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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I’m fond of historical novels. I’m not fond of romance-genre conventions, including love more-or-less at first sight, or gratuitous and uninspired sex, and there was too much of that here. I'd call this an over-inflated romance novel in a historical setting, and I didn’t find the romance either believable or captivating. There were some sections that I found interesting and entertaining (when the focus wasn’t on the romance), enough so that I kept on skimming, but in the end there weren’t enough of those bits to justify 900 pages.
As for historical accuracy: Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813, so how could Elizabeth Middleton, the protagonist in Into the Wilderness, have known about Jane Bingley in 1792? Made me question a lot of other details I might otherwise have taken at face value.
As for historical accuracy: Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813, so how could Elizabeth Middleton, the protagonist in Into the Wilderness, have known about Jane Bingley in 1792? Made me question a lot of other details I might otherwise have taken at face value.
Beautiful series reading this books made me remember why I fell in love with reading.. Historical Fiction is what grabbed me as a child and what I would love to read.. In the past few years I have not read these type of books. Reading this was a breathe of fresh air.. I truly loved the whole series even when they made me cry.. You know you have read something special when you find your self laughing and crying and just being caught up in the story.. I felt I knew the characters as if they were my family. Stunning stories and I am very grateful I read them.
Enjoyed it like I enjoyed Gabaldon's first few, but not quite as much as I enjoy Dunnett.
At first, I thought it shamelessly derivative of Gabaldon. With time I decided it had its own message, strong writing, and interestingly complex characters. Recommended.
I'm teetering on the edge between 2.5 and 3 stars with this one. Have you ever read a book that, while technically everything is sound - nice descriptive writing, fully-fleshed out characters, good plotting and pacing - it just...didn't hold you attention? Yeah, that's how I felt with this book.
Don't get me wrong, I really do think Donati can write. There were some nice turns of phrase, and for the most part I liked how the story progressed. But I struggled so hard to finish this book and I really can't put my finger on as to why that is.
One definite qualm I did have with the book was how quickly the relationship between Nathaniel and Elizabeth developed. For a 29-year-old woman raised by Quakers her whole life, literate and a proud spinster, to abandon all teachings and decorum and sleep with a guy before even getting engaged to him seemed really, REALLY unlikely. Especially since she only knew the guy for a month. Elizabeth shows no signs of hesitancy with how quickly this relationship is progressing. NONE. I understand she's really taken with the guy, but the context of her character makes it so unlikely that she'd do that.
So maybe that's why I couldn't care much for the book after the first half? The relationship, while not unbelievable, definitely felt hollow. I couldn't feel any emotional pull for this couple. While I don't think it's a bad match per se, it still didn't fully connect with me.
I don't think I will be picking up the rest of the series, unless I unconsciously really do like it and will feel a hankering for it months from now. Currently, though, I just feel a lot of ambiguity-bordering-on-apathy towards this series and its characters. Nothing really bad, but nothing really great, either.
Don't get me wrong, I really do think Donati can write. There were some nice turns of phrase, and for the most part I liked how the story progressed. But I struggled so hard to finish this book and I really can't put my finger on as to why that is.
One definite qualm I did have with the book was how quickly the relationship between Nathaniel and Elizabeth developed. For a 29-year-old woman raised by Quakers her whole life, literate and a proud spinster, to abandon all teachings and decorum and sleep with a guy before even getting engaged to him seemed really, REALLY unlikely. Especially since she only knew the guy for a month. Elizabeth shows no signs of hesitancy with how quickly this relationship is progressing. NONE. I understand she's really taken with the guy, but the context of her character makes it so unlikely that she'd do that.
So maybe that's why I couldn't care much for the book after the first half? The relationship, while not unbelievable, definitely felt hollow. I couldn't feel any emotional pull for this couple. While I don't think it's a bad match per se, it still didn't fully connect with me.
I don't think I will be picking up the rest of the series, unless I unconsciously really do like it and will feel a hankering for it months from now. Currently, though, I just feel a lot of ambiguity-bordering-on-apathy towards this series and its characters. Nothing really bad, but nothing really great, either.
This is my ultimate comfort novel. And my favorite book ever.
Reminiscent of Gabaldon's work, but not quite as engaging. Still, well researched historical fiction.
Not my first reading of this book. Or second. Or third for that matter. My favorite kind of historical: soapy and lame and wonderful all at once. And with five more in the series (which I've also read a million times each). I have to say, this series deteriorates less than others I've read. (Gabaldon's sequels, for instance, aren't so good. Auel notably declined, especially in the last, unreadable book.)
Aaaanyway, if you're looking for an insanely loooong saga, filled with soapy goodness, this is a wonderful read. I love it.
Aaaanyway, if you're looking for an insanely loooong saga, filled with soapy goodness, this is a wonderful read. I love it.