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I was surprisingly into this book. I think that it was set in Scotland helped. I loved all the descriptions and that one of the main characters was a woman over 60. I find that rare! The ending lost me, though. It was too easy and wrapped up. Predictable.
I just love Rosamunde Pilcher's books. So cozy and comfortable and great for reading a rainy day all snug up at home.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my third Rosamunde Pilcher read, my previous two being The Shell Seekers and September. As is typical, Pilcher writes of the lives of common people and their connections to each other. She is a master at making the ordinary interesting. In her novels tragedies are taken in stride and those who are left behind heal and move on. Her characters are typical people living regular lives, but her ability to make them relatable and agreeable causes the reader to be captivated and wonder about their thoughts and their future.
Elfrida Phipps is a retired actress who was widowed a few years ago. She decides to move from London to set up home in Dibton in Hampshire and acquires a dog. She is friendly woman and gradually makes the acquaintance of several people in her new town; the very first are Gloria Blondell and her husband, Oscar, and their daughter, Francesca. Two- or three-months after settling in, Elfrida leaves to visit her cousin, Jeffrey Sutton, at Emblo Cottage in Cornwall for a few weeks. Jeffrey has remarried and has two children with his current wife; he was first married to Dodie with whom he had two daughters, Nicola and Carrie. Nicola was married, had a daughter, Lucy, who is now fourteen, but then divorced, and has been dating an American. Carrie is single and has recently been jilted by the married man she was seeing and so she is without a home at present. When Elfrida returns to Dibton she learns the Gloria and Francesa were killed in a traffic accident while she was away. Elfrida spends time with Oscar and the two become close. Oscar learns that Gloria left their home to her sons, the children of her first marriage and he is homeless. However, he has shared ownership of an Estate house in Creagan, part of the Corrydale property owned many years ago by his grandmother. He decides he will leave to go live there; Elfrida agrees to accompany him and together they make the journey and set up house. Both Dodie and Nicola make plans for the winter holidays without regard for Lucy or Carrie. Carrie contacts Elfrida and asks about the possibility of she and Lucy spending some time with she and Oscar and Elfrida agrees. As the visitors congregate at their Estate house, Elfrida and Oscar discover the joy in spending time with people who care about each other however distantly they may be related.
Elfrida Phipps is a retired actress who was widowed a few years ago. She decides to move from London to set up home in Dibton in Hampshire and acquires a dog. She is friendly woman and gradually makes the acquaintance of several people in her new town; the very first are Gloria Blondell and her husband, Oscar, and their daughter, Francesca. Two- or three-months after settling in, Elfrida leaves to visit her cousin, Jeffrey Sutton, at Emblo Cottage in Cornwall for a few weeks. Jeffrey has remarried and has two children with his current wife; he was first married to Dodie with whom he had two daughters, Nicola and Carrie. Nicola was married, had a daughter, Lucy, who is now fourteen, but then divorced, and has been dating an American. Carrie is single and has recently been jilted by the married man she was seeing and so she is without a home at present. When Elfrida returns to Dibton she learns the Gloria and Francesa were killed in a traffic accident while she was away. Elfrida spends time with Oscar and the two become close. Oscar learns that Gloria left their home to her sons, the children of her first marriage and he is homeless. However, he has shared ownership of an Estate house in Creagan, part of the Corrydale property owned many years ago by his grandmother. He decides he will leave to go live there; Elfrida agrees to accompany him and together they make the journey and set up house. Both Dodie and Nicola make plans for the winter holidays without regard for Lucy or Carrie. Carrie contacts Elfrida and asks about the possibility of she and Lucy spending some time with she and Oscar and Elfrida agrees. As the visitors congregate at their Estate house, Elfrida and Oscar discover the joy in spending time with people who care about each other however distantly they may be related.
It took me awhile to get into but I did find the main characters did capture my heart
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love, love the Shell Seekers and completed an extremely enjoyable reread just last year. I had such high hopes that this one would stand up to a later in life reread but I struggled mightily from 50 % on and was disappointed.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Moderate: Child death, Death, Car accident
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An entirely pleasant story about love found and found some more from that coziest of English writers, the late Rosamunde Pilcher. This is no star-crossed, fated-to-be romance, but rather what honest marriages are made of: flawed people who are genuinely lucky in finding one another.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I took my time with this story and so glad I did. I loved being with the characters in their cozy Scottish countryside setting in winter, and seeing them find happiness and strength. I will definitely re-read/re-listen at some point!