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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
3-3.5 stars. Enjoyed overall, guess what was going to happen, so mystery of it wasn’t there as much as I hoped
Merged review:
3-3.5 stars. Enjoyed overall, guess what was going to happen, so mystery of it wasn’t there as much as I hoped
Merged review:
3-3.5 stars. Enjoyed overall, guess what was going to happen, so mystery of it wasn’t there as much as I hoped
Interesting concept, but this book didn’t really do it for me. It was hard to pick up and get back into the story. The whole divorce portion seemed thrown in for context, and the ending was predictable. A lot of opportunity for gripping stories but fell flat for me, unfortunately.
CW: Spousal abuse, infidelity, suicide, death in childbirth
CW: Spousal abuse, infidelity, suicide, death in childbirth
I did not want to put down this novel about family, secrets and corruption. Sarah leaves her husband after he is involved with money laundering, and In the drive to her father’s house,she passes an old house for sale. Drawn to the house, she will purchase it and slowly uncover the history of the family who lived in the house bordering an orphanage. At the same time, her father is searching for his birth mother as he faces his own health crisis, with Sarah helping him uncover his past. The former owner of the house, Connie, is in a nursing home and facing her own truths. I highly recommend this engrossing story. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
I enjoyed this, but it wasn't the kind of read that will stick with me as I move onto other books. I really enjoyed the way the characters' stories wove together and the happier ending.
Content: mild language, mild sex scenes
Content: mild language, mild sex scenes
Having read Ann Bennett’s excellent trilogy of novels based in South-East Asia, I was delighted to pick up The Foundling’s Daughter.
Although we’ve moved from Thailand and Malaysia to India, the evocative descriptions of rainforest, busy Indian cities and deserted jungle palaces are just as well-written, providing a clear sense of place and time.
The historical part of the story takes place at the height of the British Raj, but rather than glorifying the British in India (which goes on far too much these days for my liking), it shows something of the seemier side of that society, and the realities of young women embroiled in scandal moving to the other side of the world to snag themselves a husband and respectability.
To be fair to Anne, although that is what ends up happening to her, it is clearly not her initial intention, which we learn through diary entries cut between the more modern parts of the book.
I liked Sarah, the main, modern character and it was fun to follow her through her discoveries as she delved more into the Burroughs orphanage and its connections to her own life. Her collaboration with Connie Burroughs, whose fear of her father’s influence had kept her silent for so many years was an interesting dynamic, as Connie fought her own distrust, to eventually open up after a shocking discovery.
As I said, I’ve enjoyed Ann’s previous novels, and this is a thrilling and mysterious addition to her collection.
Although we’ve moved from Thailand and Malaysia to India, the evocative descriptions of rainforest, busy Indian cities and deserted jungle palaces are just as well-written, providing a clear sense of place and time.
The historical part of the story takes place at the height of the British Raj, but rather than glorifying the British in India (which goes on far too much these days for my liking), it shows something of the seemier side of that society, and the realities of young women embroiled in scandal moving to the other side of the world to snag themselves a husband and respectability.
To be fair to Anne, although that is what ends up happening to her, it is clearly not her initial intention, which we learn through diary entries cut between the more modern parts of the book.
I liked Sarah, the main, modern character and it was fun to follow her through her discoveries as she delved more into the Burroughs orphanage and its connections to her own life. Her collaboration with Connie Burroughs, whose fear of her father’s influence had kept her silent for so many years was an interesting dynamic, as Connie fought her own distrust, to eventually open up after a shocking discovery.
As I said, I’ve enjoyed Ann’s previous novels, and this is a thrilling and mysterious addition to her collection.
After about 40 pages I was convinced that I knew the ending and the rest or my reading was going to be boring. I was, gratefully, wrong! This book was interesting and not as predictable as I had first thought. An intriguing read that kept my interest throughout.
This was a fantastic read. It took me a little while to get into it but it lured me in and I ended up hooked. By about the halfway point, I was completely captivated by the story and the mystery kept me guessing as I tried to figure it out.It's beautifully written with descriptive detail.
This is the story of three women who live vastly different lives; Connie, Sarah, and Anna. I love the diary entries and how the story unfolded. I was intrigued by these women and their stories and my heart went out for them. The ending was an absolutely perfect conclusion.
This is the story of three women who live vastly different lives; Connie, Sarah, and Anna. I love the diary entries and how the story unfolded. I was intrigued by these women and their stories and my heart went out for them. The ending was an absolutely perfect conclusion.
The Orphan House is the first book that I have read by Ann Bennett and I have to say it was a brilliant read with a really good plot packed full of suspense, intrigue, tension and emotion. The first few pages made me think oh this is just going to be another run of the mill saga book with nothing that really sets it apart from all the rest, one that you enjoy reading at the time but it doesn't leave much of a mark on you when finished. But delving further into a couple of chapters I soon came to realise that this book had real depth to it and that it was more so set in the present day and every so often it ventured to the past through Connie's memories and also diary entries from a character whose true importance only becomes apparent from around the midway point. Even more so I didn't expect to be taken to India within this story and that added an extra dimension to what was already shaping up to be a book that would become hard to leave out of your hands. I certainly wasn't expecting such a roller-coaster of a read that has you rapidly turning the pages because you so keen to uncover the mystery and secrets that permeate each of the pages.
Two women are the focus of the book Sarah Jennings and Connie Burroughs. Sarah's life has imploded as she flees from the marital home following revelations and surprising visits which she had never believed could be possible. She knows now her marriage to Alex is over as she cannot comprehend nor forgive what has come to light. As she travels to her father's home seeking refuge and to take stock of what has just happened, she stops for a break from the drive and in the village of Weirfield she spots a house which instigates some niggling memories. Cedar Hall is now on the market and then it comes to her what is now a housing estate next to it was once an orphanage. In fact the orphanage was where her father William was placed as a foundling. The full circumstances of which he never uncovered but now he wishes to do so given he himself has some news that will change everything for him.
By chance the estate agent arrives and shows Sarah around. Two sisters Connie and Evie Burroughs once lived there but now Evie has passed away and Connie is in a nursing home due to a fall. The house stirs something in Sarah but she can't quite put her finger on what it is. At this pivotal turning point in Sarah's life she starts to comprehend that for too long she has been smoothing over everything in her life on the surface, refusing to accept that anything is wrong and maybe now a new opportunity is being afforded to her. As she makes contact with Connie and beats the developers in their offer she becomes the new owner of Cedar Hall and sets about renovating it. I did think all of this was very sudden and out of the blue and that money seemed to be no issue. She did own a restaurant with her husband but still does money become that readily available so easily? Anyway, that is a minor issue and not relevant over all to the plot. More so it is an observation on my part.
As Sarah begins stripping back the house to decorate in a way which suits her she uncovers some things that pose many questions. There is a sinister feeling that she just can't shake, just what has happened here in the house in the past? Why were the things she found hidden away? Can she get through to Connie and make her reveal and explain as to what exactly went on and why? If Sarah can do this maybe sleeping dogs can be finally be allowed to lie? I enjoyed the relationship between Sarah and her father and the further I read the more I came to understand that her buying the hall was a way to help her father but also a way to aid her own recovery from what had to have been very traumatic experiences.
It was almost as if the house had been waiting for Sarah to take ownership of it and that it was breathing a sigh of relief as all the secrets and goings on within it were now going to come to light and that confidences and mysteries were finally about to reveal themselves. Sarah was the bridge between the past and the present and she had the tools and the methods in which to unlock the secrets if she followed the right path and joined the dots together. Having a bit of romance on Sarah's part also offered some light relief when I felt things were really reaching that point of no return once things were out in the open.
Connie is in her 90's and though she has suffered a setback with her fall, she has all her faculties about her and her mind is as sharp as a pin and maybe that is what torments her the most. That she remembers and is holding onto things close to her chest that really she should have admitted to many years ago. But the power someone still exerts over her dominates her every thought and action and I thought she was being meek and submissive instead of following the right path and listening to her conscience. But on the other hand I suppose one can't easily change a viewpoint or stance that has been held for practically a lifetime if they have lived in fear of retribution and punishment for so long. But now with Sarah stirring things up I hoped that Connie would find the guts to admit what she knew because it was evident from the very beginning that she was laying many cards close to her chest.
Past events have not been spoken about by Connie for many years if ever and her thoughts and dreams are terror filled. The past is a force that both controls and frightens her but you would think at this stage of her life what has she really got to loose by unburdening herself from a lifetime of constraints. She was consumed by guilt but yet a grip and control was still exerted over her that she didn't think she could shake off. The arrival of someone from her past to live in the nursing home combined with Sarah buying the hall is another motivation for her to share everything. But she is willing to take the risk and let everything be known or is she still too fearful of the repercussions?
The Orphan House drip feeds the reader clues and hints as to what is going on. You can never fully guess with certainty as to what is happening but from the descriptive language used and the sinister and tense images conjured up you just know that it can't be all good. Transporting the reader to India through the diary entries brought another dimension to the story and again the author showed that no matter what setting she was writing or what point in time she had the knack of transporting the reader and showing another side to the overall story. There are so many dots to join together and conundrums to decipher but it was a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience as you journey with both Sarah and Connie to do so. The Orphan House is a compelling story where you are quickly transported to the heart of things and are not released until the very last moment. It's well worth a read.
Two women are the focus of the book Sarah Jennings and Connie Burroughs. Sarah's life has imploded as she flees from the marital home following revelations and surprising visits which she had never believed could be possible. She knows now her marriage to Alex is over as she cannot comprehend nor forgive what has come to light. As she travels to her father's home seeking refuge and to take stock of what has just happened, she stops for a break from the drive and in the village of Weirfield she spots a house which instigates some niggling memories. Cedar Hall is now on the market and then it comes to her what is now a housing estate next to it was once an orphanage. In fact the orphanage was where her father William was placed as a foundling. The full circumstances of which he never uncovered but now he wishes to do so given he himself has some news that will change everything for him.
By chance the estate agent arrives and shows Sarah around. Two sisters Connie and Evie Burroughs once lived there but now Evie has passed away and Connie is in a nursing home due to a fall. The house stirs something in Sarah but she can't quite put her finger on what it is. At this pivotal turning point in Sarah's life she starts to comprehend that for too long she has been smoothing over everything in her life on the surface, refusing to accept that anything is wrong and maybe now a new opportunity is being afforded to her. As she makes contact with Connie and beats the developers in their offer she becomes the new owner of Cedar Hall and sets about renovating it. I did think all of this was very sudden and out of the blue and that money seemed to be no issue. She did own a restaurant with her husband but still does money become that readily available so easily? Anyway, that is a minor issue and not relevant over all to the plot. More so it is an observation on my part.
As Sarah begins stripping back the house to decorate in a way which suits her she uncovers some things that pose many questions. There is a sinister feeling that she just can't shake, just what has happened here in the house in the past? Why were the things she found hidden away? Can she get through to Connie and make her reveal and explain as to what exactly went on and why? If Sarah can do this maybe sleeping dogs can be finally be allowed to lie? I enjoyed the relationship between Sarah and her father and the further I read the more I came to understand that her buying the hall was a way to help her father but also a way to aid her own recovery from what had to have been very traumatic experiences.
It was almost as if the house had been waiting for Sarah to take ownership of it and that it was breathing a sigh of relief as all the secrets and goings on within it were now going to come to light and that confidences and mysteries were finally about to reveal themselves. Sarah was the bridge between the past and the present and she had the tools and the methods in which to unlock the secrets if she followed the right path and joined the dots together. Having a bit of romance on Sarah's part also offered some light relief when I felt things were really reaching that point of no return once things were out in the open.
Connie is in her 90's and though she has suffered a setback with her fall, she has all her faculties about her and her mind is as sharp as a pin and maybe that is what torments her the most. That she remembers and is holding onto things close to her chest that really she should have admitted to many years ago. But the power someone still exerts over her dominates her every thought and action and I thought she was being meek and submissive instead of following the right path and listening to her conscience. But on the other hand I suppose one can't easily change a viewpoint or stance that has been held for practically a lifetime if they have lived in fear of retribution and punishment for so long. But now with Sarah stirring things up I hoped that Connie would find the guts to admit what she knew because it was evident from the very beginning that she was laying many cards close to her chest.
Past events have not been spoken about by Connie for many years if ever and her thoughts and dreams are terror filled. The past is a force that both controls and frightens her but you would think at this stage of her life what has she really got to loose by unburdening herself from a lifetime of constraints. She was consumed by guilt but yet a grip and control was still exerted over her that she didn't think she could shake off. The arrival of someone from her past to live in the nursing home combined with Sarah buying the hall is another motivation for her to share everything. But she is willing to take the risk and let everything be known or is she still too fearful of the repercussions?
The Orphan House drip feeds the reader clues and hints as to what is going on. You can never fully guess with certainty as to what is happening but from the descriptive language used and the sinister and tense images conjured up you just know that it can't be all good. Transporting the reader to India through the diary entries brought another dimension to the story and again the author showed that no matter what setting she was writing or what point in time she had the knack of transporting the reader and showing another side to the overall story. There are so many dots to join together and conundrums to decipher but it was a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience as you journey with both Sarah and Connie to do so. The Orphan House is a compelling story where you are quickly transported to the heart of things and are not released until the very last moment. It's well worth a read.