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Θερισμός
Η σύζυγος, η Τζέιν, έχει πάντα - κοινωνική θέση, οικονομική άνεση και παιδιά - αλλά ζει στερημένη από κάθε χαρά. Η ερωμένη, η Γκρέις, παντρεύτηκε κάποιον άλλο για να ξεφύγει, αλλά δεν μπόρεσε να λυτρωθεί. Η κόρη, η όμορφη Ιμογένη με τον ταραγμένο ψυχισμό, βαδίζει στην κόψη του ξυραφιού, αναζητώντας διέξοδο στο έγκλημα και στα ναρκωτικά. Αυτές οι τρεις γυναίκες και οι άντρες που τις αγαπούν είναι θύματα του ίδιου ανθρώπου : του Μάικλ Νάιτ.
Κορυφαίος αστέρας των μέσων μαζικής ενημέρωσης, μοντέρνος σύζυγος, υποδειγματικός πατέρας - αυτή είναι η δημόσια εικόνα του Μάικλ. Αλλά στην πραγματικότητα, εγωπαθής και δεσποτικός, καταστρέφει όσους τον αγαπούν, χωρίς τύψεις, χωρίς έλεος. Η Τζέιν και η Γκρέις, η σύζυγος και η ερωμένη, ζουν εγκλωβισμένες στην αγάπη τους για αυτόν τον άντρα μέχρι τη μέρα που θα συναντηθούν.
Κάθε χρόνο, στο σπίτι τους στη Νότια Γαλλία, η Τζέιν οργανώνει ένα πάρτι για τα γενέθλια του Μάικλ. Φίλοι και συγγενείς συγκεντρώνονται στη Γασκώνη με τα μεσαιωνικά χωριά, με φόντο την κορυφογραμμή των Πυρηναίων, για να γιορτάσουν. Κι αυτή τη χρονιά έρχεται, επιτέλους, η ώρα της συγκομιδής. Η σοδειά του πόνου και της αγωνίας που έσπειρε ο Μάικλ θα θεριστεί...
Κορυφαίος αστέρας των μέσων μαζικής ενημέρωσης, μοντέρνος σύζυγος, υποδειγματικός πατέρας - αυτή είναι η δημόσια εικόνα του Μάικλ. Αλλά στην πραγματικότητα, εγωπαθής και δεσποτικός, καταστρέφει όσους τον αγαπούν, χωρίς τύψεις, χωρίς έλεος. Η Τζέιν και η Γκρέις, η σύζυγος και η ερωμένη, ζουν εγκλωβισμένες στην αγάπη τους για αυτόν τον άντρα μέχρι τη μέρα που θα συναντηθούν.
Κάθε χρόνο, στο σπίτι τους στη Νότια Γαλλία, η Τζέιν οργανώνει ένα πάρτι για τα γενέθλια του Μάικλ. Φίλοι και συγγενείς συγκεντρώνονται στη Γασκώνη με τα μεσαιωνικά χωριά, με φόντο την κορυφογραμμή των Πυρηναίων, για να γιορτάσουν. Κι αυτή τη χρονιά έρχεται, επιτέλους, η ώρα της συγκομιδής. Η σοδειά του πόνου και της αγωνίας που έσπειρε ο Μάικλ θα θεριστεί...
- GenresFiction
382 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
26 people want to read
About the author
Celia Brayfield
29 books12 followersCelia Brayfield has written four non-fiction books and nine novels of which Mister Fabulous and Friends is currently in development for television. Her novel Heartswap was optioned by Paramount and Harvest for Chrysalis Films. Celia is currently working on a series of historical novels. She also teaches Creative Writing at Bath Spa University and Brunel University.
After attending St Paul's Girls' School in London, Celia went to Grenoble University in France to study French Language and Literature, before moving into journalism at The Times. She has one daughter and lives in Oxfordshire.
After attending St Paul's Girls' School in London, Celia went to Grenoble University in France to study French Language and Literature, before moving into journalism at The Times. She has one daughter and lives in Oxfordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 24, 2024
Enjoyed. Ripples on water - a demonstration of how one persons bad behaviour can do far reaching damage
December 29, 2012
Right, since this book hasn't got much in the way of reviews, I figured I would do my best to write one.
Originally I was only going to give this book 2 stars, but I enjoyed, and was very surprised by, the ending. I did not open this book expecting anything like *that* to happen; and I do like surprises.
Overall I felt that the first half or so of the book wasn't as interesting as the latter part. Early on the story establishes that the climax is going to happen at a certain time during the story, and knowing that made it very tempting to skip ahead (but I did manage to ignore that temptation since I know that skipping does me no good). The build up to that climax overall, to be honest, wasn't that interesting for me. However, I did (predictably) find most mentions of food and cooking interesting - the scene where Jane is gathering mushrooms from the woods comes to mind as an example. Those scenes were informative and I enjoyed them.
The thing that actually let me down the most about this book was how the POV would swap to another person about every three, four or so pages. For me it just wasn't long enough to connect to the characters. As soon as I started to feel any kind of connection with a character the paragraph would suddenly end and I would have to read about another three characters before I could get back to that first one. I understand why the author divided up the POVs like that, but it didn't work that well for me. (Saying that, I'm used to books with a max of two POVs, so having to read four is a new thing for me).
As for the characters, I felt they were really well done. They were a believable and varied cast. Although, for a book set in France, it would have been nice to see a few more French people - or a bit more of France in general, actually. If it wasn't for the French place names (and the food), I wouldn't call you a liar if you told me the book was set in Spain, Italy or somewhere else in Europe.
The book did serve its purpose though - it kept me busy during the quieter parts of my holiday.
Originally I was only going to give this book 2 stars, but I enjoyed, and was very surprised by, the ending. I did not open this book expecting anything like *that* to happen; and I do like surprises.
Overall I felt that the first half or so of the book wasn't as interesting as the latter part. Early on the story establishes that the climax is going to happen at a certain time during the story, and knowing that made it very tempting to skip ahead (but I did manage to ignore that temptation since I know that skipping does me no good). The build up to that climax overall, to be honest, wasn't that interesting for me. However, I did (predictably) find most mentions of food and cooking interesting - the scene where Jane is gathering mushrooms from the woods comes to mind as an example. Those scenes were informative and I enjoyed them.
The thing that actually let me down the most about this book was how the POV would swap to another person about every three, four or so pages. For me it just wasn't long enough to connect to the characters. As soon as I started to feel any kind of connection with a character the paragraph would suddenly end and I would have to read about another three characters before I could get back to that first one. I understand why the author divided up the POVs like that, but it didn't work that well for me. (Saying that, I'm used to books with a max of two POVs, so having to read four is a new thing for me).
As for the characters, I felt they were really well done. They were a believable and varied cast. Although, for a book set in France, it would have been nice to see a few more French people - or a bit more of France in general, actually. If it wasn't for the French place names (and the food), I wouldn't call you a liar if you told me the book was set in Spain, Italy or somewhere else in Europe.
The book did serve its purpose though - it kept me busy during the quieter parts of my holiday.
March 6, 2012
I liked this book, it was a satisfying story. The author really nailed the characters.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews