You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not a thrilling page turner but I formed an attachment to the characters that kept me reading. Interesting time period, well written but only averagely engaging. Would try more by this author
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
informative
inspiring
Wake up and smell the roses world, because women are no longer going to capitulate, they will branch out on their own. Making friendships and decisions that will shock the society of 1895 when this book is set, steeped in Victorian values. The author takes us to the past as much as the present.
1895, London, Hampstead. Olive’s life is full of privilege, she knows how lucky she is, but she craves to have a child. A difficulty when unmarried in 1895. However that does not stop head strong Olive and her sense of philanthropy leading her to an orphanage.
Mabs, has become the matriarch of the household after her mother dies, with younger siblings and a grieving father, she works on the canals, disguised as a young boy. It is some of the most dangerous work. An opportunity though takes to her to Hampstead, to be a companion of Mrs Finch.
Young Ottilie Finch, is only twelve and along with her family, they are newly arrived from Durham. For reasons we do not know but are of some intrigue. Ottillie wants to explore this new territory and finds herself meeting some very different people and cannot understand others abuse about the friendships she wants to build.
Women and girls, who are all on different paths in life, but through the magic of storytelling all come together and their worlds mix and collide. What you think of perhaps as modern day problems; racism; domestic abuse and sexism is played out in this historical context and was at times upsetting but also heartening to know that we have progressed from having to dress up as males to seek work.
This book wanted me to cheer out loud for these female characters who were facing society head on. It had me hooked as I knew it would from this author and I felt bereft when it ended as I wanted to know more about these wonderful women and what happens next in their story.
Simply engrossing and one of my favourite reads of 2021.
1895, London, Hampstead. Olive’s life is full of privilege, she knows how lucky she is, but she craves to have a child. A difficulty when unmarried in 1895. However that does not stop head strong Olive and her sense of philanthropy leading her to an orphanage.
Mabs, has become the matriarch of the household after her mother dies, with younger siblings and a grieving father, she works on the canals, disguised as a young boy. It is some of the most dangerous work. An opportunity though takes to her to Hampstead, to be a companion of Mrs Finch.
Young Ottilie Finch, is only twelve and along with her family, they are newly arrived from Durham. For reasons we do not know but are of some intrigue. Ottillie wants to explore this new territory and finds herself meeting some very different people and cannot understand others abuse about the friendships she wants to build.
Women and girls, who are all on different paths in life, but through the magic of storytelling all come together and their worlds mix and collide. What you think of perhaps as modern day problems; racism; domestic abuse and sexism is played out in this historical context and was at times upsetting but also heartening to know that we have progressed from having to dress up as males to seek work.
This book wanted me to cheer out loud for these female characters who were facing society head on. It had me hooked as I knew it would from this author and I felt bereft when it ended as I wanted to know more about these wonderful women and what happens next in their story.
Simply engrossing and one of my favourite reads of 2021.
Absolutely loved this! Four very different viewpoints that were all equally compelling. Love historical fiction and late Victorian England is a great setting. The plot keeps you interested and the characters are all fantastic. Loved every minute of this.
Je lui ai mis 3 étoiles parce qu’au début du livre j’ai eu du mal à me mettre dedans. Mais largement rattrapé avec la 2nd partie du livre qui est très addictive.
J’ai adoré le personnage d’olive qui pour moi est la définition même d’une femme féministe et forte. J’aime son côté rebelle pour l’époque, l’envie qu’elle a de vouloir changer les choses et cette âme philanthrope. Le petit plus : elle a un oracle et elle s’en sert pour se guider ! Elle est loin des femmes de son époque qui sont mariées avec un enfant. Mais c’est ça que j’aime chez elle ! Elle est loin de tout ça et en plus c’est un choix de sa part. Elle est riche mais se sert de sa richesse pour changer les choses et ça aussi gros coeur sur elle !
Chaque personnage a son rôle dans l’histoire. On finit par comprendre qu’elles sont toutes liées et se retrouveront sur le même chemin.
J’ai adoré le personnage d’olive qui pour moi est la définition même d’une femme féministe et forte. J’aime son côté rebelle pour l’époque, l’envie qu’elle a de vouloir changer les choses et cette âme philanthrope. Le petit plus : elle a un oracle et elle s’en sert pour se guider ! Elle est loin des femmes de son époque qui sont mariées avec un enfant. Mais c’est ça que j’aime chez elle ! Elle est loin de tout ça et en plus c’est un choix de sa part. Elle est riche mais se sert de sa richesse pour changer les choses et ça aussi gros coeur sur elle !
Chaque personnage a son rôle dans l’histoire. On finit par comprendre qu’elles sont toutes liées et se retrouveront sur le même chemin.
This book has made me very grateful that I didn't live in the 19th century! The Rose Garden focuses on the lives of three women, and the daughter of one of them, who all live in London in 1895. Despite being from quite different social circles, circumstances bring their situations together.
Mabel (or Mabs) is trying hard to provide for her younger brothers and sisters following the death of her mother. Through her we see how difficult life was for poor families in the late 19th century. Families lived in grinding poverty with no way out except by doing dangerous and unreliable work. Mabs is lucky in many ways as she manages to get a position as lady's companion. Mrs Finch does not initially welcome her and Mabs comes to realise that there is Mrs Finch is not ill but pretty much locked away for not conforming to her husband's expectation of the perfect wife. Her daughter, young Ottilie, is so clever and desperate to continue learning and go to university but told it's not ladylike and inappropriate. By contrast, Olive Westallen has more opportunities being from a rich family with clearly more tolerant and enlightened parents.
What struck me throughout the book was the precarious position of women at the time for various reasons, no matter their social standing. Although things are not perfect nowadays, then they were completely at the mercy and whim of men. There was one male character in particular who had so much influence simply because he was a man but who, it seemed to me, was more unstable than anyone else in the book.
I found this a really compelling story about female friendship set in a time when the women really needed to give that support to each other. The Rose Garden is a satisfying historical saga rich with intrigue, family secrets and drama.
Mabel (or Mabs) is trying hard to provide for her younger brothers and sisters following the death of her mother. Through her we see how difficult life was for poor families in the late 19th century. Families lived in grinding poverty with no way out except by doing dangerous and unreliable work. Mabs is lucky in many ways as she manages to get a position as lady's companion. Mrs Finch does not initially welcome her and Mabs comes to realise that there is Mrs Finch is not ill but pretty much locked away for not conforming to her husband's expectation of the perfect wife. Her daughter, young Ottilie, is so clever and desperate to continue learning and go to university but told it's not ladylike and inappropriate. By contrast, Olive Westallen has more opportunities being from a rich family with clearly more tolerant and enlightened parents.
What struck me throughout the book was the precarious position of women at the time for various reasons, no matter their social standing. Although things are not perfect nowadays, then they were completely at the mercy and whim of men. There was one male character in particular who had so much influence simply because he was a man but who, it seemed to me, was more unstable than anyone else in the book.
I found this a really compelling story about female friendship set in a time when the women really needed to give that support to each other. The Rose Garden is a satisfying historical saga rich with intrigue, family secrets and drama.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
emotional
reflective