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Într-o zi ploioasă şi mohorâtă a anului 1905, lady Caroline Calcott, stăpâna domeniului Storton din Wiltshire, dispare în pădure, ducând în braţe un copil abia născut. În prezent, surorile Erica şi Beth Calcott, strănepoatele lui lady Caroline, se întorc la moşie pentru a-şi lua în primire proprietatea, cu haloul ei de secrete.
Aşa începe o saga de familie în care se intersectează poveşti captivante de iubire şi de ură, într-un ţinut sălbatic, de o frumuseţe obsedantă. Cititorul va fi purtat din înalta societate a New York-ului de început de secol XX până în preria nemărginită a Vestului Sălbatic, urmărind cu sufletul la gură destinele unor personaje cu adevărat pasionale.
Aşa începe o saga de familie în care se intersectează poveşti captivante de iubire şi de ură, într-un ţinut sălbatic, de o frumuseţe obsedantă. Cititorul va fi purtat din înalta societate a New York-ului de început de secol XX până în preria nemărginită a Vestului Sălbatic, urmărind cu sufletul la gură destinele unor personaje cu adevărat pasionale.
429 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
285 people are currently reading
11117 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Webb
17 books734 followersI was born in Kent in 1977 and grew up in rural Hampshire before reading History at Durham University. History remains a passion, and I write character-led mystery dramas, often with historical settings. I love to explore the way past events can reverberate in the present, and I'm fascinated by the vast grey areas in human morality and behaviour.
My debut novel 'The Legacy' was voted viewers' choice for Best Summer Read on the Channel 4 TV Book Club in 2010, and was nominated for Best New Writer at the National Book Awards in the same year. Subsequently, 'The Unseen','A Half Forgotten Song' and 'The Misbegotten' were all Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers, and my books have been translated into 24 languages around the world.
My debut novel 'The Legacy' was voted viewers' choice for Best Summer Read on the Channel 4 TV Book Club in 2010, and was nominated for Best New Writer at the National Book Awards in the same year. Subsequently, 'The Unseen','A Half Forgotten Song' and 'The Misbegotten' were all Sunday Times Top Ten bestsellers, and my books have been translated into 24 languages around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 907 reviews
February 4, 2016
Un mystère intrigant, des personnages attachants, des destins tragiques et touchants, et une ambiance hivernale tombant à point nommé: c'est tout ce que je demandais à ce roman, et c'est exactement ce que j'ai eu. Je le referme avec la gorge toute serrée, ce qui est plutôt bon signe: il a réussi à m'évader. Une bonne lecture !
February 17, 2016
Je dirai que c'est un peu comme un épisode de NCIS à 23h. Tu sais que c'est pas terrible, qu'il est tard, mais, putain, t'as vraiment envie de savoir.
February 3, 2016
Dévoré en 2 jours ! J'ai adoré ce livre, l'ambiance, les secrets de famille...
Je n'ai pas trouvé le gros secret avant qu'il soit révélé et j'avoue que je trouve le truc un peu "gros" mais je me suis tellement plongé dedans que je l'ai accepté facilement.
Tour à tour on adore puis on déteste les personnages, on s'attache, on compatis... Visiblement l'auteure est spécialiste de ce genre littéraire donc je me laisserais peut être tenter par un autre ;)
C'est mon plus gros coup de cœur du #ClubDeLectureMS depuis le début !
Je n'ai pas trouvé le gros secret avant qu'il soit révélé et j'avoue que je trouve le truc un peu "gros" mais je me suis tellement plongé dedans que je l'ai accepté facilement.
Tour à tour on adore puis on déteste les personnages, on s'attache, on compatis... Visiblement l'auteure est spécialiste de ce genre littéraire donc je me laisserais peut être tenter par un autre ;)
C'est mon plus gros coup de cœur du #ClubDeLectureMS depuis le début !
February 12, 2020
Historical family mystery with romance….
Evil grandmother dies. Granddaughters inherit the English country manor under the condition that they move in. This would be a great start for a haunted house story, but this is not where we are going here.
The book has even two mysteries for the price of one:
#1 Why was the grandmother such a mean old hag? And why did she hate the local traveler family so much?
#2 What happened to the granddaughters’ cousin who vanished at the age of twelve when spending the summer with the grandmother and the girls in the manor?
What sets this story off other similar tales is that the exotic part of the story does not happen in India or other part of Asia, but in the US.
I found none of the female characters particularly likeable and their behavior often quite incomprehensible. Also all of them seem to have inherited a huge amount of incapability from the great-grandmother.
Nevertheless it was interesting to find out what happened after all.
So this ends up in my eyes with 2.5 stars rounded up.
Evil grandmother dies. Granddaughters inherit the English country manor under the condition that they move in. This would be a great start for a haunted house story, but this is not where we are going here.
The book has even two mysteries for the price of one:
#1 Why was the grandmother such a mean old hag? And why did she hate the local traveler family so much?
#2 What happened to the granddaughters’ cousin who vanished at the age of twelve when spending the summer with the grandmother and the girls in the manor?
What sets this story off other similar tales is that the exotic part of the story does not happen in India or other part of Asia, but in the US.
I found none of the female characters particularly likeable and their behavior often quite incomprehensible. Also all of them seem to have inherited a huge amount of incapability from the great-grandmother.
Nevertheless it was interesting to find out what happened after all.
So this ends up in my eyes with 2.5 stars rounded up.
December 4, 2019
This book was unfortunately slow and laborious to read. It has taken me longer than usual to finish this one as I just found it very hard going. Usually I give up on a book if I don’t like it but, this was bought for me by a family member and I didn’t feel it was right to just not read it to the end.
Although this was a dual time line it didn’t gel together very well.
I found my concentration slipping at times but I was determined to get through to the end.
Although this was a dual time line it didn’t gel together very well.
I found my concentration slipping at times but I was determined to get through to the end.
January 31, 2013
Two stories for the price of one!
Historical romance and contemporary romance – all in one book!
Not one but TWO secrets!
Gypsies, Indians, cowboys, aristocrats!
Dead husbands! Missing children!
Wild West! Old English Manor!
And whatever else you can conjure up – all in this i one book about generations of women who like nothing better than to sweep things under the rug and sit on it staring into the space, as if nothing happened. Also, a warning tale – sweep things under the rug, you go mad, just as it happened to Beth. Her sister, Erica, finally decides she's had enough of secrets and vows to go to the bottom of it all.
You can't help but cheer her on, because there is nothing more frustrating that people refusing to talk about certain things (that and food stuck between your teeth). The pages turn quickly as you follow Erica as she uncovers the legacy of secrets. Things get hot and exciting and you do wish fervently that Erica will get the guy in the end for all her trouble.
Historical romance and contemporary romance – all in one book!
Not one but TWO secrets!
Gypsies, Indians, cowboys, aristocrats!
Dead husbands! Missing children!
Wild West! Old English Manor!
And whatever else you can conjure up – all in this i one book about generations of women who like nothing better than to sweep things under the rug and sit on it staring into the space, as if nothing happened. Also, a warning tale – sweep things under the rug, you go mad, just as it happened to Beth. Her sister, Erica, finally decides she's had enough of secrets and vows to go to the bottom of it all.
You can't help but cheer her on, because there is nothing more frustrating that people refusing to talk about certain things (that and food stuck between your teeth). The pages turn quickly as you follow Erica as she uncovers the legacy of secrets. Things get hot and exciting and you do wish fervently that Erica will get the guy in the end for all her trouble.
May 2, 2011
When Beth and Erica Calcott return to their family home they start to sort through their Grandmother's belongings and forgotten fragments of family history start to break the surface of the present day. Memories of their cousin Henry who disappeared and their Grandmother, a bitter and twisted old woman.
I really like books about different generations of families and this plot had such potential but it really failed to deliver for me. The female characters were so frustrating and I just wanted to shake them by the shoulders and yell 'pull yourselves together!' I hated the way that Erica followed Dinny around all of the time and the way that Erica, Beth and Dinny had the same old conversation about the past again and again.
It was very frustrating how the story went from 1904 to the present day. I would read what had happened in 1904 and then have to cope with pages and pages of the characters trying to discover what had happened. How boring!
Forgettable!
I really like books about different generations of families and this plot had such potential but it really failed to deliver for me. The female characters were so frustrating and I just wanted to shake them by the shoulders and yell 'pull yourselves together!' I hated the way that Erica followed Dinny around all of the time and the way that Erica, Beth and Dinny had the same old conversation about the past again and again.
It was very frustrating how the story went from 1904 to the present day. I would read what had happened in 1904 and then have to cope with pages and pages of the characters trying to discover what had happened. How boring!
Forgettable!
February 17, 2016
Après être restée jusqu'à quasiment 2 h du matin, je peux dire que j'ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à lire ce livre. Merci le club de lecture Mango & Salt pour cette découverte. J'ai aimé suivre l'histoire à travers 2 époques différentes. J'ai facilement réussi à me plonger dans les 2 univers. J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé retrouver l'atmosphère de la vie en Angleterre. Je n'ai pas été embêtée plus que ça du caractère de certains personnages froideur, dépression... Je crois que la vie peut parfois nous plonger dans de tel états et nous surprendre à tous à tout moment. Comme certaines je crois que je reste à la fin avec un manque d'un petit je ne sais quoi. Un épilogue qui donne l'impression d'être écrit à la va vite. Ce n'est pas de la grande littérature mais j'ai vraiment passé un bon moment à lire ce roman.
April 13, 2012
I read The Unseen first and never thought a book could be better. How wrong I was, thankfully. I was totally and uttery engrossed in this book which was heartbreaking in parts. Lost love, mystery, intrigue and, well, just about everything you would want in a really good book. I literally could not put my kindle down, it was my eyes that kept closing which reminded me I had to sleep at some point! I loved and despised Caroline and Meredith in turns, it's such a roller coaster of emotions I feel completely and utterly drained now I have finished it. The only slight criticism I can make, and I emphasise slight, is that I would have liked to know more about Hutch, Joe and Magpie but, as I don't want to give too much of this brilliant story away, I can overlook it.
I honestly and truly cannot wait for another book by this author, as I love how she writes so descriptively: I could virtually feel the heat and visualise the prairie.
Lovely book and highly recommended.
I honestly and truly cannot wait for another book by this author, as I love how she writes so descriptively: I could virtually feel the heat and visualise the prairie.
Lovely book and highly recommended.
March 17, 2018
I am the kind of person that you'll find hanging around at National Trust places. There is nothing I enjoy more (other than reading of course) than having a few hours on my hands to just wander freely around a beautiful old Manor house, or a castle, or, even some stately home gardens.
This book I bought solely for the fact of the entire story being based around a huge, old Manor house. This story was a very slow mystery, that certainly didn't reveal anything until the very end of the story, by which time, I was nearly off the chair with excitement!
The author should be given credit here, as I think it is difficult to write an interesting time line story, that all blends in together perfectly.
When reading this, the plot reminded me slightly of a Kate Morton style book, which is an entirely positive aspect, as I quite enjoy Kate Morton's works.
I loved the fact that I felt as if I was present in the old, gothic Manor House, tip toeing on the floorboards, looking through old treasures in the attic. It felt that real, it was almost creepy, and that is one of the key aspects of why I liked this book so much. The world building is vital for me to be able to totally immerse myself into a story, and Katherine Webb, managed to do this with absolute ease.
This book I bought solely for the fact of the entire story being based around a huge, old Manor house. This story was a very slow mystery, that certainly didn't reveal anything until the very end of the story, by which time, I was nearly off the chair with excitement!
The author should be given credit here, as I think it is difficult to write an interesting time line story, that all blends in together perfectly.
When reading this, the plot reminded me slightly of a Kate Morton style book, which is an entirely positive aspect, as I quite enjoy Kate Morton's works.
I loved the fact that I felt as if I was present in the old, gothic Manor House, tip toeing on the floorboards, looking through old treasures in the attic. It felt that real, it was almost creepy, and that is one of the key aspects of why I liked this book so much. The world building is vital for me to be able to totally immerse myself into a story, and Katherine Webb, managed to do this with absolute ease.
November 4, 2011
Dual stories (one Victorian, one modern day) about the same family. The question of "What happened to Henry?" goes on for a bit too long--or, rather, the conversations consisting of "Tell me what happened!"/"No, it's better that you don't remember!" happened a bit too frequently and had me wishing they would just get to the point in the final conversation before the Big Reveal.
I wasn't actually too crazy about either Beth or Erica, and got progressively a bit more annoyed with them. However, the breaks into Caroline's story were enough that they didn't wear on me too badly. I thought the Victorian bits were very well done, as in a different book I would've been annoyed with Caroline's helplessness; here, I just felt sorry for her. Her panic and horror at what she'd done and the subsequent feeling of having no idea what to do about it was palpable. On the other hand, even as our narrator, I never felt that Erica was fully fleshed out. Also, her stated sense of not waiting for anything at the end of the novel feels most definitely like she's waiting.
Some lovely writing and decent plotting kept my attention throughout.
I wasn't actually too crazy about either Beth or Erica, and got progressively a bit more annoyed with them. However, the breaks into Caroline's story were enough that they didn't wear on me too badly. I thought the Victorian bits were very well done, as in a different book I would've been annoyed with Caroline's helplessness; here, I just felt sorry for her. Her panic and horror at what she'd done and the subsequent feeling of having no idea what to do about it was palpable. On the other hand, even as our narrator, I never felt that Erica was fully fleshed out. Also, her stated sense of not waiting for anything at the end of the novel feels most definitely like she's waiting.
Some lovely writing and decent plotting kept my attention throughout.
February 20, 2011
Rather a lot of words for not a lot happening...And when something did happen, how ridiculous! From the main characters to the 'heartbreaking secret' it was all completely unbelievable. The most surprising thing is that I managed to read it to the end (albeit with many urges not to) so it was weirdly gripping at least!
I'm not sure that Caroline's story added anything to the book especially since Erica's gut feelings (or whatever) seemed to know all the answers anyway. Would have been interesting (as I was tempted to do quite early on) to completely ignore Caroline's chapters. I finished the book feeling that it really wouldn't have made much difference, but would've made the story considerably shorter, which would have been a bonus!
Note to self: stop reading books set in country houses that involve family secrets. I never enjoy them quite as much as everyone else seems to!
I'm not sure that Caroline's story added anything to the book especially since Erica's gut feelings (or whatever) seemed to know all the answers anyway. Would have been interesting (as I was tempted to do quite early on) to completely ignore Caroline's chapters. I finished the book feeling that it really wouldn't have made much difference, but would've made the story considerably shorter, which would have been a bonus!
Note to self: stop reading books set in country houses that involve family secrets. I never enjoy them quite as much as everyone else seems to!
April 20, 2016
J'ai aimé me plonger dans les secrets enfouis dans le passé de la famille Calcott. Le récit avance en deux temps, ce qui nous permet d'en apprendre un peu plus sur cette famille au fur et à mesure du roman. J'ai eu une petite préférence pour l'histoire de Caroline. Son personnage est très intéressant, complexe et sa naïveté la rend attachante malgré son parcours "quelque peu" chaotique.
L'Héritage est une saga familiale sympathique mais il manque quelque chose pour la rendre vraiment inoubliable ; c'est pour cela que je lui donne la note de 3/5.
L'Héritage est une saga familiale sympathique mais il manque quelque chose pour la rendre vraiment inoubliable ; c'est pour cela que je lui donne la note de 3/5.
February 24, 2016
Ma Review sur le blog : http://letitglow.fr/lecture-fevrier-2...
Un vrai plaisir, cette lecture ! J'ai beaucoup aimé le personnage d'Erica avec qui j'étais totalement en empathie. La fin n'est pas renversante mais j'ai fermé ce livre avec un petit sentiment de nostalgie. Un très bon crû du #ClubLectureMS !
Un vrai plaisir, cette lecture ! J'ai beaucoup aimé le personnage d'Erica avec qui j'étais totalement en empathie. La fin n'est pas renversante mais j'ai fermé ce livre avec un petit sentiment de nostalgie. Un très bon crû du #ClubLectureMS !
September 24, 2012
This book *should* be good. It follows several generations of a family, and there is a "mystery" in one generation that motivates you to read through to the end of the book to resolve. As a reader, you do get to enjoy early 1900 New York and Oklahoma Territory, and then England from 1905 onwards.
But... I just didn't love this book. I read and read and read, waiting for it to get GOOD, and I just felt like it never did. Yes, the characters were moderately interesting. I did like Caroline's first husband Corbin, but he isn't in the story for very long. The mystery (what happened to Henry, Caroline's great grandson) needs to be solved because in its answer lies the truth to why SO MANY people in the family are heartless, damaged lack the ability to love others, etc. And, well, how depressing is that?
So I kept reading and reading, because, yes, gosh darn it, WHAT HAPPENED TO HENRY? You FINALLY find out near the end of the book. And while the answer is not disappointing, it's not exactly earth shattering either. Other "loose ends" from Caroline's past are left largely hanging. Which is realistic, but sad all the same.
I finished this book only because I hate having a half story sitting around in my head for ever after... but this is not one of my favorite books of late by far.
But... I just didn't love this book. I read and read and read, waiting for it to get GOOD, and I just felt like it never did. Yes, the characters were moderately interesting. I did like Caroline's first husband Corbin, but he isn't in the story for very long. The mystery (what happened to Henry, Caroline's great grandson) needs to be solved because in its answer lies the truth to why SO MANY people in the family are heartless, damaged lack the ability to love others, etc. And, well, how depressing is that?
So I kept reading and reading, because, yes, gosh darn it, WHAT HAPPENED TO HENRY? You FINALLY find out near the end of the book. And while the answer is not disappointing, it's not exactly earth shattering either. Other "loose ends" from Caroline's past are left largely hanging. Which is realistic, but sad all the same.
I finished this book only because I hate having a half story sitting around in my head for ever after... but this is not one of my favorite books of late by far.
February 8, 2016
Cette histoire de sombres secrets et de sentiments refoulés ou contrariés m'a tellement happée que je l'ai lu en une journée. Je ne pouvais pas m'arrêter, l'envie de savoir la vérité m'a dévorée. Je ne m'attendais pas du tout à la révélation finale, je ne l'avais pas vue venir. Par contre c'est clair que j'ai été secouée en chemin, et sincèrement choquée par certains passages. J'ai ressenti beaucoup de colère et autant de compassion pour les personnages ... Cet entremêlement des générations, ce triste "héritage" est bouleversant. C'est une lecture qui ne laisse pas du tout indifférent. Ça mérite bien ses 4 étoiles je trouve !
July 12, 2010
The Legacy opens in 1905 with Caroline Calcott, Lady of Stourton Manor in Wiltshire, hurredly leaving the house and making her way through the grounds and into the woods, carrying a white pillowcase over her shoulder which (unbeknown to the maids who watch her in surprise from the window) holds a small child.
The story then fast forwards to the current day and passes to Erica Calcott, Caroline’s Great-Granddaughter. Erica and her sister Beth have come back to Stourton Manor after 23 years of being kept away as their Grandmother, Meredith, has passed away and left them the property in her will. The two sisters haven’t been to the Manor since 1986 when their cousin Henry, who also used to stay at the house with them every summer during their childhood, vanished without trace never to be heard of again. Erica can’t remember what happened on that day and Beth won’t talk about it.
The story then goes further back in time to 1902 when Caroline was still living in New York and falls in love with a young cattle rancher from Oklahoma and once married, makes her way to her new life in the vast open prairies and overwhelming heat. From here, the book alternated between the stories of Caroline and Erica and while we start to put tiny pieces of the puzzle together to find out the fates of both children the pages just turn themselves.
I have read books before with dual narratives and I have often found that I prefer one story to the other, even to the stage where I will skim over the less favoured. Not so with The Legacy. Both stories are so compelling and end on cliff-hangers (of sorts) which makes the book even more pacey and page-turning. In the contemporary story, themes of depression, discovery, nostaligia and deception are dealt with and with Caroline’s turn of the century story there is loneliness, longing, desperation and envy which all built up to an act so impulsive and shocking that its repercussion imprint themselves on the future generations of the Calcott family, including Erica’s.
Within this book of long hot summers, secrets and deception there are two mysteries to solve too: the fate of both children. This is what gives the book its tremendous forward momentum. As the pages turn, we get closer and closer to the truth of what happened in both 1905 and 1986 but I have to admit that I was stunned with one of the conclusions. As a huge mystery/thriller fan I like to pride myself on being able to guess “whodunnit” early but……I didn not see this one coming! Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a thriller book, but the fact that the book steers us towards the truth through the pages means that it is one cracking, fast-paced read.
In summary, The Legacy is a wonderfully crafted, beautifully written, skillfully interwoven book that is perfect for a summer read. I highly recommend.
The story then fast forwards to the current day and passes to Erica Calcott, Caroline’s Great-Granddaughter. Erica and her sister Beth have come back to Stourton Manor after 23 years of being kept away as their Grandmother, Meredith, has passed away and left them the property in her will. The two sisters haven’t been to the Manor since 1986 when their cousin Henry, who also used to stay at the house with them every summer during their childhood, vanished without trace never to be heard of again. Erica can’t remember what happened on that day and Beth won’t talk about it.
The story then goes further back in time to 1902 when Caroline was still living in New York and falls in love with a young cattle rancher from Oklahoma and once married, makes her way to her new life in the vast open prairies and overwhelming heat. From here, the book alternated between the stories of Caroline and Erica and while we start to put tiny pieces of the puzzle together to find out the fates of both children the pages just turn themselves.
I have read books before with dual narratives and I have often found that I prefer one story to the other, even to the stage where I will skim over the less favoured. Not so with The Legacy. Both stories are so compelling and end on cliff-hangers (of sorts) which makes the book even more pacey and page-turning. In the contemporary story, themes of depression, discovery, nostaligia and deception are dealt with and with Caroline’s turn of the century story there is loneliness, longing, desperation and envy which all built up to an act so impulsive and shocking that its repercussion imprint themselves on the future generations of the Calcott family, including Erica’s.
Within this book of long hot summers, secrets and deception there are two mysteries to solve too: the fate of both children. This is what gives the book its tremendous forward momentum. As the pages turn, we get closer and closer to the truth of what happened in both 1905 and 1986 but I have to admit that I was stunned with one of the conclusions. As a huge mystery/thriller fan I like to pride myself on being able to guess “whodunnit” early but……I didn not see this one coming! Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a thriller book, but the fact that the book steers us towards the truth through the pages means that it is one cracking, fast-paced read.
In summary, The Legacy is a wonderfully crafted, beautifully written, skillfully interwoven book that is perfect for a summer read. I highly recommend.
February 15, 2016
Ce livre me laisse vraiment perplexe et indécise ! J'ai à la fois envie de mettre une bonne note mais je me dis quand même qu'il ne mérite pas une si bonne critique que ca. J'ai trouvé l'histoire prenante et j'ai eu du mal à lâcher le livre (particulièrement au début et à la fin), mais d'un autre côté je ne sait pas pourquoi j'ai trouvé les personnages un peu creux et l'histoire peut être un peu trop tordue. J'ai trouvé que certaines explications étaient un peu faciles et qu'il était quand même dommage que tout le mystère ne soit pas résolu pour Erica. J'ai aussi détesté Caroline et Beth m'a tout simplement horripilée mais heureusement j'ai trouvé Erica et Ed attachant et Dinny correspondait bien à l'ambiance mystérieuse du roman. Enfin bref j'ai pris du plaisir à lire ce livre, réellement, mais maintenant que je l'ai fini je reste tout de même un peu dubitative. J'ai apprécié ma lecture mais il manquait quelque chose (et je ne sais pas quoi c'est bien ca qui me rends perplexe).
October 10, 2014
Αυτή η ιστορία με μελαγχόλησε πολύ, στο μυαλό μου την έχω βάψει απλώς γκρίζα, καθώς είναι γεμάτη φαντάσματα, πικρές αναμνήσεις, μάταιο παρόν και σκοτεινά μυστικά. Δεν μπορώ να πω ότι βοήθησε και η δυνατή φθινοπωρινή βροχή κατά τη διάρκεια της ανάγνωσης, που ήρθε λες κ ήθελε να συμπληρώσει το μελαγχολικό σκηνικό. Παρ’ όλα αυτά είναι τόσο καλογραμμένο, με τόσο ωραίο λόγο και καλυμμένο με πολύ μυστήριο που σίγουρα δεν μπορώ να πω ότι ήταν ούτε κακό, ούτε αδιάφορο σαν βιβλίο.
March 3, 2016
Le livre est bien écrit, le récit est rythmé, l'histoire est intrigante et les personnages sont attachants. On se plonge facilement dedans et on s'imagine autant parcourir les prairies désertes de l'ouest américain que pattoger dans la marre fraîche d'Angleterre. J'ai aimé et je pense lire d'autre livre de l'auteure..!
August 29, 2016
3,5 αστερια, με κούρασε, πολύ μαυρίλα η διάθεση των πρωταγωνιστών
August 10, 2014
I loved this book, with the complexities of its characters, and its many layers and themes.
It opens in England in 1905 with the lady of the manor, Caroline, mysteriously running through the woods.
In the present day, sisters Erica and Beth inherit the old manor house from their grandmother, Meredith. It’s the house they spent their childhood summers in until one hot day in 1986 when their cousin Henry vanished. Erica has no memory of this day, but Beth has been haunted by the disappearance ever since, suffering adulthood depression. They meet up with an old childhood friend, Dinny, and Erica becomes convinced that he and Beth know what happened to Henry.
As Erica is sorting through Meredith's things, she finds some old letters and a photo of Caroline, her great-grandmother. She’d holding a baby, marked New York and with a date from a year before she met her husband. What secrets did Caroline hide in America all those years ago, what became of the baby, and how has the past affected her family throughout the generations?
In most dual-timeline books, I usually much prefer the past story to the present one; in this case, there are three storylines to follow (Caroline, Henry and Erica/Beth), and I found them each equally engrossing. As much as I really wanted to know what happened next in each time-zone, I hated having to leave another one behind for a while.
I guessed both secrets before the reveals, but to the author’s credit, neither discoveries took anything away from the drama and tension of the stories; I couldn't put this book down. A beautifully crafted, multi-layered, excellent read!
It opens in England in 1905 with the lady of the manor, Caroline, mysteriously running through the woods.
In the present day, sisters Erica and Beth inherit the old manor house from their grandmother, Meredith. It’s the house they spent their childhood summers in until one hot day in 1986 when their cousin Henry vanished. Erica has no memory of this day, but Beth has been haunted by the disappearance ever since, suffering adulthood depression. They meet up with an old childhood friend, Dinny, and Erica becomes convinced that he and Beth know what happened to Henry.
As Erica is sorting through Meredith's things, she finds some old letters and a photo of Caroline, her great-grandmother. She’d holding a baby, marked New York and with a date from a year before she met her husband. What secrets did Caroline hide in America all those years ago, what became of the baby, and how has the past affected her family throughout the generations?
In most dual-timeline books, I usually much prefer the past story to the present one; in this case, there are three storylines to follow (Caroline, Henry and Erica/Beth), and I found them each equally engrossing. As much as I really wanted to know what happened next in each time-zone, I hated having to leave another one behind for a while.
I guessed both secrets before the reveals, but to the author’s credit, neither discoveries took anything away from the drama and tension of the stories; I couldn't put this book down. A beautifully crafted, multi-layered, excellent read!
June 24, 2012
Desde que comecei a ler Kate Morton (e não, não estão no livro errado) que descobri um novo tipo de livro que gosto (se bem que eu sou muito eclécica e leio de tudo um pouco): livros com mansões misteriosas que me fazem vontade de viver numa, com famílias grandes e problemáticas, com uma árvore genealógica com muitos ramos... e muitos segredos à mistura. E este livro é um desses livros. Adorei a escrita da autora e o facto de nos deixar sempre com o bichinho da curiosidade. Adorei a história em si e das personagens todas. Gostei que a autora nos contasse a história do presente e do passado, alternadamente. Fez com que sentisse que percebia um bocadinho melhor aquele presente. O segredo em si deixou-me de boca aberta porque não estava nada à espera!Muito bom!
Obrigada à Tinkerbell pelo empréstimo. Livro pertencente ao blogring do My Imaginarium.
Obrigada à Tinkerbell pelo empréstimo. Livro pertencente ao blogring do My Imaginarium.
February 10, 2016
Un peu partagée sur ma lecture... C'est plaisant et ça se lit bien mais je n'ai pas trouvé ça transcendant. Je n'ai pas eu vraiment de préférence entre les deux époques, même si je n'ai pas accroché au personnage de Caroline j'ai trouvé son histoire intéressante.
Je me doutais de la résolution du premier secret mais pour le deuxième j'avoue que je n'ai rien vu venir !
Je me doutais de la résolution du premier secret mais pour le deuxième j'avoue que je n'ai rien vu venir !
April 4, 2014
Μαγευτικο βιβλιο! με συνεπηρε!! Άρτιοι δομημενοι χαρακτηρες σφιχτη πλοκή και ενα ακομη ατου του βιβλιου? ο τροπος γραφης του το οτι εκανε αρκετα φλας μπακ που σε βαζουν στο τρυπακι της περιεργ��ιας και της προσμονης....Διαβαστε το !!
February 15, 2016
3,5/5 pour ce livre du #clublecturems! Une bonne lecture, fluide et captivante. J'ai adoré l'histoire de Caroline, moins celle d'Erica mais ce livre m'a tout de même fait passer un bon moment!
July 12, 2018
Ve sessizce geçecek yılların içinden üç kuşak kadının samimi hikayesi. Büyük umutlara gebe topraklardan, ruhsuz şehirlerin tanıdık yalnızlığına uzanacak bir ailenin tarihi..
4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sadece konusundan ve isminden bana hitap eden bir kitap olduğunu hemen anlamıştım. Bu tarz kalın romanları okumayı çok ayrı sevdiğim için büyük bir ilgiyle kitaba başladım. Arka kapağı bize çok fazla ipucu vermediği için nasıl bir konunun beni beklediğini ilk sayfadan okuyarak kavramaya çalıştım. 1902'de ilk olarak geçmişi perdeleyerek başlıyor hikayemiz. Daha sonrasında asıl kızkardeş karakterlerimiz büyükannelerinden kalan evle ne yapacaklarına dair düşünmek üzere kısa süreliğine görkemli eve taşınıyorlar. Çoğu zaman onlara sevgi göstermemiş soğuk büyükannelerinin hatıralarıyla dolu bu evde ne yapacaklarını düşünürlerken ta çocukluklarına uzanan bir olayı tekrar hatırlamaya doğru adım adım ilerliyorlar. Çocukluğuna dair önemli anıları hafızasından silinen Erica ve depresyonun eşiğinde olan ablası Beth'le evde tıkılı kalırlar. Diğer yandansa Erica'nın büyük büyükannesinin 1900'lerdeki hayat hikayesinden bölümler okuyoruz. Günümüz bölümlerine alışmak benim için biraz uzun sürdü, yazarın biraz karman çorman bir kalemi vardı. Ama geçmiş bölümleri aksine daha büyük bir merakla ve severek okudum. Günümüz bölümlerine alışmam da iki kızkardeşin bahsetmediği o olayın arka perdesi yavaş yavaş ortaya çıkmasıyla birlikte başladı. Son bölümleriyse en çok beğendiğim kısımdı. Ayrıca hikayenin işlenişinde gerçekçi bir tarafın olmasını da ayrı takdir ettim. Genel anlamda baktığımda istediğim kadar duygularımı şaha kaldıran bir kitap değildi fakat türünde çok beğendiğim bir kitap oldu. Yazarın diğer kitaplarını da bir ara okurum diye düşünüyorum. Ama not geçmek gerekirse kendisinden daha güçlü bir kalem beklediğimi söylemeliyim. Keyifli okumalar dilerim..
4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sadece konusundan ve isminden bana hitap eden bir kitap olduğunu hemen anlamıştım. Bu tarz kalın romanları okumayı çok ayrı sevdiğim için büyük bir ilgiyle kitaba başladım. Arka kapağı bize çok fazla ipucu vermediği için nasıl bir konunun beni beklediğini ilk sayfadan okuyarak kavramaya çalıştım. 1902'de ilk olarak geçmişi perdeleyerek başlıyor hikayemiz. Daha sonrasında asıl kızkardeş karakterlerimiz büyükannelerinden kalan evle ne yapacaklarına dair düşünmek üzere kısa süreliğine görkemli eve taşınıyorlar. Çoğu zaman onlara sevgi göstermemiş soğuk büyükannelerinin hatıralarıyla dolu bu evde ne yapacaklarını düşünürlerken ta çocukluklarına uzanan bir olayı tekrar hatırlamaya doğru adım adım ilerliyorlar. Çocukluğuna dair önemli anıları hafızasından silinen Erica ve depresyonun eşiğinde olan ablası Beth'le evde tıkılı kalırlar. Diğer yandansa Erica'nın büyük büyükannesinin 1900'lerdeki hayat hikayesinden bölümler okuyoruz. Günümüz bölümlerine alışmak benim için biraz uzun sürdü, yazarın biraz karman çorman bir kalemi vardı. Ama geçmiş bölümleri aksine daha büyük bir merakla ve severek okudum. Günümüz bölümlerine alışmam da iki kızkardeşin bahsetmediği o olayın arka perdesi yavaş yavaş ortaya çıkmasıyla birlikte başladı. Son bölümleriyse en çok beğendiğim kısımdı. Ayrıca hikayenin işlenişinde gerçekçi bir tarafın olmasını da ayrı takdir ettim. Genel anlamda baktığımda istediğim kadar duygularımı şaha kaldıran bir kitap değildi fakat türünde çok beğendiğim bir kitap oldu. Yazarın diğer kitaplarını da bir ara okurum diye düşünüyorum. Ama not geçmek gerekirse kendisinden daha güçlü bir kalem beklediğimi söylemeliyim. Keyifli okumalar dilerim..
February 10, 2016
Ce n'était pas le livre pour lequel j'avais voté mais je me lançais néanmoins dedans avec joie.
J'ai eu quelques difficultés à entrer dans l'histoire, ne comprenant pas vraiment l'intérêt de ce que l'on me racontait au présent (bien que j'ai de suite apprécie Erika) alors que j'étais de suite très prise par l'histoire du passée, celle de Caroline que je trouvais au début très courageuse et féministe (au début seulement).
Ce n'est qu'au bout de 300 pages que je me suis complètement prise au jeu et que je me suis réellement intéressée au secret, avant cela je lisais car je n'aime pas ne pas terminer un livre. Je suis plutôt satisfaite des révélations et de la fin néanmoins si c'est un livre agréable et facile à lire, je ne crois pas que ce soit le genre d'histoire qui me passionne. Ou peut-être ne me suis-je pas assez sentie impliquée pour avoir un intérêt à savoir. Du coup 3/5 seulement, j'ai aimé mais sans plus.
J'ai eu quelques difficultés à entrer dans l'histoire, ne comprenant pas vraiment l'intérêt de ce que l'on me racontait au présent (bien que j'ai de suite apprécie Erika) alors que j'étais de suite très prise par l'histoire du passée, celle de Caroline que je trouvais au début très courageuse et féministe (au début seulement).
Ce n'est qu'au bout de 300 pages que je me suis complètement prise au jeu et que je me suis réellement intéressée au secret, avant cela je lisais car je n'aime pas ne pas terminer un livre. Je suis plutôt satisfaite des révélations et de la fin néanmoins si c'est un livre agréable et facile à lire, je ne crois pas que ce soit le genre d'histoire qui me passionne. Ou peut-être ne me suis-je pas assez sentie impliquée pour avoir un intérêt à savoir. Du coup 3/5 seulement, j'ai aimé mais sans plus.
August 14, 2014
Really 4.5 stars
Very well written dual timeline story. Actually it was 3 timelines. We get the early 1902-1911 story (mostly) set in Oklahoma Territory. Then there is the current time story set in England which also includes a flashback story set in 1986. All 3 stories are well done with very interesting characters. There are family secrets and repressed memories, an old family manor house and something bad that happened in 1986. Some of the secrets are easy to figure out but the one near the end I never saw coming.
I liked this one enough to hunt down some of her other books.
Very well written dual timeline story. Actually it was 3 timelines. We get the early 1902-1911 story (mostly) set in Oklahoma Territory. Then there is the current time story set in England which also includes a flashback story set in 1986. All 3 stories are well done with very interesting characters. There are family secrets and repressed memories, an old family manor house and something bad that happened in 1986. Some of the secrets are easy to figure out but the one near the end I never saw coming.
I liked this one enough to hunt down some of her other books.
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