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sachaferg's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. i wanted to give it 4 but i can't
the author and the main character of the book both talk about how arran is close to them, they spent summer holidays there with their families, they've always had a connection to it, and i definitely relate to that. my auntie gave me this book last month while we were in arran for the first time since my grandpa died, the whole reason why we went there so often in the first place. because of that i found the mundane parts of the book emotional instead of the plot which was heartbreaking in itself. i teared up reading about lamlash and going to the pier and the ferry coming into brodick.
apart from rambling on and on about the setting i thought the plot was good, i didn't get bored even if it was slow at a lot of bits and nothing really seemed to happen. there was case of not quite insta-love which felt funny and out of place outside of young adult fiction where it's so usually seen. and there was a plot twist that came too late in my opinion. so late that it didn't make the impact it should have made. overall i liked it but honestly i wouldn't have been anywhere near as interested if it had been set anywhere else. but again, if it had i wouldn't have been given the book in the first place
the author and the main character of the book both talk about how arran is close to them, they spent summer holidays there with their families, they've always had a connection to it, and i definitely relate to that. my auntie gave me this book last month while we were in arran for the first time since my grandpa died, the whole reason why we went there so often in the first place. because of that i found the mundane parts of the book emotional instead of the plot which was heartbreaking in itself. i teared up reading about lamlash and going to the pier and the ferry coming into brodick.
apart from rambling on and on about the setting i thought the plot was good, i didn't get bored even if it was slow at a lot of bits and nothing really seemed to happen. there was case of not quite insta-love which felt funny and out of place outside of young adult fiction where it's so usually seen. and there was a plot twist that came too late in my opinion. so late that it didn't make the impact it should have made. overall i liked it but honestly i wouldn't have been anywhere near as interested if it had been set anywhere else. but again, if it had i wouldn't have been given the book in the first place
k_bru's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story. Wonderful to see Scotland so fondly created and with a tale that you can see the personalities families to so many small communities across the country. Definitely a novel that holds a mirror to life.
marissamf's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book for the most part! Felt like going on a vacation to a dreary but lovely island. Only real complaints were the pacing and the fact it really lost me at the end
aledang's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
ecdereus's review against another edition
3.0
Het eiland Arran, Schotland, 2006. Wanneer de oude en teruggetrokken levende Elizabeth Pringle komt te overlijden, blijkt dat ze haar huis inclusief volledige inventaris heeft nagelaten aan Anna Morrison, die ruim 30 jaar eerder tijdens een vakantie op Arran 's zomers elke dag langs wandelde met een kinderwagen en op een dag bij Elizabeth een briefje in de bus deed waarin ze haar bewondering voor de prachtige tuin uitsprak en verzocht haar te benaderen als Elizabeth ooit haar huis wilde verkopen.
Het boek bevat om en om hoofdstukken over Martha, de dochter van de inmiddels dementerende Anna, die als gevolmachtigde voor Anna de erfenis aanvaardt, en Elizabeth, die - toen ze haar dood voelde naderen - haar levensgeschiedenis op papier heeft vastgelegd. Elizabeth had namelijk een groot geheim dat zwaar op haar drukte...
Wanneer Martha besluit de bovenverdieping van het geërfde huis op te knappen, doet ze een schokkende ontdekking.
Het boek bevat om en om hoofdstukken over Martha, de dochter van de inmiddels dementerende Anna, die als gevolmachtigde voor Anna de erfenis aanvaardt, en Elizabeth, die - toen ze haar dood voelde naderen - haar levensgeschiedenis op papier heeft vastgelegd. Elizabeth had namelijk een groot geheim dat zwaar op haar drukte...
Wanneer Martha besluit de bovenverdieping van het geërfde huis op te knappen, doet ze een schokkende ontdekking.
sony08's review against another edition
5.0
More reviews at: https://noemptyshelveshere.blogspot.com/
This lovely novel was passed to me from my mum-in-law who, like me, enjoys a good book and reads quite a lot. I remember her telling me about this book whilst she was reading it and what a great story it was so I had to see for myself.
The book is written in the form of two main characters, each chapter either written from the life of Elizabeth or Martha. As the story grows, so do the characters and little by little the reader discovers how closely the lives of these two women are linked.
Book starts with Elizabeth’s death and her strange bequest to Martha’s mother Anna. She leaves her beautiful house Holmlea and all her belongings to Anna, who expressed her love for the place years ago whilst on holiday on the island of Arran. Elizabeth remembers Anna walking past the house with a little girl in a pram and the bond that was clearly between the mother and daughter.
However, the little girl Martha is all grown up and dealing with Anna’s progressing dementia. Anna is losing her memories fast so Martha decides to investigate the house herself.
From here the story develops into a journey of new friendships, love and mystery surrounding Elizabeth’s life. Elizabeth and Martha have a lot in common and would clearly get on well, have they known each other.
It’s an emotional story, with some unexpected turns that shown the true cost of real love and friendship and how important they are to have in life
This lovely novel was passed to me from my mum-in-law who, like me, enjoys a good book and reads quite a lot. I remember her telling me about this book whilst she was reading it and what a great story it was so I had to see for myself.
The book is written in the form of two main characters, each chapter either written from the life of Elizabeth or Martha. As the story grows, so do the characters and little by little the reader discovers how closely the lives of these two women are linked.
Book starts with Elizabeth’s death and her strange bequest to Martha’s mother Anna. She leaves her beautiful house Holmlea and all her belongings to Anna, who expressed her love for the place years ago whilst on holiday on the island of Arran. Elizabeth remembers Anna walking past the house with a little girl in a pram and the bond that was clearly between the mother and daughter.
However, the little girl Martha is all grown up and dealing with Anna’s progressing dementia. Anna is losing her memories fast so Martha decides to investigate the house herself.
From here the story develops into a journey of new friendships, love and mystery surrounding Elizabeth’s life. Elizabeth and Martha have a lot in common and would clearly get on well, have they known each other.
It’s an emotional story, with some unexpected turns that shown the true cost of real love and friendship and how important they are to have in life
snoakes7001's review
5.0
The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle is a captivating novel that centres around a house on the Scottish island of Arran.
The legacy of the title is both the house where Elizabeth Pringle lived all her life, and the story of that life. In alternating chapters we learn the history of this elderly ex-schoolteacher, as she is encouraged to unburden herself and write it all down, thanks to an unexpected late friendship with a Buddhist named Saul.
The remaining chapters follow Martha, a young woman dealing with the aftermath of a toxic relationship. She's also trying to manage her mother's dementia care - a task made harder by her difficult relationship with her sister.
Their stories converge on Arran where Martha meets Saul and Elizabeth's other friend Niall, a horticulturist, and together they uncover Elizabeth's secrets. Kirsty Wark breathes life into these different characters with a delicate tenderness, effortlessly drawing you into their lives, their loves and their tragedies, and into the Scottish landscape she so clearly adores.
The legacy of the title is both the house where Elizabeth Pringle lived all her life, and the story of that life. In alternating chapters we learn the history of this elderly ex-schoolteacher, as she is encouraged to unburden herself and write it all down, thanks to an unexpected late friendship with a Buddhist named Saul.
The remaining chapters follow Martha, a young woman dealing with the aftermath of a toxic relationship. She's also trying to manage her mother's dementia care - a task made harder by her difficult relationship with her sister.
Their stories converge on Arran where Martha meets Saul and Elizabeth's other friend Niall, a horticulturist, and together they uncover Elizabeth's secrets. Kirsty Wark breathes life into these different characters with a delicate tenderness, effortlessly drawing you into their lives, their loves and their tragedies, and into the Scottish landscape she so clearly adores.
wendoxford's review against another edition
2.0
Disappointed with this book. Kirsty Wark may be a fine journalist but not such a great novelist - maybe I could settle for a good storyteller. All rather cliched and whilst not exactly happy ever after - things were all a bit neat and everything nicely paired off for any comparison with real life.
Felt rather patronised as a reader, not being allowed to piece things together for ourselves by having story "clues" repeated to make sure we got the point.
Felt rather patronised as a reader, not being allowed to piece things together for ourselves by having story "clues" repeated to make sure we got the point.
stagasaurus's review against another edition
3.0
I have a theory about this book. I think the author thought "If Arran was a person, what would that person be like?" and then wrote about Elizabeth Pringle. She's handsome, solitary, strong, lonely, mysterious but well-loved by those who know her.
Well written, sped up with some heartbreaking action at the end. The middle did last forever though. I don't think it needed to be 400 pages. It took me six months to read because I wasn't that interested in picking it up to continue the story. It redeemed itself at the end a little though.
I bought this when I was due to be travelling to Arran, but didn't end up reading it until I came back. I think it was easier to read having been there though as I could visualise the places.
Well written, sped up with some heartbreaking action at the end. The middle did last forever though. I don't think it needed to be 400 pages. It took me six months to read because I wasn't that interested in picking it up to continue the story. It redeemed itself at the end a little though.
I bought this when I was due to be travelling to Arran, but didn't end up reading it until I came back. I think it was easier to read having been there though as I could visualise the places.