Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Once I realized, a) that the works of Beatriz Williams are best read in publication order and b) that this also included her collaborative books as well, I determined that I would start with A Hundred Summer and move forward, re-reading any as they came up in sequence. This was not a mistake. The connections that were made between The Forgotten Room and Ms Williams' solo work could not have been appreciated when treating this book as a standalone. Now that I have been introduced to multiple generations and branches of the Schuyler family tree, I was gobbling up the way that Philip and Kate Schuyler fit into the bigger picture.
What I liked about The Forgotten Room:
The seamless way the narratives fit together - It's impressive to think that three authors put this book together and managed to maintain continuity. I've encountered authors who can't manage that just writing solo. The way these three made their stories fit together was rather remarkable.
The characters - I was engaged with all three of our narrators. What's more is that I actually liked all three of them as well. I also grew to like most of the other characters (or at least feel sympathetic to them in some way) with the exception of one who made me feel a little grumbly and side-eye-ish, and another who was just plain icky. They felt real, with flaws and mostly good hearts.
The premise of the plot - I loved the main focus that the authors wrote around. It made all the difference to have several strands that wove their way through all three generations. It gave a feeling of connection.
Bomb-drop plot twists - I will not lie, even the second read, I was stunned by the twists. (It had been a while, and I didn't remember all of them, and even those I had retained, I was still impressed by their cleverness.) Just when you think you know what's what, the story yanks you a little sideways, yet somehow never feels off track.
Made me stop and think - That's the thing I find with a good historical novel. At one point, I was pondering blackouts and air raid drills in New York City. I remember learning that they did these things in Europe, especially in London, but I never considered them being done here. Just because mainland United States never took a hit in WWII doesn't mean there weren't precautionary measures taken, especially in huge coastal cities.
What I didn't care for:
I had a few open questions at the end - I'll drop them into the spoiler section below, so you can skip those if you're not interested. I will note that, despite my low level annoyance at these unanswered questions, it did not detract even an ounce from my satisfaction with the book, as you can note by the fact that I left this book with a solid five stars after the first go round.
Worth noting:
Fairly mild but not completely clean - If there was coarse language, it was minimal enough that I am not really even able to recall it. There were a few fade-to-black style bedroom scenes as well, if that's not your cup of tea.
If this is a book you anticipate reading and spoilers are a thing you would prefer to avoid, you're going to want to skip this next section and move right along to the final paragraph. Consider yourself duly warned. I accept zero responsibility if you end up reading and regretting. Ok, potential spoilers beyond this point!
What I liked about The Forgotten Room:
The seamless way the narratives fit together - It's impressive to think that three authors put this book together and managed to maintain continuity. I've encountered authors who can't manage that just writing solo. The way these three made their stories fit together was rather remarkable.
The characters - I was engaged with all three of our narrators. What's more is that I actually liked all three of them as well. I also grew to like most of the other characters (or at least feel sympathetic to them in some way) with the exception of one who made me feel a little grumbly and side-eye-ish, and another who was just plain icky. They felt real, with flaws and mostly good hearts.
The premise of the plot - I loved the main focus that the authors wrote around. It made all the difference to have several strands that wove their way through all three generations. It gave a feeling of connection.
Bomb-drop plot twists - I will not lie, even the second read, I was stunned by the twists. (It had been a while, and I didn't remember all of them, and even those I had retained, I was still impressed by their cleverness.) Just when you think you know what's what, the story yanks you a little sideways, yet somehow never feels off track.
Made me stop and think - That's the thing I find with a good historical novel. At one point, I was pondering blackouts and air raid drills in New York City. I remember learning that they did these things in Europe, especially in London, but I never considered them being done here. Just because mainland United States never took a hit in WWII doesn't mean there weren't precautionary measures taken, especially in huge coastal cities.
What I didn't care for:
I had a few open questions at the end - I'll drop them into the spoiler section below, so you can skip those if you're not interested. I will note that, despite my low level annoyance at these unanswered questions, it did not detract even an ounce from my satisfaction with the book, as you can note by the fact that I left this book with a solid five stars after the first go round.
Worth noting:
Fairly mild but not completely clean - If there was coarse language, it was minimal enough that I am not really even able to recall it. There were a few fade-to-black style bedroom scenes as well, if that's not your cup of tea.
If this is a book you anticipate reading and spoilers are a thing you would prefer to avoid, you're going to want to skip this next section and move right along to the final paragraph. Consider yourself duly warned. I accept zero responsibility if you end up reading and regretting. Ok, potential spoilers beyond this point!
Spoiler questions from above section:
1. If Lucy was really Hans’ daughter, why did her grandmother tell her she wasn’t?
2. Was Olive really artist enough to paint a similar St George mural in Lucy’s nursery??
3. What did Harry get to work on in that last scene?? Adding in Olive’s face?
I will say, unequivocally, that I am not sorry to have re-read this book within the context of the rest of the not-a-series (but still kind of a series) Beatriz Williams has built in her Schuyler universe. In addition to gaining appreciation for this branch of Schuylers, man, this is a satisfying read. So many threads between the three generations. So many seemingly unrelated details that manage to form a complete image by the time you close the book. This is a love story, wrapped in a mystery, and tied up with a bow of familial relationships that are just the right amount of complex to be interesting. You'll wonder how these three authors will manage to have it all make sense, and you'll marvel at the fact that they could so successfully weave this tale by each taking a narrator and then writing the book round-robin. My original 5-star rating holds up. I look forward to every single Beatriz book already, and I can say with confidence that I now also look forward to the additional Karen White-Beatriz Williams-Lauren Willig collaborations
1. If Lucy was really Hans’ daughter, why did her grandmother tell her she wasn’t?
2. Was Olive really artist enough to paint a similar St George mural in Lucy’s nursery??
3. What did Harry get to work on in that last scene?? Adding in Olive’s face?
I will say, unequivocally, that I am not sorry to have re-read this book within the context of the rest of the not-a-series (but still kind of a series) Beatriz Williams has built in her Schuyler universe. In addition to gaining appreciation for this branch of Schuylers, man, this is a satisfying read. So many threads between the three generations. So many seemingly unrelated details that manage to form a complete image by the time you close the book. This is a love story, wrapped in a mystery, and tied up with a bow of familial relationships that are just the right amount of complex to be interesting. You'll wonder how these three authors will manage to have it all make sense, and you'll marvel at the fact that they could so successfully weave this tale by each taking a narrator and then writing the book round-robin. My original 5-star rating holds up. I look forward to every single Beatriz book already, and I can say with confidence that I now also look forward to the additional Karen White-Beatriz Williams-Lauren Willig collaborations
ORIGINAL REVIEW
Olive and Harry and Lucy and John and Kate and Cooper. Their stories woven intricately and yet so simply together. Love and longing wound through three generations. Secrets and heartache creating a tapestry of raw emotions that would not stop surfacing until they were addressed. Every time I thought a piece of this story was predictable, it would do a little pirouette and add an unexpected nuance. There were layers more than twists. For a moment or two, I thought I might get all the details confused as they were revealed bit by bit, but I never lost track. I loved the richness of the story and the depth of the emotions and the multi-generational telling of the tale of the Pratt mansion and the loves it held. I was prepared to like "The Forgotten Room" as a historical romance, but found myself immersed in a book that totally stole my heart.
I requested a copy of this book from the local library, because I have read several books by Beatriz Williams and have really enjoyed them. This one, on which that author collaborated with Karen White as well as Lauren Willig, did not disappoint. In fact, I liked it so much that I'm eager to see what else those other two ladies have written!
In the late 1800's, an architect designs an incredible, modern mansion for the wealthy Pratt family. For some mysterious reason, the patriarch of the household refuses to pay him for his work. The architect's daughter, Olive, finds work as a maid in the rich new home, determined to find documentation that could save her father's reputation. Her motivation becomes blurred, however, when she falls for Harry, one of the families' handsome young sons. They meet in a secret, upstairs room, where Harry sketches and paints Olive.
The next generation finds Lucy living in the home, which was turned into a boardinghouse after the family left. A young working girl, she too finds romance and unravels a few of the secrets the old upstairs room held.
As World War II draws to a close, we meet Kate Schuyler, a doctor trying to hold her own in a male-dominated occupation. Due to overcrowding from the endless stream of wounded men pouring into the makeshift hospital -- which was formerly a mansion -- Kate sleeps in that same upstairs room we've visited before, with Olive and Lucy. When a patient comes in who needs special care, she surrenders her room -- and her heart -- to him. Together, they discover a chest filled with sketches of a beautiful woman from decades past . . . .
This was one of those books that I didn't want to walk away from when real life was calling. The suspenseful build up was very good! I loved learning about each of these women, and was continually wondering what would happen next and how they might be connected. One of the best books I've read recently!
In the late 1800's, an architect designs an incredible, modern mansion for the wealthy Pratt family. For some mysterious reason, the patriarch of the household refuses to pay him for his work. The architect's daughter, Olive, finds work as a maid in the rich new home, determined to find documentation that could save her father's reputation. Her motivation becomes blurred, however, when she falls for Harry, one of the families' handsome young sons. They meet in a secret, upstairs room, where Harry sketches and paints Olive.
The next generation finds Lucy living in the home, which was turned into a boardinghouse after the family left. A young working girl, she too finds romance and unravels a few of the secrets the old upstairs room held.
As World War II draws to a close, we meet Kate Schuyler, a doctor trying to hold her own in a male-dominated occupation. Due to overcrowding from the endless stream of wounded men pouring into the makeshift hospital -- which was formerly a mansion -- Kate sleeps in that same upstairs room we've visited before, with Olive and Lucy. When a patient comes in who needs special care, she surrenders her room -- and her heart -- to him. Together, they discover a chest filled with sketches of a beautiful woman from decades past . . . .
This was one of those books that I didn't want to walk away from when real life was calling. The suspenseful build up was very good! I loved learning about each of these women, and was continually wondering what would happen next and how they might be connected. One of the best books I've read recently!
So good! Classic reasons- intertwined characters in different time periods, a mystery to follow, architecture, fine art... all my favorite things!
http://bit.ly/1QepZ1F
Oh my goodness. I could NOT put this book down. I have read Karen White before and liked her, read Beatriz Williams and LOVED her, and have never read Lauren Willis but will now be looking for her.
I assume each one wrote one of the storylines as this was the story of three generations connected by the same history and the same mansion, all in incredibly different ways.
The story spans generations, and goes before the Second World War, to the time of upstairs/downstairs mansions, the servants and the families that they serve. I always find these types of stories so fascinating, as you see the class divide, but how many people crossed those lines for love.
Olive's story was my favorite. She wanted so badly to believe that love could break down the walls, but her doubt was her own worst enemy.
I don't want to give any spoilers away because I want everyone to read this for themselves. It was very reminiscent of one of my all time favorite books, The Shell Seekers. I am such a sucker for WWII stories, complete with star-crossed love. In that era, people were more concerned about doing what was right rather than doing whatever they wanted.
Oh my goodness. I could NOT put this book down. I have read Karen White before and liked her, read Beatriz Williams and LOVED her, and have never read Lauren Willis but will now be looking for her.
I assume each one wrote one of the storylines as this was the story of three generations connected by the same history and the same mansion, all in incredibly different ways.
The story spans generations, and goes before the Second World War, to the time of upstairs/downstairs mansions, the servants and the families that they serve. I always find these types of stories so fascinating, as you see the class divide, but how many people crossed those lines for love.
Olive's story was my favorite. She wanted so badly to believe that love could break down the walls, but her doubt was her own worst enemy.
I don't want to give any spoilers away because I want everyone to read this for themselves. It was very reminiscent of one of my all time favorite books, The Shell Seekers. I am such a sucker for WWII stories, complete with star-crossed love. In that era, people were more concerned about doing what was right rather than doing whatever they wanted.
This is a great story about three women in three different generations, all with ties to a room at the top of a beautiful home. I loved the historical parts to it, taking us back to the late 1890's, early 1920's and 1940's (WWII). I wish I could have had the time to read this book in just a few days because it would have lessened my confusion of the three women POV's (even though each one is from a different decade.) I'd But that is my fault (or life's!) not the three authors. :)
Generally, a good book. A sweet love story spanning generations, and war time. What I didn't like about it though was that the relationships between the three generations was hard to keep track of and there were so many characters. I'm sure this was the result of a book with 3 authors. A good read if you like historical fiction though!
I spent a lot of time trying to remember who was related to who. The book being written from 3 generations and most of the miner characters are present in each story line made for a confusing read. Too much suspense built up around "is it incest" and not enough on the mystery of what happened to Harry Pratt.
Such a beautiful story of three women in three times periods. I loved reading about Olive, Lucy & Kate’s stories and their connection to the forgotten room… mysterious & beautiful told, it’s a tale of love, loss, regrets, secrets, revenge, hope & eventually peace. Wonderful audio & I’m such a fan of all three of these authors!
“Well that’s the thing about choices, isn’t it? There are always more to make. I’ve never seen a street where you couldn’t cross to the other side.”
“Well that’s the thing about choices, isn’t it? There are always more to make. I’ve never seen a street where you couldn’t cross to the other side.”
I loved the story--I truly found myself wrapped up in the lives of the characters. The downside? Because it was written from the perspective of three characters in three time periods, it was VERY hard to keep the story straight at times. I had to stop myself at various times to think about how certain people were connected/related/etc. Despite this, I still enjoyed reading it. I only wish I hadn't had to work so much to enjoy it.
This book was just ok for me. There’s nothing awful about it, but it’s nothing that wow’d me. It was very, very predictable, and many of the characters fell flat for me.