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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Reading this book and revisiting this world for the second time, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to live through the magical experience that I had the first time around trying to figure out the characters’ connections to each other and trying to piece together the pieces of the puzzle.
I went in knowing past me had loved this book and that I might not get the same experience this second time around. And I won’t lie… the early middle part of this book where things weren’t picking up enough quick enough because I already knew everything… I skipped some sentences. But gosh this book is just perfect.
I feel like I had forgotten certain parts of this story, but coming back to it felt like going through a picture book of a trip from some time ago. I will say though that this second time around, I have more appreciation for Olive’s story. The first time around, I was so focused on Kate and Cooper’s story that every other character felt like an addition to their story.
The last few chapters of this book though made my heart break just as much this time around as the first time I read it. It’s honestly crazy to think that sometimes even if you know deep inside of you that a specific person is THE one, it just doesn’t happen. It honestly breaks my heart to think of what could’ve been had Olive and Harry been honest with each other and had felt comfortable enough to share their true selves.
But then we wouldn’t have had Lucy. Although she is my second favourite character, her love story didn’t break my heart as much as Olive’s. I don’t remember how I felt the first time around, but I know that I can understand why John’s marriage and son was just an obstacle she couldn’t see herself surmount. And he was definitely dealing in “what if’s” without any concrete plan for what was to happen. So the decision felt very level headed and in line with her character. Maybe that’s why I felt less heartache compared to her mother’s love story.
Because there was just so much potential there. And that’s the one thing I always hope to nurture in my relationships. Transparency and communication. Had Olive trusted Harry enough with her family history and had she trusted herself enough, Lucy would’ve been truly Harry’s daughter. But I will say that Hans is truly the purest soul. He really did a fantastic job at being an understanding husband as well as being a loving father.
This book is forever going to be a favourite of mine. Looking at it just makes my heart melt in ways I could not believe could happen with a book. This story and the characters just will forever have a special place lodged in my heart like all those letters and artifacts hidden in that brick space in the forgotten room.
I went in knowing past me had loved this book and that I might not get the same experience this second time around. And I won’t lie… the early middle part of this book where things weren’t picking up enough quick enough because I already knew everything… I skipped some sentences. But gosh this book is just perfect.
I feel like I had forgotten certain parts of this story, but coming back to it felt like going through a picture book of a trip from some time ago. I will say though that this second time around, I have more appreciation for Olive’s story. The first time around, I was so focused on Kate and Cooper’s story that every other character felt like an addition to their story.
The last few chapters of this book though made my heart break just as much this time around as the first time I read it. It’s honestly crazy to think that sometimes even if you know deep inside of you that a specific person is THE one, it just doesn’t happen. It honestly breaks my heart to think of what could’ve been had Olive and Harry been honest with each other and had felt comfortable enough to share their true selves.
But then we wouldn’t have had Lucy. Although she is my second favourite character, her love story didn’t break my heart as much as Olive’s. I don’t remember how I felt the first time around, but I know that I can understand why John’s marriage and son was just an obstacle she couldn’t see herself surmount. And he was definitely dealing in “what if’s” without any concrete plan for what was to happen. So the decision felt very level headed and in line with her character. Maybe that’s why I felt less heartache compared to her mother’s love story.
Because there was just so much potential there. And that’s the one thing I always hope to nurture in my relationships. Transparency and communication. Had Olive trusted Harry enough with her family history and had she trusted herself enough, Lucy would’ve been truly Harry’s daughter. But I will say that Hans is truly the purest soul. He really did a fantastic job at being an understanding husband as well as being a loving father.
This book is forever going to be a favourite of mine. Looking at it just makes my heart melt in ways I could not believe could happen with a book. This story and the characters just will forever have a special place lodged in my heart like all those letters and artifacts hidden in that brick space in the forgotten room.
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I love Beatriz Williams and thought I'd love this. I did enjoy the historical parts of the stories, but I had trouble following all the relationships. I can typically follow multiple characters and connections, but I struggled reminding myself each time I was reading. Otherwise, I would have rated 3.5 or 4.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
There were times when I really wanted to shake some of these characters hard enough to knock some sense into them. Of course, if they'd had a little more sense, this book would not exist.
A little bit mystery, a little bit romance, a little bit three generations to get a love story right.
I hope these three authors work together again (and not just because one of them is one of my favoritest authors ever) but because the next time they do, it's gonna be pretty damn perfect.
A little bit mystery, a little bit romance, a little bit three generations to get a love story right.
I hope these three authors work together again (and not just because one of them is one of my favoritest authors ever) but because the next time they do, it's gonna be pretty damn perfect.
Einer Liebesgeschichte mit folgenschwerer Vergangenheit kann ich seit Lucinda Riley absolut nicht mehr widerstehen und schon gar nicht, wenn die Geschichte selbst noch ein historisches Setting hat, wie es bei Das saphirblaue Zimmer von Karen White, Beatriz Williams und Lauren Willig der Fall ist. Der historische Roman ist im September 2017 beim Blanvalet Verlag erschienen und erzählt die wundervolle und herzzerreißende Geschichte einer unsterblichen Liebe.
Olive, Lucy und Kate – drei Generationen, deren Leben von einer besonderen Liebe beeinflusst wurde. Olive, die in den 1890ern im Haus der Familie Pratt als Hausmädchen anfing, um den Ruf ihres Vaters wiederherzustellen. Ihre Tochter Lucy, die in den 1920ern als Sekretärin versucht, ihre Abstammung und ihre Beziehung zur Familie Pratt zu erforschen. Und ihre Enkelin Kate, die als Ärztin 1945 eine besondere Verbindung zu einem Patienten verspürt. Alle drei Frauen stehen mit beiden Füßen im Leben und gehen entschlossen ihren Weg.
Mehr zum Inhalt möchte ich an dieser Stelle wirklich nicht verraten, da ich niemanden der Gelegenheit, diese wundervolle Geschichte selbst zu entdecken, berauben möchte. Denn wundervoll ist nur eines der wenigen lobpreisenden Adjektive, mit welchen ich dieses Buch beschreiben würde. Anfangs habe ich aufgrund eines akutem Zeitmangels und der wechselnden Perspektiven zwar etwas gebraucht um in die Geschichte zu finden, als ich dann jedoch endlich Zeit hatte, mehr als ein Kapitel auf einmal zu lesen, konnte ich das Buch kaum mehr aus der Hand legen.
Die Geschichte beginnt bei Kate, blendet dann erst zu Olive und danach zu Lucy zurück und diese Abfolge zieht sich durch das ganze Buch. Die Segmentierung mag anfangs ungewohnt sein, spätestens nach dem zweiten Mal hat man sich jedoch daran gewöhnt. Die spannenden Erzählstränge und die offenen Enden der Kapitel helfen dabei sehr, denn jedes Kapitel hört im Prinzip mit einem Cliffhanger, einer neuen Enthüllung oder neuen Fragen auf. Davon abgesehen ist die Segmentierung unheimlich effektiv und genau an den richtigen Stellen gesetzt worden.
Die vollständige Rezension auf ladysmartypants.wordpress.com
Olive, Lucy und Kate – drei Generationen, deren Leben von einer besonderen Liebe beeinflusst wurde. Olive, die in den 1890ern im Haus der Familie Pratt als Hausmädchen anfing, um den Ruf ihres Vaters wiederherzustellen. Ihre Tochter Lucy, die in den 1920ern als Sekretärin versucht, ihre Abstammung und ihre Beziehung zur Familie Pratt zu erforschen. Und ihre Enkelin Kate, die als Ärztin 1945 eine besondere Verbindung zu einem Patienten verspürt. Alle drei Frauen stehen mit beiden Füßen im Leben und gehen entschlossen ihren Weg.
Mehr zum Inhalt möchte ich an dieser Stelle wirklich nicht verraten, da ich niemanden der Gelegenheit, diese wundervolle Geschichte selbst zu entdecken, berauben möchte. Denn wundervoll ist nur eines der wenigen lobpreisenden Adjektive, mit welchen ich dieses Buch beschreiben würde. Anfangs habe ich aufgrund eines akutem Zeitmangels und der wechselnden Perspektiven zwar etwas gebraucht um in die Geschichte zu finden, als ich dann jedoch endlich Zeit hatte, mehr als ein Kapitel auf einmal zu lesen, konnte ich das Buch kaum mehr aus der Hand legen.
Die Geschichte beginnt bei Kate, blendet dann erst zu Olive und danach zu Lucy zurück und diese Abfolge zieht sich durch das ganze Buch. Die Segmentierung mag anfangs ungewohnt sein, spätestens nach dem zweiten Mal hat man sich jedoch daran gewöhnt. Die spannenden Erzählstränge und die offenen Enden der Kapitel helfen dabei sehr, denn jedes Kapitel hört im Prinzip mit einem Cliffhanger, einer neuen Enthüllung oder neuen Fragen auf. Davon abgesehen ist die Segmentierung unheimlich effektiv und genau an den richtigen Stellen gesetzt worden.
Die vollständige Rezension auf ladysmartypants.wordpress.com
I really love the concept of this book -- three authors who I enjoy, all friends, wrote The Forgotten Room in collaboration. The story bounces between three generations of Manhattan women, Kate (clearly written by Williams), Lucy (my guess is these are White's chapters), and Olive (Willig?) with different connections to the same Gilded Age mansion. It's a tale of broken hearts and almost-love, but of course has a happy ending.
3.5 stars rounded up to a 4. And I have to mention how pretty the book is - great cover design!
3.5 stars rounded up to a 4. And I have to mention how pretty the book is - great cover design!
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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