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kne 's review for:
Black Rabbit Hall
by Eve Chase
This has a very [a:Kate Morton|615274|Kate Morton|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1444262471p2/615274.jpg]-esque, Gothic-y feel. The story is nothing alike, but the feel reminded me of [b:The Distant Hours|6746018|The Distant Hours|Kate Morton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358273860s/6746018.jpg|41374289]. I was really sucked into the life of Black Rabbit Hall in 1968. (Of course, they were so removed from the rest of civilization that it could have been 1938 or 1998!) The first person narration of Amber draws the reader in. At times she sounded a bit juvenile for a 15-year-old, but that could have been a byproduct of summers at Black Rabbit Hall suspended in time. In fact, I believe another character makes the same observation about her twin brother Toby. The plot is bookended by tragedy, first Momma's accident (which felt a bit abrupt to me) and then by another event. Since the reader is led to expect the second tragedy without knowing what it will be, the entire novel has an ominous yet frantic air. Come to think of it, Amber's first love feels a bit ominous and frantic too. As does Lorna's mental state. Ominous and Frantic could be the subtitle of this one! Chase's writing is gorgeous as well, and she had some wonderfully poetic and vivid turns of phrase that I enjoyed. A really pleasurable, absorbing reading experience.
Despite strong writing, characterization, plot and especially setting and tone, I couldn't go higher than 3 stars for two reasons. First, I was less drawn into the modern day story of Lorna. It wasn't because I anticipated where her story was going (though I did, and it was satisfying), it was more a flatness of character -- hers and Black Rabbit Hall's, which seems to have lost its spirit in the intervening years. (Although as I type this, it occurs to me that was the point!) I couldn't stand the second Mrs. Alton (also the point, I know), but worse than that was the fact that her motivation for being a rotten human being is just never clear. Her awfulness is more of a plot device, which was frustrating. And finally, the last chapter or two were way too conveniently-ever-after, one of my biggest pet peeves.
But despite these few weaknesses, this book was made for living in, and I loved every second of it. Eve Chase is going on my list of authors to snap up upon publication list with Kate Morton. Can't wait to see what she does next!
The fine print: received ARC from Edelweiss.
Despite strong writing, characterization, plot and especially setting and tone, I couldn't go higher than 3 stars for two reasons. First, I was less drawn into the modern day story of Lorna. It wasn't because I anticipated where her story was going (though I did, and it was satisfying), it was more a flatness of character -- hers and Black Rabbit Hall's, which seems to have lost its spirit in the intervening years. (Although as I type this, it occurs to me that was the point!) I couldn't stand the second Mrs. Alton (also the point, I know), but worse than that was the fact that her motivation for being a rotten human being is just never clear. Her awfulness is more of a plot device, which was frustrating. And finally, the last chapter or two were way too conveniently-ever-after, one of my biggest pet peeves.
But despite these few weaknesses, this book was made for living in, and I loved every second of it. Eve Chase is going on my list of authors to snap up upon publication list with Kate Morton. Can't wait to see what she does next!
The fine print: received ARC from Edelweiss.