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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
The book was good. However, I found very wordy and sometimes draggy.
Typical novel of this author - long buried family secrets that have impacted and reverberated through the years and generations. Well crafted and not immediately obvious what or why the various events had occurred.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars rounded up. I have one word for this book: SATISFYING
Despite how satisfying the ending was, it took me a while to get there. I think that it took me over a week just to get through the first half of the book. The writing at the beginning was flowery and too descriptive, in my opinion. It is evident that Kate Morton is a fantastic writer, but I think that she overdoes it at the start, so the writing is difficult to get through. Like others have mentioned, I much preferred the "book within the book."
I knocked off half a star because there are some flaws within the story. Nora in particular comes off as horrible and manipulative by the end. Has she been gaslighting her daughter into thinking that she tried to suffocate Jess with a pillow this whole time? Is that her MO? Why is this never addressed?
Even though the story is flawed, I had a wonderful time seeing all the puzzle pieces come together. It was incredibly satisfying to see how every character's story fit together. The last half of the book is thrilling and magical. Although I did guess that Nora's baby was the one buried in the garden, I did not guess that the baby was not even a Turner in the first place! I almost teared up when I realized that Polly's love for literature comes from her father. What a beautiful story. I'm going to purchase a physical copy to add to my library.
Despite how satisfying the ending was, it took me a while to get there. I think that it took me over a week just to get through the first half of the book. The writing at the beginning was flowery and too descriptive, in my opinion. It is evident that Kate Morton is a fantastic writer, but I think that she overdoes it at the start, so the writing is difficult to get through. Like others have mentioned, I much preferred the "book within the book."
I knocked off half a star because there are some flaws within the story. Nora in particular comes off as horrible and manipulative by the end. Has she been gaslighting her daughter into thinking that she tried to suffocate Jess with a pillow this whole time? Is that her MO? Why is this never addressed?
Even though the story is flawed, I had a wonderful time seeing all the puzzle pieces come together. It was incredibly satisfying to see how every character's story fit together. The last half of the book is thrilling and magical. Although I did guess that Nora's baby was the one buried in the garden, I did not guess that the baby was not even a Turner in the first place! I almost teared up when I realized that Polly's love for literature comes from her father. What a beautiful story. I'm going to purchase a physical copy to add to my library.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This has got to be the best book I have read in a long time, if not ever. It took me right in. Exploring what it means to be family, mother, daughter, granddaughter; all whilst being deeply connected to a mystery in their past. Every time the main character, and I the reader, thought we had pieced together the mystery it took another turn. Such a captivating book, I’d re-read it in a heartbeat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Vomit
Excellent story and writing. This rollercoaster of a story was extremely enjoyable
DNF at 50%.
I loved the premise of Homecoming. The mystery--the detail of characters in different times and places--the lovely narration of the audiobook (who doesn't love an Australian accent?).
However, I'll admit things began to feel a little forced by the halfway point. Things were starting to feel a little contrived, and I worried about our heroine's inattention to the failing health of her own grandmother!
I would read another Kate Morton due to how lovely the premise was, but this one just didn't keep my attention past the halfway mark.
I loved the premise of Homecoming. The mystery--the detail of characters in different times and places--the lovely narration of the audiobook (who doesn't love an Australian accent?).
However, I'll admit things began to feel a little forced by the halfway point. Things were starting to feel a little contrived, and I worried about our heroine's inattention to the failing health of her own grandmother!
I would read another Kate Morton due to how lovely the premise was, but this one just didn't keep my attention past the halfway mark.
I liked this book but not as much as I enjoyed other books by Morton. She’s so brilliant at crafting delicate and intricate plots. The first half felt a little slow to me but the second half made up for it.
I found the book a true page-turner! The author is clearly an excellent writer, and can draw you into the scenery very effectively. I was truly engrossed by the town of Tambilla and its residents. Unlike many other reviewers I didn't find it TOO drawn out, although she definitely could have cut some sections - but on the whole I raced through.
I had two big problems with this book though, that are perhaps connected. Firstly, it was deeply unsatisfying to have Nora's true maliciousness unrecognised by Jess, and her relationship with Polly unmended. Nora was a gaslighting, narcissistic horror, and although it's realistic that not many people realise it (such is real life, after all), it's so disappointing not to have a conclusion that suitably villifies her. In the end, Jess just thinks that Nora's view of Polly wasn't entirely accurate. GAH.
Seconds, the murder mystery itself was (in my opinion) a bit nonsensical, and honestly my head canon is that my theory throughout was correct. What should have happened: Nora discovers her sister-in-law is cheating on her darling brother, and is about to take her beloved niblets out of reach forever (remember her fear of flying). She kills them all, steals Isabelle's baby, and then lies to the police to imply Isabelle was violent and depressed. She continues being terrible forever, true to character.
But no, instead the author has gone with...Meg. A totally charming, friendly woman who is nice to absolutely everybody, except the one day she decides to murder in cold blood her husband's affair partner. She also accidentally kills three children, is like 'whoops', feels apparently no remorse, and continues to be a loving wife and charming person until her death decades later. Nora steals the baby, although she could most definitely could have gained custody anyway, as I doubt the extremely absent father would have cared for an affair baby a continent away. In the end, although at least 5 people knew some part of this story, none of these people ever tell anyone else. Nobody faces any justice and there is no satisfactory resolution. Oh AND the main character discovers all this 'off camera' as it were, with no explanation as to how.
On the whole, I still enjoyed it, and the book certainly picked up for the last 100 pages. I just wish it were a different ending!
I had two big problems with this book though, that are perhaps connected. Firstly, it was deeply unsatisfying to have Nora's true maliciousness unrecognised by Jess, and her relationship with Polly unmended. Nora was a gaslighting, narcissistic horror, and although it's realistic that not many people realise it (such is real life, after all), it's so disappointing not to have a conclusion that suitably villifies her. In the end, Jess just thinks that Nora's view of Polly wasn't entirely accurate. GAH.
Seconds, the murder mystery itself was (in my opinion) a bit nonsensical, and honestly my head canon is that my theory throughout was correct. What should have happened: Nora discovers her sister-in-law is cheating on her darling brother, and is about to take her beloved niblets out of reach forever (remember her fear of flying). She kills them all, steals Isabelle's baby, and then lies to the police to imply Isabelle was violent and depressed. She continues being terrible forever, true to character.
But no, instead the author has gone with...Meg. A totally charming, friendly woman who is nice to absolutely everybody, except the one day she decides to murder in cold blood her husband's affair partner. She also accidentally kills three children, is like 'whoops', feels apparently no remorse, and continues to be a loving wife and charming person until her death decades later. Nora steals the baby, although she could most definitely could have gained custody anyway, as I doubt the extremely absent father would have cared for an affair baby a continent away. In the end, although at least 5 people knew some part of this story, none of these people ever tell anyone else. Nobody faces any justice and there is no satisfactory resolution. Oh AND the main character discovers all this 'off camera' as it were, with no explanation as to how.
On the whole, I still enjoyed it, and the book certainly picked up for the last 100 pages. I just wish it were a different ending!