Scan barcode
novelesque_life's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 STARS
Currently unemployed, Lucy Jarrett returns home to Lake of Dreams to see her mother who has injured her arm. She leaves behind her boyfriend Yoshi in Japan. While at home she revisits her past and her family's. She suffers guilt over her father's death 10 years ago when she did not go fishing with him; her regret over the high school boyfriend she left behind and stopped talking to when her father died; her uncle and cousin that are greedy and maybe leaving her brother in a dead-end position vs. his fair share; and feeling lost in her own life. She discovers pamphlets stored away from the early 1900s and a connection to the glass windows in the church. This starts a mystery into her family history and who this woman was that hid these pamphlets. This starts to give her a purpose that seems to upset everyone in her life.
I consider The Memory Keeper's Daughter one of my favourite novels. It had me from the beginning to end and I have recommended it to many people. I was looking forward to Edwards next novel and saw this audio was available. It is read by Ann Marie Lee - an actress. I was a bit disappointed with both to be honest. Edwards writing was too descriptive and actually repeated her own sentences a few times. I tended to drift away and am sure I missed some things. I liked the story of Rose and Iris more than present day stuff (and found Lucy a bit annoying because of overconfidence in herself). I think this novel needed a bit more editing and tightening.
Anne Marie has this breathy voice that sounds like she is either try to whisper or seduce someone...and when she read the letters I was not sure when they ended unless there was a clear "sincerely, name". Maybe Anne Marie was bored with Edwards descriptions as she had a monotone voice through them.
Currently unemployed, Lucy Jarrett returns home to Lake of Dreams to see her mother who has injured her arm. She leaves behind her boyfriend Yoshi in Japan. While at home she revisits her past and her family's. She suffers guilt over her father's death 10 years ago when she did not go fishing with him; her regret over the high school boyfriend she left behind and stopped talking to when her father died; her uncle and cousin that are greedy and maybe leaving her brother in a dead-end position vs. his fair share; and feeling lost in her own life. She discovers pamphlets stored away from the early 1900s and a connection to the glass windows in the church. This starts a mystery into her family history and who this woman was that hid these pamphlets. This starts to give her a purpose that seems to upset everyone in her life.
I consider The Memory Keeper's Daughter one of my favourite novels. It had me from the beginning to end and I have recommended it to many people. I was looking forward to Edwards next novel and saw this audio was available. It is read by Ann Marie Lee - an actress. I was a bit disappointed with both to be honest. Edwards writing was too descriptive and actually repeated her own sentences a few times. I tended to drift away and am sure I missed some things. I liked the story of Rose and Iris more than present day stuff (and found Lucy a bit annoying because of overconfidence in herself). I think this novel needed a bit more editing and tightening.
Anne Marie has this breathy voice that sounds like she is either try to whisper or seduce someone...and when she read the letters I was not sure when they ended unless there was a clear "sincerely, name". Maybe Anne Marie was bored with Edwards descriptions as she had a monotone voice through them.
sl33pyh0ll0w's review against another edition
wayyyy to slow for me as a picky reader.
mandyherbet's review against another edition
1.0
This was terrible. Seriously, BAD WRITING. None of the characters were remotely realistic and the entire plot was contrived and unrealistic. There was no drama at all, no obstacles standing in the protagonist's way. Everything just fell into place and boringly so. I forced myself to finish this simply so I could write the review it deserved.
Even if you liked The Memory Keeper's Daughter (which wasn't great but wasn't bad), run away from this one. It's awful.
Even if you liked The Memory Keeper's Daughter (which wasn't great but wasn't bad), run away from this one. It's awful.
bak8382's review against another edition
3.0
Lucy has finally come home years after the drowning death of her father. She's at a crossroads in her own life, when she discovers that the family story she has always known holds secrets. She begins to investigate her history discovering ties to stained glass windows, woman's suffragette movement, and just maybe the key to her future.
This was a quick read, and you could tell that Edwards put a lot of thought into the unfolding of the plot. Parts of the end are a bit rushed, there are a couple of 2 dimensional characters, and Lucy's ultimate journey doesn't actually show a lot of growth in the end. Still this highlights some interesting history, and I raced to the ultimately satisfying ending.
This was a quick read, and you could tell that Edwards put a lot of thought into the unfolding of the plot. Parts of the end are a bit rushed, there are a couple of 2 dimensional characters, and Lucy's ultimate journey doesn't actually show a lot of growth in the end. Still this highlights some interesting history, and I raced to the ultimately satisfying ending.
mattyzmom's review against another edition
3.0
It was ok. Edwards does really well at depicting scenes with great description. You feel as if you are in the town of Lake of Dreams but I wish the main character would have gone with Keegan. The story seemed more romantic. I liked the whole genealogy aspect but it seemed like she was more obsessed than anything. The twist came at the end.
I liked Memory Keepers Daughter so much better.
I liked Memory Keepers Daughter so much better.
bookerage's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A story that started out with great potential but was unfortunately to slow paced at times. Also it had some interesting topics, but those weren't explored further when other petty matters were laid out in an overly descriptive manner. Overall still a good read.
lottie_c's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
brock111's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked some aspects of the story. The piecing together of the family history especially about the women's suffragist movement. At times it felt too wordy. I am glad I read it.