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heidirgorecki's review against another edition
3.0
While the book was a bit slow, it was such a beautiful story of community, and of love and forgiveness. I enjoyed learning about the community of St Kilda - the family and culture they had. Amazing how resilient their people were and how hardworking, and yet incredibly isolated. I really loved how Fred kept talking to Chrissie in his portion of the narrative. It made it feel more personal and heartfelt.
alicem_23's review against another edition
5.0
A stunning, beautifully written and enchanting novel. I loved this book with every inch of my soul
estevens315's review against another edition
5.0
“For this much i have learned, the only things that stand are love and forgiveness, they are an island of hope glimpsed and not glimpsed among the pounding waves and the storms, but there still, always there, the lights guiding us home.”
This was the most amazing novel i have had the chance to read.As i first read, i was rooting for archie and chrissie to get their own happy ending, but as i read on i found myself rooting for fred and chrissie. Their romance Was absolutely beautiful, it broke my heart when fred left and i began to fall in love with his character and archies’. I could hardly hold back the tears when archie died and the pure happiness i felt when fred arrived home to chrissie is impossible to put into words. This book is beautifully written and deserves so much more attention than it is getting, please everybody who gets the chance, read this novel. You wont regret it
This was the most amazing novel i have had the chance to read.As i first read, i was rooting for archie and chrissie to get their own happy ending, but as i read on i found myself rooting for fred and chrissie. Their romance Was absolutely beautiful, it broke my heart when fred left and i began to fall in love with his character and archies’. I could hardly hold back the tears when archie died and the pure happiness i felt when fred arrived home to chrissie is impossible to put into words. This book is beautifully written and deserves so much more attention than it is getting, please everybody who gets the chance, read this novel. You wont regret it
katiep84's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ebonymae123's review against another edition
5.0
“For this much i have learned, the only things that stand are love and forgiveness, they are an island of hope glimpsed and not glimpsed among the pounding waves and the storms, but there still, always there, the lights guiding us home.”
This was the most amazing novel i have had the chance to read.As i first read, i was rooting for archie and chrissie to get their own happy ending, but as i read on i found myself rooting for fred and chrissie. Their romance Was absolutely beautiful, it broke my heart when fred left and i began to fall in love with his character and archies’. I could hardly hold back the tears when archie died and the pure happiness i felt when fred arrived home to chrissie is impossible to put into words. This book is beautifully written and deserves so much more attention than it is getting, please everybody who gets the chance, read this novel. You wont regret it
This was the most amazing novel i have had the chance to read.As i first read, i was rooting for archie and chrissie to get their own happy ending, but as i read on i found myself rooting for fred and chrissie. Their romance Was absolutely beautiful, it broke my heart when fred left and i began to fall in love with his character and archies’. I could hardly hold back the tears when archie died and the pure happiness i felt when fred arrived home to chrissie is impossible to put into words. This book is beautifully written and deserves so much more attention than it is getting, please everybody who gets the chance, read this novel. You wont regret it
ebonymae123's review against another edition
5.0
“For this much i have learned, the only things that stand are love and forgiveness, they are an island of hope glimpsed and not glimpsed among the pounding waves and the storms, but there still, always there, the lights guiding us home.”
This was the most amazing novel i have had the chance to read.As i first read, i was rooting for archie and chrissie to get their own happy ending, but as i read on i found myself rooting for fred and chrissie. Their romance Was absolutely beautiful, it broke my heart when fred left and i began to fall in love with his character and archies’. I could hardly hold back the tears when archie died and the pure happiness i felt when fred arrived home to chrissie is impossible to put into words. This book is beautifully written and deserves so much more attention than it is getting, please everybody who gets the chance, read this novel. You wont regret it
This was the most amazing novel i have had the chance to read.As i first read, i was rooting for archie and chrissie to get their own happy ending, but as i read on i found myself rooting for fred and chrissie. Their romance Was absolutely beautiful, it broke my heart when fred left and i began to fall in love with his character and archies’. I could hardly hold back the tears when archie died and the pure happiness i felt when fred arrived home to chrissie is impossible to put into words. This book is beautifully written and deserves so much more attention than it is getting, please everybody who gets the chance, read this novel. You wont regret it
onymousotter's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written love letter to St Kilda, her inhabitants, and their way of life
rosemaryandrue's review against another edition
3.0
I had no idea where we were headed, no idea what lay before us. All I knew was I was ready to travel the length and breadth of France if the world would give me one more chance to spend one more hour with you – to say I’m sorry.
In 1927, Cambridge student Fred ends up on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda to study the local rock formations and falls in love with Chrissie, a local woman. Thirteen years later, he is stranded in war-torn France and wondering how that summer romance long ago went so wrong…
I picked up this book because I was rather tired of the glut of World War Two narratives, generally about members of the French Resistance, and this promised something different. And indeed it delivered – most of the story is set on St Kilda, a remote Scottish island of which I had never heard before, but felt quite acquainted with by the time the book ended. The writing is lyrical and brought St Kilda with all its lush sea-swept beauty to vivid life. The parts which incorporate the history of the island were fascinating and really cemented how attached Chrissie was to her home. This made the ensuing evacuation quite emotional.
However, the plot felt somewhat thin. This is the story of how Fred and Chrissie fell in love, and what tore them apart, but we don’t see much of them falling in love and what tears them apart feels almost silly, unfortunately. I was also ambivalent on the character of Archie – I wish we got a better understanding of him, for while his actions are what drive the plot, his decisions seemingly come out of nowhere.
My copy of this book was an audiobook, narrated by Fiona McNeill, Geoffrey Newland, and Diane Brooks, who respectively voice Chrissie, Fred, and Rachel Anne, Chrissie’s daughter. The narration was done in Scottish accents, which for a hapless American like me took a little time to get used to! I thought the narration was well-done, though, and the narrators’ musical voices helped set the stage.
Overall, an interesting and emotional read for those interested in more obscure British historical settings.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
In 1927, Cambridge student Fred ends up on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda to study the local rock formations and falls in love with Chrissie, a local woman. Thirteen years later, he is stranded in war-torn France and wondering how that summer romance long ago went so wrong…
I picked up this book because I was rather tired of the glut of World War Two narratives, generally about members of the French Resistance, and this promised something different. And indeed it delivered – most of the story is set on St Kilda, a remote Scottish island of which I had never heard before, but felt quite acquainted with by the time the book ended. The writing is lyrical and brought St Kilda with all its lush sea-swept beauty to vivid life. The parts which incorporate the history of the island were fascinating and really cemented how attached Chrissie was to her home. This made the ensuing evacuation quite emotional.
However, the plot felt somewhat thin. This is the story of how Fred and Chrissie fell in love, and what tore them apart, but we don’t see much of them falling in love and what tears them apart feels almost silly, unfortunately. I was also ambivalent on the character of Archie – I wish we got a better understanding of him, for while his actions are what drive the plot, his decisions seemingly come out of nowhere.
My copy of this book was an audiobook, narrated by Fiona McNeill, Geoffrey Newland, and Diane Brooks, who respectively voice Chrissie, Fred, and Rachel Anne, Chrissie’s daughter. The narration was done in Scottish accents, which for a hapless American like me took a little time to get used to! I thought the narration was well-done, though, and the narrators’ musical voices helped set the stage.
Overall, an interesting and emotional read for those interested in more obscure British historical settings.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
estevens315's review against another edition
5.0
“For this much i have learned, the only things that stand are love and forgiveness, they are an island of hope glimpsed and not glimpsed among the pounding waves and the storms, but there still, always there, the lights guiding us home.”
This was the most amazing novel i have had the chance to read.As i first read, i was rooting for archie and chrissie to get their own happy ending, but as i read on i found myself rooting for fred and chrissie. Their romance Was absolutely beautiful, it broke my heart when fred left and i began to fall in love with his character and archies’. I could hardly hold back the tears when archie died and the pure happiness i felt when fred arrived home to chrissie is impossible to put into words. This book is beautifully written and deserves so much more attention than it is getting, please everybody who gets the chance, read this novel. You wont regret it
This was the most amazing novel i have had the chance to read.As i first read, i was rooting for archie and chrissie to get their own happy ending, but as i read on i found myself rooting for fred and chrissie. Their romance Was absolutely beautiful, it broke my heart when fred left and i began to fall in love with his character and archies’. I could hardly hold back the tears when archie died and the pure happiness i felt when fred arrived home to chrissie is impossible to put into words. This book is beautifully written and deserves so much more attention than it is getting, please everybody who gets the chance, read this novel. You wont regret it