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The Other Half of Me
For fans of Atonement and Brideshead Revisited , a gorgeously written, darkly wise coming-of-age novel about the pull of the past and the destructive power of the stories we tell ourselves.
“What good can the past do the living? What harm?” Growing up in their family’s ancestral home in Wales, Jonathan Anthony and his little sister, Theo, are inseparable. Together they explore the wild acres of Evendon, inventing magical worlds and buttressing each other against the loneliness of life with their alcoholic mother, Alicia, and a shifting cast of gossiping cooks and maids. When a family tragedy brings their glamorous grandmother, Eve, home from America, Jonathan and Theo are initially elated by the attention she lavishes on them. But soon it becomes clear that there is more to the Anthony family history than either Eve or Alicia will acknowledge, trapping Jonathan and Theo in a web of dark secrets that have haunted Evendon for generations.
Written in luminous prose, with richly endearing characters and a profound appreciation for the rustic beauty of the Welsh countryside, The Other Half of Me is a darkly wise coming-of-age novel and a masterful portrait of a family and the burdens of the past.
“What good can the past do the living? What harm?” Growing up in their family’s ancestral home in Wales, Jonathan Anthony and his little sister, Theo, are inseparable. Together they explore the wild acres of Evendon, inventing magical worlds and buttressing each other against the loneliness of life with their alcoholic mother, Alicia, and a shifting cast of gossiping cooks and maids. When a family tragedy brings their glamorous grandmother, Eve, home from America, Jonathan and Theo are initially elated by the attention she lavishes on them. But soon it becomes clear that there is more to the Anthony family history than either Eve or Alicia will acknowledge, trapping Jonathan and Theo in a web of dark secrets that have haunted Evendon for generations.
Written in luminous prose, with richly endearing characters and a profound appreciation for the rustic beauty of the Welsh countryside, The Other Half of Me is a darkly wise coming-of-age novel and a masterful portrait of a family and the burdens of the past.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
20 people are currently reading
750 people want to read
About the author
Morgan McCarthy
7 books32 followersMorgan McCarthy was born in Berkshire, UK, where she still lives, in 1982. She has worked in a supermarket, a small independent bookstore, and, most recently, as a media analyst.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
April 28, 2012
I loved the sound of this book, but by the end of it I found myself rather disappointed and slightly bored.
The book had a good start, and I really did feel that the author was setting the scene for a really emotive journey. However as the book went on, and years and years were passing I started to wonder exactly where the plot was heading and why it was taking so long to get there.
I ended the book feeling very frustrated, as there did not seem to be any definite plot to the book and I did not see the point of it at all. The book did detail a whole childhood, adolescence and early adulthood... but then just ended.
I felt that the book was a continuous back story, almost half a book really. There was much detail and scene setting, but no real direction or objective for the book.
It left me feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. A shame really as the author obviously has talent which was shown with some very beautiful descriptions and similes throughout the book.
The book had a good start, and I really did feel that the author was setting the scene for a really emotive journey. However as the book went on, and years and years were passing I started to wonder exactly where the plot was heading and why it was taking so long to get there.
I ended the book feeling very frustrated, as there did not seem to be any definite plot to the book and I did not see the point of it at all. The book did detail a whole childhood, adolescence and early adulthood... but then just ended.
I felt that the book was a continuous back story, almost half a book really. There was much detail and scene setting, but no real direction or objective for the book.
It left me feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. A shame really as the author obviously has talent which was shown with some very beautiful descriptions and similes throughout the book.
November 14, 2012
As I read The Other Half of Me, Morgan McCarthy’s first novel, I heard echoes of many other stories. Stories of lives lived in grand country houses. Stories of troubled families harbouring dark secrets. Stories of privileged, but troubled, lives … and yet, through all of that, I heard a new and distinctive story.
Jonathan and his younger sister, Theo, grew up in a mansion in the Welsh countryside. They were terribly isolated. Their father was absent. Their mother, Alicia, was remote. And their neighbours held them at arm’s length. Only the staff – the housekeeper, the cook, the gardener – had any time for the children.
And so they clung to each other, and they ran wild.
Until their grandmother, socialite and hotel magnate, Eve Anthony, heard that something was amiss and came home to take charge of the situation. She was capable and she reassured her grandchildren, telling them stories that explained much about the past and their family situation.
Jonathan and Theo grew in different directions: he was practical and ambitious while she was needy and heedless of the consequences of her actions. The bond between them was strained.
Both began to question the gaps in Eve’s stories, and to wonder if those stories were true at all. And if Eve wasn’t telling the truth who was she trying to protect. Her grandchildren, her daughter, or herself?
Tragedy was inevitable. And the grief it caused might be too much to bear.
Morgan McCarthy tells her story beautifully. Her style is languid and lovely, her turn of phrase is charming, and she has a very nice way with a metaphor.
There is light and shade, and a lovely mixture of the mysterious and the elegiac.
She made a wise choice in appointing Jonathan as her narrator. He alone had the self-awareness and the momentum for the job, and I never doubted that I was seeing, hearing, understanding as he had. That meant a few details were missing, a few characters were less defined than they might have been, but that was the right choice, to hold the perspective.
The story moves slowly and there are long stretches when nothing happens, but the beauty of the writing, the wonderful evocation of the world that Jonathan moved through, the questions hanging in the air, all of that held me.
I worked out some of the answers, but not all of them.
The complex and changing relationship between brother and sister gave the story its heart and the ever-present sense of menace and foreboding gave it substance.
There were times when I felt that Morgan McCarthy was over-playing her hand. That the family was a little too wealthy, the Eve had done a little too much in a single lifetime, that Theo couldn’t really be so desperately short of self-knowledge …. but the story still worked, because all of the emotions and the psychology rang true.
Now that I have reached the end I realise that the story was moving, haunting, and quite beautifully written.
That’s a wonderful achievement for a first novel, and I am intrigued to read whatever else Morgan McCarthy may write in the future.
Jonathan and his younger sister, Theo, grew up in a mansion in the Welsh countryside. They were terribly isolated. Their father was absent. Their mother, Alicia, was remote. And their neighbours held them at arm’s length. Only the staff – the housekeeper, the cook, the gardener – had any time for the children.
And so they clung to each other, and they ran wild.
Until their grandmother, socialite and hotel magnate, Eve Anthony, heard that something was amiss and came home to take charge of the situation. She was capable and she reassured her grandchildren, telling them stories that explained much about the past and their family situation.
Jonathan and Theo grew in different directions: he was practical and ambitious while she was needy and heedless of the consequences of her actions. The bond between them was strained.
Both began to question the gaps in Eve’s stories, and to wonder if those stories were true at all. And if Eve wasn’t telling the truth who was she trying to protect. Her grandchildren, her daughter, or herself?
Tragedy was inevitable. And the grief it caused might be too much to bear.
Morgan McCarthy tells her story beautifully. Her style is languid and lovely, her turn of phrase is charming, and she has a very nice way with a metaphor.
There is light and shade, and a lovely mixture of the mysterious and the elegiac.
She made a wise choice in appointing Jonathan as her narrator. He alone had the self-awareness and the momentum for the job, and I never doubted that I was seeing, hearing, understanding as he had. That meant a few details were missing, a few characters were less defined than they might have been, but that was the right choice, to hold the perspective.
The story moves slowly and there are long stretches when nothing happens, but the beauty of the writing, the wonderful evocation of the world that Jonathan moved through, the questions hanging in the air, all of that held me.
I worked out some of the answers, but not all of them.
The complex and changing relationship between brother and sister gave the story its heart and the ever-present sense of menace and foreboding gave it substance.
There were times when I felt that Morgan McCarthy was over-playing her hand. That the family was a little too wealthy, the Eve had done a little too much in a single lifetime, that Theo couldn’t really be so desperately short of self-knowledge …. but the story still worked, because all of the emotions and the psychology rang true.
Now that I have reached the end I realise that the story was moving, haunting, and quite beautifully written.
That’s a wonderful achievement for a first novel, and I am intrigued to read whatever else Morgan McCarthy may write in the future.
October 11, 2012
I liked it but... the writing was wonderful but I found myself losing interest in the middle and the ending was like tepid, weak tea. I didn't dislike it, in fact I enjoyed the characters but it started to feel like I was swimming in the ocean with jeans on. That sounds mad, I know. I would like to read more by McCarthy because I think she writes exceptionally well. Sometimes there are stories that light us on fire, others promise to burn with a spark and then slowly seem to smother themselves out. Or maybe it's just me and I wanted something that took me somewhere unexpected. Again, great writer, would certainly read more by her but this won't be a favorite.
May 29, 2012
I have recently reviewed this novel for a major UK bookseller.
Reading this novel, you would never realise that it was written by a debut author as it is so accomplished- you would think McCarthy had been writting novels for years.
'The Other Half Of Me' follows Jonathan as he journeys through his life in an affluent well-known family. His sister, Theo, journeys with him as they interact with those who enter their lives - their unloving mother Alicia, their hugely successful Grandmother Eve, and childhood friends Nick and Maria.
This novel is a journey of discovery as the characters learn the ways of the world - who to trust, who to love and where to place their suspicions - but is a journey full of loss and sorrow. This journey leads them into the world of family history which uncover some family secrets and has some tragic consequences.
In this novel, McCarthy creates some beautiful characters who draw you into their world. Theo in particular is really sweet and endearing, but has her moments when you just despair. The novel is told from Jonathans perspective and he is another charcter who I became really attached to and really wanted something positive to happen to him. Quite rightly, I never really warmed to either Alicia or Eve and McCarthy created a great contrast between these two and the other characters she has created.
Overall this was a really lovely novel which had me hooked from the outset and gave me a feeling of sadness throughout, something not many novels achieve and which acts as a sign of how brilliant this novel is. I look forward to reading McCarthys next novel so see if she can continue the excellence that she has started.
Reading this novel, you would never realise that it was written by a debut author as it is so accomplished- you would think McCarthy had been writting novels for years.
'The Other Half Of Me' follows Jonathan as he journeys through his life in an affluent well-known family. His sister, Theo, journeys with him as they interact with those who enter their lives - their unloving mother Alicia, their hugely successful Grandmother Eve, and childhood friends Nick and Maria.
This novel is a journey of discovery as the characters learn the ways of the world - who to trust, who to love and where to place their suspicions - but is a journey full of loss and sorrow. This journey leads them into the world of family history which uncover some family secrets and has some tragic consequences.
In this novel, McCarthy creates some beautiful characters who draw you into their world. Theo in particular is really sweet and endearing, but has her moments when you just despair. The novel is told from Jonathans perspective and he is another charcter who I became really attached to and really wanted something positive to happen to him. Quite rightly, I never really warmed to either Alicia or Eve and McCarthy created a great contrast between these two and the other characters she has created.
Overall this was a really lovely novel which had me hooked from the outset and gave me a feeling of sadness throughout, something not many novels achieve and which acts as a sign of how brilliant this novel is. I look forward to reading McCarthys next novel so see if she can continue the excellence that she has started.
February 17, 2017
So, I've been neglecting writing reviews for a long time now. In my defense, I don't have a computer in the apartment I'm staying at while attending uni and the only time I have for writing reviews is when I'm home, because I don't like writing them on my phone. But I wasn't writing even when I was home... No excuse for me.
Anyway, I don't remember much about this book. I recall it was about two siblings who were raised by servants at their home because their mother was emotionally unstable. There were a lot of daddy issues, drug and alchohol abuse and some really bad decisions. It was an okay read, but nothing more.
I don't like men who spend their whole life pinning for one woman. It may be hypocritical of me because I like when men in real life show their feelings once in a while, but it seems I don't like that in fictional terms. I just see it as pathetic waste of time. Especially when I think that woman is not worth their love interest or time. The male lead was not any better, but I still think those two didn't deserve each other.
The sister was another problem. She was much like her mother in emotional stability part. She acted like a child most of the time and I think her upbringing was to be blamed for that. They protected her all the time and daddy issues were there for most part of the book. I don't remember clearly what exactly happened to their father, but I think the reason for his disappearance was good enough.
I didn't exactly see the point of this book, but maybe it was just me. But it was entertaining enough, so that counts for something, right?
Anyway, I don't remember much about this book. I recall it was about two siblings who were raised by servants at their home because their mother was emotionally unstable. There were a lot of daddy issues, drug and alchohol abuse and some really bad decisions. It was an okay read, but nothing more.
I don't like men who spend their whole life pinning for one woman. It may be hypocritical of me because I like when men in real life show their feelings once in a while, but it seems I don't like that in fictional terms. I just see it as pathetic waste of time. Especially when I think that woman is not worth their love interest or time. The male lead was not any better, but I still think those two didn't deserve each other.
The sister was another problem. She was much like her mother in emotional stability part. She acted like a child most of the time and I think her upbringing was to be blamed for that. They protected her all the time and daddy issues were there for most part of the book. I don't remember clearly what exactly happened to their father, but I think the reason for his disappearance was good enough.
I didn't exactly see the point of this book, but maybe it was just me. But it was entertaining enough, so that counts for something, right?
July 8, 2013
The debut of The Other Half of Me captivated me with it's beautiful prose and dark secrets. Jonathan and Theo are youngsters who live with there mother and nanny. Their mother's best friend is a bottle of gin and she can't be bothered with the children. The nanny who takes care of them really doesn't want to be bothered either. But Jonathan and Theo have one another.
When their mother collapses, their grandmother Eve retrieves them and raises them. Although the children have been told their father died, and that is why he wasn't around, little Theo doesn't believe it. In fact, that belief sticks into her mind until it's almost a reality as she matures. Jonathan, who has always kept a close eye on his younger sister, worries about her.
The Other Half of Me reminded me of an old Gothic tale. Set in beautiful Wales, the writing is exquisite. The scenes are dramatically drawn without weighing down the reader with a bunch of elaborate details. I think I enjoyed the characters of Jonathan and Theo when they were children much more than I did as they got older. However, I was driven to keep turning the pages. I wanted to know the family secrets and how life would turn out for Theo and Jonathan. The story is told from Jonathan's perspective and I thoroughly enjoyed his take on everything. If you're seeking a new author to try, pick up The Other Half of Me - it's a haunting and suspenseful novel that will intrigue you.
When their mother collapses, their grandmother Eve retrieves them and raises them. Although the children have been told their father died, and that is why he wasn't around, little Theo doesn't believe it. In fact, that belief sticks into her mind until it's almost a reality as she matures. Jonathan, who has always kept a close eye on his younger sister, worries about her.
The Other Half of Me reminded me of an old Gothic tale. Set in beautiful Wales, the writing is exquisite. The scenes are dramatically drawn without weighing down the reader with a bunch of elaborate details. I think I enjoyed the characters of Jonathan and Theo when they were children much more than I did as they got older. However, I was driven to keep turning the pages. I wanted to know the family secrets and how life would turn out for Theo and Jonathan. The story is told from Jonathan's perspective and I thoroughly enjoyed his take on everything. If you're seeking a new author to try, pick up The Other Half of Me - it's a haunting and suspenseful novel that will intrigue you.
August 28, 2020
I couldn't even finish this book. The blurb on the back catches your eye and piques you interest, but it is awful. I got halfway through and really tried to plod through and read the rest, but the book has no real point to it. It is like a really bad diary of someone with lots of money who likes to write and use pretty words. I do not recommend this book at all. Unless....you can't sleep. Then this one should do the trick of helping you fall asleep.
September 21, 2012
3.5 stars. As advertised, this does have some of the feel of Atonement. It would also work well for fans of Kate Morton. The writing was very good, and I would have rated it higher if the denouement hadn't dragged on so long.
June 7, 2022
Uvek imam jednu "laganu knjigu" koju čitam uz ozbiljnije štivo, pa sam na opise Velsa na poleđini knjige smatrala da bi mogla da mi prija, na žalost ovo je samo gomila ničeg i ne mogu da oprostim sebi što sam bacila svoje vreme na nju. Dve zvezdice zato što je lik Džonatana ok.
April 24, 2018
An enjoyable read although easy to guess the ending. The characters were one sided and hard to like. The book is well written which makes it easy to read.
August 1, 2022
Note from Theo: "I've lost my brother, he's over the sea, Over where I want to be. He's the other half of me."
AHHH made me cry so much!!! So lovely and so underated
AHHH made me cry so much!!! So lovely and so underated
November 13, 2014
First Thoughts: Family dynamics are always interesting fodder for a story...
(Originally posted on the blog)
There are times when I crave something different from what I normally read - and that's where novels like this one come in. While it did take longer to find myself invested in finishing this one, it was just the kind of book I wanted at the time. This story is drawn out and told with carefully chosen turns of phrase, telling the story of this family and their history with well-crafted prose.
It's fairly easy to call to mind the main players in this tale - Jonathan, Theo, Eve and Alicia, who are all members of the infamous Anthony family. This is a testament to the author's ability to create characters that are distinctive and memorable. They were carved into being, with personality quirks that set them apart from one another: Jonathan was the older brother who strove to achieve the right things, Eve was the grandmother who inspired him with her own success, Theo was the younger sister who had a interesting view of the world and Alicia was the alcoholic mother who often spent her days napping in bed or drinking to ward off her own sorrows.
The story studies the relationships between these main characters, starting from when Jonathan and Theo were mere children up until they are adults. While Alicia's neglect of her children certainly played a role in their personality development, it was really Jonathan and Theo's relationship with Eve and with each other that this book so beautifully tells us about. Like real relationships, there are good parts and bad parts and all the parts in between. Toss in a bit of fame and a ton of scandal, and you have fodder for an interesting story.
The most fascinating thing about the book, however, is the tone that the author employs in telling this story. It was equal parts pensive and thoughtful, which lent to the novel's slow movement from the beginning to end. There was an overall feeling of melancholy, and I finished the book feeling thoughtful and sad for this family and their story. This was a marked change from my usual quick-paced, snappy reads, and I was able to embrace it wholeheartedly as I dove into this book.
With its quiet, drawn out story, The Other Half of Me drew me into the world of the Anthonys and their lives. It was interesting, and slightly voyeuristic, to be given such an intimate view of Jonathan's thoughts and his experiences with his family. While I certainly don't expect everyone to enjoy it, fans of thoughtful, lovely prose and exploring familial ties will find this book as fascinating as I did.
(Originally posted on the blog)
There are times when I crave something different from what I normally read - and that's where novels like this one come in. While it did take longer to find myself invested in finishing this one, it was just the kind of book I wanted at the time. This story is drawn out and told with carefully chosen turns of phrase, telling the story of this family and their history with well-crafted prose.
It's fairly easy to call to mind the main players in this tale - Jonathan, Theo, Eve and Alicia, who are all members of the infamous Anthony family. This is a testament to the author's ability to create characters that are distinctive and memorable. They were carved into being, with personality quirks that set them apart from one another: Jonathan was the older brother who strove to achieve the right things, Eve was the grandmother who inspired him with her own success, Theo was the younger sister who had a interesting view of the world and Alicia was the alcoholic mother who often spent her days napping in bed or drinking to ward off her own sorrows.
The story studies the relationships between these main characters, starting from when Jonathan and Theo were mere children up until they are adults. While Alicia's neglect of her children certainly played a role in their personality development, it was really Jonathan and Theo's relationship with Eve and with each other that this book so beautifully tells us about. Like real relationships, there are good parts and bad parts and all the parts in between. Toss in a bit of fame and a ton of scandal, and you have fodder for an interesting story.
The most fascinating thing about the book, however, is the tone that the author employs in telling this story. It was equal parts pensive and thoughtful, which lent to the novel's slow movement from the beginning to end. There was an overall feeling of melancholy, and I finished the book feeling thoughtful and sad for this family and their story. This was a marked change from my usual quick-paced, snappy reads, and I was able to embrace it wholeheartedly as I dove into this book.
With its quiet, drawn out story, The Other Half of Me drew me into the world of the Anthonys and their lives. It was interesting, and slightly voyeuristic, to be given such an intimate view of Jonathan's thoughts and his experiences with his family. While I certainly don't expect everyone to enjoy it, fans of thoughtful, lovely prose and exploring familial ties will find this book as fascinating as I did.
April 25, 2013
It’s been a long time since I finished a book in 3 days, certainly not a book as literary as this, with the thinnest of plots, but I found The Other Half of Me absolutely enthralling: at times, almost impossible to put down. Not a great deal happens in The Other Half of Me, the plot is slight, but beautifully detailed and wonderfully told.
Brother and sister, Jonathan and Theo, grow up at Evendon, a lovely house by the sea, where money is abundant but love is absent. Their father is missing and presumed dead. Their mother is just a vague presence who floats through life with a drink in her hand. The locals and the household staff despise them. They have no friends, only each other.
Everything changes when their mother is hospitalised and their grandmother Eve arrives to take over the care of the house and the children. Eve Anthony is famous, glamorous, extremely rich. As the children grown up, the passage of their lives is made easy and smooth by their grandmother’s money and seemingly endless list of influential contacts. Jon and Theo's future should be rosy, but of course, it isn’t. Too many secrets, too many lies: it soon gradually becomes clear to Jonathan why his mother and her brother hate Eve. Theo, unable to hate, is slowly tipped into madness. From the start, you sense that she is doomed.
Eve admires Jonathan as a chip off her block, but is constantly exasperated by Theo - as was I. I’m sure we were meant to adore her as Jonathan does; to be charmed by her kind naïveté and helpless absent-mindedness, but I’ve known too many Theos and I couldn’t love her; she is silly and childish and extremely annoying. I frequently wanted to slap her. Poor Jonathan constantly angsts – has he been unkind to Theo by asking her to grow up and take responsibility for her own life? I doubt if I could have been half so patient as Jonathan - or even Eve. Theo strikes me as someone who should be institutionalised for her own good and everyone else’s sanity.
My irritation with Theo didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book – far from it, she was the spice of it, Jonathan and Eve alone would have been too solid a dish for my taste. And, as I seem to keep saying, not a great deal happens in TOH, but the tragic progress is deliciously compelling and the writing is gorgeous - poetic, but lightly done: only just short of perfect. I couldn’t put the book down but dreaded its end. It’s been a long, long time I was so absolutely absorbed in the world of a book as I was with Jonathan and Theo, Eve and Evendon.
Brother and sister, Jonathan and Theo, grow up at Evendon, a lovely house by the sea, where money is abundant but love is absent. Their father is missing and presumed dead. Their mother is just a vague presence who floats through life with a drink in her hand. The locals and the household staff despise them. They have no friends, only each other.
Everything changes when their mother is hospitalised and their grandmother Eve arrives to take over the care of the house and the children. Eve Anthony is famous, glamorous, extremely rich. As the children grown up, the passage of their lives is made easy and smooth by their grandmother’s money and seemingly endless list of influential contacts. Jon and Theo's future should be rosy, but of course, it isn’t. Too many secrets, too many lies: it soon gradually becomes clear to Jonathan why his mother and her brother hate Eve. Theo, unable to hate, is slowly tipped into madness. From the start, you sense that she is doomed.
Eve admires Jonathan as a chip off her block, but is constantly exasperated by Theo - as was I. I’m sure we were meant to adore her as Jonathan does; to be charmed by her kind naïveté and helpless absent-mindedness, but I’ve known too many Theos and I couldn’t love her; she is silly and childish and extremely annoying. I frequently wanted to slap her. Poor Jonathan constantly angsts – has he been unkind to Theo by asking her to grow up and take responsibility for her own life? I doubt if I could have been half so patient as Jonathan - or even Eve. Theo strikes me as someone who should be institutionalised for her own good and everyone else’s sanity.
My irritation with Theo didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book – far from it, she was the spice of it, Jonathan and Eve alone would have been too solid a dish for my taste. And, as I seem to keep saying, not a great deal happens in TOH, but the tragic progress is deliciously compelling and the writing is gorgeous - poetic, but lightly done: only just short of perfect. I couldn’t put the book down but dreaded its end. It’s been a long, long time I was so absolutely absorbed in the world of a book as I was with Jonathan and Theo, Eve and Evendon.
September 19, 2014
Rural Wales is the setting for this beautifully written book - it is where Jonathan and Theo (Theodora), the two small Anthony children live with their mother, the beautiful widowed Alicia and an assortment of household staff. Alicia spends most of her time suffering from alcohol induced "headaches" and either shuts herself up in her room, or floats about the house in a daze. She makes it quite clear that she has no desire for the company of her own children......they are simply a nuisance to her. So eight year old Jonathan and seven year old Theo are left to their own devices, wandering the huge country house with its sprawling gardens full of wild places; Jonathan is very protective of Theo who seems to need more attention than most little girls. She's a needy, dreamy child, full of wonder, enthusiasm and empathy for everything around her.
One day Alicia (the children only ever call her by her name, never Mum or Mummy) is taken away in an ambulance and the children are left alone in the care of Miss Black, the nanny whom they despise, and Mrs Edwards, the colourful, but not particulalry efficient, cook. They are not told what has happened to their mother, or what will become of them, but eventually Eve, their wealthy grandmother, arrives from America and it becomes clear she is there to stay; Jonathan's and Theo's lives will never be the same. Alicia returns from her drying out spell but it is Eve who transforms the house into its former glory and insists on a more formal education for the children.
As Jonathan and Theo grow older, Eve's story about their missing father begins to sound more doubtful; as it begins to unravel tensions develop within their small circle.
The book moves effortlessly from one timeline to another, the writing, crisp and clear, evoking the atmosphere of the period, whether it be the 1988 or 2008. It is so beautifully descriptive but never over done, the characters so well drawn and believable, and the narrative flows so well....I had my nose stuck in this book for two days as I devoured every word. I honestly cannot fault this book.
This author knows how to write; I hope there is more from her in the future.
My thanks to Amazon for a free copy to review.
One day Alicia (the children only ever call her by her name, never Mum or Mummy) is taken away in an ambulance and the children are left alone in the care of Miss Black, the nanny whom they despise, and Mrs Edwards, the colourful, but not particulalry efficient, cook. They are not told what has happened to their mother, or what will become of them, but eventually Eve, their wealthy grandmother, arrives from America and it becomes clear she is there to stay; Jonathan's and Theo's lives will never be the same. Alicia returns from her drying out spell but it is Eve who transforms the house into its former glory and insists on a more formal education for the children.
As Jonathan and Theo grow older, Eve's story about their missing father begins to sound more doubtful; as it begins to unravel tensions develop within their small circle.
The book moves effortlessly from one timeline to another, the writing, crisp and clear, evoking the atmosphere of the period, whether it be the 1988 or 2008. It is so beautifully descriptive but never over done, the characters so well drawn and believable, and the narrative flows so well....I had my nose stuck in this book for two days as I devoured every word. I honestly cannot fault this book.
This author knows how to write; I hope there is more from her in the future.
My thanks to Amazon for a free copy to review.
February 12, 2013
This is a terrific novel, atmospheric, claustrophobic and so beautifully poignant. Morgan McCarthy has chosen to narrate the novel with a male voice which she pulls off with a delicate finesse.
Jonathan’s journey to adulthood is surrounded by women. His distant, alcoholic mother Alicia, his imposing grandmother, the internationally loved businesswoman and politician Eve Anthony, and a whole host of lithe, beautiful young things who leave his bed warm but his heart cold. However, most important of all is his younger sister Theo. Fragile and incredibly caring, Theo relies on Jonathan as the one source of constant love and protection.
But Theo begins to see cracks in their family history. To her, the formidable Welsh manor, which was their adventure ground as children, seems to be filled with ghosts and dark secrets and she is determined to discover the truth. While Jonathan is determined to emulate his grandmother’s success and persona, Theo seems to be falling apart and Jonathan is losing his patience.
McCarthy explores love with a tender force through Jonathon, who struggles to grasp the freedom and happiness it can provide once you stop being so afraid. A rich, colourful and bittersweet tale of loyalty, love and friendship.
Review by Nikki Mason on behalf of BestChickLit.com
Jonathan’s journey to adulthood is surrounded by women. His distant, alcoholic mother Alicia, his imposing grandmother, the internationally loved businesswoman and politician Eve Anthony, and a whole host of lithe, beautiful young things who leave his bed warm but his heart cold. However, most important of all is his younger sister Theo. Fragile and incredibly caring, Theo relies on Jonathan as the one source of constant love and protection.
But Theo begins to see cracks in their family history. To her, the formidable Welsh manor, which was their adventure ground as children, seems to be filled with ghosts and dark secrets and she is determined to discover the truth. While Jonathan is determined to emulate his grandmother’s success and persona, Theo seems to be falling apart and Jonathan is losing his patience.
McCarthy explores love with a tender force through Jonathon, who struggles to grasp the freedom and happiness it can provide once you stop being so afraid. A rich, colourful and bittersweet tale of loyalty, love and friendship.
Review by Nikki Mason on behalf of BestChickLit.com
August 1, 2014
I feel like I've read almost this exact story several times before. Poor little rich kids, preferably British, raising themselves the best way they can without help from their dead/missing/indifferent parents. And I enjoy reading about that, and I enjoyed reading this book. But what blew me away about this book was the opening paragraph: "It doesn't take long to divide an old life from a new life - a few minutes, not even that. One quick, unfair blow, and you find yourself looking back across the uncrossable, to a place that can't ever be reached again, despite the fact you were there - brushing your teeth or reading a paper or wondering where you left your umbrella - just a moment ago. But that's over, the kind, old life, and you have to go out into the unknown, unbalanced world, where everything important is wrong. People vanish, the scenery changes. Things you loved become meaningless, and meaningless things stay that way." That's my life, encapsulated into one paragraph. Amazing.
August 27, 2012
4.5 stars
The publisher is promoting this book set in Wales and England as "Atonement-esque" (Ian McEwan) and I have to agree, although I liked this much better. The plot is intriguing and it has a well-drawn cast of interesting--if somewhat unlikeable—characters. In addition the writing is lush and gorgeous, and those of you who know me are aware I tend to read more for plot and characterization than language, but I was surprised to find myself re-reading passages because they were so beautifully phrased. The lack of 1/2 star is because I was anticipating the denouement would be a bigger surprise but that's a minor quibble and I was happy with the ending.
I recommend this to anyone who loves gorgeous writing and a compelling plot with a gothic tinge. Book groups will find much to discuss in this multi-layered story.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for proving the print galley. Also available as an e-galley on Edelweiss.
The publisher is promoting this book set in Wales and England as "Atonement-esque" (Ian McEwan) and I have to agree, although I liked this much better. The plot is intriguing and it has a well-drawn cast of interesting--if somewhat unlikeable—characters. In addition the writing is lush and gorgeous, and those of you who know me are aware I tend to read more for plot and characterization than language, but I was surprised to find myself re-reading passages because they were so beautifully phrased. The lack of 1/2 star is because I was anticipating the denouement would be a bigger surprise but that's a minor quibble and I was happy with the ending.
I recommend this to anyone who loves gorgeous writing and a compelling plot with a gothic tinge. Book groups will find much to discuss in this multi-layered story.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for proving the print galley. Also available as an e-galley on Edelweiss.
September 14, 2012
Het verhaal van 2 kinderen(Jonathan en Theo ) die opgroeien op Evendon.Ze krijgen weinig liefde van hun moeder ( Alicia ). Tot op een dag hun grootmoeder ( Eve )op Evendon komt wonen en zich met de opvoeding gaat bemoeien. Eve is een succesvolzakenvrouw en die ook haar sporen in de politiek heeft verdiend. De familie draagt een aantal familiegeheimen met zich mee. Tijdens hun jeugd krijgen ze te maken met een aantal feiten en gebeurtenissen die ze op dat moment nog niet kunnen plaatsen. Namate ze ouder worden komen ze zelf met een aantal vragen rond waar ze een antwoord op proberen te krijgen.
Het boek is prachtig geschreven in een stijl die je meteen het verhaal in meetrekt. Tijdens het lezen wordt je geconfronteerd met het verdriet dat zich daar afspeelt en dat voel je ook.
En boek dat je ontroerd en ongeloof kent.
Een boek wat zich goed leent voor een verfilming.
Het boek is prachtig geschreven in een stijl die je meteen het verhaal in meetrekt. Tijdens het lezen wordt je geconfronteerd met het verdriet dat zich daar afspeelt en dat voel je ook.
En boek dat je ontroerd en ongeloof kent.
Een boek wat zich goed leent voor een verfilming.
October 5, 2012
This book begins beautifully! The beginning prose is a delight to read.
"It doesn't take long to divide an old life from a new life -- a few minutes, not even that. One quick, unfair blow, and you find yourself looking back across the uncrossable, to a place that can't ever reached again despite the fact that you were there -- brushing your teeth or reading a paper or wondering where you left your umbrella -- just a moment ago." Whew! I was hooked after the first paragraph.
But then, this novel, which is described as "a secret that drives a wedge into Jonathan's once immutable bond with his sister", "tragedy strikes again", takes over 175 pages to get to any information about any tragic secret. 175 pages that, despite often containing more examples of this beautiful prose, are a slow read.
Sorry to say, not one of my favorites.
"It doesn't take long to divide an old life from a new life -- a few minutes, not even that. One quick, unfair blow, and you find yourself looking back across the uncrossable, to a place that can't ever reached again despite the fact that you were there -- brushing your teeth or reading a paper or wondering where you left your umbrella -- just a moment ago." Whew! I was hooked after the first paragraph.
But then, this novel, which is described as "a secret that drives a wedge into Jonathan's once immutable bond with his sister", "tragedy strikes again", takes over 175 pages to get to any information about any tragic secret. 175 pages that, despite often containing more examples of this beautiful prose, are a slow read.
Sorry to say, not one of my favorites.
April 27, 2012
Morgan McCarthy shows glimpses of talent and the promise of being a good writer, unfortunately the whole wasn't as good as these parts. The characters lacked depth and, though starting well once the prologue had passed, the plot was wispy thin.
Having said that, this is only a first novel in what I'm sure will be a successful career for Ms McCarthy. I'm looking forward to watching her develop as time and books go on.
Having said that, this is only a first novel in what I'm sure will be a successful career for Ms McCarthy. I'm looking forward to watching her develop as time and books go on.
April 1, 2019
I really enjoyed the start of this book. But the longer it went on the more I just wanted it to be over.
The jumping back and forth in time while I understand the reasoning was kind of annoying.
Overall I liked the premise of the book and what it was trying to say on a variety of topics. But somehow it just seemed too long getting there with a little bit too much focus on other things.
The jumping back and forth in time while I understand the reasoning was kind of annoying.
Overall I liked the premise of the book and what it was trying to say on a variety of topics. But somehow it just seemed too long getting there with a little bit too much focus on other things.
September 19, 2012
Definitely a 3.5, maybe edging into a 4, if I'm objective. But it didn't *feel* like a 4 for me. Here's a complete review: http://effusionsofwitandhumour.wordpr...
May 26, 2014
at first this book seemed like it might be good but i couldnt get into it at all. and found myself loosing intrest in it the more it went on.i finished it only just to see if it got any better. it didnt. disapointing
February 1, 2016
Felt like it should have been set in the 20s rather than being contemporary. Found the characters too dumb to be believable with their actions or lack of action unfathomable, but was still intrigued enough to want to finish it.
October 30, 2012
I don't know why I didn't love this more. It's very well written and I loved the setting, but it just seemed like something was missing. Maybe it was me.
August 6, 2015
I read about half of this book but it just did not hold my interest so i put it down.
July 16, 2015
Meh. The writing is decent but the "big family secret" was pretty obvious so it was a bit boring.
September 5, 2017
Characters are not developed well, story is predictable and I was bored.
Read
January 18, 2025too much boring parts and i could not get myself to like any of these characters
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