Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I didn't like this nearly as much as the other novels I've read by this author. The ending was really unsatisfying and left a bunch of the storylines unresolved.
Kate Morton is an artist in every true sense of the word. Her writing and weaving of this story was poetic and beautiful and there were many a paragraph I couldn't help but underline or write down elsewhere. The telling of the story through many voices throughout time and seeing how and where they all connected was a captivating method which enrinched the story tremendously; giving us more characters to love. Morton's characters were all incredibly dynamic, unique, and never failed to remain interesting.
I will admit though, I expected more mystery and might I say suspense? in this novel rather than simply the slow, steady unraveling of whatever happened in the summer of 1862.
But overall, this is a book that will find itself kept close to my heart.
I will admit though, I expected more mystery and might I say suspense? in this novel rather than simply the slow, steady unraveling of whatever happened in the summer of 1862.
But overall, this is a book that will find itself kept close to my heart.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
emotional
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Slow start for me but it also could’ve been cause I wasn’t specifically in the “mood” for this kind of book. Did really enjoy the story though especially as dots started connecting and the story hit its stride.
I did greatly enjoy this book and fully plan to reread it soon so that I can better understand the tidbits given to us throughout the novel before we can fully understand their full impact.
That said, the ending did seem to come a little prematurely, even if only by a few pages. It is insinuated that Elodie and Jack uncover Birdie's coffin and the secrets concealed inside but do they then go on to share that information and set the record straight? Do they come to terms with it and then rebury it, keeping that information to themselves? Does Elodie ever realize that the Radcliffe Blue has been in her possession for the past several decades? Does Jack ever learn this? And if so, does he fulfill the job he has been hired for and tell his employer or does he keep this secret? Is Edward also a ghost, left haunting somewhere else by his own grief that haunted him from 1862 onwards? Will he, though not in life, ever learn of Birdie's actual fate and that he was not willingly abandoned? Will Birdie and Edward ever get the chance to reconnect? I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a limited series that takes the time to go further past this novel's conclusion to explore some of these questions and more.
Also, (I don't know why I got so hung up on this while reading) was Edward born in 1842 or 1840??? His grave reads 1842-1882 but in the summer of 1862 he had just turned 22, and was nine years older than 13 year old Lucy. Was this meant to reflect that gravestones, especially in this time, were easily mislabeled or was this just an honest mistake before publishing?
That said, the ending did seem to come a little prematurely, even if only by a few pages. It is insinuated that Elodie and Jack uncover Birdie's coffin and the secrets concealed inside but do they then go on to share that information and set the record straight? Do they come to terms with it and then rebury it, keeping that information to themselves? Does Elodie ever realize that the Radcliffe Blue has been in her possession for the past several decades? Does Jack ever learn this? And if so, does he fulfill the job he has been hired for and tell his employer or does he keep this secret? Is Edward also a ghost, left haunting somewhere else by his own grief that haunted him from 1862 onwards? Will he, though not in life, ever learn of Birdie's actual fate and that he was not willingly abandoned? Will Birdie and Edward ever get the chance to reconnect? I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a limited series that takes the time to go further past this novel's conclusion to explore some of these questions and more.
Also, (I don't know why I got so hung up on this while reading) was Edward born in 1842 or 1840??? His grave reads 1842-1882 but in the summer of 1862 he had just turned 22, and was nine years older than 13 year old Lucy. Was this meant to reflect that gravestones, especially in this time, were easily mislabeled or was this just an honest mistake before publishing?
mysterious
sad
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