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A review by jenbsbooks
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
3.5
I liked this ... a bit of a push to get through, just because it is so long, and with the multiple POVs and timelines. I don't know if it's just a me thing, but I would have REALLY appreciated having the small header at the start of each chapter (listing the location and the date) included in the Table of Contents, rather than just the most basic numerical chapter listing. It would make it much easier to flip through and check things on a specific timeline. A recent read, The God of the Woods, I really like how there was a timeline chart, with which one that chapter was taking place in, bolded. It was an interesting set-up I hadn't seen before, and I guess it wouldn't totally work here as the times changed a LOT in this book.
There's London/1913 (Chapter 1) and we get the "young girl" POV a few times throughout (next up Chapter 11, IndianOcean/1913), then Brisbane/1930 (Chapter 2) Hugh/Nell. Chapter 3 is Brisbane/2005 which is Cassandra's storyline (the present) but Cassandra's story also shifts to the past (ie, chapter 5, Brisbane 1976). More Hugh(chapter 6, earlier ...Maryborough/1913). Chapter 8, Brisbane/1975 ... Nell. Chapter 14, there's a new date/location/POV ... London/1900m Eliza. Eliza's story would then continue on to different locations/years.
In audio, there was a small musical interlude between the chapters. Now normally, I would HATE this, and while I didn't love it (the music was annoying) it did help me really stop and register "okay, that chapter just ended, listen, pay attention, what date is in the header? Whose storyline are we going to be in next??" Sometimes, especially when it's a single narrator (which is fine, as it's all 3rd person/past tense) my mind can drift and not really register a heading/chapter change/pov shift ... and then I can get pretty confused! I had my little list in my head ... 1913 is the young girl's story - also Hugh (as they overlap), if it's 2000s/present day, then it's Cassandra, 1970s is Nell, Cassandra's grandma, in her middle years. 1900 timeframe was young Eliza. That storyline then moves on also with POVs from Rose, Nathanial, Adeline, Linus ... there is a line at the end of Chapter 22 that sums up the storylines "Cassandra was in Cornwall, just as Nell had been before her. Rose and Nathaniel and Eliza Makepeace before that."
There were three "Parts" with the 51 chapters continuing chronologically through. The three parts, if there was a dividing line to separate them, were connected to Eliza's story. Each part had a "fairy tale" in it (not given a numerical chapter). The Crone's Eyes, The Changeling, The Golden Egg.
I felt like there was some manipulative misleading, purposely dropping bread crumbs to make readers think one thing, then shifting.
The title, and portions of the story, feel familiar to The Secret Garden, and that book, and it's author make an appearance in this one. In the Kindle and physical copy, there was a map of the Blackmoor estate, and discussion questions at the end.
No proFanity. Some slight sex, not descriptive/closed door.
Other words I noted: sneaked, perspicacity, espaliered. Funny quote: “I feel like a von Trapp,” Ruby said between puffs. “But fatter, older and with absolutely no energy for singing.”
So overall - even at 500+ pages, it wasn't too hard to get through. I'm not sure that I'd go out of my way to recommend it. I didn't really feel the need to stop and make notes, nor the pull to discuss it with someone. The title ties in, although it's not terribly unique/memorable.
There's London/1913 (Chapter 1) and we get the "young girl" POV a few times throughout (next up Chapter 11, IndianOcean/1913), then Brisbane/1930 (Chapter 2) Hugh/Nell. Chapter 3 is Brisbane/2005 which is Cassandra's storyline (the present) but Cassandra's story also shifts to the past (ie, chapter 5, Brisbane 1976). More Hugh(chapter 6, earlier ...Maryborough/1913). Chapter 8, Brisbane/1975 ... Nell. Chapter 14, there's a new date/location/POV ... London/1900m Eliza. Eliza's story would then continue on to different locations/years.
In audio, there was a small musical interlude between the chapters. Now normally, I would HATE this, and while I didn't love it (the music was annoying) it did help me really stop and register "okay, that chapter just ended, listen, pay attention, what date is in the header? Whose storyline are we going to be in next??" Sometimes, especially when it's a single narrator (which is fine, as it's all 3rd person/past tense) my mind can drift and not really register a heading/chapter change/pov shift ... and then I can get pretty confused! I had my little list in my head ... 1913 is the young girl's story - also Hugh (as they overlap), if it's 2000s/present day, then it's Cassandra, 1970s is Nell, Cassandra's grandma, in her middle years. 1900 timeframe was young Eliza. That storyline then moves on also with POVs from Rose, Nathanial, Adeline, Linus ... there is a line at the end of Chapter 22 that sums up the storylines "Cassandra was in Cornwall, just as Nell had been before her. Rose and Nathaniel and Eliza Makepeace before that."
There were three "Parts" with the 51 chapters continuing chronologically through. The three parts, if there was a dividing line to separate them, were connected to Eliza's story. Each part had a "fairy tale" in it (not given a numerical chapter). The Crone's Eyes, The Changeling, The Golden Egg.
I felt like there was some manipulative misleading, purposely dropping bread crumbs to make readers think one thing, then shifting.
The title, and portions of the story, feel familiar to The Secret Garden, and that book, and it's author make an appearance in this one. In the Kindle and physical copy, there was a map of the Blackmoor estate, and discussion questions at the end.
No proFanity. Some slight sex, not descriptive/closed door.
Other words I noted: sneaked, perspicacity, espaliered. Funny quote: “I feel like a von Trapp,” Ruby said between puffs. “But fatter, older and with absolutely no energy for singing.”
So overall - even at 500+ pages, it wasn't too hard to get through. I'm not sure that I'd go out of my way to recommend it. I didn't really feel the need to stop and make notes, nor the pull to discuss it with someone. The title ties in, although it's not terribly unique/memorable.