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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Elizabeth Pringle has lived all her life on the Scottish Island of Arran. When Elizabeth dies she wishes to leave her house to the young woman who walked past her house pushing a baby in a pram. Martha is that baby so on her mothers behalf she goes over to Arran.
This is a dual timeline story which I do normally enjoy. I found this book just ok.
The story is told from the pov of Elizabeth and her time on Arran. In the present is Martha and what happens when she goes to Arran and finds out all about Elizabeth. For me I found Elizabeth's story the most interesting.
This story had its moments but for me they were few and far between. Normally with these type of books especially the ones by Kate Morton they can be filled with family secrets waiting to be found. This story did have a surprise secret at the end but it seemed to come out of nowhere. There was no leading up to it or clues, not that I could see anyway.
What I did enjoy was the descriptions of the tapestries and the connections to fairies. Also the fact that the story takes place on a Scottish Island although I always think of The Wicker Man.
This is the first book I've read by Kirsty Wark who I know more as a journalist. I think I would be inclined not to read anymore in the near future as I didn't enjoy this book enough.
This is a dual timeline story which I do normally enjoy. I found this book just ok.
The story is told from the pov of Elizabeth and her time on Arran. In the present is Martha and what happens when she goes to Arran and finds out all about Elizabeth. For me I found Elizabeth's story the most interesting.
This story had its moments but for me they were few and far between. Normally with these type of books especially the ones by Kate Morton they can be filled with family secrets waiting to be found. This story did have a surprise secret at the end but it seemed to come out of nowhere. There was no leading up to it or clues, not that I could see anyway.
What I did enjoy was the descriptions of the tapestries and the connections to fairies. Also the fact that the story takes place on a Scottish Island although I always think of The Wicker Man.
This is the first book I've read by Kirsty Wark who I know more as a journalist. I think I would be inclined not to read anymore in the near future as I didn't enjoy this book enough.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
I bought this audiobook from Audible on the rec. of Karen of Cornflower Books, whose taste I generally appreciate. In the long run, however, I found it uneven: in the beginning, it's too sad, with two parallel stories of women who are dealing with the inevitable losses of old age; then it becomes too predictable, with WWi and WWII stories that we've all heard before and miraculously "I knew he was The One" relationships; it winds up with a big helping of "spooky-wooky" "I could feel her spirit near me" intimations and that revelation of the hidden secret that we had no idea had existed from the very beginning of the tale. So. I guess I'd say that there are some interesting/lovely aspects of the story, and the narration is beautifully done. However, my "okay" rating remains. Overall, it became an annoying book.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, as its been sitting on my shelf for a very long time! The descriptions of Arran were beautiful and i liked the alternating chapters for Elizabeth and Martha as i think this connected nicely. The ending was quite harrowing but dealt with sensitivity but I thought Martha’s section was rounded off a bit too quickly and convenient. I would have liked a bit more of how she felt etc (don’t want to give any spoilers here). I would seek out other books by this author as all in all it was a good read.
3.5 stars. i wanted to give it 4 but i can't
the author and the main character of the book both talk about how arran is close to them, they spent summer holidays there with their families, they've always had a connection to it, and i definitely relate to that. my auntie gave me this book last month while we were in arran for the first time since my grandpa died, the whole reason why we went there so often in the first place. because of that i found the mundane parts of the book emotional instead of the plot which was heartbreaking in itself. i teared up reading about lamlash and going to the pier and the ferry coming into brodick.
apart from rambling on and on about the setting i thought the plot was good, i didn't get bored even if it was slow at a lot of bits and nothing really seemed to happen. there was case of not quite insta-love which felt funny and out of place outside of young adult fiction where it's so usually seen. and there was a plot twist that came too late in my opinion. so late that it didn't make the impact it should have made. overall i liked it but honestly i wouldn't have been anywhere near as interested if it had been set anywhere else. but again, if it had i wouldn't have been given the book in the first place
the author and the main character of the book both talk about how arran is close to them, they spent summer holidays there with their families, they've always had a connection to it, and i definitely relate to that. my auntie gave me this book last month while we were in arran for the first time since my grandpa died, the whole reason why we went there so often in the first place. because of that i found the mundane parts of the book emotional instead of the plot which was heartbreaking in itself. i teared up reading about lamlash and going to the pier and the ferry coming into brodick.
apart from rambling on and on about the setting i thought the plot was good, i didn't get bored even if it was slow at a lot of bits and nothing really seemed to happen. there was case of not quite insta-love which felt funny and out of place outside of young adult fiction where it's so usually seen. and there was a plot twist that came too late in my opinion. so late that it didn't make the impact it should have made. overall i liked it but honestly i wouldn't have been anywhere near as interested if it had been set anywhere else. but again, if it had i wouldn't have been given the book in the first place
I really enjoyed this story. Wonderful to see Scotland so fondly created and with a tale that you can see the personalities families to so many small communities across the country. Definitely a novel that holds a mirror to life.
I liked this book for the most part! Felt like going on a vacation to a dreary but lovely island. Only real complaints were the pacing and the fact it really lost me at the end
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes