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Gatekeepers of the Grapevine
Sometimes it is the secrets we try to keep hidden that reveal the biggest truth.
Three women drawn together each struggle to control their lives. Sisters Elizabeth and Sarah wrestle with their difficult relationship and very different lifestyles. Elizabeth, affluent and scheming is determined to maintain her place as queen of Vintner’s Estate, the Cape Town luxury gated community where she lives, while keeping her artist sister Sarah in her place—and off the Estate.
When a new family moves onto the Estate, Elizabeth meets Carolyn and decides she is the perfect protégé to manipulate and control unaware that Carolyn is harboring a secret. As the women’s lives unfold, fortunes rise and fall as power shifts in unexpected ways.
Filled with twists and turns, GATEKEEPERS OF THE GRAPEVINE will keep you turning pages until the very end.
Three women drawn together each struggle to control their lives. Sisters Elizabeth and Sarah wrestle with their difficult relationship and very different lifestyles. Elizabeth, affluent and scheming is determined to maintain her place as queen of Vintner’s Estate, the Cape Town luxury gated community where she lives, while keeping her artist sister Sarah in her place—and off the Estate.
When a new family moves onto the Estate, Elizabeth meets Carolyn and decides she is the perfect protégé to manipulate and control unaware that Carolyn is harboring a secret. As the women’s lives unfold, fortunes rise and fall as power shifts in unexpected ways.
Filled with twists and turns, GATEKEEPERS OF THE GRAPEVINE will keep you turning pages until the very end.
- GenresWomens Fiction
Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 22, 2016
Brilliant descriptive language piqued an interest for a land completely unknown to me. Paterson not only gave me a tour of the country of South Africa but she took my hand, led me to its neighborhoods and introduced me to the people who call it home. Her richly crafted characters are so intriguing, vulnerable and authentic that I imagine I can go to their houses today, knock on their doors and meet them in person. Some I'd even like to call friends. Step into this world of relationships complicated by conflict, controversy, colors and elegance. Trust me you'll enjoy your stay. And while you're there don't forget to stop for coffee where there are "shelves laden with jam-filled bottles" creating a "stained-glass window of preserves making the cafe a church for croissants and coffee."
August 10, 2016
In “Gatekeepers of the Grapevine,” Jane Paterson takes us through the front gate of an exclusive South African estate, complete with delicious, well-crafted descriptions of this foreign (to me) locale, precisely drawn characters, and well-played drama. Behind the walls of Vintner’s Estate you’ll find a villain you love to hate, tested friendships, hidden identities, sibling rivalry and a heaping dose of comeuppance. I enjoyed every page.
September 7, 2016
Elizabeth and Carolyn live in a lush, gated community, Vintner’s Estate, in Cape Town, South Africa. Both have wealthy, connected husbands, but Elizabeth is the self-appointed gatekeeper of the community’s social status, while Carolyn is concealing a devastating secret. Sarah, Elizabeth’s sister, lives outside the estate, but as a talented artist and designer, comes to the attention of new arrivals who hire her to redecorate their mansion.
Elizabeth, upset at the attention Sarah is getting, discovers Carolyn’s secret and exposes it publicly in the most humiliating manner possible. But, she soon learns that her own status is as much a lie as Carolyn’s fabricated past, and her world comes crashing down.
Gatekeepers of the Grapevine by Jane Paterson is a compelling story of the corrosive impact an obsession with position and status can have on human relationships and personal sanity. Along with brilliantly written descriptions of the characters, the author does a superb job of describing the geography and society of South Africa. While no specific dates are given, it is clear that the setting is apartheid South Africa, as only the white and Afrikaner characters are developed to any degree, with black and colored South Africans merely dropped in as minor, and often barely-seen supporting characters. Given the state of the society during that period, and the status of the main characters in this story, that’s understandable, although it would have been nice if at least one nonwhite character had been more than a fleeting shadow.
It was still an entertaining read. As someone who has experienced South Africa (in the 1990s just as apartheid was disintegrating, and from 2009 to 2012) I was impressed with the accuracy of the author’s depictions.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Elizabeth, upset at the attention Sarah is getting, discovers Carolyn’s secret and exposes it publicly in the most humiliating manner possible. But, she soon learns that her own status is as much a lie as Carolyn’s fabricated past, and her world comes crashing down.
Gatekeepers of the Grapevine by Jane Paterson is a compelling story of the corrosive impact an obsession with position and status can have on human relationships and personal sanity. Along with brilliantly written descriptions of the characters, the author does a superb job of describing the geography and society of South Africa. While no specific dates are given, it is clear that the setting is apartheid South Africa, as only the white and Afrikaner characters are developed to any degree, with black and colored South Africans merely dropped in as minor, and often barely-seen supporting characters. Given the state of the society during that period, and the status of the main characters in this story, that’s understandable, although it would have been nice if at least one nonwhite character had been more than a fleeting shadow.
It was still an entertaining read. As someone who has experienced South Africa (in the 1990s just as apartheid was disintegrating, and from 2009 to 2012) I was impressed with the accuracy of the author’s depictions.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 8, 2016
This story is essentially about three (or four) South African white women, but it also involves a few more characters in the mix. The fourth woman, Julie, has an important but less prominent role in the plot.
Elizabeth, Sarah and Carolyn intertwine in their struggles to compete. Selfish, pompous Elizabeth Johnson-Carlisle is the leader and controller of the other women’s lives. She is the wealthy “gatekeeper” of Vintner’s Estate and looks down upon the other women. She manipulates all those around her in order to get what she wants; her manipulation includes her husband and daughter, as well. Yet, power shifts take place. Elizabeth gets her due in the end when her husband loses his fortune and goes to jail. What is especially poignant is that her younger sister Sarah, who had been poorly treated by her older sister, is still loyal to Elizabeth, despite her loss of position and power. Sarah stands out as someone who is actually not competitive at the expense of other people; she is someone whose potential is flowering because of who she is.
I enjoyed reading a book by a South African author. It was fascinating to learn something of the culture. Jane Paterson uses some words that are unique to South Africa. Examples are “veld”, “dorp”, and “Rooibos tea”. I had to look up the definitions for a couple of words. However, rooibos tea is familiar to me and is certainly a wonderful caffeine-free drink that is rapidly making its way into the market here in the United States.
As a whole, the characters are believable and well developed. Much of the book is well written. I particularly liked the chapters labeled “Katrien”; they were excellent.
This is a book about women, and will appeal to many who have struggled to be valued for who they are. I salute the author for her ambitious first book.
Elizabeth, Sarah and Carolyn intertwine in their struggles to compete. Selfish, pompous Elizabeth Johnson-Carlisle is the leader and controller of the other women’s lives. She is the wealthy “gatekeeper” of Vintner’s Estate and looks down upon the other women. She manipulates all those around her in order to get what she wants; her manipulation includes her husband and daughter, as well. Yet, power shifts take place. Elizabeth gets her due in the end when her husband loses his fortune and goes to jail. What is especially poignant is that her younger sister Sarah, who had been poorly treated by her older sister, is still loyal to Elizabeth, despite her loss of position and power. Sarah stands out as someone who is actually not competitive at the expense of other people; she is someone whose potential is flowering because of who she is.
I enjoyed reading a book by a South African author. It was fascinating to learn something of the culture. Jane Paterson uses some words that are unique to South Africa. Examples are “veld”, “dorp”, and “Rooibos tea”. I had to look up the definitions for a couple of words. However, rooibos tea is familiar to me and is certainly a wonderful caffeine-free drink that is rapidly making its way into the market here in the United States.
As a whole, the characters are believable and well developed. Much of the book is well written. I particularly liked the chapters labeled “Katrien”; they were excellent.
This is a book about women, and will appeal to many who have struggled to be valued for who they are. I salute the author for her ambitious first book.
November 1, 2016
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
** I received a digital copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
This book centred around a bunch of privileged white women who, with the exception of one, lived in the prestigious South African gated community of Vitner's Estate. I myself have never been to Cape Town or South Africa but I have friends who were there not long ago. It was interesting to read about it after hearing about the time that they spent there. I enjoyed the setting tremendously.
It has always astounded me how money, status and prestige can shape a person and it was made quite evident within the pages of this book. It showcased the darker side of power by showing some of the uglier aspects of wealth. Friendships with strings and back stabbing were plenty in this book.
I enjoyed getting to know all of the women in this book and for the most part I liked them. Of course there is always that one villain that we all love to hate. That was very evident with Elizabeth. She reminded me of that popular girl in high school that nobody really liked but everyone wanted to be friends with because of the benefits that came with it. Of course Elizabeth was an adult, with more money and power, and one of the biggest case of the "entitlements" that I have ever seen.
The women were all very different with very different life stories. There were buried secrets, hidden jealousy's and growing ambitions intermingled within the estate walls. Unravelling over a period of time, these women and there stories captured me and swept me away. I enjoyed every minute that I spent getting lost in the pages of this book. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending but thoroughly enjoyed getting there.
** I received a digital copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
This book centred around a bunch of privileged white women who, with the exception of one, lived in the prestigious South African gated community of Vitner's Estate. I myself have never been to Cape Town or South Africa but I have friends who were there not long ago. It was interesting to read about it after hearing about the time that they spent there. I enjoyed the setting tremendously.
It has always astounded me how money, status and prestige can shape a person and it was made quite evident within the pages of this book. It showcased the darker side of power by showing some of the uglier aspects of wealth. Friendships with strings and back stabbing were plenty in this book.
I enjoyed getting to know all of the women in this book and for the most part I liked them. Of course there is always that one villain that we all love to hate. That was very evident with Elizabeth. She reminded me of that popular girl in high school that nobody really liked but everyone wanted to be friends with because of the benefits that came with it. Of course Elizabeth was an adult, with more money and power, and one of the biggest case of the "entitlements" that I have ever seen.
The women were all very different with very different life stories. There were buried secrets, hidden jealousy's and growing ambitions intermingled within the estate walls. Unravelling over a period of time, these women and there stories captured me and swept me away. I enjoyed every minute that I spent getting lost in the pages of this book. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending but thoroughly enjoyed getting there.
September 14, 2016
Acknowledgment : Thank you, Jane Paterson, for sharing the review copy.
Blurb : Set in the gorgeous vineyard valleys of Cape Town, South Africa, GATEKEEPERS OF THE GRAPEVINE follows the lives of three women as they navigate through their friendships and changing fortunes.
Elizabeth and Carolyn both live in the lavish gated community of Vintner’s Estate, but Carolyn is harboring a secret. When Elizabeth stumbles on the truth, she plots to use the information to her advantage unaware that her own life is soon to spiral out of control.
Then when Elizabeth’s sister, Sarah starts a design business, and quickly becomes the darling of Vintner’s Estate, this reversal of fortune threatens Elizabeth’s position with the other women. As Elizabeth battles to regain control, she discovers that her own life has been as much of a lie as Carolyn’s.
Book from My Eyes : So, far most of the books I have read are based on the plot of USA, Europe, UK, India or few Asian countries; Gatekeepers of the Grapevine is the first one based on the plot of South Africa. This is the main reason I was very excited to read the book. Needless to say, I really liked the book.
Thumbs Up:
- The plot of the book revolved mainly around three girls, Elizabeth, self-declared queen of a gated community, Vinter's Estate; Carolyn, another resident of Vinter's Estate and one of the prodigies of Elizabeth; Sarah who happened to be Elizabeth's sister and nothing like her. I loved the way author Jane Paterson has penned their journey, rise, and fall perfectly.
- The book is written in multiple POV and the trickiest thing about multiple POVs are keeping the consistency of the characters and making them distinct than each other throughout the entire novel. Author has nailed it.
- Each character has been portrayed very perfectly. The snob Elizabeth, vulnerable Carolyn, Classy Genevieve and Julie, Self content Sarah are have carried their character until the end and not even for a single moment the flow of the story lost.
- I didn't read the blurb before reading the novel. So, the secret of Carolyn remained a secret for me until the story revealed itself which was a good treat.
Thumbs Down:
- A very distracting part of the story is sometimes the thoughts of protagonists are written in the first person for example, "But am I possibly being too hard on her? The through quickly fitted through her mind, before she quickly squashed it." her very distracting. While the entire novel is being narrated as the third person, these kinds of things also could have been considered similarly.
- There are few grammatical and punctuation mistakes but those are not major ones.
- I read the blurb while writing the review. My personal opinion is the blurb should have been less revealing of the storyline as it kind of says everything.
Verdict : This is definitely a very good read and must be considered for a lazy afternoon. I promise no one would regret.
Blurb : Set in the gorgeous vineyard valleys of Cape Town, South Africa, GATEKEEPERS OF THE GRAPEVINE follows the lives of three women as they navigate through their friendships and changing fortunes.
Elizabeth and Carolyn both live in the lavish gated community of Vintner’s Estate, but Carolyn is harboring a secret. When Elizabeth stumbles on the truth, she plots to use the information to her advantage unaware that her own life is soon to spiral out of control.
Then when Elizabeth’s sister, Sarah starts a design business, and quickly becomes the darling of Vintner’s Estate, this reversal of fortune threatens Elizabeth’s position with the other women. As Elizabeth battles to regain control, she discovers that her own life has been as much of a lie as Carolyn’s.
Book from My Eyes : So, far most of the books I have read are based on the plot of USA, Europe, UK, India or few Asian countries; Gatekeepers of the Grapevine is the first one based on the plot of South Africa. This is the main reason I was very excited to read the book. Needless to say, I really liked the book.
Thumbs Up:
- The plot of the book revolved mainly around three girls, Elizabeth, self-declared queen of a gated community, Vinter's Estate; Carolyn, another resident of Vinter's Estate and one of the prodigies of Elizabeth; Sarah who happened to be Elizabeth's sister and nothing like her. I loved the way author Jane Paterson has penned their journey, rise, and fall perfectly.
- The book is written in multiple POV and the trickiest thing about multiple POVs are keeping the consistency of the characters and making them distinct than each other throughout the entire novel. Author has nailed it.
- Each character has been portrayed very perfectly. The snob Elizabeth, vulnerable Carolyn, Classy Genevieve and Julie, Self content Sarah are have carried their character until the end and not even for a single moment the flow of the story lost.
- I didn't read the blurb before reading the novel. So, the secret of Carolyn remained a secret for me until the story revealed itself which was a good treat.
Thumbs Down:
- A very distracting part of the story is sometimes the thoughts of protagonists are written in the first person for example, "But am I possibly being too hard on her? The through quickly fitted through her mind, before she quickly squashed it." her very distracting. While the entire novel is being narrated as the third person, these kinds of things also could have been considered similarly.
- There are few grammatical and punctuation mistakes but those are not major ones.
- I read the blurb while writing the review. My personal opinion is the blurb should have been less revealing of the storyline as it kind of says everything.
Verdict : This is definitely a very good read and must be considered for a lazy afternoon. I promise no one would regret.
September 5, 2016
I have to get this off of my chest lol. I absolutely CANNOT stand Elizabeth Johnson-Carlisle!! I am sure that MANY who have read this book can agree with at least THAT opinion of mine.
What I really like about Gatekeepers of the Grapevine is that the characters all have very clearly defined personalities, traits, beliefs, thoughts, purposes, histories, etc. They are NOT carbon copies of each other and they are NOT carbon copies of other characters in other novels - which is truly a breath of fresh air in women's fiction, in my opinion.
Elizabeth is incredibly pretentious, self-absorbed, narcissistic, and manipulative. I sort of found her to be a facade of a human being. I'm sure we've all met at least a few of these spoiled, horrible creatures in our lifetimes. On the other hand, Sarah, her sister, is very self-aware, compassionate, giving, isn't afraid of work, and is perhaps a bit too ready to accept blame for her sister's poor behavior. Carolyn, Elizabeth's protege, appears to be incredibly unsure of herself and lacks a backbone (which is perfect when one is Elizabeth's protege...). She is very kind, she just isn't really used to social interaction with other women. Along with these three main characters, there are husbands, kids, and other women that make up this excellent read.
I kind of wish that more information would've been shared about South Africa. The author seemed to sort of assume that the audience all knew exactly what Cape Town was all about. There were a few descriptions, but I feel there could have been a lot more. In my opinion, it's always good to integrate the environment into the story and not just leave it as a "given". I'm not a mind reader and there are no illustrations, so help me to SEE where the characters are. There were a TON of details about Elizabeth's home, just as there should be, but I would've liked "seeing" more of South Africa.
I noticed a few editing errors - misspelled words, extra words, and missing words. This wasn't a HUGE ordeal, though. There weren't so many that it took away from the entire book.
All in all, I give Gatekeepers of the Grapevine a solid four stars. It kept my attention, the characters were likeable - except for Elizabeth...she was detestable, and when I took a break, my thoughts went back to the story. That happens when I'm really into a good book. I definitely recommend this book!!
What I really like about Gatekeepers of the Grapevine is that the characters all have very clearly defined personalities, traits, beliefs, thoughts, purposes, histories, etc. They are NOT carbon copies of each other and they are NOT carbon copies of other characters in other novels - which is truly a breath of fresh air in women's fiction, in my opinion.
Elizabeth is incredibly pretentious, self-absorbed, narcissistic, and manipulative. I sort of found her to be a facade of a human being. I'm sure we've all met at least a few of these spoiled, horrible creatures in our lifetimes. On the other hand, Sarah, her sister, is very self-aware, compassionate, giving, isn't afraid of work, and is perhaps a bit too ready to accept blame for her sister's poor behavior. Carolyn, Elizabeth's protege, appears to be incredibly unsure of herself and lacks a backbone (which is perfect when one is Elizabeth's protege...). She is very kind, she just isn't really used to social interaction with other women. Along with these three main characters, there are husbands, kids, and other women that make up this excellent read.
I kind of wish that more information would've been shared about South Africa. The author seemed to sort of assume that the audience all knew exactly what Cape Town was all about. There were a few descriptions, but I feel there could have been a lot more. In my opinion, it's always good to integrate the environment into the story and not just leave it as a "given". I'm not a mind reader and there are no illustrations, so help me to SEE where the characters are. There were a TON of details about Elizabeth's home, just as there should be, but I would've liked "seeing" more of South Africa.
I noticed a few editing errors - misspelled words, extra words, and missing words. This wasn't a HUGE ordeal, though. There weren't so many that it took away from the entire book.
All in all, I give Gatekeepers of the Grapevine a solid four stars. It kept my attention, the characters were likeable - except for Elizabeth...she was detestable, and when I took a break, my thoughts went back to the story. That happens when I'm really into a good book. I definitely recommend this book!!
October 11, 2016
‘Money might not buy happiness but it certainly could provide privacy and protection.’
This novel is set in Vintner’s Estate, a gated community in Cape Town, South Africa and revolves around three women. Two of the women, Elizabeth and Carolyn, live on Vintner’s Estate while Sarah, Elizabeth’s sister, lives outside the estate.
Chapter One provides just enough information for the reader to learn that a woman named Elizabeth is in trouble. But Chapter Two takes us back a year, to an Elizabeth clearly in charge of her life and surroundings. So, what is Elizabeth’s story? What has happened? In the next two chapters we meet Sarah and then Carolyn.
Three very different women.
Elizabeth is obsessed with position and status, Carolyn has a secret in her past, and Sarah wants to be free to live her life on her own terms. Elizabeth is the self-styled queen of Vintner’s Estate, only happy when she is in control and the centre of attention. But Elizabeth is about to find out that her world isn’t as perfect as she thinks. Sarah will find her own niche in the community, and Carolyn will learn who her friends really are.
I mostly enjoyed this novel. Ms Paterson has delivered three quite different characters to like, love or loathe. I kept reading, hoping that Elizabeth would get her comeuppance, Sarah would enjoy her success, and Carolyn would be able to move out from the shadow of her past. And mostly I was satisfied. Mostly. The ending didn’t satisfy me, but I can’t explain why without introducing spoilers and I’m not going to do that.
Note: My thanks to Ms Paterson for providing me with a free electronic copy of her book.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This novel is set in Vintner’s Estate, a gated community in Cape Town, South Africa and revolves around three women. Two of the women, Elizabeth and Carolyn, live on Vintner’s Estate while Sarah, Elizabeth’s sister, lives outside the estate.
Chapter One provides just enough information for the reader to learn that a woman named Elizabeth is in trouble. But Chapter Two takes us back a year, to an Elizabeth clearly in charge of her life and surroundings. So, what is Elizabeth’s story? What has happened? In the next two chapters we meet Sarah and then Carolyn.
Three very different women.
Elizabeth is obsessed with position and status, Carolyn has a secret in her past, and Sarah wants to be free to live her life on her own terms. Elizabeth is the self-styled queen of Vintner’s Estate, only happy when she is in control and the centre of attention. But Elizabeth is about to find out that her world isn’t as perfect as she thinks. Sarah will find her own niche in the community, and Carolyn will learn who her friends really are.
I mostly enjoyed this novel. Ms Paterson has delivered three quite different characters to like, love or loathe. I kept reading, hoping that Elizabeth would get her comeuppance, Sarah would enjoy her success, and Carolyn would be able to move out from the shadow of her past. And mostly I was satisfied. Mostly. The ending didn’t satisfy me, but I can’t explain why without introducing spoilers and I’m not going to do that.
Note: My thanks to Ms Paterson for providing me with a free electronic copy of her book.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
October 6, 2016
The general idea behind the book was interesting. I liked that it took place in a unique location, something I haven't read a lot about. There were a few things I didn't love-- I felt like Elizabeth was too evil. Her character would have been interesting, more relatable even, if she'd had some conscience, any redeeming qualities, really. I just can't believe someone is that vapid and cruel, especially with a kind sister like Sarah, unless she was a sociopath (maybe she is...). I get acting cruelly when hurt, but doesn't she love her sister at all?
I also thought the writing was very focused on painting the image of luxury. The descriptions were so detailed and focused on luxury... but the dichotomy from the poor sectors of Africa was not equally painted in such detail, so it felt more like a Gossip Girl upper East Side lifestyle thing than a comparison of the wealth between the classes, which would have been really interesting. It also gives some of the other characters a tinge of Elizabeth's voice, the over-care with appearances and wealth.
I was also disappointed by the end. It ended very abruptly. There was a teaser 1-2 sentence line at the end, but I'm not even entirely sure what the teaser is doing--(SPOILERS) did Elizabeth learn nothing? Is she evil-incarnate and this is just another ploy? There just wasn't much resolution at all. And I'm okay with a suspenseful tease at the end, but this was a little abrupt.
The characters were interesting, and it does make you shocked at how simply cruel someone can be, how selfish and uninteresting.
I also thought the writing was very focused on painting the image of luxury. The descriptions were so detailed and focused on luxury... but the dichotomy from the poor sectors of Africa was not equally painted in such detail, so it felt more like a Gossip Girl upper East Side lifestyle thing than a comparison of the wealth between the classes, which would have been really interesting. It also gives some of the other characters a tinge of Elizabeth's voice, the over-care with appearances and wealth.
I was also disappointed by the end. It ended very abruptly. There was a teaser 1-2 sentence line at the end, but I'm not even entirely sure what the teaser is doing--(SPOILERS) did Elizabeth learn nothing? Is she evil-incarnate and this is just another ploy? There just wasn't much resolution at all. And I'm okay with a suspenseful tease at the end, but this was a little abrupt.
The characters were interesting, and it does make you shocked at how simply cruel someone can be, how selfish and uninteresting.
February 26, 2023
The story is set in an exclusive gated community in South Africa, and is told through the alternating viewpoints of three women. Elizabeth is the wife of a wealthy businessman and has named her luxurious home Gateside Hall, which is one of the first and finest homes in the gated community of Vintner's Estate. Her days are spent shopping, buying things for her home, planning parties and perfecting her already perfect life. She is arrogant and scornful of others, and has no real friends. She isn't a particularly realistic, nor likeable character. The other two main characters are far more normal and relatable. I found the first part of the book rather boring, and there were so many characters introduced in rapid succession that it was difficult to sort them out.
Though there were several subplots, the main story line involving the future of Elizabeth and her husband was not fully fleshed out, and ended in a totally unsatisfactory manner. Elizabeth and RJ were not particularly likeable characters, so it was difficult to work up any empathy for their plight. At the end of the book, my reaction was basically "so what?". Additionally, there were numerous punctuation and grammar errors, which detracted from my overall impression of the book. For example, "She felt alert and sharp her curiosity was high." (a run-on sentence). "It was after 10 pm and RJ were still not home." (subject/verb mismatch).
Though there were several subplots, the main story line involving the future of Elizabeth and her husband was not fully fleshed out, and ended in a totally unsatisfactory manner. Elizabeth and RJ were not particularly likeable characters, so it was difficult to work up any empathy for their plight. At the end of the book, my reaction was basically "so what?". Additionally, there were numerous punctuation and grammar errors, which detracted from my overall impression of the book. For example, "She felt alert and sharp her curiosity was high." (a run-on sentence). "It was after 10 pm and RJ were still not home." (subject/verb mismatch).
September 1, 2016
Gatekeepers of the Grapevine follows the lives of three very different women in Capetown,South Africa.
Elizabeth and Sarah are sisters who have almost nothing in common. Elizabeth has created a life for herself that has put her at the top of the pecking order in the gated community of Vintner's Estate. She is in control of everyone and everything in her life and has no use for her artist sister Sarah, who is content with her simple life with her husband and child.
When Carolyn and her husband move into the exclusive community, Elizabeth tries hard to change her in to what Elizabeth feels she should be. But Carolyn isn't as malleable as Elizabeth thinks. And things are about to change behind the gates.
When Sarah comes into her own and new residents move in to the estate, residents who don't care who Elizabeth is and have no intention of being under her thumb, the numerous tiny cracks in Elizabeth's life begin to shatter.
Ms. Paterson's attention to detail is seen in every part of this book. Descriptions of the country and it's beauty as well as the description of the homes and the characters were done to perfection.
A story of cultures, secrets, forgiveness and hope and maybe a little bit of karma, I wold happily read more from Ms. Paterson!
Elizabeth and Sarah are sisters who have almost nothing in common. Elizabeth has created a life for herself that has put her at the top of the pecking order in the gated community of Vintner's Estate. She is in control of everyone and everything in her life and has no use for her artist sister Sarah, who is content with her simple life with her husband and child.
When Carolyn and her husband move into the exclusive community, Elizabeth tries hard to change her in to what Elizabeth feels she should be. But Carolyn isn't as malleable as Elizabeth thinks. And things are about to change behind the gates.
When Sarah comes into her own and new residents move in to the estate, residents who don't care who Elizabeth is and have no intention of being under her thumb, the numerous tiny cracks in Elizabeth's life begin to shatter.
Ms. Paterson's attention to detail is seen in every part of this book. Descriptions of the country and it's beauty as well as the description of the homes and the characters were done to perfection.
A story of cultures, secrets, forgiveness and hope and maybe a little bit of karma, I wold happily read more from Ms. Paterson!
October 16, 2016
The Gatekeepers of the Grapevine by Jane Paterson is indeed the perfect title to this novel. There are three women whose lives intertwine inside this book. Two are sisters. The other is not. The realistic version of what sisters can be like is revealed. I liked that it wasn't forced nor fake. Complete opposites was another theme but regarded the sisters more so. The tale overall, was deeply engaging from beginning to end. I felt that the ending could have been stretched out a bit more. Other than that I found this to be a great read. I enjoyed the suspense and the different lives presented. I got to live through a couple of African women's lives. That was the most interesting part. South Africa is hardly mentioned in fiction and when it does pop up, it's usually always a good book. This novel caught my attention immediately upon opening it. The characters will tug readers into a two-way direction. There are some things I enjoyed about them and other things I didn't like about them. Meaning they weren't characters I would want to best of friends with but could tolerate if I had to...Overall, The Gatekeepers of the Grapevine is definitely for those who liked Sex in the City. For those who like a good mystery and secrets than this is the book, I recommend to read.
September 3, 2016
I would have to say that this book was a great surprise to me. It is not something that I would start reading on my own, without it being strongly recommended.
The book is very good! It is very far from the typical rich women stories. It is interesting, beautiful and realistic. At some point I had to remind myself that the book does not recount a true story. I was really amazed with the way Jane Paterson managed to describe the characters and everything that happens in the rich-people's daily routine and still make it sound capturing and interesting.
I don't know if any specific genre applies to this book, but what I am sure of is that this book is a MUST read in my list.
I received the book from the writer in exchange for my honest opinion.
The book is very good! It is very far from the typical rich women stories. It is interesting, beautiful and realistic. At some point I had to remind myself that the book does not recount a true story. I was really amazed with the way Jane Paterson managed to describe the characters and everything that happens in the rich-people's daily routine and still make it sound capturing and interesting.
I don't know if any specific genre applies to this book, but what I am sure of is that this book is a MUST read in my list.
I received the book from the writer in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 19, 2016
I have not read many women's fiction novels, but I was intrigued by the description of the novel and, as I began to read the novel, I became more intrigued. Although slow paced, this novel focuses on the socio-economic status of the well-to-do versus the ordinary wage earner.
The only thing I wished was that the novel would have been a little faster paced than what it was. I enjoy the background and storyline, but I felt at times it seemed to drag on to reach the climax of the storyline and when the climax was reached, it seemed to falter and leave me wanting more of the dramatic reveal of each of the lives that were affected.
For a more detailed review visit my blog: https://goofycorino.com/2016/09/18/bo...
The only thing I wished was that the novel would have been a little faster paced than what it was. I enjoy the background and storyline, but I felt at times it seemed to drag on to reach the climax of the storyline and when the climax was reached, it seemed to falter and leave me wanting more of the dramatic reveal of each of the lives that were affected.
For a more detailed review visit my blog: https://goofycorino.com/2016/09/18/bo...
December 7, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story, placed in Africa, is about three different women's lives.
Although the descriptions of Africa and its landscape are incredible, I found the pace of the story a little bit slow.
Each woman has a very different life. And although you will dislike Elizabeth very much, (I surely did), at the end I could not help pitying her.
I don't really know why, but I didn't connect with the characters.
This story, placed in Africa, is about three different women's lives.
Although the descriptions of Africa and its landscape are incredible, I found the pace of the story a little bit slow.
Each woman has a very different life. And although you will dislike Elizabeth very much, (I surely did), at the end I could not help pitying her.
I don't really know why, but I didn't connect with the characters.
November 3, 2016
You can read my full review here.
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November 10, 2016Unfortunately, I found the pace of the novel so slow and the characters so boring that I gave up reading at the 22% mark.
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