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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
Festivities are around the corner and I found myself gravitating towards this book. Well, I can say I really enjoyed meeting the whole cast once more and follow them on their tribulations until finally they all get together in a magical moment. Pilcher’s writing style is not perfect but I must give her her due for creating such a lovely story :O)
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Rosamunde Pilcher is one of those names that kept appearing on my reading radar. This time, I finally decided to try her, opting for ‘Winter Solstice’, which was being recommended as a festive read.
At first, I found it rather slow, getting to grips with Pilcher’s writing style - she uses a lot of ‘telling’. Still, when I got to the second narrator (5 in total), it finally clicked and I was caught in the story and the characters, who are all facing some kind of bereavement, dejection, heartbreak, etc. You can see where this is going, all parties somehow finding themselves together through the vagaries of fate, and slowly getting their joy of life back. Still, Pilcher does it nicely, especially the sense of setting, both in depicting Scotland (I need to visit!), and the house, the Estate, which takes on a role of its own.
I’m pleased I finally read one of her titles, whizzing through nearly 700 pages in 3 days, and shall try another soon.
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Rosamunde Pilcher is one of those names that kept appearing on my reading radar. This time, I finally decided to try her, opting for ‘Winter Solstice’, which was being recommended as a festive read.
At first, I found it rather slow, getting to grips with Pilcher’s writing style - she uses a lot of ‘telling’. Still, when I got to the second narrator (5 in total), it finally clicked and I was caught in the story and the characters, who are all facing some kind of bereavement, dejection, heartbreak, etc. You can see where this is going, all parties somehow finding themselves together through the vagaries of fate, and slowly getting their joy of life back. Still, Pilcher does it nicely, especially the sense of setting, both in depicting Scotland (I need to visit!), and the house, the Estate, which takes on a role of its own.
I’m pleased I finally read one of her titles, whizzing through nearly 700 pages in 3 days, and shall try another soon.
lighthearted
medium-paced
The first character based book I've actually enjoyed.
I loved this book. I listened to it and when I downloaded the files on my phone and saw that it was 19 hours, I almost freaked- who has the time? Oh reader, take the time! I did not want it to end! I'm actually experiencing a book hangover right now...
What is this book about? Nothing really, but then again so much! It is a snapshot of life, and death, and relationships, and rebuilding. The first third of the book sets up the characters (Elfrida, Oscar, Carrie, Lucy, and Sam), who they are individually, and how they are loosely connected, and then the circumstances that bring them all together in an old estate house in Northern Scotland. The rest of the book details the weeks leading up to a magical Christmas that changes the lives of all the characters.
Pilcher has a way of describing the mundane, everyday life experiences, and making them interesting, encouraging, and cozy. And that is basically what this book is about: living life, despite the setbacks, and finding some redemption along the way. It isn't fast-paced or exciting. But it is delightful and languid.
What is this book about? Nothing really, but then again so much! It is a snapshot of life, and death, and relationships, and rebuilding. The first third of the book sets up the characters (Elfrida, Oscar, Carrie, Lucy, and Sam), who they are individually, and how they are loosely connected, and then the circumstances that bring them all together in an old estate house in Northern Scotland. The rest of the book details the weeks leading up to a magical Christmas that changes the lives of all the characters.
Pilcher has a way of describing the mundane, everyday life experiences, and making them interesting, encouraging, and cozy. And that is basically what this book is about: living life, despite the setbacks, and finding some redemption along the way. It isn't fast-paced or exciting. But it is delightful and languid.
The character Lucy said it best, "Why I love it here so much is because things that you want to happen, happen exactly on time."
Reading this is like sitting around a fireplace chatting with people you like. It gave me slight A Tree Grows in Brooklyn vibes.
My only gripe is that Lucy's diary mostly just summarized everything we already knew, so it felt repetitive.
Reading this is like sitting around a fireplace chatting with people you like. It gave me slight A Tree Grows in Brooklyn vibes.
My only gripe is that Lucy's diary mostly just summarized everything we already knew, so it felt repetitive.
I really enjoyed this book.
The characters are so well written and the descriptions are great.
I loved the scottish village feel to this book and it was such a cosy festive read.
Would recommend this book
The characters are so well written and the descriptions are great.
I loved the scottish village feel to this book and it was such a cosy festive read.
Would recommend this book
adventurous
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:
No
I read this because it was recommended by someone whose opinion I trust and was disappointed. I was engaged and stuck with it for the cozy sense of place created by detailed descriptions of everything from the layout of homes down to exactly how the endless cups of tea were poured. The world building was wonderful, but the character development was awful and the plot was questionable. All of the main “good” female characters were defined mainly by not being like other “bad” female characters. Not like other girls. There’s a tragedy early on caused by drunk driving, and the characters cast some judgement on that behavior but still rarely say no to a drink before driving in the snow. There is so much drinking! Those are the worst of my grievances but there are many.. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator overacted and didn’t help.
Despite the negative review I now find myself fully in the holiday mood and even made a gingerbread loaf yesterday.
Despite the negative review I now find myself fully in the holiday mood and even made a gingerbread loaf yesterday.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Good book. I liked how the author gathered a bunch of interesting and slightly quirky characters together and built this story. And I enjoy reading books set in the UK, for the culture and language differences.