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salgalruns's review against another edition
4.0
While I did enjoy this fast paced book, it really didn't grab me as much as I had hoped. It took me a while to pull all the characters together, as the book rotates back and forth between three different time periods and multiple people at each time period to boot. Trying to create your own family tree in your head gets a bit confusing until partway through when you're finally getting them settled.
The storyline is somewhat of a mystery - Nell finds out early on in the story that who she believes her parents to be is not actually the truth. You then find yourself whisked through time (1913ish, 1975ish, and present day) to discover who Nell's parents are and why it was that she ended up in Australia without them. I will give Morton credit though - I did enjoy each of the storylines, but it created a choppiness that was distracting at times, and I normally enjoy changing POVs.
The storyline with the forgotten garden is intriguing - a garden hidden at the end of a maze that appears to be quite magical. I loved the garden for its theraputic element and for the connection between all the generations.
There is one reason alone that I bumped this from a 3 to a 4, and that's because the author gave credit within the story to Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of [b:The Secret Garden|2998|The Secret Garden|Frances Hodgson Burnett|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327873635s/2998.jpg|3186437], which happens to be one of my favorite children's books. I also loved the emphasis on children's literature through fairy tales. Thus, a 4. ;)
The storyline is somewhat of a mystery - Nell finds out early on in the story that who she believes her parents to be is not actually the truth. You then find yourself whisked through time (1913ish, 1975ish, and present day) to discover who Nell's parents are and why it was that she ended up in Australia without them. I will give Morton credit though - I did enjoy each of the storylines, but it created a choppiness that was distracting at times, and I normally enjoy changing POVs.
The storyline with the forgotten garden is intriguing - a garden hidden at the end of a maze that appears to be quite magical. I loved the garden for its theraputic element and for the connection between all the generations.
There is one reason alone that I bumped this from a 3 to a 4, and that's because the author gave credit within the story to Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of [b:The Secret Garden|2998|The Secret Garden|Frances Hodgson Burnett|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327873635s/2998.jpg|3186437], which happens to be one of my favorite children's books. I also loved the emphasis on children's literature through fairy tales. Thus, a 4. ;)
andreea27's review against another edition
5.0
Kate Morton imi atrasese de ceva timp atentia si planuiam sa citesc Gradina uitata, deci am fost foarte fericita cand un prieten mi-a daruit-o. Am inceput sa o citesc pe nerasuflate, insa in scurt timp am facut greseala de a incepe si alte carti care au ajuns sa-mi capteze aproape complet timpul si astfel am cam neglijat Gradina uitata, luandu-mi destul de mult sa o termin. Regret ca am lasat asta sa se intample, pentru ca acum traiesc cu impresia ca nu i-am dat destula atentie si ca in timpul petrecut citind altceva am omis detalii importante care poate m-ar fi facut sa apreciez si mai mult aceasta carte, care este extrem de complexa. Intocmai precum gradina secreta descrisa in ea, as putea sa o numesc chiar labirintica.
Eram de mult timp in cautarea unei carti care sa ma impresioneze la fel de mult precum [b:The Shadow of the Wind|1232|The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books #1)|Carlos Ruiz Zafón|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344545047s/1232.jpg|3209783] . Un roman in care misterul sa se confunde cu o poveste de iubire, cu o atmosfera gotica si o intriga intesata de secrete. Exact asta am primit de la aceasta carte.
Finalul este neasteptat, insa trebuie sa recunosc ca pe parcursul lecturii incepuse sa imi incolteasca ideea unui astfel de final, desi la inceput oarecum nedefinita complet.
Imi este cu neputinta sa spun ceva substantial despre aceasta carte fara sa dau in vileag tot suspansul care o caracterizeaza. Pot spune totusi, foarte pe scurt, ca este vorba de un roman care urmareste calatoria initiatica a Cassandrei, o femeie care mosteneste de la bunica sa o casa in Cornwall. Odata cu aceasta casa ea va de peste un trecut al familiei sale plin de secrete obsedante, intunecate si peste destinele a doua femei din generatii diferite care ii vor schimba complet viata si ii vor reda speranta si iubirea.
Cartea urmareste in prim plan destinele a trei femei, si anume Eliza, Nell si Cassandra. Ca personaje secundare, dar foarte importante si simbolice apar si verisoara Elizei, Rose, sotul acesteia, Nathaniel, si mama ei Adeline.
Aceasta din urma a reprezentat o continua sursa de uimire pentru mine. Fiica ei, Rose, era comoara ei nepretuita. Afectiunea ei pentru Rose era atat de mare incat devenise aproape obsesiva. Instinctul matern care dorea sa ii ofere protectie si fericire crescuse intr-atat incat nimeni altcineva nu avea o catusi de mica importanta pentru Adeline. Acest comportament o va duce la actiuni care, cu singuranta, nu vor fi o sursa de uimire doar pentru mine, cat si pentru alti cititori. De adaugat este ca personalitatea ei era accentuata si de o rigiditate impusa de strictele bune maniere pe care le exercitase pana la perfectiune, pentru a-si acoperi rusinea de a proveni dintr-o familie de rang mai scazut, inainte de a se casatori cu bogatul Linus si devenind astfel stapana peste conacul Blackhurst.
De asemenea, un alt personaj secundar dar care a ramas pana la sfarsitul romanului o enigma pentru mine este sotul lui Rose, Nathaniel Walker. La fel ca Adeline, si el avea origini modeste, insa era dotat cu un talent impresionant de artist, marea sa pasiune fiind ilustratiile. Prin casatoria cu Rose, Adeline a reusit sa-l introduca in cercuri inalte si i-a innabusit astfel aceasta pasiune, facandu-l sa creeze numai portrete ale marilor domni si doamne din societatea Adelinei. Enigma a reprezentat pentru mine relatia lui cu Eliza. Imi este greu sa descifrez cu exactitate, insa pot face presupunerea ca el, desi o iubea pe Rose si a dat incontestabile dovezi de dragoste si intelegere fata de ea, nu a putut sa se impotriveasca farmecului exercitat (involuntar) de Eliza.
Insa o astfel de presupunere este foarte atragatoare pentru mine, o romantica incurabila, si nu pot neglija ideea unei eventuale idile dintre Nathaniel si Eliza, fie ea si imaginara.
Motivul cautarii identitati este redat intr-un mod destul de complex, prin alternarea timpurilor. Romanul nu are o actiune cronologica, ceea ce il face destul de greu de parcurs uneori, avand in vedere ca trebuie sa acorzi mereu atentie timpului in care se desfasoara evenimentele. Este astfel relatat prezentul Cassandrei, insa alternat cu trecutul din care au facut parte bunica ei Nell, care isi cauta originile, si Eliza.
In final, trebuie sa vorbesc despre elementul-cheie al romanului.
Eliza este un personaj fascinant. Este o intruchipare a creativitatii, a unui suflet bun si liber, lipsit de rigurozitatea regulilor care alcatuiau un comportament exemplar in epoca victoriana, si totusi fara sa fie needucata. Dimpotriva, inteligenta sa era redata prin basmele pentru copii pe care le creea, insa care erau pline de talc si intelepciune. Cuvantul care o caracterizeaza cel mai bine este naturaletea, insa acest lucru nu a fost observat niciodata ca o calitate de catre Adeline, care era orbita de dragostea pentru fiica ei si care vedea in Eliza o amenintare la fericirea acesteia. Insa Eliza nu nutrea astfel de sentimente negative in ceea ce o privea pe verisoara sa. Dragostea ei Rose nu avea limite, iar acest lucru a fost demonstrat in roman printr-un gest de daruire totala fata de ea, printr-un incredibil act de generozitate care a atins un stadiu carnal. Trebuie sa cititi romanul pentru a intelege semnificatia celor spuse anterior.
Recomand deci cu multa placere acest roman, cu avertizarea ca trebuie citit cu atentie, fiindca detaliile sunt extrem de importante iar alternanta timpurilor poate fi inselatoare.
Eram de mult timp in cautarea unei carti care sa ma impresioneze la fel de mult precum [b:The Shadow of the Wind|1232|The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books #1)|Carlos Ruiz Zafón|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344545047s/1232.jpg|3209783] . Un roman in care misterul sa se confunde cu o poveste de iubire, cu o atmosfera gotica si o intriga intesata de secrete. Exact asta am primit de la aceasta carte.
Finalul este neasteptat, insa trebuie sa recunosc ca pe parcursul lecturii incepuse sa imi incolteasca ideea unui astfel de final, desi la inceput oarecum nedefinita complet.
Imi este cu neputinta sa spun ceva substantial despre aceasta carte fara sa dau in vileag tot suspansul care o caracterizeaza. Pot spune totusi, foarte pe scurt, ca este vorba de un roman care urmareste calatoria initiatica a Cassandrei, o femeie care mosteneste de la bunica sa o casa in Cornwall. Odata cu aceasta casa ea va de peste un trecut al familiei sale plin de secrete obsedante, intunecate si peste destinele a doua femei din generatii diferite care ii vor schimba complet viata si ii vor reda speranta si iubirea.
Cartea urmareste in prim plan destinele a trei femei, si anume Eliza, Nell si Cassandra. Ca personaje secundare, dar foarte importante si simbolice apar si verisoara Elizei, Rose, sotul acesteia, Nathaniel, si mama ei Adeline.
Aceasta din urma a reprezentat o continua sursa de uimire pentru mine. Fiica ei, Rose, era comoara ei nepretuita. Afectiunea ei pentru Rose era atat de mare incat devenise aproape obsesiva. Instinctul matern care dorea sa ii ofere protectie si fericire crescuse intr-atat incat nimeni altcineva nu avea o catusi de mica importanta pentru Adeline. Acest comportament o va duce la actiuni care, cu singuranta, nu vor fi o sursa de uimire doar pentru mine, cat si pentru alti cititori. De adaugat este ca personalitatea ei era accentuata si de o rigiditate impusa de strictele bune maniere pe care le exercitase pana la perfectiune, pentru a-si acoperi rusinea de a proveni dintr-o familie de rang mai scazut, inainte de a se casatori cu bogatul Linus si devenind astfel stapana peste conacul Blackhurst.
De asemenea, un alt personaj secundar dar care a ramas pana la sfarsitul romanului o enigma pentru mine este sotul lui Rose, Nathaniel Walker. La fel ca Adeline, si el avea origini modeste, insa era dotat cu un talent impresionant de artist, marea sa pasiune fiind ilustratiile. Prin casatoria cu Rose, Adeline a reusit sa-l introduca in cercuri inalte si i-a innabusit astfel aceasta pasiune, facandu-l sa creeze numai portrete ale marilor domni si doamne din societatea Adelinei. Enigma a reprezentat pentru mine relatia lui cu Eliza. Imi este greu sa descifrez cu exactitate, insa pot face presupunerea ca el, desi o iubea pe Rose si a dat incontestabile dovezi de dragoste si intelegere fata de ea, nu a putut sa se impotriveasca farmecului exercitat (involuntar) de Eliza.
Insa o astfel de presupunere este foarte atragatoare pentru mine, o romantica incurabila, si nu pot neglija ideea unei eventuale idile dintre Nathaniel si Eliza, fie ea si imaginara.
Motivul cautarii identitati este redat intr-un mod destul de complex, prin alternarea timpurilor. Romanul nu are o actiune cronologica, ceea ce il face destul de greu de parcurs uneori, avand in vedere ca trebuie sa acorzi mereu atentie timpului in care se desfasoara evenimentele. Este astfel relatat prezentul Cassandrei, insa alternat cu trecutul din care au facut parte bunica ei Nell, care isi cauta originile, si Eliza.
In final, trebuie sa vorbesc despre elementul-cheie al romanului.
Eliza este un personaj fascinant. Este o intruchipare a creativitatii, a unui suflet bun si liber, lipsit de rigurozitatea regulilor care alcatuiau un comportament exemplar in epoca victoriana, si totusi fara sa fie needucata. Dimpotriva, inteligenta sa era redata prin basmele pentru copii pe care le creea, insa care erau pline de talc si intelepciune. Cuvantul care o caracterizeaza cel mai bine este naturaletea, insa acest lucru nu a fost observat niciodata ca o calitate de catre Adeline, care era orbita de dragostea pentru fiica ei si care vedea in Eliza o amenintare la fericirea acesteia. Insa Eliza nu nutrea astfel de sentimente negative in ceea ce o privea pe verisoara sa. Dragostea ei Rose nu avea limite, iar acest lucru a fost demonstrat in roman printr-un gest de daruire totala fata de ea, printr-un incredibil act de generozitate care a atins un stadiu carnal. Trebuie sa cititi romanul pentru a intelege semnificatia celor spuse anterior.
Recomand deci cu multa placere acest roman, cu avertizarea ca trebuie citit cu atentie, fiindca detaliile sunt extrem de importante iar alternanta timpurilor poate fi inselatoare.
berlinbibliophile's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really liked the writing. It's really evocative, and the difference between the different strands of the narrative is always clear. That's not an easy feat when there are so many characters and time periods to consider. I also thought that this book had a good mystery that kept me on my toes, but it was the characters that kept me going. They all seem so real and realistic that I really sympathized with them and kept wanting to know what could possibly happen to them next.
sandles81255's review against another edition
5.0
So very good! I enjoyed the audio book tremendously- the narrator’s attempt at an ‘American ‘ accent made me giggle.
A very well told story. Thanks to Angie for the recommendation!!
A very well told story. Thanks to Angie for the recommendation!!
taylor394's review against another edition
5.0
I'm struggling to find the words to describe how wonderful this novel was. It has currently become my new favorite book 5/5 stars!
The Forgotten Garden is filled with fairy-tales (quite literally), mystery, secrets, history, and incredibly rich characters. Morton creates unique characters that were easy for me to identify with and connect to. The story centers around Nell, an abandoned and then adopted little girl seeking to find her true family. At Nell's death, her granddaughter, who was in essence equally abandoned, take up the search and throws the reader into the realm of the past lives of characters like Eliza and Rose.
The story is exciting, and emotional (I cried three times!). It is vibrant and historically rich, and I would read it again, and recommend it countless times!
I absolutely loved the Forgotten Garden.
The Forgotten Garden is filled with fairy-tales (quite literally), mystery, secrets, history, and incredibly rich characters. Morton creates unique characters that were easy for me to identify with and connect to. The story centers around Nell, an abandoned and then adopted little girl seeking to find her true family. At Nell's death, her granddaughter, who was in essence equally abandoned, take up the search and throws the reader into the realm of the past lives of characters like Eliza and Rose.
The story is exciting, and emotional (I cried three times!). It is vibrant and historically rich, and I would read it again, and recommend it countless times!
I absolutely loved the Forgotten Garden.
shubbard116's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the story and plot twists. Led me to read more of this author.
joemdief's review against another edition
5.0
I loved how this novel flipped between several generations..beautifully crafted story. Unlike some books, I was unable to predict the outcome. Two words: Page Turner.
amanda1793's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 🌟.
It took a while, but I'm finally finished my first Kate Morton! And I loved it. The writing was beautiful, the characters, although many, were glorious.
My only issue was some confusion I had while reading. Now this could be in part because of my incredibly slow pace while reading this novel, but I also felt that there were so many characters throughout the story to try to remember who they all were and how they all fit together.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more of hers in the future!
I'd recommend this novel.
It took a while, but I'm finally finished my first Kate Morton! And I loved it. The writing was beautiful, the characters, although many, were glorious.
My only issue was some confusion I had while reading. Now this could be in part because of my incredibly slow pace while reading this novel, but I also felt that there were so many characters throughout the story to try to remember who they all were and how they all fit together.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more of hers in the future!
I'd recommend this novel.