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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a hard one to get in to for me, I enjoyed the dual POV/timeline however Lorna started to really aggravate me the further I got in to the story, and I couldn’t wait to get back to Ambers storyline off things.
I also disliked the ending - immensely, was that Toby, were they finally reunited? Also I don’t feel we needed that last chapter from Nancy’s POV. It didn’t really affect anything or add anything extra it was obvious what had happened so I just feel it ended badly and feel a bit deflated after finishing it.
I wouldn’t say I enjoyed this book, I did enjoy the backstory more though, Ambers POV was more interesting and I wish we had more from past Black Rabbit Hall:
I also disliked the ending - immensely, was that Toby, were they finally reunited? Also I don’t feel we needed that last chapter from Nancy’s POV. It didn’t really affect anything or add anything extra it was obvious what had happened so I just feel it ended badly and feel a bit deflated after finishing it.
I wouldn’t say I enjoyed this book, I did enjoy the backstory more though, Ambers POV was more interesting and I wish we had more from past Black Rabbit Hall:
I liked this book almost as a guilty pleasure. It's set in Cornwall which I love and is two different stories running about 30 years apart. A little Daphne duMaurier-ish without the moors.
An interesting story, one of those which you read compulsively because of the story, the characters and the setting. I believe this will be a good one for book clubs to pick up for discussion.
A nice easy read, however I felt it tailed off in the middle and the ending was a bit contrived for me
Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!
On a trip with friends to Washington Depot in Connecticut (yes, Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls), I was enchanted by a local store, named the Hickory Stick Book Shop. There I discovered a fun selection of books and gifts. It was their Recommendations Wall, featuring a few books that I had enjoyed over the past year, that caught my full attention. One book that I had loved was recommended by a bookseller. She was there that day and went on to help me find some very promising new novels, including this one. I could never have imagined the fun I would have with this book.
Black Rabbit Hall is author Eve Chase's debut novel. It is published by Putnam Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. In this dark tale of family drama, we are introduced to Lorna Dunaway and her fiancee, Jon. The couple have been looking at places to have their upcoming wedding and so far have had no luck. There is one more location on Lorna's list of possibilities: Pencraw Hall in Cornwall, England. She remembers fondly her visits there as a child with her mother, and feels that it would be ideal for their nuptials. In the past Pencraw Hall was also known as Black Rabbit Hall by the locals. Lorna is introduced to the current owner Caroline Alton and her assistant, Dill. Curious about the estate, Lorna begins to delve into its past. Soon she realizes that she may have more of a connection to the sprawling estate than she realizes.
Meanwhile in the late 1960s; death, secrets, and betrayal seep slowly into the lives of the Alton clan. Teenager Amber Alton knows that her family is on a slow decline and does what she can to hold them together. With the flash of lightning and a terrible accident, her mother, Nancy, is taken from her and her father is set to remarry shortly after. The arrival of Caroline Shawcross and her son, Lucian, drive a deeper wedge between Amber and Toby. The Alton children do not like their soon-to-be step-mother, suspicious of her intentions. As the decades collide with Lorna's investigation into Black Rabbit Hall, a secret buried deep is revealed. A secret that will devastate one family and let another rise from the ashes.
Black Rabbit Hall was family suspense at its best. It was filled with complex and realistic characters that wove an intricate tapestry of lies and deceit. Page after page I was immersed in the life of the Alton clan. Through triumph and tragedy I was pulled into Eve Chase's excellent world building. Spanning over thirty years, Black Rabbit Hall succeeded in keeping me up late at night reading. The structure of this book was handled very well. Chase was able to insert clues throughout both decades of Black Rabitt Hall's history. And she even threw in some "red herrings" for good measure. Once the secrets were laid bare in the finale, I was extremely satisfied with the close of this novel.
I read Black Rabbit Hall with the audio narration by voice actresses Natalie Buscombe (handling Amber's story), Kate Scarfe (reading Lorna's story), and Cassandra Campbell (reading Nancy's Alton's part). All three were excellent in their presentation of the narrative. Chase's words were carefully executed by each narrator, which added depth to her words. I will seek out more books read by this trio, because I know they will make each read come alive.
Black Rabbit Hall joins my list of five star reads this year. Its captivating tale had me hooked and I slowly read this book to keep me in this world longer. I look forward to more Eve Chase novels in the future. She has become a new favorite author of mine. The perfect beach read.
Have fun reading this week. Let me know in the comments below what you are reading this week.
Also please follow me on my social media platforms, and enjoy shopping with me at eBay and the Book Depository.
Because there is always time to read,
Xepherus3
At Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Xepherus3
At eBay: http://stores.ebay.com/xepherusstudios
At Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11975160-xepherus3
At Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xepherusstudios/
At RedBubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/xepherus3
At Twitter: https://twitter.com/XepherusStudios
My Amazon Wish List: https://amzn.com/w/3J58FXCH0Y44F
All written content (c) Copyright 2019 by Thomas Bahr II
On a trip with friends to Washington Depot in Connecticut (yes, Stars Hollow from the Gilmore Girls), I was enchanted by a local store, named the Hickory Stick Book Shop. There I discovered a fun selection of books and gifts. It was their Recommendations Wall, featuring a few books that I had enjoyed over the past year, that caught my full attention. One book that I had loved was recommended by a bookseller. She was there that day and went on to help me find some very promising new novels, including this one. I could never have imagined the fun I would have with this book.
Black Rabbit Hall is author Eve Chase's debut novel. It is published by Putnam Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. In this dark tale of family drama, we are introduced to Lorna Dunaway and her fiancee, Jon. The couple have been looking at places to have their upcoming wedding and so far have had no luck. There is one more location on Lorna's list of possibilities: Pencraw Hall in Cornwall, England. She remembers fondly her visits there as a child with her mother, and feels that it would be ideal for their nuptials. In the past Pencraw Hall was also known as Black Rabbit Hall by the locals. Lorna is introduced to the current owner Caroline Alton and her assistant, Dill. Curious about the estate, Lorna begins to delve into its past. Soon she realizes that she may have more of a connection to the sprawling estate than she realizes.
Meanwhile in the late 1960s; death, secrets, and betrayal seep slowly into the lives of the Alton clan. Teenager Amber Alton knows that her family is on a slow decline and does what she can to hold them together. With the flash of lightning and a terrible accident, her mother, Nancy, is taken from her and her father is set to remarry shortly after. The arrival of Caroline Shawcross and her son, Lucian, drive a deeper wedge between Amber and Toby. The Alton children do not like their soon-to-be step-mother, suspicious of her intentions. As the decades collide with Lorna's investigation into Black Rabbit Hall, a secret buried deep is revealed. A secret that will devastate one family and let another rise from the ashes.
Black Rabbit Hall was family suspense at its best. It was filled with complex and realistic characters that wove an intricate tapestry of lies and deceit. Page after page I was immersed in the life of the Alton clan. Through triumph and tragedy I was pulled into Eve Chase's excellent world building. Spanning over thirty years, Black Rabbit Hall succeeded in keeping me up late at night reading. The structure of this book was handled very well. Chase was able to insert clues throughout both decades of Black Rabitt Hall's history. And she even threw in some "red herrings" for good measure. Once the secrets were laid bare in the finale, I was extremely satisfied with the close of this novel.
I read Black Rabbit Hall with the audio narration by voice actresses Natalie Buscombe (handling Amber's story), Kate Scarfe (reading Lorna's story), and Cassandra Campbell (reading Nancy's Alton's part). All three were excellent in their presentation of the narrative. Chase's words were carefully executed by each narrator, which added depth to her words. I will seek out more books read by this trio, because I know they will make each read come alive.
Black Rabbit Hall joins my list of five star reads this year. Its captivating tale had me hooked and I slowly read this book to keep me in this world longer. I look forward to more Eve Chase novels in the future. She has become a new favorite author of mine. The perfect beach read.
Have fun reading this week. Let me know in the comments below what you are reading this week.
Also please follow me on my social media platforms, and enjoy shopping with me at eBay and the Book Depository.
Because there is always time to read,
Xepherus3
At Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Xepherus3
At eBay: http://stores.ebay.com/xepherusstudios
At Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11975160-xepherus3
At Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xepherusstudios/
At RedBubble: http://www.redbubble.com/people/xepherus3
At Twitter: https://twitter.com/XepherusStudios
My Amazon Wish List: https://amzn.com/w/3J58FXCH0Y44F
All written content (c) Copyright 2019 by Thomas Bahr II
I received this book in a blind box from my local library, and I was fairly pleased with it. It's not generally my flavor, but it drew me in enough to stay.
Two story lines are told from separate timelines, twisting together, and eventually coming full circle in the end. Lorna is looking for the perfect wedding venue when she comes across Black Rabbit Hall and falls under its spell. While the mansion is completely dilapidated, she's enthralled from the moment she steps foot inside, and is invited to stay for the weekend by the prickly owner, Mrs. Alton. Amber is a teenager from the late 1960s who lives at Black Rabbit Hall in the summer months with her parents and three siblings. They are wild and carefree until tragedy strikes when they least expect it and alters their family forever.
I feel like this book did a great job of subtlety tying the two story lines together that by the end it really was no huge revelation. The present day characters were on the dull side, but I loved reading about the Altons, even when the story slipped into darker and darker waters. The “almost” incest was the only thing off-putting to me. Very vivid writing style. Not for everyone, but I'd feel fine recommending it.
Two story lines are told from separate timelines, twisting together, and eventually coming full circle in the end. Lorna is looking for the perfect wedding venue when she comes across Black Rabbit Hall and falls under its spell. While the mansion is completely dilapidated, she's enthralled from the moment she steps foot inside, and is invited to stay for the weekend by the prickly owner, Mrs. Alton. Amber is a teenager from the late 1960s who lives at Black Rabbit Hall in the summer months with her parents and three siblings. They are wild and carefree until tragedy strikes when they least expect it and alters their family forever.
I feel like this book did a great job of subtlety tying the two story lines together that by the end it really was no huge revelation. The present day characters were on the dull side, but I loved reading about the Altons, even when the story slipped into darker and darker waters. The “almost” incest was the only thing off-putting to me. Very vivid writing style. Not for everyone, but I'd feel fine recommending it.
Dévoré en une journée : le retour.
Totalement convaincue par ce roman qui rassemble tout ce que j’aime, l’été, le décor des Cornouailles, des secrets de famille, des destins croisés et des amours sulfureuses. La fin est un peu « trop » marshmallow pour moi (pourtant j’ai craint quelques pages qu’elle soit aussi « trop » tragique, comme quoi on est jamais content), mais somme toute c’était une bien belle histoire qui se croque à pleines dents par une longue journée d’oisiveté caniculaire.
Totalement convaincue par ce roman qui rassemble tout ce que j’aime, l’été, le décor des Cornouailles, des secrets de famille, des destins croisés et des amours sulfureuses. La fin est un peu « trop » marshmallow pour moi (pourtant j’ai craint quelques pages qu’elle soit aussi « trop » tragique, comme quoi on est jamais content), mais somme toute c’était une bien belle histoire qui se croque à pleines dents par une longue journée d’oisiveté caniculaire.