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sarah2507's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
4.5
A lovely read with a historical element. Endearing characters flipping between past and present.
margaret21's review against another edition
5.0
A lovely book, well researched and offering a real flavour of Kashmir, both in the present day, and back in the wartime years of the 1940s. There are 2 time frames here. The present day, when Mair from the Welsh valleys conceives the wish to vist the part of Kashmir where her grandparents were missionarie; and the story from the war years, when Nerys and her husband participate in long-gone ways of life as members of the British community there. Mair's involvement in her grandmother's past, her increasing desire to unpick the mysteries surrounding aspects of Nery's life, are always believable, the coincidences never far-fetched. These are characters to believe in, a story-line to relish, and a tale to become absorbed in over several winter evenings.
cathodg's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book but like others preferred the older story to the present day one. I felt the characters were wonderfully created and a colourful English world in 1940's India was so easy to picture. Without spoiling anything I also loved the choice of ending of both stories
bethberry18's review against another edition
4.0
Very atmospheric. Didn’t always need quite so much detail. Really interesting storyline. I liked that it was different from other WWII era novels I’ve read.
sassispring's review against another edition
3.0
This was a recommended read for my book club. I really wanted to enjoy the book and I pushed myself through the story, however, I found that I was bored. Yet the story itself was quite interesting, so to be bored told me that it was more the telling of the story that was dragging me down. It felt many times like moving through mud where you can see the end clearly, but struggle to get there. I skipped through the book to the end.
tdk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
theoneandonlyredrose's review against another edition
4.0
A bit to close to Chic Lit to give it a 5 star!
bookworm_oakey's review against another edition
took till page 200 to get into it but enjoyed it eventually
writingwwolves's review against another edition
4.0
It took me awhile to get into this book, but the scenes based during the war sucked me in... for the majority of the book I wished that the plot only focused on the past, but the ending of the book convinced me that the present scenes were necessary for the story to end whole. Once I was into the book I didn't want to put it down and I was fascinated by Nerys' story and totally fell in love with her and her friends (but mainly Nerys). At times I found Mair annoying and, as I said, didn't really see the point of her part in the book until the very end; but I grew to find her story interesting too (even if I felt like half of her scenes were unnecessary). The book did throw some great twists in and I'm fairly certain there isn't a single plot-hole, either - it was a really well written book overall. I also feel like I've learnt a little more about India and the war during this read, which, for me, is always a bonus. I enjoyed the book but I'm not sure if it's one I'll read again.