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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I love history and a good generational story and The Last Garden in England doesn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed all the characters and how the house and garden play a part in the lives of different women over the span of a century. The audiobook was also well done. This is more of a character driven novel, which I usually don’t like. However, following through the lives of these women over the years leant a sense of mystery—how will Emma in 2021 find out about what happened with Venetia in 1907, or how will Beth’s love for the garden model after Venetia? I would recommend for anyone who loves a good, sweeping story with good characters and a lovely setting.
I received an ARC of this book and read it a month before it was released. Regardless of the many editorial errors that I pray they fix before the final book is published, it was a joy to read. Julia Kelly spun a beautiful story of how a garden has connected 5 women over the span of over 100 years. Every story was unique and beautiful, offering insight to what love and womanhood meant in the early 20th century, what loss and strength meant throughout World War II, and what family and acceptance means today. I very much so recommend this book to anyone wanting a great, unforgettable story with impressive writing.
Julia Kelly is a new author to me and I appreciated this historical fiction novel set in England. Told from the perspectives of multiple women throughout history, it weaves together the story of one garden at Highbury House. From the origins of the garden developed by a woman named Venecia, to the present as the garden is reconstructed to the original designs, Julia Kelly weaves a tale of interconnected brave women.
The garden itself is a character, with many "rooms" and features. The descriptions of each character, the community and the social customs of the day are very accurate. Each woman made a bold choice that was at times surprising, but definitely true to the character development the author weaved. The men in this story were very accepting of these choices, which sometimes made me curious. Would men at that time have been so progressive in their thinking?
It's was a slow burn for me, and that is just as it should have been in order to take in the nuances of each character and watch their stories unfold naturally.
To say it is a love story is accurate, though it is also not primarily a romance at all. We move through the challenges of war and how women were forced into service in ways that weren't necessarily what they had dreamed of. The author doesn't spare us from grief, which was unexpected and raw.
I do plan to read more by this author in the future. I highly recommend this book and I am grateful for the advanced copy from Netgalley. My rating is a solid 4 stars.
The garden itself is a character, with many "rooms" and features. The descriptions of each character, the community and the social customs of the day are very accurate. Each woman made a bold choice that was at times surprising, but definitely true to the character development the author weaved. The men in this story were very accepting of these choices, which sometimes made me curious. Would men at that time have been so progressive in their thinking?
It's was a slow burn for me, and that is just as it should have been in order to take in the nuances of each character and watch their stories unfold naturally.
To say it is a love story is accurate, though it is also not primarily a romance at all. We move through the challenges of war and how women were forced into service in ways that weren't necessarily what they had dreamed of. The author doesn't spare us from grief, which was unexpected and raw.
I do plan to read more by this author in the future. I highly recommend this book and I am grateful for the advanced copy from Netgalley. My rating is a solid 4 stars.
A bit of soap opera but I really enjoyed reading about this garden.
I fully escaped into this story. It was the best match I’ve had in a while and I’m thankful. The beauty of the gardens, the happiness of the resolutions...yes, please!
DNF @ 33%
Too many characters spread out over too little space. As soon as I started feeling comfortable with one set of characters, the point of view would shift to a completely disconnected timeline. I never felt engaged.
Too many characters spread out over too little space. As soon as I started feeling comfortable with one set of characters, the point of view would shift to a completely disconnected timeline. I never felt engaged.
Enjoyed very much! 3 storylines told through 4-5 characters. Like Downton Abbey but garden focused.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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