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bethsponz's review against another edition
5.0
I loved everything about this book. It is based on the real story of two girls’ photographed “fairies” during World War 1. These pictures were much speculated upon and still one picture is deemed possibly real. I found the story so interesting. It really makes you want to believe in fairies. I liked the actual pictures shown in the back of book to refer to. I kept flipping back to look at them! This is the third book I’ve read by this author. She is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.
lfrase's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
An amazingly magical piece of storytelling.
debtat2's review against another edition
4.0
I had never heard of Hazel Gaynor but I had heard of the Cottingley fairies and had seen one of the famous photos but didn’t really know the story behind what actually happened so I was intrigued to read this book.
A blend of fact and fiction surrounding a series of photographs published in 1917 and 1920 taken by two young girls, Frances and Emily in the English village of Cottingley who claimed to have photographed fairies in their garden and captured the attention of a world at war.
With a parallel present day story line that ties in beautifully, Olivia Kavanagh discovers an ancient manuscript in the bookshop she’s inherited from her beloved grandfather. When she finds an old photograph she discovers that her own life is actually connected to the story.
In the end you don't care whether the photos were faked, or if fairies really were seen. You are simply enchanted that someone can believe that something so magical exists.
You don't need to believe in Fairies to enjoy this book but it might help if you suspend believes just for a little while!
This is a perfect summer read that will enchant even the stoniest of heart!
A blend of fact and fiction surrounding a series of photographs published in 1917 and 1920 taken by two young girls, Frances and Emily in the English village of Cottingley who claimed to have photographed fairies in their garden and captured the attention of a world at war.
With a parallel present day story line that ties in beautifully, Olivia Kavanagh discovers an ancient manuscript in the bookshop she’s inherited from her beloved grandfather. When she finds an old photograph she discovers that her own life is actually connected to the story.
In the end you don't care whether the photos were faked, or if fairies really were seen. You are simply enchanted that someone can believe that something so magical exists.
You don't need to believe in Fairies to enjoy this book but it might help if you suspend believes just for a little while!
This is a perfect summer read that will enchant even the stoniest of heart!
deinaokc's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed how the story of Frances entwined with Oliva's story. I've always been fascinated with the Cottingley Faeries and this book hooked me quickly. Definitely one I will re-read.
livres_de_bloss's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for such a slow moving book?
I found this slow and difficult to get into. I was keen to read this book as it’s based on real events but maybe I should have known that a book about fairies wouldn’t hold my interest.
I did feel like it was unnecessarily drawn out as well. I hadn’t heard of Cottingly fairies before but as soon as I saw the photo in the first few pages I guessed what had happened; turns out my guess was correct so it made for a bit of a tedious slog through. I reckon the book could have been half the length.
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for such a slow moving book?
I found this slow and difficult to get into. I was keen to read this book as it’s based on real events but maybe I should have known that a book about fairies wouldn’t hold my interest.
I did feel like it was unnecessarily drawn out as well. I hadn’t heard of Cottingly fairies before but as soon as I saw the photo in the first few pages I guessed what had happened; turns out my guess was correct so it made for a bit of a tedious slog through. I reckon the book could have been half the length.
fictionalkate's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Interesting the way the author tied together the real story with her version of Francis' manuscript and the original character of Olivia and her place in the overall story. But it was a little too slow and uneventful for me.
melohpa's review against another edition
4.0
See my review at http://topplingbookpile.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-cottingley-secret-by-hazel-gaynor.html
knynas1's review against another edition
4.0
4 ⭐
Switching between present day and 1917 to 1920, part fiction and part true events come together in this enchanting novel. Fairies both real and imagined dance across the pages, wrapped in gorgeous descriptions of Ireland. Writings from Frances herself are woven throughout the story and add a depth to the book that takes readers to the past.
Switching between present day and 1917 to 1920, part fiction and part true events come together in this enchanting novel. Fairies both real and imagined dance across the pages, wrapped in gorgeous descriptions of Ireland. Writings from Frances herself are woven throughout the story and add a depth to the book that takes readers to the past.
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
3.0
THE COTTINGLEY SECRET tells a sweet, clean, wholesome (other than the lying bit) story that is based on true events. Frances and Elsie are likable girls, even if they both need a lesson in honesty. Gaynor makes them sympathetic, though, showing how they got caught up in a situation that spiraled out of control before they really had time to think about what they were doing. In the present day, Olivia is also likable, if lacking in depth and complexity. There's not a lot to the plot of this novel (either in the past or the present), which is also short on tension, conflict, and action, which makes its 443 pages feel like at least 100 too many. Fairies and magical realism are already a hard sell for me; when you add in flat prose, simplistic characters, and a dull storyline, this book dragged quite a bit. Even still, I read it fairly quickly. It's an easy, upbeat read. It's just not a very exciting one. I didn't love the book, but I didn't hate it either. It was just an average read for me overall.