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novellenovels's review
lighthearted
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
2.5
karlou's review
4.0
4.5 stars
This is a difficult review to write, not because I didn't enjoy it, quite the opposite in fact, but it's a story that's teeming with secrets and I'm mindful to give nothing away.
The basic premise is that Anna's then teenage sister, Rose disappeared twenty years ago. No body was every found and the family have no idea whether she chose to leave or was taken and whether she is still alive. Twenty years of not knowing takes its toll on the family, Anna struggles to commit to her relationship with Martin, even forming a friendship with his ex-wife Ruth. Meanwhile her parents, Sandy and Don finally decide to sell their family home with all its memories but with so much unsaid between them can they go through with it?
The story cleverly switches between the present, the past before Rose's disappearance and even further back to when Sandy was a teenager. Gradually secrets are laid bare as the readers and the family learn of the decisions made by them and by others that eventually affected them all.
Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon is a compelling, often achingly sad novel. It's a well structured family drama with unexpected twists and believable, sympathetic characters. This is Linda Newbery's first adult novel, I very much hope to read further books from her in the future, in the mean time I recommend you read this one.
My thanks to the author and publishers for my copy received through NetGalley in return for my honest review.
This is a difficult review to write, not because I didn't enjoy it, quite the opposite in fact, but it's a story that's teeming with secrets and I'm mindful to give nothing away.
The basic premise is that Anna's then teenage sister, Rose disappeared twenty years ago. No body was every found and the family have no idea whether she chose to leave or was taken and whether she is still alive. Twenty years of not knowing takes its toll on the family, Anna struggles to commit to her relationship with Martin, even forming a friendship with his ex-wife Ruth. Meanwhile her parents, Sandy and Don finally decide to sell their family home with all its memories but with so much unsaid between them can they go through with it?
The story cleverly switches between the present, the past before Rose's disappearance and even further back to when Sandy was a teenager. Gradually secrets are laid bare as the readers and the family learn of the decisions made by them and by others that eventually affected them all.
Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon is a compelling, often achingly sad novel. It's a well structured family drama with unexpected twists and believable, sympathetic characters. This is Linda Newbery's first adult novel, I very much hope to read further books from her in the future, in the mean time I recommend you read this one.
My thanks to the author and publishers for my copy received through NetGalley in return for my honest review.
laurapatriciarose's review
4.0
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/blog-tour-quarter-past-two-on-wednesday.html
I was instantly drawn to the cover of this book. It is so pretty and yet so mysterious at the same time. It is definitely a book that you would want to pick up if you saw it in a bookshop. As well as the cover there is a mysterious story inside, with lots of unanswered questions that go back even further than Rose's disappearance.
It was twenty years ago that Rose disappeared without a trace and the Travener family have still never been able to move on from that day. Anna, Rose's sister doesn't feel like she can take control of her life without knowing what happened to Rose. She decides to renew her search, refusing to believe that Rose is dead, but she may find there are far more secrets to unravel than she anticipated.
This was so cleverly written and pieced together. The story is told through different layers of time going to back to Anna's Mum's youth in the sixties, then to the late eighties of when Rose disappeared to present time. This was an aspect of the novel that I particularly liked as it I felt like I was travelling back to that era and Linda depicted each capsule of time really well. I also loved that it taught us more about the main characters and uncovered so many secrets on the way that lead to the big build up at the end. I was always pleased when the date changed in the book and it made me eager to read on.
I really felt each of the characters sense of frustration and loss, particularly for Cassandra. Linda illustrated this really well that gives the reader a true sense of understanding of what they each are going through.
The twists and turns and unexpectedness had me completely unprepared for the ending. Not once did I manage to suss out what had happened.
A really well written family saga with fantastic twists and turns.
I was instantly drawn to the cover of this book. It is so pretty and yet so mysterious at the same time. It is definitely a book that you would want to pick up if you saw it in a bookshop. As well as the cover there is a mysterious story inside, with lots of unanswered questions that go back even further than Rose's disappearance.
It was twenty years ago that Rose disappeared without a trace and the Travener family have still never been able to move on from that day. Anna, Rose's sister doesn't feel like she can take control of her life without knowing what happened to Rose. She decides to renew her search, refusing to believe that Rose is dead, but she may find there are far more secrets to unravel than she anticipated.
This was so cleverly written and pieced together. The story is told through different layers of time going to back to Anna's Mum's youth in the sixties, then to the late eighties of when Rose disappeared to present time. This was an aspect of the novel that I particularly liked as it I felt like I was travelling back to that era and Linda depicted each capsule of time really well. I also loved that it taught us more about the main characters and uncovered so many secrets on the way that lead to the big build up at the end. I was always pleased when the date changed in the book and it made me eager to read on.
I really felt each of the characters sense of frustration and loss, particularly for Cassandra. Linda illustrated this really well that gives the reader a true sense of understanding of what they each are going through.
The twists and turns and unexpectedness had me completely unprepared for the ending. Not once did I manage to suss out what had happened.
A really well written family saga with fantastic twists and turns.
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