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alisongodfrey's review against another edition
4.0
This was very enjoyable. Lady Bird in particular was such an interesting character.
vickie05's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
karna's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first book I've read by Molly Keane and I liked how she introduced the main characters to her readers.
She doesn't judge her characters, and let the reader like or hate them.
I absolutely loath Olivia, the mother who acts as if she was the elder sister of her children and doesn't see their hostility to her. She doesn't seem to care about anything but her garden and her servants.
The most interesting characters are the governess who at first seems shy and dull,but who might be happier at the end of the book, and Eliza, the friend of Olivia.
I didn't expect some of her actions (her relationship with John, what she said to Sheena at the end), but she is a truly endearing woman.Her feeling about Julian are well written.
Some scenes are striking, like the one in which the young governess is alone and forgotten on a small island, and how she became quite fierce when she talked, at the end, to another servant.
I did find the parties and the whole Rupert/Sheena relationship quite uninteresting.
And I'm still amazed about the behavior of all the family toward Markie. They all love him and are very pemissive whereas he is just a spoiled brat.
She doesn't judge her characters, and let the reader like or hate them.
I absolutely loath Olivia, the mother who acts as if she was the elder sister of her children and doesn't see their hostility to her. She doesn't seem to care about anything but her garden and her servants.
The most interesting characters are the governess who at first seems shy and dull,but who might be happier at the end of the book, and Eliza, the friend of Olivia.
I didn't expect some of her actions (her relationship with John, what she said to Sheena at the end), but she is a truly endearing woman.Her feeling about Julian are well written.
Some scenes are striking, like the one in which the young governess is alone and forgotten on a small island, and how she became quite fierce when she talked, at the end, to another servant.
I did find the parties and the whole Rupert/Sheena relationship quite uninteresting.
And I'm still amazed about the behavior of all the family toward Markie. They all love him and are very pemissive whereas he is just a spoiled brat.
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