paced. This book is definitely not a page turner and the plot develops somewhat slowly. Because of that, I found myself impatient at times. I was quite invested in David and Sally's story and wish that Goudge focused a little more on developing their relationship. Aside from that, this books is a pleasure to read. If you're craving a book where every sentence feels like poetry, this book will not disappoint.