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Ferney
When Mike and Gally move to a new cottage in Somerset, it’s to make a new start. But the relationship comes under strain when Gally forms an increasingly close attachment to an old countryman, Ferney, who seems to know everything about her.
What is it that draws them together? Reluctantly at first, then with more urgency as he feels time slipping away, Ferney compels Gally to understand their connection - and to face an inexplicable truth about their shared past.
What is it that draws them together? Reluctantly at first, then with more urgency as he feels time slipping away, Ferney compels Gally to understand their connection - and to face an inexplicable truth about their shared past.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
73 people are currently reading
1156 people want to read
About the author
James Long
53 books54 followersAka Will Davenport
James Long was a BBC TV news correspondent until the end of the 1980s. After two years starting and running an international TV station out of Zurich, he returned to England to concentrate on writing, which had always been his first love. He wrote four thrillers, then went back to a story he had begun many years earlier and which grew into Ferney. The book was originally born from his disappointment at being unable to buy a derelict cottage he had found near the village of Penselwood and that house became the centre of the story. Many more novels followed, including two written under the pseudonym 'Will Davenport.' He moved into historical non-fiction in 2007 with The Plot against Pepys, co-written with his oldest son, Ben. Since then, he has co-written a play with his middle son, Harry. He lives with his wife, Annie and daughter Matilda in Totnes, Devon. His interests range from archaeology to motor racing. He is actively involved in the creative writing charity, the Arvon Foundation and tutors from time to time on Arvon courses. He is also a patron and adviser to the Dartington Literary Festival, 'Ways with Words.'
James Long was a BBC TV news correspondent until the end of the 1980s. After two years starting and running an international TV station out of Zurich, he returned to England to concentrate on writing, which had always been his first love. He wrote four thrillers, then went back to a story he had begun many years earlier and which grew into Ferney. The book was originally born from his disappointment at being unable to buy a derelict cottage he had found near the village of Penselwood and that house became the centre of the story. Many more novels followed, including two written under the pseudonym 'Will Davenport.' He moved into historical non-fiction in 2007 with The Plot against Pepys, co-written with his oldest son, Ben. Since then, he has co-written a play with his middle son, Harry. He lives with his wife, Annie and daughter Matilda in Totnes, Devon. His interests range from archaeology to motor racing. He is actively involved in the creative writing charity, the Arvon Foundation and tutors from time to time on Arvon courses. He is also a patron and adviser to the Dartington Literary Festival, 'Ways with Words.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
March 11, 2023
I picked up Ferney as the third book in my '3 for 2' offer at Waterston's, without knowing the first thing about it. The cover drew me and the blurb on the back sounded interesting so I thought I'd give it a whirl.
I'm so glad I was tempted because it's such a fantastic book. It's A love story spanning countless years (and lifetimes. It's not exactly reincarnation, but it's a variation of it....kinda), and I really, really felt for Gally and Ferney, imagining how they must have struggled to find each other in some of their lifetimes. I loved when they managed to get together at the same time in their lives and hated when they overshot each other through no fault of their own. Their very first lifetime together actually moved me when it was revealed exactly what caused them to be so intertwined.
I had a real problem with Gally's husband though. What a misery he was. But then I wonder how my own spouse would be if I were in Gally's position. Probably no different. However, still don't like him *shrug*. I just wanted Gally and Ferney to be together forever and it pained me when they weren't or had interruptions.
I didn't see the 2 big revelations at the end coming though. It came as such a shock. I almost wept when I found out where Gally had been prior to being 'this' Gally (that makes no sense, I know......you'll HAVE to read it) and the end twist was so beautiful but bittersweet at the same time. It left me thinking how that would work out for them both, for days on end after finishing the book.
Such a beautiful, thought provoking book and one that is definitely worth the read, even if it's not your usual type of reading material.
I keep wondering now if I share my present life with loved ones I've spent time with in other lifetimes. I'd like to hope so.
I'm so glad I was tempted because it's such a fantastic book. It's A love story spanning countless years (and lifetimes. It's not exactly reincarnation, but it's a variation of it....kinda), and I really, really felt for Gally and Ferney, imagining how they must have struggled to find each other in some of their lifetimes. I loved when they managed to get together at the same time in their lives and hated when they overshot each other through no fault of their own. Their very first lifetime together actually moved me when it was revealed exactly what caused them to be so intertwined.
I had a real problem with Gally's husband though. What a misery he was. But then I wonder how my own spouse would be if I were in Gally's position. Probably no different. However, still don't like him *shrug*. I just wanted Gally and Ferney to be together forever and it pained me when they weren't or had interruptions.
I didn't see the 2 big revelations at the end coming though. It came as such a shock. I almost wept when I found out where Gally had been prior to being 'this' Gally (that makes no sense, I know......you'll HAVE to read it) and the end twist was so beautiful but bittersweet at the same time. It left me thinking how that would work out for them both, for days on end after finishing the book.
Such a beautiful, thought provoking book and one that is definitely worth the read, even if it's not your usual type of reading material.
I keep wondering now if I share my present life with loved ones I've spent time with in other lifetimes. I'd like to hope so.
December 15, 2015
Could be contender for book of the year. Already.
I loved this book and couldnt wait to open it and read it. There are a couple of themes and passages within the book that are attitude changing.
Essentially its a lover story - and although there are parallels to Time Travellers wife, this came first. It also reminded me a little of last house on the strand, with its references to changing landscapes.
We have a newly wed couple - Gally and Mike. We know Gally has problems sleeping but Mike is a patient man. They are avoiding a car accident and take a back road in a village on the Wiltshire/Dorset/Somerset border when they find a cottage that meets their requirements.
Its a shell of a building but Gally really is drawn to it. Mike succumbs and they buy it with a view to renovation. And then they meet Ferney.
Ferney is a man in his 80s and starts a friendship with Gally. The friendship is based on the following - gally and ferney have been lovers throughout the ages and meet in different bodies through reincarnation.
The mystery is slowly revealed, with mounting conflict with Mike. The cottage / shared history is the key and centre to the story and the reason for the revelations - first in terms of ring hidden under the entrance of a door and then the two characters from the civil war that are responsible for the nightmares.
Obviously, there is some credibility issues to overcome, but the story is so well put together you can overcome this. The message of the book is the relatively short period of time modern history has evolved. In one passage, Ferny describes how he can get back to the civil war by going back four generations of people his age. This is truthful and a little bit eye opening, when you think of it.
The pace of the book is generally spot on - plenty of mystery and tension that always want to make you read the next chapter. The characterisation is good and even the credibility is overcome through masterful story telling.
A five star book.
I loved this book and couldnt wait to open it and read it. There are a couple of themes and passages within the book that are attitude changing.
Essentially its a lover story - and although there are parallels to Time Travellers wife, this came first. It also reminded me a little of last house on the strand, with its references to changing landscapes.
We have a newly wed couple - Gally and Mike. We know Gally has problems sleeping but Mike is a patient man. They are avoiding a car accident and take a back road in a village on the Wiltshire/Dorset/Somerset border when they find a cottage that meets their requirements.
Its a shell of a building but Gally really is drawn to it. Mike succumbs and they buy it with a view to renovation. And then they meet Ferney.
Ferney is a man in his 80s and starts a friendship with Gally. The friendship is based on the following - gally and ferney have been lovers throughout the ages and meet in different bodies through reincarnation.
The mystery is slowly revealed, with mounting conflict with Mike. The cottage / shared history is the key and centre to the story and the reason for the revelations - first in terms of ring hidden under the entrance of a door and then the two characters from the civil war that are responsible for the nightmares.
Obviously, there is some credibility issues to overcome, but the story is so well put together you can overcome this. The message of the book is the relatively short period of time modern history has evolved. In one passage, Ferny describes how he can get back to the civil war by going back four generations of people his age. This is truthful and a little bit eye opening, when you think of it.
The pace of the book is generally spot on - plenty of mystery and tension that always want to make you read the next chapter. The characterisation is good and even the credibility is overcome through masterful story telling.
A five star book.
February 16, 2013
This is a review of both Ferney and its sequel The Lives She Left Behind.
While Mike and Gally Martin are looking for a country home they stumble across a ramshackle cottage to which Gally feels strangely drawn. The whole village seems familiar to her and Ferney, an old man who wanders the local countryside, seems particularly keen to get to know her. Gally feels a mounting connection to the cottage and to Ferney, who must wait patiently until she is ready to hear and accept the truth about their relationship. The Lives She Left behind continues the story of some of the characters in the first novel and sees the underlying idea of Ferney come to fruition.
These are really difficult books to write about as there is so much I could give away and I don't want to spoil them for future readers. Will do my best, but please forgive me for any accidental slips.
The books don't fit into any single genre - a mix of romance, historical novel and ghost story is probably the easiest interpretation. But though I like, and read a lot of, these separate genres, I didn't think that these books were a successful mix of the three as it meant there was too much going on for the plot and characters to remain credible - even when suspending disbelief as much as possible.
My main problem with the books, from which my other issues spring, is that I didn't find the two leads likeable. I found them selfish and careless of the damage they do to the lives of others, so much so that I just wanted them to go off and leave everyone else alone. I didn't feel that we ever see what it is that these two characters love about each other - they seem to be together through force of habit rather than through choice. They are cruel to everyone else and rationalise this as being ok as it's due to the enormous love they have for each other. I couldn't agree.
The setting of the books is well done, and I enjoyed the discussions that pop up from time to time about the pagan versus the Christian world, and the development of country life across the years into village and then town dwelling. I didn't find the historical flashbacks all that successful though, perhaps as we plunge into and out of them so quickly, meaning there's no time to acclimatise. I assume this is a device to bring home to us the relevant characters' confusion about the historical background, but I found it made me a little cross and meant that I started to skip the historical passages.
I slightly preferred the second novel, The Lives She Left Behind, to the first as I liked some of the supporting cast of characters better and enjoyed the scenes at the archaeological dig. However, I found the ending a bit too pat, with too much effort to tie up all the ends. Some terrible, cruel things are done by some characters to the others, which to my mind would leave scars or at least grudges, but by the end much of it seems forgotten. This doesn't match what I know of human nature.
All this makes me seem that I have no romance in my soul and that I have no truck with anything that isn't entirely rational. This definitely isn't the case, but I believe a great love such as that portrayed should make the lovers kinder and more understanding to those around them, rather than what I saw happening in the books.
Those who like a bit of mystery and the supernatural with their romance will love these books. I struggled with them for the reasons given above and am glad I've finished having to read about the selfishness and cruelty of some of their characters.
While Mike and Gally Martin are looking for a country home they stumble across a ramshackle cottage to which Gally feels strangely drawn. The whole village seems familiar to her and Ferney, an old man who wanders the local countryside, seems particularly keen to get to know her. Gally feels a mounting connection to the cottage and to Ferney, who must wait patiently until she is ready to hear and accept the truth about their relationship. The Lives She Left behind continues the story of some of the characters in the first novel and sees the underlying idea of Ferney come to fruition.
These are really difficult books to write about as there is so much I could give away and I don't want to spoil them for future readers. Will do my best, but please forgive me for any accidental slips.
The books don't fit into any single genre - a mix of romance, historical novel and ghost story is probably the easiest interpretation. But though I like, and read a lot of, these separate genres, I didn't think that these books were a successful mix of the three as it meant there was too much going on for the plot and characters to remain credible - even when suspending disbelief as much as possible.
My main problem with the books, from which my other issues spring, is that I didn't find the two leads likeable. I found them selfish and careless of the damage they do to the lives of others, so much so that I just wanted them to go off and leave everyone else alone. I didn't feel that we ever see what it is that these two characters love about each other - they seem to be together through force of habit rather than through choice. They are cruel to everyone else and rationalise this as being ok as it's due to the enormous love they have for each other. I couldn't agree.
The setting of the books is well done, and I enjoyed the discussions that pop up from time to time about the pagan versus the Christian world, and the development of country life across the years into village and then town dwelling. I didn't find the historical flashbacks all that successful though, perhaps as we plunge into and out of them so quickly, meaning there's no time to acclimatise. I assume this is a device to bring home to us the relevant characters' confusion about the historical background, but I found it made me a little cross and meant that I started to skip the historical passages.
I slightly preferred the second novel, The Lives She Left Behind, to the first as I liked some of the supporting cast of characters better and enjoyed the scenes at the archaeological dig. However, I found the ending a bit too pat, with too much effort to tie up all the ends. Some terrible, cruel things are done by some characters to the others, which to my mind would leave scars or at least grudges, but by the end much of it seems forgotten. This doesn't match what I know of human nature.
All this makes me seem that I have no romance in my soul and that I have no truck with anything that isn't entirely rational. This definitely isn't the case, but I believe a great love such as that portrayed should make the lovers kinder and more understanding to those around them, rather than what I saw happening in the books.
Those who like a bit of mystery and the supernatural with their romance will love these books. I struggled with them for the reasons given above and am glad I've finished having to read about the selfishness and cruelty of some of their characters.
September 19, 2012
Ferney has an interesting concept, but sadly the book itself was not my cup of tea. James Long obviously has a vast knowledge (or did plenty of research) of the history of the area where Ferney is set and tries to put it all into the book. While interesting at first, sometimes these historical revelations and retelling jarred and slowed the pace of the story down. Rather than focusing on the characters and their development, it felt that Long was more interested in conveying his wealth of knowledge.
My main problem with Ferney, however, was that I could not buy into the 'love story' that spanned many centuries, often thinking of poor Mike. This man, who loved his wife, had already given up his dream job to keep her happy and was then paying for the renovation of the cottage, all the while being treated like he was inconsequential. In turn Ferney and Gally came across as selfish individuals, who HAD to be together. I kept asking myself why? I couldn't find any evidence in the book and this further emphasised my animosity towards these characters. Maybe I missed something? Ferny wasn't terrible, Long has a adept way of describing the bucolic surroundings and maybe with a bit of editing an easy to follow writing style, but it just wasn't for me.
My main problem with Ferney, however, was that I could not buy into the 'love story' that spanned many centuries, often thinking of poor Mike. This man, who loved his wife, had already given up his dream job to keep her happy and was then paying for the renovation of the cottage, all the while being treated like he was inconsequential. In turn Ferney and Gally came across as selfish individuals, who HAD to be together. I kept asking myself why? I couldn't find any evidence in the book and this further emphasised my animosity towards these characters. Maybe I missed something? Ferny wasn't terrible, Long has a adept way of describing the bucolic surroundings and maybe with a bit of editing an easy to follow writing style, but it just wasn't for me.
February 2, 2010
One of my top ten all time favorites! This story will stay with you long after you finish reading the book.
July 24, 2010
Ferney has lived a long time. A very long time. Over 1,500 years.
At least his soul has.
This novel by James Long makes the case for reincarnation, love, time and history. As the book begins, the year is 1990, and 26 year old Gally and her husband Mike take a detour to avoid a car crash, and find themselves in the English village of Penselwood, in front of a delapidated house by the name of Bagstone Cottage. Gally, who has been troubled by nightmares for as long as she can remember, feels a sense of peace, comfort and connection with the old house. These feelings intensify as an elderly man ambles up and introduces himself as Ferney. Gally is instantly drawn to the old man. Strangely so, as far as Mike is concerned. Within weeks, the young couple buy the cottage and begin renovations. Ferney is ever-present, which is wonderful to Gally, but annoying to an increasingly fearful Mike, who resents the old man's presence.
The stage is now set. The age-old participants in life's drama are in place, as Ferney slowly begins to help Gally remember her past lives. Lives almost exclusively shared on some level or another with Ferney. Gally comes to see the truth and history behind some of her worst nightmares, which are really nothing more then experiences her soul encountered from the 600's to the present day. Through it all, Ferney is there, and the love between them that has existed for over 1,500 years isn't about to die just because of their ages. Somehow they must be together again - but closer in age then they are now.
Long has a real knack for mixing the past and the present lives together. I really enjoyed the first 3/4-ths of the novel. I liked how Long explained the concept of time, and how he weaved the reincarnated lives of Ferney and Gally throughout the book.
Ultimately, I gave this potentially 4 star book only 3 stars, due to what I thought was an exceptionally weak and lackluster ending. Definitely a decent book, but with lost potential at the close IMO.
At least his soul has.
This novel by James Long makes the case for reincarnation, love, time and history. As the book begins, the year is 1990, and 26 year old Gally and her husband Mike take a detour to avoid a car crash, and find themselves in the English village of Penselwood, in front of a delapidated house by the name of Bagstone Cottage. Gally, who has been troubled by nightmares for as long as she can remember, feels a sense of peace, comfort and connection with the old house. These feelings intensify as an elderly man ambles up and introduces himself as Ferney. Gally is instantly drawn to the old man. Strangely so, as far as Mike is concerned. Within weeks, the young couple buy the cottage and begin renovations. Ferney is ever-present, which is wonderful to Gally, but annoying to an increasingly fearful Mike, who resents the old man's presence.
The stage is now set. The age-old participants in life's drama are in place, as Ferney slowly begins to help Gally remember her past lives. Lives almost exclusively shared on some level or another with Ferney. Gally comes to see the truth and history behind some of her worst nightmares, which are really nothing more then experiences her soul encountered from the 600's to the present day. Through it all, Ferney is there, and the love between them that has existed for over 1,500 years isn't about to die just because of their ages. Somehow they must be together again - but closer in age then they are now.
Long has a real knack for mixing the past and the present lives together. I really enjoyed the first 3/4-ths of the novel. I liked how Long explained the concept of time, and how he weaved the reincarnated lives of Ferney and Gally throughout the book.
Ultimately, I gave this potentially 4 star book only 3 stars, due to what I thought was an exceptionally weak and lackluster ending. Definitely a decent book, but with lost potential at the close IMO.
August 18, 2012
It is great to see Ferney being re-released in the UK. HarperCollins published this book not long before I began working there back in 2000, and I know the publisher felt that it should have had more attention than it got. I read it over ten years ago, and the ending is still particularly vivid. The love story is absolutely original – a forerunner to The Time Traveller’s Wife – with a beautiful English countryside setting. I won’t give any more away, but if you can find it, read it!
NB: There’s also a sequel, called The Lives She Left Behind, which I’ll be looking out for.
NB: There’s also a sequel, called The Lives She Left Behind, which I’ll be looking out for.
August 29, 2012
I just absolutely loved this book in every way! I only read it because I was lucky enough to win the sequel on the Goodreads giveaways, and I'm so glad that I did.
It is described as a romance that spans 1300 years with the two main characters being destined to be re-born again and again. However this is no mushy, lovey-dovey romance, but what I would describe as a well written love story.
I can definitely recommend reading this book - it's one that I will definitely read again and probably again after that! Truly lovely.
It is described as a romance that spans 1300 years with the two main characters being destined to be re-born again and again. However this is no mushy, lovey-dovey romance, but what I would describe as a well written love story.
I can definitely recommend reading this book - it's one that I will definitely read again and probably again after that! Truly lovely.
January 10, 2024
3,5* Completamente fora da área que eu gosto, este livro foi uma agradável surpresa. Uma história de amor e de reencarnação. Um livro que me fez lembrar uma série televisiva: O Imortal e a série Outlander
February 6, 2012
Quando Mike e Gally decidem comprar uma casa fora da cidade que vivem, devido ao estado de saúde mental de Gally, Gally sabe perfeitamente onde quer viver. Após uma longa procura da casa ideal, encontram acidentalmente uma belha casa na Vila de Somerset e infrutífera de casas que são bonitas mas de alguma forma não muito bem que eles acidentalmente cair e para desconforto de Mike, Gally afirma que a casa é perfeita.É aqui que encontram Ferney, protagonista da história, um homem idoso, quase com 80 anos que ao longo do livro se aproxima de Gally, criando um ligação muito estranha entre Ferney, Gally e a estranha casa.
Depressa se apercebem que já se conhecem há muitos anos e concluímos que Ferney e Gally foram casados mas Gally foi assassinada sem nunca ter sido encontrado o corpo.
Estava a ser uma leitura muito interessante mas fui perdendo o interesse à medida que a leitura foi avançando. Mas não deixa de ser um livro bom, pois apesar da ideia da reencarnação nao ser original, achei a história bastante credível, apenas alongou-se um pouco. Um bom livro com uma escrita envolvente.
Depressa se apercebem que já se conhecem há muitos anos e concluímos que Ferney e Gally foram casados mas Gally foi assassinada sem nunca ter sido encontrado o corpo.
Estava a ser uma leitura muito interessante mas fui perdendo o interesse à medida que a leitura foi avançando. Mas não deixa de ser um livro bom, pois apesar da ideia da reencarnação nao ser original, achei a história bastante credível, apenas alongou-se um pouco. Um bom livro com uma escrita envolvente.
August 8, 2015
A beautifully engaging and beguiling time slip novel that draws you into the bucolic English countryside.
Mike and Gally are looking for a dream home in the country. They find it in a Somerset village. Along with an old man called Ferney who seems tied to the house. Gally and Ferney have a connection beyond rational explanation, a love that has endured down the centuries which we discover as their story unfolds. In the present day they are at very different stages of their lives so it is hard to imagine a happy ending but with reincarnation no one really dies, they just begin again.
These characters live on long after you close the book.
Mike and Gally are looking for a dream home in the country. They find it in a Somerset village. Along with an old man called Ferney who seems tied to the house. Gally and Ferney have a connection beyond rational explanation, a love that has endured down the centuries which we discover as their story unfolds. In the present day they are at very different stages of their lives so it is hard to imagine a happy ending but with reincarnation no one really dies, they just begin again.
These characters live on long after you close the book.
dnf
March 20, 2022DNF on page 223/554.
I just couldn't get on with these characters at all. I didn't remotely believe in the love story and felt so so sorry for Gally's husband. I didn't connect with why Gally and Ferney were even in love, 'meant to be' etc. other than this inexplicable 'pull' they kept indirectly referring to - it was never explained or expanded on and so I was left feeling like the very decent husband who put a lot of time and effort into his and Gally's relationship was just left out in the cold, through no fault of his own and thanks to two characters who were really quite cruel.
Not my cup of tea at all unfortunately.
I just couldn't get on with these characters at all. I didn't remotely believe in the love story and felt so so sorry for Gally's husband. I didn't connect with why Gally and Ferney were even in love, 'meant to be' etc. other than this inexplicable 'pull' they kept indirectly referring to - it was never explained or expanded on and so I was left feeling like the very decent husband who put a lot of time and effort into his and Gally's relationship was just left out in the cold, through no fault of his own and thanks to two characters who were really quite cruel.
Not my cup of tea at all unfortunately.
July 13, 2015
Ah yes, there it is - in my own original "Goodreads" list which I began when I started writing everything I read into a notebook, with the stars and all! This definitely has 5, with a great big tick right along side them as well! I recall loving this very much! Am very excited to have just discovered there is a sequel. How wonderful. Definitely an original and clever book.
April 28, 2019
Well, this was about 400 pages too long
May 16, 2019
Hmmm, maybe 3.5 stars? I'm a bit mixed. I thought this was going to be a time travel book for some reason, but it was actually more of a reincarnation book.
Gally and her husband Mike move from the city to the English countryside after she finds herself drawn to a dilapidated cottage in a small village. As they wait for the cottage to be repaired, Gally gets to know an elderly man, Ferney, who lives in the same village. Gradually, we/she comes to learn that she and Ferney have met in a previous life. Actually, many many many previous lives, continually getting reincarnated as the bodies they inhabit over the years age and die (or get killed). Their love for each other draws them back to this same location if for some reason their reincarnations take them further afield.
Sooo....not time travel, though there are lots of dual time period sequences as Gally has flashbacks to her previous lives. I learned quite a bit about pre-Medieval English history, and as constantly pulling out my phone to Wiki various locations or objects mentioned.
I thought the writing was excellent. Detailed and descriptive without falling into purple prose. This is definitely a slow burn of a book, however. No fast paced whirlwind romance here. I found it easy to read, but around the 3/4th mark I was starting to get impatient with all of the angst over their love and her conflicting feelings with her present-day husband in the picture. I definitely skimmed a little near the end when there were dense paragraphs of *feelings*.
There was a bit of a twist near the end that helped bump this up that extra half star, I think. The foreshadowing for it was subtle, but definitely obvious once you look back with hindsight:
I think this book would be better for someone who wants to deep love story. I like a little more action in my stories (and not just flashbacks of their horrific deaths).
Gally and her husband Mike move from the city to the English countryside after she finds herself drawn to a dilapidated cottage in a small village. As they wait for the cottage to be repaired, Gally gets to know an elderly man, Ferney, who lives in the same village. Gradually, we/she comes to learn that she and Ferney have met in a previous life. Actually, many many many previous lives, continually getting reincarnated as the bodies they inhabit over the years age and die (or get killed). Their love for each other draws them back to this same location if for some reason their reincarnations take them further afield.
Sooo....not time travel, though there are lots of dual time period sequences as Gally has flashbacks to her previous lives. I learned quite a bit about pre-Medieval English history, and as constantly pulling out my phone to Wiki various locations or objects mentioned.
I thought the writing was excellent. Detailed and descriptive without falling into purple prose. This is definitely a slow burn of a book, however. No fast paced whirlwind romance here. I found it easy to read, but around the 3/4th mark I was starting to get impatient with all of the angst over their love and her conflicting feelings with her present-day husband in the picture. I definitely skimmed a little near the end when there were dense paragraphs of *feelings*.
There was a bit of a twist near the end that helped bump this up that extra half star, I think. The foreshadowing for it was subtle, but definitely obvious once you look back with hindsight:
I think this book would be better for someone who wants to deep love story. I like a little more action in my stories (and not just flashbacks of their horrific deaths).
May 30, 2021
"Ferney" - written by James Long and published in 1998 by HarperCollins. Gally and her husband Mike come upon a dilapidated, abandoned cottage in the English countryside and decide it's the place for them (mostly Gally). She feels a strong connection to it and a local old man, Ferney, comes along and reinforces that feeling. As the book progresses we find out more and more of the bond between Gally and Ferney, which he tries to reveal in pieces so as to not overwhelm her. Soon she is able to bring up memories of their long ago days together, some quite frightening - "A door in her mind, carelessly left unguarded, was unlocked." This novel was a love triangle of a different sort and I really liked the premise of past lives that could be remembered. It brings to mind Niffenegger's "The Time Traveler's Wife," Beukes' "The Shining Girls," and Gabaldon's "Outlander." The book included a lot of English historical events which I wish I was more familiar with. It's a much slower story than the ones mentioned above, with some social commentary incorporated - I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a change of pace.
Read
October 9, 2018DNF
January 4, 2021
It took me a while to get into this book but towards the end I was gripped. I have never been one for love stories but this one really took hold of me and by the end of this book I was immediately reaching to buy the sequel. Beautifully written!
June 13, 2012
Gally Martin doesn’t know what she wants. Her husband, Mike, is more or less perfect. He’s decent, caring and devoted. Ferney is an old man. Nearly 1,500 years old to be exact. Well his soul is anyway and for some reason he and Gally have a connection.
Now before you cast me aside as just another bloke who doesn’t understand romance novels, I do enjoy them. I’m a fan of the book Time Traveler's Wife (The film not so much) and I do enjoy the concept and overall plot of this book. What ruins it for me though is the characters James Long has presented to us.
I cannot stand Gally. I find her to be an indecisive and manipulative moron and at every page I wish Mike could see the same thing and just escape from her clutches. This in turn annoys me; Mike is highly intelligent, being a university lecturer, but so dim witted and lovestruck it is too frustrating to read.
This awkward love triangle is completed by the main event, Ferney himself who pops up every now and then to contradict Mike, giving rebirth to the age old cliche of supposedly ignorant educational establishments and they argue like a un-amusing versions of Eric Cartman and Kyle Broflovski’s ‘no it isn’t, yes it is’ battles in South Park.
What I do like about this novel as I have said is the concept. It is historical fiction and I can admire and respect the research and thought accumulated to provide a solid back story rooted deep in English history. Although the method in which they are told, by means of flashback, is standard the passages themselves feel clunky and heavy handed. Some flashbacks seem to occur by a very obvious trail of secrets which as a whole left me a bit underwhelmed. The climax for me did not live up to the build up which was long and arduous.
The characters form no real arc and as soon as we learn of the book’s real twist it becomes predictable. No amount of skillful writing, and Long is very gifted as a wordsmith, is going to save this fairly straightforward outcome. I did not feel a struggle in this book. Again I feel compelled to compare it to Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife in which there was a great struggle and frustration to overcome. For the most part I feel this is down to Mike who seems to lack any passion for anything, save his history.
This novel however, is still worth a read as the overall premise is solid and Long really can string a sentence together with the best of them. What lacks is the characters, none of whom I could relate to but then, maybe that’s just me. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and romance then I say take it on a whim, stick it on your shelf. You might enjoy it and it is certainly worth more of your attention than the latest spewed out celebrity biography. In a strange way I often enjoy books that I haven’t quite connected with. It lets me know what I do not like and appreciate what I do even more. It gives me something to think about, and Long’s sense of history was inspiring. I think he can do better though and if it really was truly awful I would not have anything to say.
I'd rather give it two and a half stars, but I'm feeling nice so 3 stars it is.
Now before you cast me aside as just another bloke who doesn’t understand romance novels, I do enjoy them. I’m a fan of the book Time Traveler's Wife (The film not so much) and I do enjoy the concept and overall plot of this book. What ruins it for me though is the characters James Long has presented to us.
I cannot stand Gally. I find her to be an indecisive and manipulative moron and at every page I wish Mike could see the same thing and just escape from her clutches. This in turn annoys me; Mike is highly intelligent, being a university lecturer, but so dim witted and lovestruck it is too frustrating to read.
This awkward love triangle is completed by the main event, Ferney himself who pops up every now and then to contradict Mike, giving rebirth to the age old cliche of supposedly ignorant educational establishments and they argue like a un-amusing versions of Eric Cartman and Kyle Broflovski’s ‘no it isn’t, yes it is’ battles in South Park.
What I do like about this novel as I have said is the concept. It is historical fiction and I can admire and respect the research and thought accumulated to provide a solid back story rooted deep in English history. Although the method in which they are told, by means of flashback, is standard the passages themselves feel clunky and heavy handed. Some flashbacks seem to occur by a very obvious trail of secrets which as a whole left me a bit underwhelmed. The climax for me did not live up to the build up which was long and arduous.
The characters form no real arc and as soon as we learn of the book’s real twist it becomes predictable. No amount of skillful writing, and Long is very gifted as a wordsmith, is going to save this fairly straightforward outcome. I did not feel a struggle in this book. Again I feel compelled to compare it to Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife in which there was a great struggle and frustration to overcome. For the most part I feel this is down to Mike who seems to lack any passion for anything, save his history.
This novel however, is still worth a read as the overall premise is solid and Long really can string a sentence together with the best of them. What lacks is the characters, none of whom I could relate to but then, maybe that’s just me. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and romance then I say take it on a whim, stick it on your shelf. You might enjoy it and it is certainly worth more of your attention than the latest spewed out celebrity biography. In a strange way I often enjoy books that I haven’t quite connected with. It lets me know what I do not like and appreciate what I do even more. It gives me something to think about, and Long’s sense of history was inspiring. I think he can do better though and if it really was truly awful I would not have anything to say.
I'd rather give it two and a half stars, but I'm feeling nice so 3 stars it is.
August 29, 2012
Fifteen hundred years earlier...
Two soulmates make a pact with the aid of a magical stone to not let even death itself, seperate them. However, fate and tragedy have often conspired against them despite their many reincarnations.
Present Day...
It was an accidental detour inspired by one of Gally's frequent panic attacks that sent her husband, Mike, stumbling down a twisting lane to the abandoned country cottage. From the moment Gally's gaze falls upon it, she feels a sense of having come home. As her husband works at their new home's restoration, Gally finds herself growing unexpectedly close to an eighty-three-year-old man named Ferney . How could she become so attached to a virtual stranger and why does Ferney seem to know her better than she knows herself?
As Ferney slowly begins to help Gally remember her past lives. Lives almost exclusively shared on some level or another with Ferney, Gally comes to see the truth and history behind some of her worst nightmares, which are really nothing more then experiences her soul encountered from the 600's to the present day. Through it all, Ferney is there, and the love between them that has existed for over 1,500 years isn't about to die just because of their ages. Somehow they must be together again - but closer in age then they are now....
I'm a big fan of books that mix the past and present lives together. I liked how Long explained the concept of time, and how he weaved the reincarnated lives of Ferney and Gally throughout the book. I became invested in all the characters and really wanted an ending that offered some hope for the future for both Ferney and Gally. The ending comes across as anti climatic, however, I've recently learned that there is a sequel called, The Lives She Left Behind. Highly recommended.
Two soulmates make a pact with the aid of a magical stone to not let even death itself, seperate them. However, fate and tragedy have often conspired against them despite their many reincarnations.
Present Day...
It was an accidental detour inspired by one of Gally's frequent panic attacks that sent her husband, Mike, stumbling down a twisting lane to the abandoned country cottage. From the moment Gally's gaze falls upon it, she feels a sense of having come home. As her husband works at their new home's restoration, Gally finds herself growing unexpectedly close to an eighty-three-year-old man named Ferney . How could she become so attached to a virtual stranger and why does Ferney seem to know her better than she knows herself?
As Ferney slowly begins to help Gally remember her past lives. Lives almost exclusively shared on some level or another with Ferney, Gally comes to see the truth and history behind some of her worst nightmares, which are really nothing more then experiences her soul encountered from the 600's to the present day. Through it all, Ferney is there, and the love between them that has existed for over 1,500 years isn't about to die just because of their ages. Somehow they must be together again - but closer in age then they are now....
I'm a big fan of books that mix the past and present lives together. I liked how Long explained the concept of time, and how he weaved the reincarnated lives of Ferney and Gally throughout the book. I became invested in all the characters and really wanted an ending that offered some hope for the future for both Ferney and Gally. The ending comes across as anti climatic, however, I've recently learned that there is a sequel called, The Lives She Left Behind. Highly recommended.
September 30, 2012
Ferney by James Long
This novel is immense in its breadth and concept. In fact it is extraordinary, breathtaking and at times too bewildering to get your head round. And those of us with a spiritual inclination toward karma and reincarnation, past lives and rebirth will be scurrying to meditate on these new possibilities!!
Yet on another level the story is astonishingly simple in terms of contemporary time travel fiction. But, and this is a big but, in my opinion the execution of the tale doesn’t do justice to its premise and promise. I am sorry to have been so scathing, I feel caught in my own paradox.
It is so long winded. The opening chapters did not consistently engage my interest and I fear some readers may be lost before they can get into this deceptively astounding book.
So much of it is written from the historical perspective that it reads like a reference book in parts. Yet there are some fundamental truths within the book that light up my heart, ‘It was all about keeping a good balance with the world’ and ‘Surely homespun is the real thing?’
The contemporary characters of Ferney and Gally seem inconsistent with their ‘historical’ selves at times and I had a sense of the ethereal particularly with Gally.
Poor Mike is almost a cardboard cut out. Full of knowledge and understanding but there seems no substance to him. He seems a literary tool, a function not a person.
To say I didn’t like the book would be so so very wrong. It’s still floating around the recesses of my brain demanding more of me than maybe I have given it so far. I think the ideas are greater than the mechanics of the writing.
And so, maybe a Marmite book? I’m off now to read the sequel…… I’ll get back to you….
This novel is immense in its breadth and concept. In fact it is extraordinary, breathtaking and at times too bewildering to get your head round. And those of us with a spiritual inclination toward karma and reincarnation, past lives and rebirth will be scurrying to meditate on these new possibilities!!
Yet on another level the story is astonishingly simple in terms of contemporary time travel fiction. But, and this is a big but, in my opinion the execution of the tale doesn’t do justice to its premise and promise. I am sorry to have been so scathing, I feel caught in my own paradox.
It is so long winded. The opening chapters did not consistently engage my interest and I fear some readers may be lost before they can get into this deceptively astounding book.
So much of it is written from the historical perspective that it reads like a reference book in parts. Yet there are some fundamental truths within the book that light up my heart, ‘It was all about keeping a good balance with the world’ and ‘Surely homespun is the real thing?’
The contemporary characters of Ferney and Gally seem inconsistent with their ‘historical’ selves at times and I had a sense of the ethereal particularly with Gally.
Poor Mike is almost a cardboard cut out. Full of knowledge and understanding but there seems no substance to him. He seems a literary tool, a function not a person.
To say I didn’t like the book would be so so very wrong. It’s still floating around the recesses of my brain demanding more of me than maybe I have given it so far. I think the ideas are greater than the mechanics of the writing.
And so, maybe a Marmite book? I’m off now to read the sequel…… I’ll get back to you….
January 19, 2016
I was intrigued by this book from the start. The premise was somewhat unique and took some figuring out, and so the book does get 2 stars for that effort and ingenuity. But overall, the book saddened me and left me disheartened. I'm also rather glad that I don't believe in reincarnation.
***SPOILER ALERT***
I mean the idea that 2 people over the centuries meet and become a couple and then die, are reincarnated into the next life and are able to recall their past lives together, and so they go in search of one another in each additional life time - yeah, I like that idea. WOW! What an interesting scenario! It sounds like a sweet, thought-provoking read, but it just didn't get delivered within these pages. It wasn't sweet; it was selfish. The whole idea of soul mates got taken to another level here. It wasn't romantic; it was creepy. It wasn't inspiring; it freaked me out.
The idea of an 80-something-year-old man telling a woman in her twenties that they should be together because they've always been together throughout the centuries. And then telling her that they had agreed that if one of them died before the other that the other would take their own life so they could come back and be close once more. [Shiver!] That's the stuff of nightmares.
***SPOILER ALERT***
I mean the idea that 2 people over the centuries meet and become a couple and then die, are reincarnated into the next life and are able to recall their past lives together, and so they go in search of one another in each additional life time - yeah, I like that idea. WOW! What an interesting scenario! It sounds like a sweet, thought-provoking read, but it just didn't get delivered within these pages. It wasn't sweet; it was selfish. The whole idea of soul mates got taken to another level here. It wasn't romantic; it was creepy. It wasn't inspiring; it freaked me out.
The idea of an 80-something-year-old man telling a woman in her twenties that they should be together because they've always been together throughout the centuries. And then telling her that they had agreed that if one of them died before the other that the other would take their own life so they could come back and be close once more. [Shiver!] That's the stuff of nightmares.
August 15, 2014
This book is unbelievable.
Not in a good way.
The basic premise is that Ferney and Gally have been reincarnated throughout time, always ending up in the same village and in love with each other. Now, I have no problem with fantastical premises, suspension of belief is one of the joys of reading. But Long completely fails to convince that this premise could possibly work and what results is a story about an old man and a young woman with some kind of odd connection. This may be a story in itself, but it's a completely different story. I was left empathising with Gally's husband Mike who cannot figure out why his wife is so obsessed with Ferney. In fact I felt sorry for Mike who has given up a life's dream to be with Gally, she repays him with her single minded obsession with another (much older) man and frankly the ending is just weird.
Comparisons between Ferney and The Time Traveller's Wife are not founded in my opinion. Niffenegger manages to bring credibility to her premise and flesh out a love story, Long attempts and fails to do this and what results is an odd book with the only strength that it's an easy - and therefore quick - read.
Not in a good way.
The basic premise is that Ferney and Gally have been reincarnated throughout time, always ending up in the same village and in love with each other. Now, I have no problem with fantastical premises, suspension of belief is one of the joys of reading. But Long completely fails to convince that this premise could possibly work and what results is a story about an old man and a young woman with some kind of odd connection. This may be a story in itself, but it's a completely different story. I was left empathising with Gally's husband Mike who cannot figure out why his wife is so obsessed with Ferney. In fact I felt sorry for Mike who has given up a life's dream to be with Gally, she repays him with her single minded obsession with another (much older) man and frankly the ending is just weird.
Comparisons between Ferney and The Time Traveller's Wife are not founded in my opinion. Niffenegger manages to bring credibility to her premise and flesh out a love story, Long attempts and fails to do this and what results is an odd book with the only strength that it's an easy - and therefore quick - read.
January 11, 2014
I loved this book!
Had never heard of it - or the author - till seeing it here on Goodreads.
Although I found the beginning a bit dry & confusing, I'm happy I kept going - the story & the history lesson are sooo worth it!
Very happy to know there is a sequel.
Though it seems it might be a while before I can get my hands on a copy, I cannot wait to see were Ferney & Gally's love story will go!!
Had never heard of it - or the author - till seeing it here on Goodreads.
Although I found the beginning a bit dry & confusing, I'm happy I kept going - the story & the history lesson are sooo worth it!
Very happy to know there is a sequel.
Though it seems it might be a while before I can get my hands on a copy, I cannot wait to see were Ferney & Gally's love story will go!!
May 20, 2024
A story of pre-determination between two characters, which I found very frustrating to read. There seemed to be very little explanation of why they would still be in love, more a matter of habit. I found the story very wordy, and a bit of a slog to finish. I also found it very uncomfortable to read, and even after several years it still doesn't sit right with me.
August 4, 2012
love,love,love.
January 7, 2013
I loved this as it is set very near to where I live at Penselwood and has given me incentive to learn more about the villages around me.
November 17, 2018
This book had me hooked from beginning to end. Whether you believe in past lives or not, this is a fascinating read, with the main characters skipping back and forth through different historical periods,re-living their past, and unravelling their story as the book progresses. Past life regression, history, romance,mystery and suspence, are all rolled into one, with an unexpected twist at the end. Can't wait to read the sequel.
January 10, 2009
Lovely book that gives a great view of the English country side and village life. I love stories that mix times and throw in history.
From the Publisher
It was an accidental detour inspired by one of Gally's frequent panic attacks that sent her husband Mike down a twisting lane to the abandoned cottage. Yet from the moment she saw it, Gally felt a peace she hadn't known in years and the inexplicable sense that she had finally come home. And so she had. For as Mike worries and fusses over their new home's restoration, it is Gally who seems to know exactly how it should look. Indeed, Gally seems to flourish in the tiny village of Penselwood, deep in the Somerset countryside. But the greatest mystery of all is her growing and unexpectedly intimate relationship with an irascible eighty-three-year-old countryman named Ferney. Not even Gally herself can explain the bond between themor how Ferney seems to know her better than she knows herself. Yet through Ferney's old stories Gally finds herself transported down hazy pathways to a past unrecorded in any history book: a magnificent sweep of time and events when the woods were alive with thundering hooves, peasants and soldiers, bloodshed and bravery, and two tragic young lovers who made a vow even death could not break. And as this short, bittersweet rendezvous draws to a close, she must face a life-and-death dilemma that has followed them down the centuries to one moment of unbearable suspense. For Gally must make a decision that will forever change not only their lives, but the lives of all they touch.
From the Publisher
It was an accidental detour inspired by one of Gally's frequent panic attacks that sent her husband Mike down a twisting lane to the abandoned cottage. Yet from the moment she saw it, Gally felt a peace she hadn't known in years and the inexplicable sense that she had finally come home. And so she had. For as Mike worries and fusses over their new home's restoration, it is Gally who seems to know exactly how it should look. Indeed, Gally seems to flourish in the tiny village of Penselwood, deep in the Somerset countryside. But the greatest mystery of all is her growing and unexpectedly intimate relationship with an irascible eighty-three-year-old countryman named Ferney. Not even Gally herself can explain the bond between themor how Ferney seems to know her better than she knows herself. Yet through Ferney's old stories Gally finds herself transported down hazy pathways to a past unrecorded in any history book: a magnificent sweep of time and events when the woods were alive with thundering hooves, peasants and soldiers, bloodshed and bravery, and two tragic young lovers who made a vow even death could not break. And as this short, bittersweet rendezvous draws to a close, she must face a life-and-death dilemma that has followed them down the centuries to one moment of unbearable suspense. For Gally must make a decision that will forever change not only their lives, but the lives of all they touch.
April 8, 2018
This author obviously knows his English history or else undertook a great deal of research. Set in Somerset, an area somewhat familiar to me as I spent part of my childhood in Bath, the plot revolves around the inhabitants of the village of Penselwood; particularly Gally & Mike a young married couple who buy a cottage there & an elderly neighbour, Ferney. Gally discovers she harbours a strange connection to the house, Bagstone Cottage; to the surroundings; & to Ferney himself.
So far, so good. I love historical novels with a mystery twist. However, this story time slips from one historical period to another with such alarming frequency it leaves the reader as bewildered as Gally herself. In addition I could feel no empathy for the love tangle of Gally & her lovers, past or present, because I found the characters selfish and egocentric in the extreme. They were petulant, sulked, threw tantrums & generally behaved like frustrated toddlers denied their whims.
The historical tales of the area were interesting, but they were so truncated and episodic that the main story lacked flow. I constantly picked up the book read a few chapters, then put it down. It did not ever manage to sustain my attention. I struggled to the unsatisfactory conclusion.
Interesting plot idea, but disappointing.
So far, so good. I love historical novels with a mystery twist. However, this story time slips from one historical period to another with such alarming frequency it leaves the reader as bewildered as Gally herself. In addition I could feel no empathy for the love tangle of Gally & her lovers, past or present, because I found the characters selfish and egocentric in the extreme. They were petulant, sulked, threw tantrums & generally behaved like frustrated toddlers denied their whims.
The historical tales of the area were interesting, but they were so truncated and episodic that the main story lacked flow. I constantly picked up the book read a few chapters, then put it down. It did not ever manage to sustain my attention. I struggled to the unsatisfactory conclusion.
Interesting plot idea, but disappointing.
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