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melanie1022's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sterialm's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jane_cs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
bookqueen28's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book, but it started off so slow it took me awhile to get through it. About half way through it took off and I couldn't put it down.
Would like to read this author's other books, the writing was good.
Would like to read this author's other books, the writing was good.
oceanday8's review against another edition
2.0
This book had a great deal of potential but I found it shallow, frustrating, and depressing. I liked Morton's The Forgotten Garden much more.
mechapman80's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
2.0
came up on a couple Amazon lists when I was searching around this morning....looks good :)
It's hard for me to rate this one. There was an unknown introduced in the first chapter, and it was explained in the last chapter. All the stuff in the middle was enjoyable to read and had a good feel, but didn't really move the "mystery" along very adeptly, I didn't think. I generally like books like this, but the best ones, in my opinion, add and subtract from the unknown along the way....this one didn't.
It's hard for me to rate this one. There was an unknown introduced in the first chapter, and it was explained in the last chapter. All the stuff in the middle was enjoyable to read and had a good feel, but didn't really move the "mystery" along very adeptly, I didn't think. I generally like books like this, but the best ones, in my opinion, add and subtract from the unknown along the way....this one didn't.
shareen17's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book at a used book store because it was the same author that wrote a book that was recommended to me. I liked it enough to try her other book, but I didn't love it. It is really slow-paced, and even though I think I have a great deal of patience for a slow-paced novel, it was too slow for me. I do love all things English, so I liked the setting. I also liked hearing the story from the perspective of the maid. The ending was genuinely surprising.
alidottie's review against another edition
1.0
About 330 pages into this book I had other books I needed to read and since I could not seem to finish this book, I put it aside. Maybe it was the timing, but this book just bored me silly. I could not care about the characters and I could not feel like the personal maid (Grace) who tells the story had a strong relationship with these shallow characters.
I finally picked it up and finished it. The big reveal at the end did not warrant the 468 pages to get to it.
I finally picked it up and finished it. The big reveal at the end did not warrant the 468 pages to get to it.
chris10b's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audiobook and am a little torn about how to rate this.
For most of this novel, we follow the life of Grace, who, at 98 years old, is reflecting upon her years in service at Riverton. I really enjoyed Grace’s part of the story, learning about the occupants of Riverton through her eyes, and even the mundane day-to-day aspects of her job. All the Downton Abbey vibes, ya know? About three quarters of the way into the book, however, the narrative switches to that of occupants of Riverton, and that’s where it went downhill for me. I really didn’t like Hannah and Emmaline—we’re probably not supposed to anyways—and it kind of made finishing the novel a struggle for me. The longer their part of the story continued, the more stars I mentally dropped from my rating. But then, at the end, we return to Grace’s story, just as she’s transitioning into the next life, and it left me feeling a bit more generous. 4 stars for Grace’s story. 2.5 for Hannah and Emmaline’s.
For most of this novel, we follow the life of Grace, who, at 98 years old, is reflecting upon her years in service at Riverton. I really enjoyed Grace’s part of the story, learning about the occupants of Riverton through her eyes, and even the mundane day-to-day aspects of her job. All the Downton Abbey vibes, ya know? About three quarters of the way into the book, however, the narrative switches to that of occupants of Riverton, and that’s where it went downhill for me. I really didn’t like Hannah and Emmaline—we’re probably not supposed to anyways—and it kind of made finishing the novel a struggle for me. The longer their part of the story continued, the more stars I mentally dropped from my rating. But then, at the end, we return to Grace’s story, just as she’s transitioning into the next life, and it left me feeling a bit more generous. 4 stars for Grace’s story. 2.5 for Hannah and Emmaline’s.