What do you think?
Rate this book
La Mémoire des embruns
Un roman poignant sur les secrets de famille et les résurgences du passé sur le présent
Mary est âgée, sa santé se dégrade. Elle décide de passer ses derniers jours à Bruny, île de Tasmanie balayée par les vents où elle a vécu ses plus belles années auprès de son mari, le gardien du phare.
Les retrouvailles avec la terre aimée prennent des allures de pèlerinage. Entre souvenirs et regrets, Mary retourne sur les lieux de son ancienne vie pour tenter de réparer ses erreurs.
Entourée de Tom, le seul de ses enfants à comprendre sa démarche, un homme solitaire depuis son retour d'Antarctique et le divorce qui l'a détruit, elle veut trouver la paix avant de mourir.
Mais le secret qui l'a hantée durant des décennies menace d'être révélé et de mettre en péril son fragile équilibre.
Une femme au crépuscule de sa vie. Un homme incapable de savourer pleinement la sienne.
La Mémoire des embruns est une émouvante histoire d'amour, de perte et de non-dits sur fond de nature sauvage et mystérieuse.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2011
84 people are currently reading
1149 people want to read
About the author
Karen Viggers
9 books110 followersKaren Viggers was born in Melbourne, Australia, and grew up in the Dandenong Ranges riding horses and writing stories. She studied Veterinary Science at Melbourne University, and then worked in mixed animal practice for seven years before completing a PhD at the Australian National University, Canberra, in wildlife health from which she published numerous scientific papers.
Since then she has worked on a wide range of Australian native animals in many different natural environments.
She lives in Canberra with her husband and two children. She works part-time in veterinary practice, provides veterinary support for biologists studying native animals, and writes most days. Karen’s first novel, The Stranding, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2008 and her second novel, The Lightkeeper’s Wife, also published by Allen & Unwin will be released in February 2011
Since then she has worked on a wide range of Australian native animals in many different natural environments.
She lives in Canberra with her husband and two children. She works part-time in veterinary practice, provides veterinary support for biologists studying native animals, and writes most days. Karen’s first novel, The Stranding, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2008 and her second novel, The Lightkeeper’s Wife, also published by Allen & Unwin will be released in February 2011
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
February 11, 2022
I really enjoyed this novel.
I previously described it in an update as my first ‘Romance’, but that was careless of me. There has romance in it for sure, but it’s not ‘mushy’ and not the overriding theme.
There is intrigue, family tensions, landscapes, reveries, facing old age, death, and making new relationships.
The storyline does not feel unique but it holds its ground and engages the reader. The characters appear genuine, despite some interactions being predictable.
I wrote this review immediately after finishing it. I didn’t want my immediate responses to wane or overthink my review.
I had a ‘warm’, satisfied feeling when I closed the book. Maybe that’s all I needed to say?
PS - The descriptions of Tasmania, and Bruny Island in particular, are wonderful and don’t shy from showing Tasmania at its coldest, windiest best!
I previously described it in an update as my first ‘Romance’, but that was careless of me. There has romance in it for sure, but it’s not ‘mushy’ and not the overriding theme.
There is intrigue, family tensions, landscapes, reveries, facing old age, death, and making new relationships.
The storyline does not feel unique but it holds its ground and engages the reader. The characters appear genuine, despite some interactions being predictable.
I wrote this review immediately after finishing it. I didn’t want my immediate responses to wane or overthink my review.
I had a ‘warm’, satisfied feeling when I closed the book. Maybe that’s all I needed to say?
PS - The descriptions of Tasmania, and Bruny Island in particular, are wonderful and don’t shy from showing Tasmania at its coldest, windiest best!
January 12, 2016
With the assistance of her granddaughter Jacinta dear old Mary, who is in poor health returns to Bruny Island. Bruny Island is where Mary spent most of her life as a lighthouse keeper's wife and this is where she desired to spend the last of her days not stuck in some nursing home like her daughter wanted for her. Of course when the remainder of the family finds out where Mary is they are far from happy especially her daughter.
Once Mary is settled into the cabin she instantly feels right at home. Being surrounded by nature and the memories of where she and her husband Tom raised their family. Leon the local ranger checks in on Mary daily, but he wasn't happy about doing it and actually didn't want to socialize with Mary, but in time this would change and Leon found he was spending more time with Mary and they were starting to get to know one another.
Mary has a letter with her which holds a lifelong secret. Whilst Mary is at the cabin she agonizes over the letter and it is constantly on her mind. Will she destroy the letter or will it be opened and the secret exposed?
A beautiful tale of love, loss, family and secrets. I thought this story could've moved along a bit quicker, but in saying that I still really loved it and found it to be a very moving and heartwarming story. Recommended.
Once Mary is settled into the cabin she instantly feels right at home. Being surrounded by nature and the memories of where she and her husband Tom raised their family. Leon the local ranger checks in on Mary daily, but he wasn't happy about doing it and actually didn't want to socialize with Mary, but in time this would change and Leon found he was spending more time with Mary and they were starting to get to know one another.
Mary has a letter with her which holds a lifelong secret. Whilst Mary is at the cabin she agonizes over the letter and it is constantly on her mind. Will she destroy the letter or will it be opened and the secret exposed?
A beautiful tale of love, loss, family and secrets. I thought this story could've moved along a bit quicker, but in saying that I still really loved it and found it to be a very moving and heartwarming story. Recommended.
February 26, 2020
"Soția paznicului de far” de Karen Viggers, o autoare australiană despre care nu știam prea multe până de curând. Cum m-a atras și coperta, am zis să-i dau credit și să mă lansez în magia paginilor sale. Nu regret câtuși de puțin alegerea făcută întrucât mi-a plăcut foarte mult cartea, m-au încântat în special descrierile ținuturilor sălbatice ale Australiei și ale Antarcticii, modul în care a fost surprinsă viața păsărilor cu zborurile lor fascinante.
Personajele sunt veridice, bine construite, sentimentele și relațiile dintre acestea fiind redate într-un mod original și convingător, iar ritmul cărții este accelerat și menține viu interesul cititorului pe tot parcursul scriiturii.
Un roman cu o poveste foarte frumos și duios prezentată, o relatare atent cercetată și șlefuită a vieții și a morții despre o femeie vârstnică, Mary, care știe că nu mai are mult timp să trăiască și revine în insula unde a trăit cea mai fericită perioadă din viața ei. Astfel, trecutul și prezentul se întrepătrund și creeaza o sinergie care sporește misterul scrisorii amintite la începutul cărții și al cărei conținut ne este dezvăluit abia la final.
Personajele sunt veridice, bine construite, sentimentele și relațiile dintre acestea fiind redate într-un mod original și convingător, iar ritmul cărții este accelerat și menține viu interesul cititorului pe tot parcursul scriiturii.
Un roman cu o poveste foarte frumos și duios prezentată, o relatare atent cercetată și șlefuită a vieții și a morții despre o femeie vârstnică, Mary, care știe că nu mai are mult timp să trăiască și revine în insula unde a trăit cea mai fericită perioadă din viața ei. Astfel, trecutul și prezentul se întrepătrund și creeaza o sinergie care sporește misterul scrisorii amintite la începutul cărții și al cărei conținut ne este dezvăluit abia la final.
March 16, 2020
Am citit cartea aceasta fără să mă grăbesc, savurând fiecare descriere care m-a îndepărtat de angoasa zilelor curente. E o poveste frumoasă de viață, despre asumare-mai ales asumarea singurătății cu care se confundă finalul vieții. Mary Manson alege să își facă ”inventarul” existenței sale departe de lume, la malul mării, făcându-ne martorii vieții ei și a fiului său Tom-de care m-am atașat enorm. Probabil de aceea am și iubit atât de mult cartea aceasta, pentru că și eu aș alege acum la fel, un ”final” la malul mării. Mai târziu..cine știe?
Ce știu sigur e faptul că pe toată durata lecturii am simțit dorința de a o scoate cumva pe Mary din interiorul cărții pentru a o întâlni, pentru a o asculta și a o însoți în plimbările pe care le făcea pe malul mării, pentru că reprezintă genul de om pe care l-aș asculta fără să mă plictisesc, mai ales când fundalul este asigurat de măreția valurilor..
O bucurie de carte care mi-ar plăcea să fie ecranizată cândva. Pentru poveste, pentru peisaje, pentru Mary și Tom..
”Simplul fapt de a sta alături de cineva e reconfortant, chiar dacă nimeni nu scoate un cuvânt.”
”Unora dintre noi ni se pare că n-am aparținut niciodată acestei lumi.”
”E greu să mai ai încredere, când încrederea cea mai intimă ți-a fost zdruncinată.”
”În ochii ei adânci găsesc înțelegere și compasiune. Aude ceea ce spun fără cuvinte. Îmi simte mâhnirea, goliciunea, singurătatea.”
”-Nu mă așteptam să te întâlnesc, Ema. Tu m-ai schimbat. Mi-ai dat înapoi acea parte din mine pe care nu credeam s-o mai găsesc..Ești atât de curajoasă, plină de viață și încrezătoare în tine! Și m-ai făcut să simt din nou că trăiesc. M-ai făcut să vreau să simt viața. S-o apuc cu amândouă mânile. Așa cum faci tu. Te iubesc.”
”-E al naibii de greu să te desparți de cei dragi. Mama ta m-a ajutat mult. M-a ascultat. Cei mai mulți oameni n-au timp pentru așa ceva. Sunt prea preocupați de ei înșiși ca să audă ce spui.”
”Cât de puțin ne înțelegem părinții! Cât de puțin apreciem ce au înfăptuit!”
Ce știu sigur e faptul că pe toată durata lecturii am simțit dorința de a o scoate cumva pe Mary din interiorul cărții pentru a o întâlni, pentru a o asculta și a o însoți în plimbările pe care le făcea pe malul mării, pentru că reprezintă genul de om pe care l-aș asculta fără să mă plictisesc, mai ales când fundalul este asigurat de măreția valurilor..
O bucurie de carte care mi-ar plăcea să fie ecranizată cândva. Pentru poveste, pentru peisaje, pentru Mary și Tom..
”Simplul fapt de a sta alături de cineva e reconfortant, chiar dacă nimeni nu scoate un cuvânt.”
”Unora dintre noi ni se pare că n-am aparținut niciodată acestei lumi.”
”E greu să mai ai încredere, când încrederea cea mai intimă ți-a fost zdruncinată.”
”În ochii ei adânci găsesc înțelegere și compasiune. Aude ceea ce spun fără cuvinte. Îmi simte mâhnirea, goliciunea, singurătatea.”
”-Nu mă așteptam să te întâlnesc, Ema. Tu m-ai schimbat. Mi-ai dat înapoi acea parte din mine pe care nu credeam s-o mai găsesc..Ești atât de curajoasă, plină de viață și încrezătoare în tine! Și m-ai făcut să simt din nou că trăiesc. M-ai făcut să vreau să simt viața. S-o apuc cu amândouă mânile. Așa cum faci tu. Te iubesc.”
”-E al naibii de greu să te desparți de cei dragi. Mama ta m-a ajutat mult. M-a ascultat. Cei mai mulți oameni n-au timp pentru așa ceva. Sunt prea preocupați de ei înșiși ca să audă ce spui.”
”Cât de puțin ne înțelegem părinții! Cât de puțin apreciem ce au înfăptuit!”
April 25, 2017
Not sure this one was for me as I found it somewhat depressing. It's the story of Mary Mason, an elderly woman, near the end of her life who wants to spend her final days on Bruny Island where her husband was the lightkeeper for over 20y. She recalls her time living on the island, with their three children. Her children have not turned out well, the oldest two being somewhat remote and selfish, involved in their own lives and the youngest, Tom recovering from the experience of spending over a year in Antarctica 5 years ago and his marriage falling apart in his absence. Tom, a mechanic has become reserved and antisocial and his main relationship is with his dog Jess.
The Lightkeeper's wife has a secret but it's not difficult to guess as it's strongly hinted at early in the book, so I didn't find the ending to be any sort of revelation. Mary's developing friendship with Leon, the Ranger on the island was nicely done and Tom does make some decisions about living his life more, but the other characters remained fairly dull and flat. Mostly, I enjoyed reading about Bruny Island and felt the author captured it's rugged, windswept beauty well enough to make me want to go there.
The Lightkeeper's wife has a secret but it's not difficult to guess as it's strongly hinted at early in the book, so I didn't find the ending to be any sort of revelation. Mary's developing friendship with Leon, the Ranger on the island was nicely done and Tom does make some decisions about living his life more, but the other characters remained fairly dull and flat. Mostly, I enjoyed reading about Bruny Island and felt the author captured it's rugged, windswept beauty well enough to make me want to go there.
September 30, 2018
‘We are all just a breath away from memories.’
Mary Mason is an elderly woman in poor health, living alone in Hobart, Tasmania. The delivery of a letter acts as a catalyst: she chooses to return to Bruny Island and to memories of her past. Mary has a decision to make, about a secret she’s kept for decades. And while she’s considering whether to destroy the letter or pass it on to the person it’s addressed to, she’d rather be on Bruny Island where she once lived as the lighthouse keeper’s wife. She feels closer to Jack, her long-dead husband, there.
Mary’s three adult children Jan, Gary and Tom and her grand-daughter Jacinta are worried. Leon Walker, a ranger on the island, has agreed to look in on Mary each day, but the rest of the time she’ll be alone.
The novel alternates between Mary and Tom. Mary has memories and secrets from the past to consider, while Tom has some issues of his own. Tom’s marriage foundered while he overwintered in Antarctica some years earlier, and he’s yet to find his way back to a happy life.
I first read this novel a few years ago. I liked the story then, but I liked it much more this time. What did hold my attention on both reads were the beautiful descriptions of both Bruny Island and of Antarctica. This time around, I was more caught up in Mary’s struggles and paid more attention to Tom’s story. This was Ms Viggers’s second novel, I’ve read her third ‘The Grass Castle’ but not yet her first ‘The Stranding’. It’s on my list.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Mary Mason is an elderly woman in poor health, living alone in Hobart, Tasmania. The delivery of a letter acts as a catalyst: she chooses to return to Bruny Island and to memories of her past. Mary has a decision to make, about a secret she’s kept for decades. And while she’s considering whether to destroy the letter or pass it on to the person it’s addressed to, she’d rather be on Bruny Island where she once lived as the lighthouse keeper’s wife. She feels closer to Jack, her long-dead husband, there.
Mary’s three adult children Jan, Gary and Tom and her grand-daughter Jacinta are worried. Leon Walker, a ranger on the island, has agreed to look in on Mary each day, but the rest of the time she’ll be alone.
The novel alternates between Mary and Tom. Mary has memories and secrets from the past to consider, while Tom has some issues of his own. Tom’s marriage foundered while he overwintered in Antarctica some years earlier, and he’s yet to find his way back to a happy life.
I first read this novel a few years ago. I liked the story then, but I liked it much more this time. What did hold my attention on both reads were the beautiful descriptions of both Bruny Island and of Antarctica. This time around, I was more caught up in Mary’s struggles and paid more attention to Tom’s story. This was Ms Viggers’s second novel, I’ve read her third ‘The Grass Castle’ but not yet her first ‘The Stranding’. It’s on my list.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June 27, 2011
I found this book incredibly moving and beautiful. It showcased a magical part of the world and told the complex stories of some well developed characters. What touched me most was the positive way in which the author wrote about Mary's end of life journey and that of her loved ones. This subject is such a hard one for our society to contemplate and deal with and I think what Karen Viggers has done here it in a manner that allows the reader insight into the human spirit and how to allow loved ones the time, space and dignity to experience quality end of life if they are so blessed to be able too.
March 16, 2020
3.5 ⭐
Soția paznicului de far este romanul de care mi-am agățat sufletul zilele trecute. Mi-am dorit tare mult cartea, cred că pentru nostalgia pe care titlul mi-a trezit-o. Soția aviatorului, din colecția Raftul Denisei, a fost una dintre cele mai bune cărți citite în 2019, iar Lumina dintre oceane a stârnit adevărate furtuni de emoții în inima mea.
Soția paznicului de far nu este un roman plin de trăiri. Este un roman care subliniază frumusețea vieții, încercările prin care suntem nevoiți să trecem, pierderile, secretele și dozele de vinovăție. Autoarea a reușit să transmită mesajul puternic al romanului cu ajutorul celor două personaje de bază. Jongleriile acestea cu planurile au fost cele care au dat o notă de suspans întregii povești. Pentru că îmi place să analizez fiecare aspect, mi-am dat seama foarte repede de cursul poveștii și m-aș fi mirat dacă suspiciunile nu mi s-ar fi adeverit. Așa că, am lăsat acest aspect deoparte și m-am concentrat pe celelalte.
Soția paznicului de far este romanul de care mi-am agățat sufletul zilele trecute. Mi-am dorit tare mult cartea, cred că pentru nostalgia pe care titlul mi-a trezit-o. Soția aviatorului, din colecția Raftul Denisei, a fost una dintre cele mai bune cărți citite în 2019, iar Lumina dintre oceane a stârnit adevărate furtuni de emoții în inima mea.
Soția paznicului de far nu este un roman plin de trăiri. Este un roman care subliniază frumusețea vieții, încercările prin care suntem nevoiți să trecem, pierderile, secretele și dozele de vinovăție. Autoarea a reușit să transmită mesajul puternic al romanului cu ajutorul celor două personaje de bază. Jongleriile acestea cu planurile au fost cele care au dat o notă de suspans întregii povești. Pentru că îmi place să analizez fiecare aspect, mi-am dat seama foarte repede de cursul poveștii și m-aș fi mirat dacă suspiciunile nu mi s-ar fi adeverit. Așa că, am lăsat acest aspect deoparte și m-am concentrat pe celelalte.
June 30, 2022
Wonderful journey of a family through the rocky turbulence that often befalls family relationships, in which the lighthouse and Cape Bruny, Tasmania are as much characters in this richly layered and woven story as are the people who inhabit it.
June 6, 2020
”Soția paznicului de far” este o carte tulburătoare și emoționantă despre destin, alegeri și consecințele acestora. O carte în care trecutul ajunge prezentul din urmă și influențează viitorul. O carte care reușește să creeze atmosferă, purtându-te în ținuturi sălbatice și făcându-ți sufletul să vibreze. O carte cu un mesaj profund, care îți va rămâne mult timp în memorie...
Personajele au caractere interesante și sunt foarte bine creionate, autoarea reușind să te convingă de motivația acțiunilor acestora.
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/sot...
Personajele au caractere interesante și sunt foarte bine creionate, autoarea reușind să te convingă de motivația acțiunilor acestora.
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/sot...
June 6, 2011
If you are feeling a bit 'down', don't read this novel. It is as grey and morose as the Tasmanian weather where it is set.
The book blurb states that "The Lightkeeper's Wife is a moving story of love, loss and family." Well, it's a theme that has been done to death, and a lot better too. For a start it's more about the Lightkeeper's son, not the wife, and there Viggers is totally unable to write a sympathetic New Age male character without him coming across as pathetic and feminine.
I was completely bored with this novel and frustrated with it's whining monotone.
The book blurb states that "The Lightkeeper's Wife is a moving story of love, loss and family." Well, it's a theme that has been done to death, and a lot better too. For a start it's more about the Lightkeeper's son, not the wife, and there Viggers is totally unable to write a sympathetic New Age male character without him coming across as pathetic and feminine.
I was completely bored with this novel and frustrated with it's whining monotone.
July 6, 2013
You can't always trust reviews. Lots of readers gave this one or two stars. I found it an interesting book. The story is character driven and written from two viewpoints of mother and youngest son. Seventy-seven year old Mary Mason is in poor health, and a recently delivered letter motivates her to return to Bruny Island where she spent most of her life as a lighthouse keeper's wife. The family is horrified when they find out what she has done - her daughter has been planning to put her in a nursing home. On her last bit of strength, and with the help of granddaughter Jacinta, Mary has made all the arrangements to live in a cabin including having a ranger check on her each day. Her ultimate goal is to fulfill a promise she has made to herself to rectify a betrayal she made to her husband while he was alive AND to go home to die. She must also decide what to do about the letter - destroy it or save it. Her son Tom lives in Hobart, Tasmania, and his story is a flashback to a winter he spent in the wilds of Antarctica to live at a research station as a diesel mechanic. It ruined his marriage. Now he is floundering thru a relationship with Emma. It's a story of loneliness, solitude, and redemption - both must face their pasts and heal on this windswept island. "A woman at the end of her life. A man unable to restart his." The vivid descriptions of Bruny Island and Antarctica are fantastic. A good read.
February 12, 2021
While the writing was lovely and the descriptions of Bruny Island and Antarctica were so vivid, I cannot say that I loved this story. I didn't think the blending of Tom's story and Mary's venture back to her past was smooth or well done. Both stories were okay in their own rights and would have made a good read as stand alone. I picked up this book as I had enjoyed her newer novel (The Orchardist Daughter) and had enjoyed the character of Leon. As he was a background character in this novel, l really wanted to see where he has come from.
Perhaps I am being a bit harsh and I may read this book again in the future and get a completely different opinion.
Perhaps I am being a bit harsh and I may read this book again in the future and get a completely different opinion.
September 17, 2016
I loved this book. It was beautifully written and the subject, end of life,is not an easy one to write about. Karen Viggers conveyed Mary’s journey and those around her with dignity and in a positive way. Set in a lovely part of the world ‘The Lightkeeper’s Wife’ is a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
June 4, 2019
An absorbing read and for me not depressing! An old woman’s wish for a good death on her own terms, the isolation of the workers in Antarctica, the beauty of Bruny island..many of the supporting characters are strong as well.
July 13, 2017
I want to go to Bruny after reading this! The author is so descriptive with the landscape & loved her characters... Would love to know what happened with Tom next though
December 28, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. More so towards the end when it was getting to the cant put down need to know stage
July 6, 2019
... Cette déception après lecture ! J'avais gardé ce roman bien au chaud sur mes étagères *depuis des années* et lorsque je tente enfin une plongée en me frottant les mains, je ne vous raconte pas le gros plouf de dépit.
Car l'histoire est mélancolique mais usante. Elle traîne en longueur et alterne deux parcours - celui d'une vieille dame et de son fils cadet. Mary a choisi de retourner sur une île isolée pour revivre ses souvenirs de jeune femme mariée et épouse du gardien de phare. Tom a perdu le goût du bonheur après son divorce et ne sait plus sur quel pied danser avec une jeune scientifique - sans doute trop spontanée et indépendante pour convenir à son manque de confiance.
Cela nous donne un roman en mode contemplatif et néanmoins monotone.
Mais que de lassitude ! Par contre on nous vend du rêve pour les décors... Tasmanie, île Bruny, Terre Adélie... C'est là tout le côté sauvage et farouche du bouquin.
Car l'histoire est mélancolique mais usante. Elle traîne en longueur et alterne deux parcours - celui d'une vieille dame et de son fils cadet. Mary a choisi de retourner sur une île isolée pour revivre ses souvenirs de jeune femme mariée et épouse du gardien de phare. Tom a perdu le goût du bonheur après son divorce et ne sait plus sur quel pied danser avec une jeune scientifique - sans doute trop spontanée et indépendante pour convenir à son manque de confiance.
Cela nous donne un roman en mode contemplatif et néanmoins monotone.
Mais que de lassitude ! Par contre on nous vend du rêve pour les décors... Tasmanie, île Bruny, Terre Adélie... C'est là tout le côté sauvage et farouche du bouquin.
August 15, 2017
Une histoire très poétique, des destins liés, des secrets de familles, des trahisons et de nouvelles amitiés.. le tout sur fond de paysages de l'île de Bruny et d'escapades en Antarctique. Des personnages très attachants. Un beau roman captivant !
January 13, 2022
Een mooi vlot lezend verhaal. Ook mooie beschrijvingen van Antarctica
October 15, 2017
Cela m'a pris un temps fou à lire se livre que je reposais, lisais autre chose, puis y revenais, et ensuite de suite, pour finalement le terminer aujourd'hui. J'en conserve une opinion très partagé. J'ai adoré l'univers dépeint, les paysages particulièrement et la beauté de l'écriture. Par contre, le récit est terriblement lent, trop lent, et cela rend difficile la lecture. De plus les personnages, sans nous laisser indifférent, nous accroche trop peu pour que nous puissions ressentir aussi intensément qu'il le faudrait les émotions qu'ils vivent à travers l'histoire. De grandes forces, mais aussi des faiblesses importantes, ce romans m'a plu, mais en même temps j'ai parfois trouvé sa lecture longue et pénible. Étrange ambivalence quant à mon appréciation! À vous de voir.
August 27, 2016
I wanted to like this book. I chose it to read on a trip away from Hobart, but it didn't give me a sense of my home town. It was a bit of a tourist brochure. Why can't people live in Warrane, work in Glenorchy and drink somewhere other than Salamanca?
I found the characters flat, stuck, tied up in self pity, guilt and playing silly games. Not interesting and not likeable. If I hadn't had 4 flights, 2 waits at Tullamarine and a 4 hour bus trip to read it on, I wouldn't have got so far through that I decided to persevere to the end.
The reviews are interesting. So up and down!
I found the characters flat, stuck, tied up in self pity, guilt and playing silly games. Not interesting and not likeable. If I hadn't had 4 flights, 2 waits at Tullamarine and a 4 hour bus trip to read it on, I wouldn't have got so far through that I decided to persevere to the end.
The reviews are interesting. So up and down!
September 7, 2011
OK holiday reading. Predictable story line. Dull and repetitive in places. I didn't really connect with the characters. No real twists in the plot except for a mixed up sort of relationship with the one of the main characters. A slightly dysfunctional family; elderly doddery parent and a handful of unfulfilled dreams and lifes disappointments. All in all a bit too much like a normal life to be really entertaining. The dog is the star.
January 10, 2023
Dette er en bok for deg som liker hjertegode, varme og kjærlige fortellinger. Hvor fortiden sakte blir avslørt og hvor en kvinne må løse det å fortelle barna sine sin største hemmelighet. En riktig fin bok!
Jeg har skrevet noen få ord her: Betraktninger
Jeg har skrevet noen få ord her: Betraktninger
October 6, 2022
Un roman qui aborde plusieurs thèmes qui touchent beaucoup (solitude, fin de vie, tensions familiales) avec ses personnages attachants.
Malgré ces thèmes difficiles, le roman est tout simplement beau.
On a bien sûr le décor de l’île Bruny et même de l’Antarctique - mais nous avons aussi des personnages qui vont de l’avant.
Un livre qui fait voyager et qui fait aussi réfléchir.
Résumé :
Mary est âgée, sa santé se dégrade. Elle décide de passer ses derniers jours à Bruny, île de Tasmanie balayée par les vents où elle a vécu ses plus belles années auprès de son mari, le gardien du phare.
Les retrouvailles avec la terre aimée prennent des allures de pèlerinage. Entre souvenirs et regrets, Mary retourne sur les lieux de son ancienne vie pour tenter de réparer ses erreurs.
Entourée de Tom, le seul de ses enfants à comprendre sa démarche, un homme solitaire depuis son retour d'Antarctique et le divorce qui l'a détruit, elle veut trouver la paix avant de mourir. Mais le secret qui l'a hantée durant des décennies menace d'être révélé et de mettre en péril son fragile équilibre.
Une femme au crépuscule de sa vie. Un homme incapable de savourer pleinement la sienne.
La Mémoire des embruns est une émouvante histoire d'amour, de perte et de non-dits sur fond de nature sauvage et mystérieuse.
Malgré ces thèmes difficiles, le roman est tout simplement beau.
On a bien sûr le décor de l’île Bruny et même de l’Antarctique - mais nous avons aussi des personnages qui vont de l’avant.
Un livre qui fait voyager et qui fait aussi réfléchir.
Résumé :
Mary est âgée, sa santé se dégrade. Elle décide de passer ses derniers jours à Bruny, île de Tasmanie balayée par les vents où elle a vécu ses plus belles années auprès de son mari, le gardien du phare.
Les retrouvailles avec la terre aimée prennent des allures de pèlerinage. Entre souvenirs et regrets, Mary retourne sur les lieux de son ancienne vie pour tenter de réparer ses erreurs.
Entourée de Tom, le seul de ses enfants à comprendre sa démarche, un homme solitaire depuis son retour d'Antarctique et le divorce qui l'a détruit, elle veut trouver la paix avant de mourir. Mais le secret qui l'a hantée durant des décennies menace d'être révélé et de mettre en péril son fragile équilibre.
Une femme au crépuscule de sa vie. Un homme incapable de savourer pleinement la sienne.
La Mémoire des embruns est une émouvante histoire d'amour, de perte et de non-dits sur fond de nature sauvage et mystérieuse.
December 10, 2020
There was a LOT going on in this book, weaving the past and present stories of multiple characters, and it almost felt like it could be multiple books. The main story moved slowly, and the 'surprise' reveal at the end was obvious from the beginning, so it felt somewhat contrived to keep it hidden for so long. It's an interesting story, but the level of geographical detail was sometimes a bit alienating, and I would have preferred more investment in the story itself, particularly the events of the past, which are almost always in books of this type more interesting than the present. What I was most fascinated by were the details of living and working in Antarctica, the spectacular landscapes and the unique psychology and sociology of the isolated communities. This was informed by the author's own time there, and it's something I'd love to read more on.
April 8, 2019
This is a glorious book
Beautiful descriptions of landscapes of Bruny Island and poignant insights into relationships between family and place
Also the impact of newcomers such as Leon on a family was well written
Perhaps a 4.5
Beautiful descriptions of landscapes of Bruny Island and poignant insights into relationships between family and place
Also the impact of newcomers such as Leon on a family was well written
Perhaps a 4.5
May 3, 2019
I enjoyed this simply written , wonderfully evocative , nature filled tale of kind people. Really brought Bruny Island and the tour in Antartica, to life. The portrayal of the dog, Jess, was so spot on.
March 14, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was well written although the storyline was quite predictable, and at times I found it rather depressing. I felt the characters lacked some depth in this story, and it was hard to warm to any of them. Tom, one of the central characters, came across as very wishy washy, and I just wanted to shake some sense into him. And I really disliked Jan's character, but then I think we all have a Jan in our lives who we find extremely annoying due to their uncalled for dramatics. I would recommend this book if you like stories about dysfunctional families and their relationships.
July 25, 2020
Le passé, le présent, le devenir, la fin de vie ou le bilan d'une vie de couple. Beaucoup de sujets abordés sur une île au sud de la Tasmanie
Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews