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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
Wildflower Hill is a gorgeous novel, told from the perspective of two women from two different times. The book rotates between the story of Beattie Blaxland in the 1930s and her granddaughter Emma in the present time.
Emma is a successful ballerina in London, whose career ends after an unfortunate injury. Returning home to Australia, she finds that her grandmother left her a home in her will. The home is called Wildflower Hill. Emma goes up to Wildflower Hill, expecting to clean it out and sell it, but while going through her grandmother's things, she finds out the secrets her grandmother had been keeping about her past.
In 1929, Beattie was both pregnant and unwed. Unfortunately, the father of her child is married, but they run off together to Australia, but life doesn't get any easier for Beattie. Beattie was met with roadblock after roadblock and tried to bust through each as best she could. However, no matter her strength, she just couldn't get through some obstacles. This only made her stronger. Still, Beattie tries to make her own life, obtaining Wildflower Hill. There she finds herself; there she finds love.
I was completely consumed in both the stories of Beattie and Emma – the struggles of both strong women. The book was beautifully written and flowed seamlessly. The transition between the two stories was masterfully done. Each ended and then started again perfectly.
I gobbled this book up in two days. I just couldn't stop reading. Anyone looking for a good story that tugs on your heartstrings would surely love Wildflower Hill.
Emma is a successful ballerina in London, whose career ends after an unfortunate injury. Returning home to Australia, she finds that her grandmother left her a home in her will. The home is called Wildflower Hill. Emma goes up to Wildflower Hill, expecting to clean it out and sell it, but while going through her grandmother's things, she finds out the secrets her grandmother had been keeping about her past.
In 1929, Beattie was both pregnant and unwed. Unfortunately, the father of her child is married, but they run off together to Australia, but life doesn't get any easier for Beattie. Beattie was met with roadblock after roadblock and tried to bust through each as best she could. However, no matter her strength, she just couldn't get through some obstacles. This only made her stronger. Still, Beattie tries to make her own life, obtaining Wildflower Hill. There she finds herself; there she finds love.
I was completely consumed in both the stories of Beattie and Emma – the struggles of both strong women. The book was beautifully written and flowed seamlessly. The transition between the two stories was masterfully done. Each ended and then started again perfectly.
I gobbled this book up in two days. I just couldn't stop reading. Anyone looking for a good story that tugs on your heartstrings would surely love Wildflower Hill.
i wasn't offended by this book; i started it yesterday and finished today so there must have been enough of a story to keep me going (actually, it was easy to skim through, which was enough attention it derserved) split between the past and present, i had an mild interest in the past's plotline, but only boredom with the present. it just read like a danielle steele romance. and, now that i reflect on it, a lot of VC Andrews too. kind of an outlandish plot, people behaving in ways that simply wouldn't occur in reality, larger than life villians, revenge served up satisfactorily... this book will probably be a commercial success - but i'm not it's target audience
My first book by this author but won't be my last. I liked that Emma was a famous ballet dancer and I also liked reading Beattie and Emma's individual stories.
Spoiler
Beattie faced a lot of hardship in her life between being separated from her child, losing the love of her life, and being an outcast in her little town. I was happy that in the end Emma went and found Lucy.
Very reminiscent of Kate Morton's writing, with a story that spans generations and alternates narrators and makes you fall in love with the characters. My one criticism is that I wish the author had revealed her secrets a little more artfully (like Kate Morton), adding more suspense to the tale (for instance, waiting until after the poker game in Beattie's story to reveal the source of Beattie's wealth in Emma's story). Still, a great book - this grabbed my attention and held it after I started and cast off three other books in the previous day. An author to watch!
By all accounts, I didn't think I would enjoy this read, but picked it up for bookclub anyway. The cover art, length (over 500 pages!), the description of a ballerina's story and the addition of a sheep farm all seemed a bit too mundane for my tastes.
I was SO wrong! I was compelled by Beattie's story, and was emotionally invested in each and every life event and decision she made. I even grew to appreciate Emma - though I wish her character had a bit more book time. I enjoyed the dual story telling method and the time travel that allowed me to see present day London and Tasmania in the pre-1930s.
Overall, this was a book I found hard to put down!
I was SO wrong! I was compelled by Beattie's story, and was emotionally invested in each and every life event and decision she made. I even grew to appreciate Emma - though I wish her character had a bit more book time. I enjoyed the dual story telling method and the time travel that allowed me to see present day London and Tasmania in the pre-1930s.
Overall, this was a book I found hard to put down!
This was one of those books that I didn't want to end. It's rare that a book will make me cry, and I cried several times during this one. Beattie was so intense and emotional! I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.