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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honk shoo, honk shoo, mimimimi.
Rounding my rating down to what Goodreads labels as "it was ok" because I'm so very frustrated with this story's wasted potential. I heard such wonderful things about this book but was disappointed. I've liked the other couple books of Kate's I've read, too!
This book was far too long. I say this after having just read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, which is a very long and slow book, but I was never bored reading it. Homecoming was both slow and boring. There's so much mindless detail about Jess like, moving around the house and reading the book within a book. And you get every little minute thought or action she does. The book got pretty repetitive.
This was such a chore to get through after a very intriguing prologue. Jess did not work as a main character for me in the slightest; you're supposed to feel sympathy for her as she's working out the multiple mysteries but she was SO rude to Polly and a wet rag of a character overall. Polly's brief POVs were the most interesting to me outside of Percy and his family's story. One of the "mystery" plots of the book was guessable from the off.
Nora can kick rocks.
There are truly SO many plot holes to this story. Let me list a few from the top of my head:
1) You're telling me multiple people rifled through Isabel's journal but Polly is the first one who immediately and magically finds the threatening note at the back? The police had this journal! A writer had this journal! Gah!
2)That many people were able to stay quiet about Meg and the baby?! Including CHILDREN?
3) Jess, who had been looking around extensively for a letter sent to Nora that she knows Nora read and was disturbed by, never thinks to CHECK THE TRASH CAN IN NORA'S ROOM?
4) How in the world did Jess come to the conclusion that it was Meg? Us readers know it, because we read it, but Jess just decides it must've been her because Percy was Isabel's lover?
There are more, but I found the ending lackluster and got annoyed as well that poor Polly was so used and abused by Nora and never even got to explain to Jess. So Jess is just walking around thinking Polly abandoned her. Boo to Jess! Boo to Nora! Justice for Polly and Becky!!!
Rounding my rating down to what Goodreads labels as "it was ok" because I'm so very frustrated with this story's wasted potential. I heard such wonderful things about this book but was disappointed. I've liked the other couple books of Kate's I've read, too!
This book was far too long. I say this after having just read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, which is a very long and slow book, but I was never bored reading it. Homecoming was both slow and boring. There's so much mindless detail about Jess like, moving around the house and reading the book within a book. And you get every little minute thought or action she does. The book got pretty repetitive.
This was such a chore to get through after a very intriguing prologue. Jess did not work as a main character for me in the slightest; you're supposed to feel sympathy for her as she's working out the multiple mysteries but she was SO rude to Polly and a wet rag of a character overall. Polly's brief POVs were the most interesting to me outside of Percy and his family's story. One of the "mystery" plots of the book was guessable from the off.
Nora can kick rocks.
1) You're telling me multiple people rifled through Isabel's journal but Polly is the first one who immediately and magically finds the threatening note at the back? The police had this journal! A writer had this journal! Gah!
2)That many people were able to stay quiet about Meg and the baby?! Including CHILDREN?
3) Jess, who had been looking around extensively for a letter sent to Nora that she knows Nora read and was disturbed by, never thinks to CHECK THE TRASH CAN IN NORA'S ROOM?
4) How in the world did Jess come to the conclusion that it was Meg? Us readers know it, because we read it, but Jess just decides it must've been her because Percy was Isabel's lover?
There are more, but I found the ending lackluster and got annoyed as well that poor Polly was so used and abused by Nora and never even got to explain to Jess. So Jess is just walking around thinking Polly abandoned her. Boo to Jess! Boo to Nora! Justice for Polly and Becky!!!
I have to say this is the first time I have DNF a book written by Kate Morton. I got as far as page 310, then decided life was too short to waste on it.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the time slipping that made me throw in the towel, it was the inconsistency of the characters, particularly Jess, that finally wore me down.
The reader is led to believe that Jess adores Nora, her Grandmother, and this is why she returns to Australia when Nora is admitted to hospital. She knows, even if she refuses to believe it, that Nora will probably not be coming home again but, when the landline rings not once, but three times, she ignores it. Come on now, why didn't she pick up or, even better have them call her cell phone? We know she has one as she used it in the hospital while visiting Nora and, as we all know, would have left it for the hospital to call in an emergency as who doesn't have their phone with them at all times nowadays.
The story develops quite nicely when the plot is skipping between 2 eras (2018 and 1959), but then the Author brings in another perspective that, at times, muddled the whole darn thing. So nope, couldn't continue with it at all.
Oh, and next time the bloody phone rings Jess, pick it up.
Don't get me wrong, it wasn't the time slipping that made me throw in the towel, it was the inconsistency of the characters, particularly Jess, that finally wore me down.
The reader is led to believe that Jess adores Nora, her Grandmother, and this is why she returns to Australia when Nora is admitted to hospital. She knows, even if she refuses to believe it, that Nora will probably not be coming home again but, when the landline rings not once, but three times, she ignores it. Come on now, why didn't she pick up or, even better have them call her cell phone? We know she has one as she used it in the hospital while visiting Nora and, as we all know, would have left it for the hospital to call in an emergency as who doesn't have their phone with them at all times nowadays.
The story develops quite nicely when the plot is skipping between 2 eras (2018 and 1959), but then the Author brings in another perspective that, at times, muddled the whole darn thing. So nope, couldn't continue with it at all.
Oh, and next time the bloody phone rings Jess, pick it up.
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
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
emotional
mysterious
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Intriguing and interesting at times, but could've been shorter.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Miscarriage
Another amazing and gripping Kate Morton novel that I couldn't put down. Loved that this one was set in Australia and also appreciated the book within a book. Heartwrenching in some places--an intriguing murder mystery, and rich characters--everything I expect in Kate Morton's books! Really enjoyed this.
Book club - me.
My first thought is that it was very long winded and way too long. It was well written, though, and I liked the fact that it was set in Australia. The plot was a bit disappointing and far-fetched. I didn't like the way that a baby was abandoned (I was babysitting my new granddaughter at the time!) and did guess that Polly was in fact the missing baby. Also, the two stories (what happened to the baby and who killed the family) were a bit far-fetched and unnecessary/extreme. I didn't actually warm to any of the characters.
My first thought is that it was very long winded and way too long. It was well written, though, and I liked the fact that it was set in Australia. The plot was a bit disappointing and far-fetched. I didn't like the way that a baby was abandoned (I was babysitting my new granddaughter at the time!) and did guess that Polly was in fact the missing baby. Also, the two stories (what happened to the baby and who killed the family) were a bit far-fetched and unnecessary/extreme. I didn't actually warm to any of the characters.
In conclusion... for me... it was a good read but not to be recommended.
Strong character development:
Yes