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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
In "Homecoming," Kate Morton crafts a haunting tapestry of generations tied by secrets. Delving into the shadowy recesses of family history, she unravels tales of love, betrayal, and redemption. Morton's narrative, rich in ambiance, flits seamlessly between eras, creating a symphony of memories that echo in the present. A few pacing missteps don't detract from the novel's allure. Morton's strength? She doesn’t just tell a story; she paints pictures with words, making the past palpably present. A resonant, emotionally layered journey worth every page-turn.
Another stellar book from Kate Morton! Homecoming is a beautifully written family drama, with a hint of mystery. Full of atmospheric tension in both past and present timelines, Morton takes the reader on a journey of discovery into the lives of her characters and their various stories.
In 1959, southern Australia, a young mother and her children are found dead with no signs of foul play. Sixty years later, Jess is a journalist in search of a story when a phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother, Nora, has suffered a fall and been raced to the hospital.
The dual timelines are intricately plotted, and while I wasn't terribly surprised at the outcomes of the present story line, the past storyline took me by surprise. The richness of the characters and their surroundings stole my heart and I found myself more invested in their lives than in the present.
The story touches upon themes of loss, motherhood, home and how we define family. It is an immersive character study and not a quick read at 500+ pages, but the second half especially moves quickly, as the storylines converge. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2023 and I'm glad I finally picked it up before the year ended.
In 1959, southern Australia, a young mother and her children are found dead with no signs of foul play. Sixty years later, Jess is a journalist in search of a story when a phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother, Nora, has suffered a fall and been raced to the hospital.
The dual timelines are intricately plotted, and while I wasn't terribly surprised at the outcomes of the present story line, the past storyline took me by surprise. The richness of the characters and their surroundings stole my heart and I found myself more invested in their lives than in the present.
The story touches upon themes of loss, motherhood, home and how we define family. It is an immersive character study and not a quick read at 500+ pages, but the second half especially moves quickly, as the storylines converge. This was one of my most anticipated books of 2023 and I'm glad I finally picked it up before the year ended.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While I love to escape to different times and places through the books I read, there is something extra special about being immersed in a familiar place through literature. For an Adelaidian and, even more specifically, an (originally) Adelaide Hills girl, this opportunity does not come around very often.
And so, despite the Adelaide Hills sections of this book occurring in a fictional town called Tambilla in 1959, I was still hooked in, since that town existed somewhere between Hahndorf, Verdun and Balhannah, maybe somewhere near where The Cedars stands - the home of artist Hans Heysen - where I got married, and where my grandparents lived next door back in the mid 1900s. And while 1959 is waaaaaay before my time, my parents were little kids then, running around the real town of Hahndorf. Furthermore, not only was the story set somewhere familiar and important to me, but the depiction of this setting was so incredibly vivid. This combination really engaged me in a way that no other time or place setting really has, except for Devotion of course. So, I think what I'm saying is...this is a somewhat biased review!
But there are other things I loved about Homecoming, and I think that one of those things is that Kate Morton has validated my obsession with houses, especially big houses and old houses. My google search history is full of questions about historic, grand houses that I can't help but find enigmatic, and Morton's depiction of grand homes and their gardens really satisfies that interest for me.
Of course, like all of Morton's books - or at least the ones I've read - this one also had a mystery, and a dual timeline. It also involved a wide array of characters with intricately woven backstories. All of this culminates in a twisty, elaborate, but overall satisfying reveal that makes not only the 680-odd pages seem to turn quite quickly but also ensures that you have been fully immersed in every element of the story.
Like all books, Kate Morton's might not be for everyone, but for me, I've read four, and I think I would class them as my kind of comfort read with history, mystery and gorgeous settings. Perfect.
And so, despite the Adelaide Hills sections of this book occurring in a fictional town called Tambilla in 1959, I was still hooked in, since that town existed somewhere between Hahndorf, Verdun and Balhannah, maybe somewhere near where The Cedars stands - the home of artist Hans Heysen - where I got married, and where my grandparents lived next door back in the mid 1900s. And while 1959 is waaaaaay before my time, my parents were little kids then, running around the real town of Hahndorf. Furthermore, not only was the story set somewhere familiar and important to me, but the depiction of this setting was so incredibly vivid. This combination really engaged me in a way that no other time or place setting really has, except for Devotion of course. So, I think what I'm saying is...this is a somewhat biased review!
But there are other things I loved about Homecoming, and I think that one of those things is that Kate Morton has validated my obsession with houses, especially big houses and old houses. My google search history is full of questions about historic, grand houses that I can't help but find enigmatic, and Morton's depiction of grand homes and their gardens really satisfies that interest for me.
Of course, like all of Morton's books - or at least the ones I've read - this one also had a mystery, and a dual timeline. It also involved a wide array of characters with intricately woven backstories. All of this culminates in a twisty, elaborate, but overall satisfying reveal that makes not only the 680-odd pages seem to turn quite quickly but also ensures that you have been fully immersed in every element of the story.
Like all books, Kate Morton's might not be for everyone, but for me, I've read four, and I think I would class them as my kind of comfort read with history, mystery and gorgeous settings. Perfect.
emotional
mysterious
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
This was a little long for me. I figured out what happened long before it was revealed but I really like the whole family story so 4 stars.
emotional
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:
Complicated
Efter 48 % (265 sidor) ger jag upp.
Berättelsen är för långdragen. Jag vill inte ha allt serverat för mig vilket det känns som att boken i boken ger. Jag har helt enkelt tröttnat på berättelsen och struntar blankt i vad som har hänt och vad som kommer att hända.
Berättelsen är för långdragen. Jag vill inte ha allt serverat för mig vilket det känns som att boken i boken ger. Jag har helt enkelt tröttnat på berättelsen och struntar blankt i vad som har hänt och vad som kommer att hända.