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camillelalectrice's review against another edition
Charscters felt very stereotypical. I had no interest in what was to come. Writing style was nothing exciting, unfortunately
mugglemom's review against another edition
3.0
This was a great family saga but I think a monstrous disservice was done to the author by the English translators. A lot of the historical nuances were probably chucked in the bin. Once I realized that 1800’s New Zealanders would never use the slang or idioms that the book introduced, I was able to just fall for the story. [“doing it” is one glaringly horrible phrase that I'm definitely sure wasn't in existence in the 1800's for describing sex…but was really in this book?!! Or when a characters retort was “Screw you”…what horseshite.]
What wasn't lost in translation was, thankfully, the ability to tell a good story and that I found worthy of continuing the book.
What wasn't lost in translation was, thankfully, the ability to tell a good story and that I found worthy of continuing the book.
pebbles1984's review against another edition
3.0
My favourite genre (historical fiction) combined with my favourite country (New Zealand). What could be better? Well, quite some things, as it turns out.
The book had a slow start for me, I thought the writing was a bit mediocre and the story didn't attract me so much. Luckily, after a few chapters, I got used to the writing, the story moved from England to New Zealand which made it more interesting, and I accepted the fact that instead of a beautiful historically rich family saga I would have to settle for a lighter and more romantic read.
I feel mixed about the story itself. There were a few parts that were interesting and kept me reading because I was curious about what would happen next, a lot of parts that were just okay and I neither loved nor hated, and a few parts that just dragged on. It felt like quite a long read (I know it has over 700 pages, but still!). What I missed mostly was history. Yes, it's set in the last half of the 19th century, and yes, that becomes clear from the descriptions of people, homes and travel. I like to learn from my historical fiction books, and I feel this was quite a shallow account of colonial New Zealand life. Nothing I couldn't have found out for myself in a matter of seconds, or I didn't know already. Also, there are several serious topics in the book, but it remains a light read. I prefer to experience more emotions when such topics are covered, but the author wasn't able to evoke those in me. There were several characters I really liked, a few I hated. Also, all the scenes with . There were some strange leaps in time as well, with glossing over or not even writing about very important events, or 5 years covered in two pages.
I did really enjoy the descriptions of the New Zealand landscape, and I liked reading about places I visited, like Christchurch an Queenstown, when they were just tiny developing settlements.
I bought all three books on a Kindle deal, so I'll read the other two as well. At least now I know what to expect and I can read them when I'm in the right mood and adjust my expectations accordingly.
The book had a slow start for me, I thought the writing was a bit mediocre and the story didn't attract me so much. Luckily, after a few chapters, I got used to the writing, the story moved from England to New Zealand which made it more interesting, and I accepted the fact that instead of a beautiful historically rich family saga I would have to settle for a lighter and more romantic read.
I feel mixed about the story itself. There were a few parts that were interesting and kept me reading because I was curious about what would happen next, a lot of parts that were just okay and I neither loved nor hated, and a few parts that just dragged on. It felt like quite a long read (I know it has over 700 pages, but still!). What I missed mostly was history. Yes, it's set in the last half of the 19th century, and yes, that becomes clear from the descriptions of people, homes and travel. I like to learn from my historical fiction books, and I feel this was quite a shallow account of colonial New Zealand life. Nothing I couldn't have found out for myself in a matter of seconds, or I didn't know already. Also, there are several serious topics in the book
Spoiler
(rape, emotional abuse, physical abuse, orphans, murder, suppression of Maori people),Spoiler
Gwyneira and James made me feel like the cover of the book should be one of those Harlequin-ones with a muscular rough-looking half dressed man holding a young woman who adoringly gazes up to him in his armsI did really enjoy the descriptions of the New Zealand landscape, and I liked reading about places I visited, like Christchurch an Queenstown, when they were just tiny developing settlements.
I bought all three books on a Kindle deal, so I'll read the other two as well. At least now I know what to expect and I can read them when I'm in the right mood and adjust my expectations accordingly.
enyamaria's review against another edition
2.0
Enjoyed the beginning but the book ended up being way too slow for me. Too many POVs for my liking.
sinaiblx's review against another edition
2.0
So boring and predictable...hardly worth considering reading the second and third parts
hkihm's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the historical elements about the founding and colonization of New Zealand but the plot and characters didn't hold my interest.
joyfilledwander's review against another edition
3.0
This book was read for my 2016 Reading Challenge Around the World in 80 Books
Confession, I only bought this book because it was on sale and I didn’t have another to read for New Zealand. So I ignored the nay-sayers of GoodReads and took the $1.99 plunge. And you know what? In the Land of the Long White Cloud by Sarah Lark actually exceeded my expectations! It’s a historical fiction, with lots of romance, but also lots about a time & culture I didn’t know much about. I’ve been to New Zealand, and remember being captivated by it’s sweeping landscape, just as the main characters were as well. And I visited in 2007!
This book is set during the early days of colonization of New Zealand by the British. Helen Davenport & Gwyneira Silkham meet aboard a steamship on the way from England to New Zealand, where they will meet their future husbands. Not surprisingly, life in New Zealand married to a complete stranger doesn’t go as smoothly as the girls had dreamed. They persevere, and life gets hard. But I couldn’t put it down. I was quickly invested their journey, and even the secondary characters too. I especially enjoyed reading how the British interacted with the Maori natives, both with their language and culture. As an American living in Indonesia, I’m constantly faced with being the outsider in a situation, and it was interesting to read about others dealing with the same. Albeit in totally different circumstances! I thought there were a few too many chance meetings of happenstance throughout the decades. I’m sure New Zealand wasn’t super populated during this time, but it’s not THAT small. I wanted to judge Helen & Gwyn for many of their decisions, but in reality, I have no idea what I’d do in those situations during that time either. It’s not a life-changing read, but it’s a light beach read for the summer. And maybe it’ll send you packing for the sheep filled hills of lush New Zealand!
Confession, I only bought this book because it was on sale and I didn’t have another to read for New Zealand. So I ignored the nay-sayers of GoodReads and took the $1.99 plunge. And you know what? In the Land of the Long White Cloud by Sarah Lark actually exceeded my expectations! It’s a historical fiction, with lots of romance, but also lots about a time & culture I didn’t know much about. I’ve been to New Zealand, and remember being captivated by it’s sweeping landscape, just as the main characters were as well. And I visited in 2007!
This book is set during the early days of colonization of New Zealand by the British. Helen Davenport & Gwyneira Silkham meet aboard a steamship on the way from England to New Zealand, where they will meet their future husbands. Not surprisingly, life in New Zealand married to a complete stranger doesn’t go as smoothly as the girls had dreamed. They persevere, and life gets hard. But I couldn’t put it down. I was quickly invested their journey, and even the secondary characters too. I especially enjoyed reading how the British interacted with the Maori natives, both with their language and culture. As an American living in Indonesia, I’m constantly faced with being the outsider in a situation, and it was interesting to read about others dealing with the same. Albeit in totally different circumstances! I thought there were a few too many chance meetings of happenstance throughout the decades. I’m sure New Zealand wasn’t super populated during this time, but it’s not THAT small. I wanted to judge Helen & Gwyn for many of their decisions, but in reality, I have no idea what I’d do in those situations during that time either. It’s not a life-changing read, but it’s a light beach read for the summer. And maybe it’ll send you packing for the sheep filled hills of lush New Zealand!
juliavra's review against another edition
2.0
Me lo leí después de viajar a la isla sur de Nueva Zelanda y visitar Christchurch (entre otros sitios). La primera mitad es pasable: buena descripción de paisajes y de las visicitudes, unas heroínas que, a pesar de ser un estereotipo total, te genera simpatía etc. Pero luego es un bodrio aburrido, simple, plano y sin sentido.