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Whisper Falls #1
Whisper Falls
Beyond the waterfall awaits 1796--and the girl who is slowly capturing his heart. But if Mark travels through time to save Susanna, will her brutal world trap him too?While mountain biking in the woods, Mark Lewis spots a mysterious girl dressed in odd clothing, standing behind a waterfall. When she comments on the strange machine he's riding, he suspects something isn’t right. When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796, he wonders if she’s crazy, yet he's compelled to find out more. Mark enters a long-distance relationship with Susanna through the temperamental barrier of Whisper Falls.Curious about her world, Mark searches through history to learn about the brutal life she’s trapped in. But knowledge can be dangerous. Soon he must choose between changing the past--or dooming the girl he can’t stop thinking about to a lifetime of misery.PRAISE for WHISPER "... I would recommend [Whisper Falls] to any reader who is interested in historical fiction, thrillers, fantasy, love stories or time travel." - Youth librarian, Boyd Co Libraries WV, USA"Whisper Falls is a fun, action-packed story…" [School Library Journal]"Whisper Falls is captivating! The themes of love and hate in it's many forms and nuances are timeless and will appeal to all generations... I had a hard time putting this book down until I had savored the last page. And I certainly didn't want it to end. Another book? Yes, please!" - M. Winner of a Bronze Medal in the Moonbeam Award for Excellence in Fiction (YA historical/cultural category)
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2013
170 people are currently reading
1856 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Langston
16 books198 followersElizabeth Langston lives in North Carolina, midway between the beach and the mountains. When she's not writing stories, she likes to stream mysteries, travel to faraway places, or curl up with a good book and a cup of coffee.
Elizabeth writes historical/ women's fiction and YA magical realism. As Julia Day, she has also written contemporary romance.
Elizabeth writes historical/ women's fiction and YA magical realism. As Julia Day, she has also written contemporary romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
October 21, 2015
O carte de dragoste care-ti merge la suflet! Călătorii in timp , printr-un portal mai inedit : o cascada.
Ce m-a impresionat foarte mult la aceasta carte este documentația pentru 1796.... Si iubirea care transforma o persoana. O carte care merita citita!
Despre servitori, puterea pe care o aveau stăpânii asupra lor, bătăile pe care le aplicau pe post de corectie, ce mai ... totul este impresionant !
Ce m-a impresionat foarte mult la aceasta carte este documentația pentru 1796.... Si iubirea care transforma o persoana. O carte care merita citita!
Despre servitori, puterea pe care o aveau stăpânii asupra lor, bătăile pe care le aplicau pe post de corectie, ce mai ... totul este impresionant !
October 12, 2015
3.5
„- Dacă hot înseamnă drăguţă, cool înseamnă urâtă?”
http://palarisme.ro/chef/carti/76-car...
„- Dacă hot înseamnă drăguţă, cool înseamnă urâtă?”
http://palarisme.ro/chef/carti/76-car...
June 8, 2014
A mysterious waterfall acts as a time rift and connects a modern day boy to a girl from Colonial America. The cover drew my attention and the premise sounded delicious so I gave it a try. I'm glad I did because this was one of my most engaging reading experiences of late.
The story is told with each main character taking turns narrating the chapters in first person point of view. Seventeen year old, Mark Lewis comes from an upper middle class background and he is off for the summer before his senior year. His family is warm and loving, but his parents are going through the beginning of empty nest with his older sister now living in Colorado and his mom switching up her nursing jobs to go from trauma to hospice. His parents balance care with allowing a certain amount of independence to him. Growing up overweight and picked on by bullies in junior high until he worked hard with his family's support has also tempered him, but left him on the edges of the teen social scene with just one good friend who is away for several weeks staying with his dad. His focus is on training for the biggest mountain bike race in the state. He has his summer lawn care job to earn the fees and pay for his biking equipment as well as personal money establishing he can earn his way and not just mooch off dad and mom. He no longer has to worry about a girlfriend since the very popular, but high maintenance Alexis dumped him right in the middle of prom and other than the humiliation that night he doesn't miss her presence. It is on one of his training runs that he first sees and hears the oddly dressed and mannered girl in the waterfall.
Susanna is an indentured house servant for the mill owner and his large family in her small village. Her father died and when her mother remarried, Susanna's step-father indentured, or more accurately, sold her to the Pratts so he wouldn't have her in his care. It has been many years, but she nears the end of her service and plans to leave her village to find work in the nearby capital city of Raleigh. Pratt is a hard abusive man and his wife and children tread carefully around him. Susanna takes the fallout from his anger. He beats her for every little thing and tries to beat any spark of resistance or independent thought from her head. This is why she escapes the house for an hour each evening for her break to be taken in blessed solitude down in the cave by Whisper Falls. Her master sends his son to spy on her and make sure she isn't stepping out to see a man, but she eludes the boy so that she has one moment of privacy. It is there at the falls that she sees the young man with his fascinating clothing and the unique two wheeled transportation.
Mark and Susanna both treasure this connection through the falls after they figure out that they really are encountering a person distanced from them by 200 years. Mark is Susanna's friend and escape she needs from her dreary life, but the knowledge he gleams from his research about the future of herself and those she cares about changes everything. She is determined to alter the future to save those she loves and in the process she may still lose it all. Mark is right there doing his part to help Susanna succeed and he is more vested in her life than his own so when the ex-girlfriend renews her interest, his best friend gets distant and a bully from his past threatens none of it seems important. Mark's priorities are realigning, his perceptions are changing and he is determined to succeed where Susanna is concerned even if it means putting his own life in danger.
There are a few things that really caught my attention during this story and all of them I liked. Time-travel stories can get tricky for me. There is always a certain balance between moving the story forward and need to satisfy my curiosity of how it works. The short of it is that the author didn't try to explain. It was like magic in that one ponders how it was done and then end up just enjoying the results anyway. Because of the strength of the story's other components, I didn't care that my curiosity was left unsatisfied. The magical and mysterious waterfall is almost a third major character the way it plays its part in the story as it is there during all major events and causes some of the tension.
Speaking of other components. It's a time travel story so setting is huge. In this instance, I was transpired by how well Susanna's Colonial American world was drawn. It all rang true and balanced well with her character development and story. It was there without taking over. The life of an indentured house servant was fascinating and not boring. I now want to know more about the period.
But, the author didn't chintz on Mark's setting either. Yes, it was modern so description wasn't as detailed, but it was uniquely revealed through Mark's eyes and his interests. I liked how not only is their time period a separation for them, but their class in their respective societies is different too and they have both gaps to bridge with their friendship and growing relationship. It was nice that neither make apologies for their roots, but learn to appreciate the other.
I thought the presence or lack of presence of family was interesting too. Surprisingly, it is Susanna who deals with the parent who checked out and leaves her to go it alone and try to watch out for her sister and herself and it is the modern Mark who has the attentive caring parents even though they both have careers. The extra scenes with the people in their daily lives was good so that Mark and Susanna were part of a larger story and not just isolated in their own little world.
Mark and Susanna's characters were interesting and engaging. Susanna had a hard life and it tempered her into who she was. She tends to be focused, contained and takes charge. The taking charge attitude is what causes the most tension between her and Mark when they bristle over each other doing it. She hides her feelings and thoughts as the one thing that she can control since the rest of her is subjected to the whim of the Pratts. She has managed to find contentment in her circumstances by caring for the younger Pratts as her own even while dealing with the parents and old children circumspectly. She's not a whiner and she makes the best of things. Her circumstances do lead her to assume the high road with Mark until he starts to prove to her that he has her back and he is worthy.
Mark has the ability to see beyond the surface with people and he values what is on the inside which is why he is drawn to Susanna and was always cautious around the modern-day kids. He respects Susanna and he wants to protect her when the people who should have protected her don't. She brings out the best in him and those around him might not know his secret, but they see the changes in him. Helping Susanna causes a paradigm shift in his life and the fast track to adulthood. Being inside his head to experience his view of his family, his friends and acquaintance and his daily activities was fun. I loved experiencing stuff with Susanna, but there was just a little something about Mark that drew me more.
The story is part of a series so that even though it wraps things up in a realistic happy for now place, it was obvious that the end was just a bookmark for the next segment of Mark and Susanna's adventure. The important stuff in the story does get answered and the reader isn't left dangling in frustration. I had a few questions and things left outstanding, but I assume it gets dealt with further on. I look forward to what happens next.
As to YA warnings, there is a moderate amount of strong language and violence in the form of abuse to Susanna. Mid-teens to adults would probably be best.
I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy Time Travel Romance, but both Contemporary and Historical Romance fans would possibly enjoy it too. It is YA, but the themes and plotting make it have a more adult feel.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
The story is told with each main character taking turns narrating the chapters in first person point of view. Seventeen year old, Mark Lewis comes from an upper middle class background and he is off for the summer before his senior year. His family is warm and loving, but his parents are going through the beginning of empty nest with his older sister now living in Colorado and his mom switching up her nursing jobs to go from trauma to hospice. His parents balance care with allowing a certain amount of independence to him. Growing up overweight and picked on by bullies in junior high until he worked hard with his family's support has also tempered him, but left him on the edges of the teen social scene with just one good friend who is away for several weeks staying with his dad. His focus is on training for the biggest mountain bike race in the state. He has his summer lawn care job to earn the fees and pay for his biking equipment as well as personal money establishing he can earn his way and not just mooch off dad and mom. He no longer has to worry about a girlfriend since the very popular, but high maintenance Alexis dumped him right in the middle of prom and other than the humiliation that night he doesn't miss her presence. It is on one of his training runs that he first sees and hears the oddly dressed and mannered girl in the waterfall.
Susanna is an indentured house servant for the mill owner and his large family in her small village. Her father died and when her mother remarried, Susanna's step-father indentured, or more accurately, sold her to the Pratts so he wouldn't have her in his care. It has been many years, but she nears the end of her service and plans to leave her village to find work in the nearby capital city of Raleigh. Pratt is a hard abusive man and his wife and children tread carefully around him. Susanna takes the fallout from his anger. He beats her for every little thing and tries to beat any spark of resistance or independent thought from her head. This is why she escapes the house for an hour each evening for her break to be taken in blessed solitude down in the cave by Whisper Falls. Her master sends his son to spy on her and make sure she isn't stepping out to see a man, but she eludes the boy so that she has one moment of privacy. It is there at the falls that she sees the young man with his fascinating clothing and the unique two wheeled transportation.
Mark and Susanna both treasure this connection through the falls after they figure out that they really are encountering a person distanced from them by 200 years. Mark is Susanna's friend and escape she needs from her dreary life, but the knowledge he gleams from his research about the future of herself and those she cares about changes everything. She is determined to alter the future to save those she loves and in the process she may still lose it all. Mark is right there doing his part to help Susanna succeed and he is more vested in her life than his own so when the ex-girlfriend renews her interest, his best friend gets distant and a bully from his past threatens none of it seems important. Mark's priorities are realigning, his perceptions are changing and he is determined to succeed where Susanna is concerned even if it means putting his own life in danger.
There are a few things that really caught my attention during this story and all of them I liked. Time-travel stories can get tricky for me. There is always a certain balance between moving the story forward and need to satisfy my curiosity of how it works. The short of it is that the author didn't try to explain. It was like magic in that one ponders how it was done and then end up just enjoying the results anyway. Because of the strength of the story's other components, I didn't care that my curiosity was left unsatisfied. The magical and mysterious waterfall is almost a third major character the way it plays its part in the story as it is there during all major events and causes some of the tension.
Speaking of other components. It's a time travel story so setting is huge. In this instance, I was transpired by how well Susanna's Colonial American world was drawn. It all rang true and balanced well with her character development and story. It was there without taking over. The life of an indentured house servant was fascinating and not boring. I now want to know more about the period.
But, the author didn't chintz on Mark's setting either. Yes, it was modern so description wasn't as detailed, but it was uniquely revealed through Mark's eyes and his interests. I liked how not only is their time period a separation for them, but their class in their respective societies is different too and they have both gaps to bridge with their friendship and growing relationship. It was nice that neither make apologies for their roots, but learn to appreciate the other.
I thought the presence or lack of presence of family was interesting too. Surprisingly, it is Susanna who deals with the parent who checked out and leaves her to go it alone and try to watch out for her sister and herself and it is the modern Mark who has the attentive caring parents even though they both have careers. The extra scenes with the people in their daily lives was good so that Mark and Susanna were part of a larger story and not just isolated in their own little world.
Mark and Susanna's characters were interesting and engaging. Susanna had a hard life and it tempered her into who she was. She tends to be focused, contained and takes charge. The taking charge attitude is what causes the most tension between her and Mark when they bristle over each other doing it. She hides her feelings and thoughts as the one thing that she can control since the rest of her is subjected to the whim of the Pratts. She has managed to find contentment in her circumstances by caring for the younger Pratts as her own even while dealing with the parents and old children circumspectly. She's not a whiner and she makes the best of things. Her circumstances do lead her to assume the high road with Mark until he starts to prove to her that he has her back and he is worthy.
Mark has the ability to see beyond the surface with people and he values what is on the inside which is why he is drawn to Susanna and was always cautious around the modern-day kids. He respects Susanna and he wants to protect her when the people who should have protected her don't. She brings out the best in him and those around him might not know his secret, but they see the changes in him. Helping Susanna causes a paradigm shift in his life and the fast track to adulthood. Being inside his head to experience his view of his family, his friends and acquaintance and his daily activities was fun. I loved experiencing stuff with Susanna, but there was just a little something about Mark that drew me more.
The story is part of a series so that even though it wraps things up in a realistic happy for now place, it was obvious that the end was just a bookmark for the next segment of Mark and Susanna's adventure. The important stuff in the story does get answered and the reader isn't left dangling in frustration. I had a few questions and things left outstanding, but I assume it gets dealt with further on. I look forward to what happens next.
As to YA warnings, there is a moderate amount of strong language and violence in the form of abuse to Susanna. Mid-teens to adults would probably be best.
I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy Time Travel Romance, but both Contemporary and Historical Romance fans would possibly enjoy it too. It is YA, but the themes and plotting make it have a more adult feel.
My thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 25, 2013
This is EPIC magical realism. It draws you in and stays with you. Expect to see this all over the BEST BOOKS of 2013 lists! I was delighted to have a chance to read this when it came into SHP--I pulled out the manuscript one evening to get a sense of the writing and ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting. This one is totally worth losing sleep over!
April 1, 2014
From the very beginning, this book drew me in. From the impeccable period details, to the suspense, and the absolutely adorable romance, Whisper Falls was a brilliant YA romance. I loved this book! It was deep, intriguing, and a truly enjoyable read. Loved it!
The setting in this book was perfect. It was obviously well researched, with precise details and the author managed to present them in a way that drew me into the story. I really liked how both characters reacted to seeing the world outside of their time period. It was interesting and realistically done. The whole time-travel thing was very well done.
Susanna was a wonderful heroine. She had a very difficult life, yet she stayed strong through it all. Even when her own safety was on the line, her first priority was taking care of her sister and the children of her master. She was very loyal and willing to fight for what she wanted. I thought she was lovely.
Mark was also great. He was absolutely determined to help Susanna and keep her safe, even if he had to literally enter a different world. He was very sweet, clever, and totally adorable. I absolutely loved him.
The romance was so sweet. Susanna and Mark were so lovely together and they made a great, two-century team. I thought they were a perfect couple. I can't wait to see how things turn out for them in the next book.
The plot was well paced and I was totally drawn in the entire way through. This story didn't fly by, but instead went by steadily, with the details and characters keeping me immersed. The suspense of whether or not Susanna and Mark would succeed in their efforts to keep Susanna and her sister safe kept me hooked. I really enjoyed the story and I'm very excited to see what happens next. Can't wait for book 2!
Whisper Falls was a fantastic YA romance. I absolutely loved this book! It was deep, thoughtful, suspenseful, and sweetly romantic. I enjoyed every bit of it. YA lovers, this is definitely a must read.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
The setting in this book was perfect. It was obviously well researched, with precise details and the author managed to present them in a way that drew me into the story. I really liked how both characters reacted to seeing the world outside of their time period. It was interesting and realistically done. The whole time-travel thing was very well done.
Susanna was a wonderful heroine. She had a very difficult life, yet she stayed strong through it all. Even when her own safety was on the line, her first priority was taking care of her sister and the children of her master. She was very loyal and willing to fight for what she wanted. I thought she was lovely.
Mark was also great. He was absolutely determined to help Susanna and keep her safe, even if he had to literally enter a different world. He was very sweet, clever, and totally adorable. I absolutely loved him.
The romance was so sweet. Susanna and Mark were so lovely together and they made a great, two-century team. I thought they were a perfect couple. I can't wait to see how things turn out for them in the next book.
The plot was well paced and I was totally drawn in the entire way through. This story didn't fly by, but instead went by steadily, with the details and characters keeping me immersed. The suspense of whether or not Susanna and Mark would succeed in their efforts to keep Susanna and her sister safe kept me hooked. I really enjoyed the story and I'm very excited to see what happens next. Can't wait for book 2!
Whisper Falls was a fantastic YA romance. I absolutely loved this book! It was deep, thoughtful, suspenseful, and sweetly romantic. I enjoyed every bit of it. YA lovers, this is definitely a must read.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
May 29, 2019
O poveste de dragoste frumoasă între 2 tineri care aparțin unor lumi diferite. Susana, o fată din sec 18 iar Mark, băiatul din sec 21 ajung să descopere un punct (o cascadă) care face legătura între trecut și viitor. Amandoi au vârsta de 17 ani dar între ei stau 2 secole, alte responsabilități și un stil de viață total diferit.
M-a impresionat povestea din perspectiva Susanei, viața grea la care erau supuși copiii în vremurile trecute, faptul că nu aveau dreptul la educație, la opinie, ajungeau scalvi iar stăpânii aveau dreptul să le controleze viața după bunul plac, toate acestea mă fac să mă bucur că nu am trăit în acea perioadă. Susana, deși duce o viață grea și abia așteptă sa expire contractul de muncă , tot încearcă să vadă și o parte bună a lucrurilor, încearcă să se mulțumească cu ce trăiește.
Mark este un adolescent normal pasionat de ciclism, se antrenează pentru o cursă importantă, iubita îl părăsește în seara balului de sfarsit de an. Ajunge să o cunoască pe Susana, treptat se îndrăgostește de ea și își dorește să o ajute să scape din mâinile stăpânului.
Citind această carte mi-am dat seama de schimbările din societate care au avut loc de-a lungul timpului. Subiectul a fost interesant, mi-a plăcut cartea!
M-a impresionat povestea din perspectiva Susanei, viața grea la care erau supuși copiii în vremurile trecute, faptul că nu aveau dreptul la educație, la opinie, ajungeau scalvi iar stăpânii aveau dreptul să le controleze viața după bunul plac, toate acestea mă fac să mă bucur că nu am trăit în acea perioadă. Susana, deși duce o viață grea și abia așteptă sa expire contractul de muncă , tot încearcă să vadă și o parte bună a lucrurilor, încearcă să se mulțumească cu ce trăiește.
Mark este un adolescent normal pasionat de ciclism, se antrenează pentru o cursă importantă, iubita îl părăsește în seara balului de sfarsit de an. Ajunge să o cunoască pe Susana, treptat se îndrăgostește de ea și își dorește să o ajute să scape din mâinile stăpânului.
Citind această carte mi-am dat seama de schimbările din societate care au avut loc de-a lungul timpului. Subiectul a fost interesant, mi-a plăcut cartea!
July 25, 2015
Thanks to NetGalley for this arc.
Let's get my dislikes over with.
First: I hate the cover. It screams "low budget" and lessens my ability to think of it as a good read. I like the books that either don't show characters, or don't show characters' faces. When a book tells me "that boy is handsome", I like to imagine my own idea of handsome, thank you very much. Putting faces on book covers just forces you to think of the character as the one on the cover. The book tells you "he is handsome". Well what if I don't agree that that's a good looking person on the cover? It mars the whole book.
Secondly: I love books about the past. I devour time travel books. I embrace books set in the colonial period. So this novel has it all set. What I don't like is when the author tries too hard to breach the differences between the characters NOW and the characters THEN. Susannah speech seems spot on 18th century. Mark’s, well….. If I had to read anymore of his saying “Okay,” or “Damn.” I was ready to gouge out my eyes. Surely there are other ways of expressing modern language. The part where Mark describes something being “hot”, “cool”, and “sucks” was great, but I was getting sick of the single word sentence of “Damn.” 34 times in a 42 chapter book, I counted. Okay, so I did a control find on my ereader, so sue me.
Thirdly: I don’t give a rat’s arse about mountain biking or Mark’s protein diet. In fact, in the early chapters I ended up skipping much of Mark’s story because I just didn’t care. Mark is so ordinary, so boring. I can’t imagine why his super hot ex-girlfriend keeps trying to get back with him. I get it that we need to see how his “problems” don’t compare with Susannah’s, but lordy it got dull. HOWEVER…..
The later chapters made me appreciate the story so much more. It was hard to put down. Mark’s desperate (and sometimes idiotic) attempts to save Susannah and what she had to put up with in her master’s household were very enticing. Some of it was unbelievable (besides the whole time travel through a waterfall thing), such as Mark being able to stroll through 18th century Raleigh without any lessons on the speech of that time (not just not saying modern colloquialisms, but terms of address, accent, etc.) And nobody noticing he was wearing sneakers (“what’s that? Nee-kay, is that some kind of Injun word?” I dare you to name that movie…)
The author did a good job with Susannah’s misunderstanding of the modern world and Mark’s attempts to explain things. In the end the book cut off so abruptly it was like someone got their head chopped off (yea, I’ve been watching too much Game of Thrones). But then I noticed the title was “Whisper Falls, #1” so I’m guessing there will be more trips through the waterfall for these two in books to come.
Oh, and as a very amateur genealogist I kept yelling at Mark to “look at the church records!” when he confronted a mystery of who married who and who was born and who died. But to be fair, maybe there weren’t any church records (I’m Catholic and one thing I love about being a Catholic genealogist is that the Church kept many many records). Maybe the church records got destroyed in the big storm. Many records and censuses were destroyed or buried before they started being sent Washington DC (which was around 1820 maybe?). I believe they were kept in town halls and such of the district they were in. In that case, I’m amazed that Mark found anything, much less wills, contracts, or censuses. I’m also amazed that he could read Susannah’s gravestone. Heck, I have a hard time reading some of the gravestones of my own ancestors from 100 years ago because they are so worn down, much less 200 years ago. Also, I’m not sure who would have paid for an indentured servants’ gravestone. Most likely a person in her position would have been put in a potter’s field without any marker, much less her name and death date. I’m probably being too critical here; I digress.
All in all, despite my grievances this was a great story about bringing modern people to 18th century and a colonial adjusting to the 21st (it’s apparently 2016 in this story, when is it supposed to be released?). And I will look forward to the next stories, whenever they come out.
Let's get my dislikes over with.
First: I hate the cover. It screams "low budget" and lessens my ability to think of it as a good read. I like the books that either don't show characters, or don't show characters' faces. When a book tells me "that boy is handsome", I like to imagine my own idea of handsome, thank you very much. Putting faces on book covers just forces you to think of the character as the one on the cover. The book tells you "he is handsome". Well what if I don't agree that that's a good looking person on the cover? It mars the whole book.
Secondly: I love books about the past. I devour time travel books. I embrace books set in the colonial period. So this novel has it all set. What I don't like is when the author tries too hard to breach the differences between the characters NOW and the characters THEN. Susannah speech seems spot on 18th century. Mark’s, well….. If I had to read anymore of his saying “Okay,” or “Damn.” I was ready to gouge out my eyes. Surely there are other ways of expressing modern language. The part where Mark describes something being “hot”, “cool”, and “sucks” was great, but I was getting sick of the single word sentence of “Damn.” 34 times in a 42 chapter book, I counted. Okay, so I did a control find on my ereader, so sue me.
Thirdly: I don’t give a rat’s arse about mountain biking or Mark’s protein diet. In fact, in the early chapters I ended up skipping much of Mark’s story because I just didn’t care. Mark is so ordinary, so boring. I can’t imagine why his super hot ex-girlfriend keeps trying to get back with him. I get it that we need to see how his “problems” don’t compare with Susannah’s, but lordy it got dull. HOWEVER…..
The later chapters made me appreciate the story so much more. It was hard to put down. Mark’s desperate (and sometimes idiotic) attempts to save Susannah and what she had to put up with in her master’s household were very enticing. Some of it was unbelievable (besides the whole time travel through a waterfall thing), such as Mark being able to stroll through 18th century Raleigh without any lessons on the speech of that time (not just not saying modern colloquialisms, but terms of address, accent, etc.) And nobody noticing he was wearing sneakers (“what’s that? Nee-kay, is that some kind of Injun word?” I dare you to name that movie…)
The author did a good job with Susannah’s misunderstanding of the modern world and Mark’s attempts to explain things. In the end the book cut off so abruptly it was like someone got their head chopped off (yea, I’ve been watching too much Game of Thrones). But then I noticed the title was “Whisper Falls, #1” so I’m guessing there will be more trips through the waterfall for these two in books to come.
Oh, and as a very amateur genealogist I kept yelling at Mark to “look at the church records!” when he confronted a mystery of who married who and who was born and who died. But to be fair, maybe there weren’t any church records (I’m Catholic and one thing I love about being a Catholic genealogist is that the Church kept many many records). Maybe the church records got destroyed in the big storm. Many records and censuses were destroyed or buried before they started being sent Washington DC (which was around 1820 maybe?). I believe they were kept in town halls and such of the district they were in. In that case, I’m amazed that Mark found anything, much less wills, contracts, or censuses. I’m also amazed that he could read Susannah’s gravestone. Heck, I have a hard time reading some of the gravestones of my own ancestors from 100 years ago because they are so worn down, much less 200 years ago. Also, I’m not sure who would have paid for an indentured servants’ gravestone. Most likely a person in her position would have been put in a potter’s field without any marker, much less her name and death date. I’m probably being too critical here; I digress.
All in all, despite my grievances this was a great story about bringing modern people to 18th century and a colonial adjusting to the 21st (it’s apparently 2016 in this story, when is it supposed to be released?). And I will look forward to the next stories, whenever they come out.
April 18, 2014
Find this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I can't remember every book I've ever read, but I have a soft spot for Caroline B. Cooney's Time Travelers series. My cousin and I read the books together as tweens and I've always remembered them fondly which probably explains my nostalgic interest in Elizabeth Langston's Whisper Falls.
A young adult piece, the book actually has a lot going for it in terms of content. Langston does a wonderful job illustrating the plight of the indentured servant and the desperation suffered by those mistreated by their employers. I particularly liked how Langston countered the harsh realities of Susanna's existence with the moments of joy and the contrast that brought to larger picture of her life with the Pratt family.
Unfortunately, Langston's inexperience is blatantly obvious and while I acknowledge this is her debut release, I think it clear she has room to grow and develop her skills. For one, there is a gross imbalance in terms of character development. On a scale of one to ten, Susanna dominates the competition with a perfect score, but Mark, our male lead, falls somewhere between a five and six. Primary supporting cast members like Mr. Pratt and Mrs. Lewis collect around four, but individuals like Carlton, Alexis, Keefe, Marissa, Dorcas and Jedidiah felt so vague and half-hearted that I can't even calibrate their scores which is disappointing as Langston's heroine proves she is capable of so much more.
Langston's tendency to introduce conflict that never evolves is another point of concern. Do Marissa and Mrs. Lewis ever figure it out? What kind of person is Fletcher? How did Carlton get mixed up with Mark's ex? Is Jedidiah a friend or foe? How does Susanna's mother fair with Mr. Shaw? Did John recover from his obscure head wound? Langston dropped the ball in failing to provide closure to her subplots, leaving readers to wonder at their necessity in the finished narrative.
When all is said and done, I found myself wondering where the editor was with this piece. Both of my previously mentioned points should have been easy enough to recognize, but there also continuity issues that should have been caught before this piece went to print.
It was a good thing the research assistant could make copies, because I hadn’t thought to bring a camera. I’d take her up on her offer. For now, I was consumed by my first real exposure to Susanna’s master.
Langston's already made it clear Mark has a cell, he whipped it out of his pocket to show Susanna in the cave behind the falls, and since built-in cameras are a typically standard feature... I'd stop there, but this blunder is further emphasized in book two, where we find Mark taking photos of Phoebe’s journals in the archive basement with his phone.
Langston's target age bracket will probably appreciate Whisper Falls, but I personally found the haphazard construction left much to be desired.
I can't remember every book I've ever read, but I have a soft spot for Caroline B. Cooney's Time Travelers series. My cousin and I read the books together as tweens and I've always remembered them fondly which probably explains my nostalgic interest in Elizabeth Langston's Whisper Falls.
A young adult piece, the book actually has a lot going for it in terms of content. Langston does a wonderful job illustrating the plight of the indentured servant and the desperation suffered by those mistreated by their employers. I particularly liked how Langston countered the harsh realities of Susanna's existence with the moments of joy and the contrast that brought to larger picture of her life with the Pratt family.
Unfortunately, Langston's inexperience is blatantly obvious and while I acknowledge this is her debut release, I think it clear she has room to grow and develop her skills. For one, there is a gross imbalance in terms of character development. On a scale of one to ten, Susanna dominates the competition with a perfect score, but Mark, our male lead, falls somewhere between a five and six. Primary supporting cast members like Mr. Pratt and Mrs. Lewis collect around four, but individuals like Carlton, Alexis, Keefe, Marissa, Dorcas and Jedidiah felt so vague and half-hearted that I can't even calibrate their scores which is disappointing as Langston's heroine proves she is capable of so much more.
Langston's tendency to introduce conflict that never evolves is another point of concern. Do Marissa and Mrs. Lewis ever figure it out? What kind of person is Fletcher? How did Carlton get mixed up with Mark's ex? Is Jedidiah a friend or foe? How does Susanna's mother fair with Mr. Shaw? Did John recover from his obscure head wound? Langston dropped the ball in failing to provide closure to her subplots, leaving readers to wonder at their necessity in the finished narrative.
When all is said and done, I found myself wondering where the editor was with this piece. Both of my previously mentioned points should have been easy enough to recognize, but there also continuity issues that should have been caught before this piece went to print.
It was a good thing the research assistant could make copies, because I hadn’t thought to bring a camera. I’d take her up on her offer. For now, I was consumed by my first real exposure to Susanna’s master.
Langston's already made it clear Mark has a cell, he whipped it out of his pocket to show Susanna in the cave behind the falls, and since built-in cameras are a typically standard feature... I'd stop there, but this blunder is further emphasized in book two, where we find Mark taking photos of Phoebe’s journals in the archive basement with his phone.
Langston's target age bracket will probably appreciate Whisper Falls, but I personally found the haphazard construction left much to be desired.
October 19, 2013
Langston's debut novel Whisper Falls is truly a wonderful read. One that draws you in with rich historic detail of the times and the mystery and budding romance between Susanna and Mark.
Susanna's life and hardships as an indentured servant in the the late 1790's were so interesting and heartbreaking. To think that we treated one another with so little respect and regard is hard to read about let alone stomach. To see how much they struggled and worked while at the whim of their master's every command was terrifying to see and truly a part of history that should never be forgotten or repeated. The Pratt family was...a piece of work. Their only redeeming quality were their children (well, the younger ones) and really, that was all owed to Susanna, not the Pratts. I have never wanted a husband and wife to get their just rewards as much as I did the Pratts.
Susanna by far had the more captivating voice of the two (the other being Mark's) and the history nerd in me couldn't help but love to read about her daily life, from tending the children to cooking, she did it all.
Mark surprised me, he ended up being strong and determined and a great friend for Susanna. Even though they were centuries apart they both experienced very similar situation that I think drew them to one another. They understood each other even if they didn't understand the times and it wasn't long before a friendship was forged.
Susanna was already a strong girl when her story began but to see her grow stronger, braver and to really stand up for herself was truly a treat. Especially when she was in a time and place when that just wasn't considered acceptable behavior for a woman let alone an indentured servant. She took charge, she changed her family's history and she did it all with little to no though of how it would impact her life and her future. She ended up being quite the kick butt girl and I loved her for it.
I started this knowing that there couldn't possibly be a future for Mark and Susanna, after all their relationship redefined “long distance” but I couldn't help rooting for them anyways. I couldn't help but want them to end up together and while I won't say if I got the happily ever after I wanted, I will say that I was satisfied with the ending.
Susanna's life and hardships as an indentured servant in the the late 1790's were so interesting and heartbreaking. To think that we treated one another with so little respect and regard is hard to read about let alone stomach. To see how much they struggled and worked while at the whim of their master's every command was terrifying to see and truly a part of history that should never be forgotten or repeated. The Pratt family was...a piece of work. Their only redeeming quality were their children (well, the younger ones) and really, that was all owed to Susanna, not the Pratts. I have never wanted a husband and wife to get their just rewards as much as I did the Pratts.
Susanna by far had the more captivating voice of the two (the other being Mark's) and the history nerd in me couldn't help but love to read about her daily life, from tending the children to cooking, she did it all.
Mark surprised me, he ended up being strong and determined and a great friend for Susanna. Even though they were centuries apart they both experienced very similar situation that I think drew them to one another. They understood each other even if they didn't understand the times and it wasn't long before a friendship was forged.
Susanna was already a strong girl when her story began but to see her grow stronger, braver and to really stand up for herself was truly a treat. Especially when she was in a time and place when that just wasn't considered acceptable behavior for a woman let alone an indentured servant. She took charge, she changed her family's history and she did it all with little to no though of how it would impact her life and her future. She ended up being quite the kick butt girl and I loved her for it.
I started this knowing that there couldn't possibly be a future for Mark and Susanna, after all their relationship redefined “long distance” but I couldn't help rooting for them anyways. I couldn't help but want them to end up together and while I won't say if I got the happily ever after I wanted, I will say that I was satisfied with the ending.
January 15, 2014
Well written, had me hooked to find out what keeps happening next. A Very enjoyable read.
November 8, 2013
I loved this book! I've read a bunch of young adult fiction lately, and none was able to grab me the way this story did. It's fresh, not relying on some of the recent formula for young adults. It grabs you immediately. Susanna and Mark are adorable. Both independent and strong characters, they still learn how to support each other. Highly recommended.
November 11, 2015
Timpul, un “jucător” pe care n-ai cum să-l ignori, nici dacă ţi-ai propus să faci asta pe următorii zece ani din viaţă. Acesta este întotdeauna la doar un pas în spatele tău, urmărindu-ţi fiecare mişcare, fără a te scăpa vreo clipă din ochi, asta dacă-i are. Oricum, indiferent dacă are sau nu simţul vizual, se află mereu acolo, gata să te dea peste cap, direct de-a curmezişul. Slabe şanse să-l păcăleşti. Chiar inexistente, aş putea spune. Are aşa o plăcere sadică de a ştii totul, încât te înfioară numai când îţi mai adie inconştient un gând spre el.
Unde mai pui faptul că toţi am vrea să-l întoarcem după cum ne pofteşte inima? Vrem să avem, de fiecare dată, câştig de cauză în lupta aprigă cu acesta, dar şi dacă am reuşi să izbutim măcar puţin, consecinţele ar fi cu siguranţă pe măsură. Totuşi, nu toţi ne permitem să facem asta. Nu toţi ne lăsăm inima să preia acţiunile noastre, uneori destul de riscante. Nu toţi permitem dramului de nebunie ce zace în noi să acţioneze.
Şi iată că eroii noştri vor să se pună cu timpul şi să-l "joace" pe degete, pentru ca totul să iasă bine pentru cei dragi. Dar dacă încercarea lor va fi în van şi dezastrul se va abate asupra lor, cât de departe vor fi în stare să meargă? Timpul le va fi duşman până la sfârşit sau le va oferi şansa să descopere în el un posibil...aliat?!
Susanna Marsh - Wothville - 1796
Povestea debutează prin perspectiva Susannei Marsh, o tânără de 17 ani, ce aşteaptă cu nerăbdare şi uşurare ziua sa de naştere, zi în care se va putea bucura, în sfârşit, de libertate. Moartea tatălui său a dus inevitabil, pentru acea vreme, la recăsătorirea mamei sale cu altcineva. Dar tatăl vitreg, în loc s-o ocrotească ca şi cum ar fi fost propria fiică, a dat-o ca ucenică la familia Pratt, unde a fost nevoită să facă mare parte din treburile casei.
Pe vremea aceea, mai exact în anul 1796, fetelor orfane de tată şi care proveneau din familiile sărace şi numeroase, li se făceau contracte de ucenicie, fără ca părerea lor să fie măcar luată în seamă. Contractele durau până când fetele împlineau vârsta de 18 ani sau aveau norocul de a se mărita, trebuind să se respecte anumite condiţii atât de cel care primea fata, cât şi de respectiva ucenică.
În mod normal, tinerele trebuiau să aibă vârsta minimă de 14 ani pentru a putea fi date, indiferent de munca întreprinsă acolo unde ajungeau, dar regula sau, mai bine spus, legea, în Worthville, nu se aplica astfel, iar sătenii îşi dădeau fetele de la vârste şi mai mici. Aşa este şi cazul Susannei. La doar zece ani, viaţa i s-a schimbat total, fiind nevoită să facă de mâncare, să spele, să cârpească, să facă curăţenie, să se îngrijească de grădină şi multe alte sarcini ce implicau atât creşterea copiilor deja mărişori, cât şi a noilor născuţi ce apăreau în familia Pratt.
"Vezi tu, e un joc. Încearcă să mă lovească atât de tare, încât să mă facă să plâng. Numai că eu nu plâng. Nu scot niciun sunet. Ăsta e felul meu de a-l învinge."
Iar ea n-avea niciun cuvânt de spus. Absolut niciunul. Tot ce trebuia tânăra să facă era să se arate umilă în faţa stăpânilor, să nu încerce să fugă de sub "asediul" acestora şi să îndeplinească sarcinile zilnice şi cele care se mai puteau ivi pe viitor. N-avea niciun drept să facă vreo remarcă, să critice vreun membru al familiei, să întârzie cu mesele, să doarmă prea mult, să se uite cruciş sau altcumva, altfel ar fi suferit de pe urma acestor limitări. Şi, totuşi, nimeni nu-i perfect. Orice om greşeşte, chiar şi Susannah a făcut-o şi a avut parte de pedepse pe măsură. Pe vremea aceea, oamenii nu țineau cont prea mult de simțămintele ucenicelor și le abuzau fără urmă de conștiință.
Dar, timp de opt ani, a tăcut şi n-a spus nimănui ce se întâmplă în gospodăria familiei, atunci când stăpânului nu-i convenea ceva şi ea era cea care suporta consecinţele, deşi, de cele mai multe ori, nu era de vină. Totuşi, cei cu legea din micul sat aveau habar de cicatricile de pe picioarele fetei, dar, fiind rudă chiar cu cel care i le provocase, nu ridicaseră nici măcar un deget pentru faptele comise de Pratt asupra Susannei.
Mark Lewis - Raleigh - 2016
O altă perspectivă prin care ne este prezentată această poveste captivantă, alternând cu cea a fetei, este cea a lui Mark Lewis, un flăcău de aceeaşi vârstă cu Susanna, dar mai tânăr cu două secole. Da, aţi auzit citit bine! Pe când ea trăieşte în perioada colonistă (1796), el s-a născut într-o perioadă mai tehnologizată (2016).
"Cascada e locul cel mai grozav de pe drumul verde, şi zic asta nu numai din cauza perdelei de apă de doi metri şi jumătate lăţime. Mai e şi grota. Nu-i foarte înaltă, şi nici adâncă, dar are un aer ca din altă lume. E plină de pietre acoperite de muşchi. Locul ideal să te ascunzi, să-ţi tragi sufletul şi să fii complet singur chiar în mijlocul oraşului."
În viaţa de zi cu zi, Mark se împarte între antrenamentele de mountain bike pentru cursa cea mare, ce se apropie rapid, îngrijirea curţilor vecinilor pentru a-şi putea întreţine pasiunea şi "războiul" tăcut dintre mama şi sora sa plecată într-un alt oraş, pentru aşa-zise cursuri de vară.
Nici tânărul n-a avut o viaţă uşoară, confruntându-se des cu batjocurile şi bătăile colegilor din cauza greutăţii sale. Dar, cu ajutorul mătuşii lui, ce-l încuraja de fiecare dată să nu se dea bătut şi să caute să le dea peste nas celor care nu meritau nici să le adreseze vreun cuvânt, Mark îşi revizuieşte situaţia şi ia măsurile necesare pentru un trai mai sănătos. După încercarea mai multor sporturi care să-l ajute să dea jos, acesta rămâne la mountain bike, aceeaşi pasiune pe care o împărtăşeşte şi tatăl său. Se îngrijeşte de alimentaţia sa, având grijă să nu mai facă excese şi, încet-încet, devine un tânăr cu o constituţie zveltă şi sănătoasă.
„Mă întreb dacă faptul că ne-am întâlnit se va dovedi a fi o binecuvântare ori un blestem.”
Astfel că, odată ce a revenit la o situaţie ceva mai normală, fetele au început să-l privească cu alţi ochi, printre care şi cea mai dorită fată din liceu. Pentru o scurtă perioadă, cei doi vor fi împreună, însă tânăra îl părăseşte la balul de sfârşit de an, chiar în mijlocul ringului, deoarece Mark nu-i acorda aceeasi atenţie ca şi antrenamentelor sale. Totuşi, deşi ea este cea care a pus capăt relaţiei, tot ea este şi cea care îl caută pentru a se împăca. Dacă asta se va întâmpla, rămâne de văzut.
Susanna & Mark - Cascada şoaptelor
Iată că, într-una din zilele de antrenament, Mark are parte de o căzătură pe cinste, la care asistă și Susanna. Sigur vă întrebați cum este posibil așa ceva. Ei bine, se pare că în parcul din apropierea casei băiatului, se află un loc magic, numit Cascada șoaptelor, acest loc găsindu-se, totodată, și pe proprietatea familiei la care slujește Susanna. Aceasta este un fel de portal, în strânsă legătură cu timpul, ce le permite tinerilor să treacă dintr-un “timp” în altul prin perdeaua de apă a cascadei.
Mark este enervat de faptul că cineva a fost martor la căzătura sa și că a mai și chicotit pe deasupra. Dar când, în sfârșit, o observă pe tânăra ce-l privește ciudat, orice sentiment avut pe moment se evaporă și curiozitatea îl acapară instant. Aceeași senzație o încearcă și pe Susanna. Amândoi se privesc unul pe celălalt ca și cum persoana din fața lor nu ar face parte din aceeași lume, din aceeași realitate.
De la această "întâlnire", neaşteptată pentru fiecare în parte, poate o altă încercare de-a timpului, care, la început, li s-a părut o nebunie, doar o glumă ce nu-şi avea rostul în acel moment, tinerii ajung să se revadă de fiecare dată când au ocazia. În scurt timp, descoperă din ce în ce mai multe unul despre altul, dar şi despre locurile natale şi obiceiurile cu care au crescut. Legătura dintre cei doi se amplifică, încrederea fiecăruia în celălalt creşte, iar asta pare să "observe" şi Cascada şoaptelor când începe să le dea voie să pătrundă dincolo de plasa de apă care, surprinzător, nu-i udă nici măcar puţin.
"Domnul Lewis îşi ridică încet mâna şi şi-o aşază peste a mea, palmă peste palmă, deget peste deget. Mă înfior de plăcere. E necuviincios din partea noastră să ne atingem în acest chip, dar nu-mi retrag mâna. Nimeni nu m-a atins niciodată pentru că aşa am vrut eu. Ba nu, greşesc. Am fost înghiontită, împinsă sau lovită. Dar mângâiată? Niciodată. Este atât de fascinant. Întinde şi a doua mână, iar eu îi vin în întâmpinare şi mi-o apăs pe a mea, la început timid, apoi cu mai mare curiozitate, fermecată de căldura palmei lui. Ne atingem prin bariera aceea sclipitoare - perdeaua mătăsoasă de apă care nu ne udă."
Mi-a plăcut mult cum au fost conturate personajele, în special caracterele lor complexe, cât de armonios se încadrau în peisaj şi cum se completau unul pe altul, fără a părea mai presus de celălalt. Susanna Marsh este o tânără care a îndurat şi a trecut prin multe, încă de la o vârstă la care ar mai fi trebuit să se joace cu păpuşile. Dar n-a avut parte prea mult de ele. Acestea au dispărut şi au fost rapid înlocuite cu oameni, cu oameni ce aşteptau, la orice oră din zi şi, poate, chiar din noapte, ceva din partea ei, pe când păpuşile n-aveau cum să-şi strige dorinţele cu glas tare, ele rămânând doar nişte figuri confecţionate din cârpe.
Fata a fost forţată de împrejurări să se mobilizeze rapid şi să-şi ia în primire, fără să răcnească, rolul în slujba stăpânilor ce aveau să-i controleze ani buni din viaţă. În acea zi fatidică pentru tânără (şi, poate, pentru oricine altcineva), mama sa ar fi trebuit s-o sprijine şi să nu-şi lase al doilea soţ să-i îndepărteze copilul de ea. În schimb, aceasta se lăsase uşor convinsă că fiicei sale avea să-i fie mai bine aşa, neştiind de ce tratament va avea parte odată ajunsă în sânul altei familii.
„Timp. De asta avem nevoie – de mai mult timp.”
Totuşi, Susanna a ţinut fruntea sus, a rezistat stoic şi a îndurat totul, fără a lăsa vreo lacrimă să "sară" neinvitată afară şi fără a-i da satisfacţia stăpânului că poate face chiar ce vrea din ea. Muncind din greu, şi-a câştigat cu mare efort nişte momente ale ei, în care poate să facă ce doreşte. Momente de libertate, pe care şi le petrece în locul ei special, neştiut de nimeni, Cascada şoaptelor.
"Privirile ni se încrucişează.
- Susanna...
Dintr-odată simt o sfială. Are o expresie anume întipărită pe faţă, o încordare a trupului pe care nu am mai sesizat-o la el până acum. Şi deşi n-aş şti cum să numesc emoţia asta, o simt şi eu. Între noi e ceva special. Ceva greu de definit. Ceva mai presus de prietenie.
- Trebuie să plec, spun şi mă salt pe vârfuri ca să-l sărut pe obraz, mirată de moliciunea pielii lui. Îţi mulţumesc pentru carte.
Mă trage într-o îmbrăţişare scurtă şi oftează.
- Mulţumesc pentru stele."
Mark Lewis este elev în anul terminal de liceu, dar, deocamdată, se bucură cum poate mai bine de vacanța de vară, chiar dacă asta înseamnă să se preocupe doar de antrenamente și de job-urile pe care și le ia pentru a-și "sponsoriza" pasiunea. Un personaj puternic și determinat, care a îndurat multe până a reușit să izbăvească în lupta cu kilogramele și răutatea celor din jur.
Momentul în care o întâlnește pe Susanna, îi evidențiază o altă calitate în fața noastră, a cititorilor, și anume răbdarea. Când a fost clar pentru amândoi că niciunul n-a înnebunit și că nu suferă de halucinații, acesta este extrem de răbdător cu Susanna, ce pare tot mai curioasă în privința lumii sale, unde atât și bărbații, cât și femeile, sunt egali între ei, unde gesturile de afecțiune sunt împărtășite în aria vizuală a tuturor, unde totul avansează într-un mod rapid și eficient. Toate astea i se păr de necrezut tinerei și încă nu poate accepta chiar fiecare noutate ce i se “aruncă” în față. Dar Mark are grijă să-i explice fiecare lucru cât mai pe înțelesul ei, grijuliu să n-o facă să pară prea neștiutoare față de lumea sa. O calitate pe care i-o admir! Câți oameni mai fac astfel în ziua de astăzi?
Totuşi, pentru câtă vreme se vor plimba dintr-un prezent într-altul, fără ca nimic să nu se întâmple? Vor reuşi să dejoace planurile timpului şi să le întoarcă în favoarea lor? Sau vor trebui să suporte consecinţele riscurilor nebuneşti pe care şi le-au asumat, continuând să se vadă unul pe altul, ignorând necesitatea cascadei?
Puterea şi voinţa Susannei de-a lupta şi de a merge mai departe, hotărârea ei de a înfrunta totul singură, compasiunea şi iubirea ei pentru copilaşii familiei de care are grijă, cât şi determinarea, încrederea şi ambiția lui Mark de a o ajuta pe noua sa prietenă să aibă parte de mult dorita libertate, m-au făcut pentru a nu ştiu câta oară să realizez de ce sunt în stare să facă unele persoane, nevoite să se maturizeze mult prea repede, pentru cei pe care-i iubesc. Toate acestea, combinate într-o manieră captivantă şi atât de realistă de către autoare, fac din acest roman o lectură irezistibilă, în care timpul îşi aşterne încă o dată efectele sale năucitoare pentru a-şi pregăti lovitura finală.
Nota mea: 4.5/5
Unde mai pui faptul că toţi am vrea să-l întoarcem după cum ne pofteşte inima? Vrem să avem, de fiecare dată, câştig de cauză în lupta aprigă cu acesta, dar şi dacă am reuşi să izbutim măcar puţin, consecinţele ar fi cu siguranţă pe măsură. Totuşi, nu toţi ne permitem să facem asta. Nu toţi ne lăsăm inima să preia acţiunile noastre, uneori destul de riscante. Nu toţi permitem dramului de nebunie ce zace în noi să acţioneze.
Şi iată că eroii noştri vor să se pună cu timpul şi să-l "joace" pe degete, pentru ca totul să iasă bine pentru cei dragi. Dar dacă încercarea lor va fi în van şi dezastrul se va abate asupra lor, cât de departe vor fi în stare să meargă? Timpul le va fi duşman până la sfârşit sau le va oferi şansa să descopere în el un posibil...aliat?!
Susanna Marsh - Wothville - 1796
Povestea debutează prin perspectiva Susannei Marsh, o tânără de 17 ani, ce aşteaptă cu nerăbdare şi uşurare ziua sa de naştere, zi în care se va putea bucura, în sfârşit, de libertate. Moartea tatălui său a dus inevitabil, pentru acea vreme, la recăsătorirea mamei sale cu altcineva. Dar tatăl vitreg, în loc s-o ocrotească ca şi cum ar fi fost propria fiică, a dat-o ca ucenică la familia Pratt, unde a fost nevoită să facă mare parte din treburile casei.
Pe vremea aceea, mai exact în anul 1796, fetelor orfane de tată şi care proveneau din familiile sărace şi numeroase, li se făceau contracte de ucenicie, fără ca părerea lor să fie măcar luată în seamă. Contractele durau până când fetele împlineau vârsta de 18 ani sau aveau norocul de a se mărita, trebuind să se respecte anumite condiţii atât de cel care primea fata, cât şi de respectiva ucenică.
În mod normal, tinerele trebuiau să aibă vârsta minimă de 14 ani pentru a putea fi date, indiferent de munca întreprinsă acolo unde ajungeau, dar regula sau, mai bine spus, legea, în Worthville, nu se aplica astfel, iar sătenii îşi dădeau fetele de la vârste şi mai mici. Aşa este şi cazul Susannei. La doar zece ani, viaţa i s-a schimbat total, fiind nevoită să facă de mâncare, să spele, să cârpească, să facă curăţenie, să se îngrijească de grădină şi multe alte sarcini ce implicau atât creşterea copiilor deja mărişori, cât şi a noilor născuţi ce apăreau în familia Pratt.
"Vezi tu, e un joc. Încearcă să mă lovească atât de tare, încât să mă facă să plâng. Numai că eu nu plâng. Nu scot niciun sunet. Ăsta e felul meu de a-l învinge."
Iar ea n-avea niciun cuvânt de spus. Absolut niciunul. Tot ce trebuia tânăra să facă era să se arate umilă în faţa stăpânilor, să nu încerce să fugă de sub "asediul" acestora şi să îndeplinească sarcinile zilnice şi cele care se mai puteau ivi pe viitor. N-avea niciun drept să facă vreo remarcă, să critice vreun membru al familiei, să întârzie cu mesele, să doarmă prea mult, să se uite cruciş sau altcumva, altfel ar fi suferit de pe urma acestor limitări. Şi, totuşi, nimeni nu-i perfect. Orice om greşeşte, chiar şi Susannah a făcut-o şi a avut parte de pedepse pe măsură. Pe vremea aceea, oamenii nu țineau cont prea mult de simțămintele ucenicelor și le abuzau fără urmă de conștiință.
Dar, timp de opt ani, a tăcut şi n-a spus nimănui ce se întâmplă în gospodăria familiei, atunci când stăpânului nu-i convenea ceva şi ea era cea care suporta consecinţele, deşi, de cele mai multe ori, nu era de vină. Totuşi, cei cu legea din micul sat aveau habar de cicatricile de pe picioarele fetei, dar, fiind rudă chiar cu cel care i le provocase, nu ridicaseră nici măcar un deget pentru faptele comise de Pratt asupra Susannei.
Mark Lewis - Raleigh - 2016
O altă perspectivă prin care ne este prezentată această poveste captivantă, alternând cu cea a fetei, este cea a lui Mark Lewis, un flăcău de aceeaşi vârstă cu Susanna, dar mai tânăr cu două secole. Da, aţi auzit citit bine! Pe când ea trăieşte în perioada colonistă (1796), el s-a născut într-o perioadă mai tehnologizată (2016).
"Cascada e locul cel mai grozav de pe drumul verde, şi zic asta nu numai din cauza perdelei de apă de doi metri şi jumătate lăţime. Mai e şi grota. Nu-i foarte înaltă, şi nici adâncă, dar are un aer ca din altă lume. E plină de pietre acoperite de muşchi. Locul ideal să te ascunzi, să-ţi tragi sufletul şi să fii complet singur chiar în mijlocul oraşului."
În viaţa de zi cu zi, Mark se împarte între antrenamentele de mountain bike pentru cursa cea mare, ce se apropie rapid, îngrijirea curţilor vecinilor pentru a-şi putea întreţine pasiunea şi "războiul" tăcut dintre mama şi sora sa plecată într-un alt oraş, pentru aşa-zise cursuri de vară.
Nici tânărul n-a avut o viaţă uşoară, confruntându-se des cu batjocurile şi bătăile colegilor din cauza greutăţii sale. Dar, cu ajutorul mătuşii lui, ce-l încuraja de fiecare dată să nu se dea bătut şi să caute să le dea peste nas celor care nu meritau nici să le adreseze vreun cuvânt, Mark îşi revizuieşte situaţia şi ia măsurile necesare pentru un trai mai sănătos. După încercarea mai multor sporturi care să-l ajute să dea jos, acesta rămâne la mountain bike, aceeaşi pasiune pe care o împărtăşeşte şi tatăl său. Se îngrijeşte de alimentaţia sa, având grijă să nu mai facă excese şi, încet-încet, devine un tânăr cu o constituţie zveltă şi sănătoasă.
„Mă întreb dacă faptul că ne-am întâlnit se va dovedi a fi o binecuvântare ori un blestem.”
Astfel că, odată ce a revenit la o situaţie ceva mai normală, fetele au început să-l privească cu alţi ochi, printre care şi cea mai dorită fată din liceu. Pentru o scurtă perioadă, cei doi vor fi împreună, însă tânăra îl părăseşte la balul de sfârşit de an, chiar în mijlocul ringului, deoarece Mark nu-i acorda aceeasi atenţie ca şi antrenamentelor sale. Totuşi, deşi ea este cea care a pus capăt relaţiei, tot ea este şi cea care îl caută pentru a se împăca. Dacă asta se va întâmpla, rămâne de văzut.
Susanna & Mark - Cascada şoaptelor
Iată că, într-una din zilele de antrenament, Mark are parte de o căzătură pe cinste, la care asistă și Susanna. Sigur vă întrebați cum este posibil așa ceva. Ei bine, se pare că în parcul din apropierea casei băiatului, se află un loc magic, numit Cascada șoaptelor, acest loc găsindu-se, totodată, și pe proprietatea familiei la care slujește Susanna. Aceasta este un fel de portal, în strânsă legătură cu timpul, ce le permite tinerilor să treacă dintr-un “timp” în altul prin perdeaua de apă a cascadei.
Mark este enervat de faptul că cineva a fost martor la căzătura sa și că a mai și chicotit pe deasupra. Dar când, în sfârșit, o observă pe tânăra ce-l privește ciudat, orice sentiment avut pe moment se evaporă și curiozitatea îl acapară instant. Aceeași senzație o încearcă și pe Susanna. Amândoi se privesc unul pe celălalt ca și cum persoana din fața lor nu ar face parte din aceeași lume, din aceeași realitate.
De la această "întâlnire", neaşteptată pentru fiecare în parte, poate o altă încercare de-a timpului, care, la început, li s-a părut o nebunie, doar o glumă ce nu-şi avea rostul în acel moment, tinerii ajung să se revadă de fiecare dată când au ocazia. În scurt timp, descoperă din ce în ce mai multe unul despre altul, dar şi despre locurile natale şi obiceiurile cu care au crescut. Legătura dintre cei doi se amplifică, încrederea fiecăruia în celălalt creşte, iar asta pare să "observe" şi Cascada şoaptelor când începe să le dea voie să pătrundă dincolo de plasa de apă care, surprinzător, nu-i udă nici măcar puţin.
"Domnul Lewis îşi ridică încet mâna şi şi-o aşază peste a mea, palmă peste palmă, deget peste deget. Mă înfior de plăcere. E necuviincios din partea noastră să ne atingem în acest chip, dar nu-mi retrag mâna. Nimeni nu m-a atins niciodată pentru că aşa am vrut eu. Ba nu, greşesc. Am fost înghiontită, împinsă sau lovită. Dar mângâiată? Niciodată. Este atât de fascinant. Întinde şi a doua mână, iar eu îi vin în întâmpinare şi mi-o apăs pe a mea, la început timid, apoi cu mai mare curiozitate, fermecată de căldura palmei lui. Ne atingem prin bariera aceea sclipitoare - perdeaua mătăsoasă de apă care nu ne udă."
Mi-a plăcut mult cum au fost conturate personajele, în special caracterele lor complexe, cât de armonios se încadrau în peisaj şi cum se completau unul pe altul, fără a părea mai presus de celălalt. Susanna Marsh este o tânără care a îndurat şi a trecut prin multe, încă de la o vârstă la care ar mai fi trebuit să se joace cu păpuşile. Dar n-a avut parte prea mult de ele. Acestea au dispărut şi au fost rapid înlocuite cu oameni, cu oameni ce aşteptau, la orice oră din zi şi, poate, chiar din noapte, ceva din partea ei, pe când păpuşile n-aveau cum să-şi strige dorinţele cu glas tare, ele rămânând doar nişte figuri confecţionate din cârpe.
Fata a fost forţată de împrejurări să se mobilizeze rapid şi să-şi ia în primire, fără să răcnească, rolul în slujba stăpânilor ce aveau să-i controleze ani buni din viaţă. În acea zi fatidică pentru tânără (şi, poate, pentru oricine altcineva), mama sa ar fi trebuit s-o sprijine şi să nu-şi lase al doilea soţ să-i îndepărteze copilul de ea. În schimb, aceasta se lăsase uşor convinsă că fiicei sale avea să-i fie mai bine aşa, neştiind de ce tratament va avea parte odată ajunsă în sânul altei familii.
„Timp. De asta avem nevoie – de mai mult timp.”
Totuşi, Susanna a ţinut fruntea sus, a rezistat stoic şi a îndurat totul, fără a lăsa vreo lacrimă să "sară" neinvitată afară şi fără a-i da satisfacţia stăpânului că poate face chiar ce vrea din ea. Muncind din greu, şi-a câştigat cu mare efort nişte momente ale ei, în care poate să facă ce doreşte. Momente de libertate, pe care şi le petrece în locul ei special, neştiut de nimeni, Cascada şoaptelor.
"Privirile ni se încrucişează.
- Susanna...
Dintr-odată simt o sfială. Are o expresie anume întipărită pe faţă, o încordare a trupului pe care nu am mai sesizat-o la el până acum. Şi deşi n-aş şti cum să numesc emoţia asta, o simt şi eu. Între noi e ceva special. Ceva greu de definit. Ceva mai presus de prietenie.
- Trebuie să plec, spun şi mă salt pe vârfuri ca să-l sărut pe obraz, mirată de moliciunea pielii lui. Îţi mulţumesc pentru carte.
Mă trage într-o îmbrăţişare scurtă şi oftează.
- Mulţumesc pentru stele."
Mark Lewis este elev în anul terminal de liceu, dar, deocamdată, se bucură cum poate mai bine de vacanța de vară, chiar dacă asta înseamnă să se preocupe doar de antrenamente și de job-urile pe care și le ia pentru a-și "sponsoriza" pasiunea. Un personaj puternic și determinat, care a îndurat multe până a reușit să izbăvească în lupta cu kilogramele și răutatea celor din jur.
Momentul în care o întâlnește pe Susanna, îi evidențiază o altă calitate în fața noastră, a cititorilor, și anume răbdarea. Când a fost clar pentru amândoi că niciunul n-a înnebunit și că nu suferă de halucinații, acesta este extrem de răbdător cu Susanna, ce pare tot mai curioasă în privința lumii sale, unde atât și bărbații, cât și femeile, sunt egali între ei, unde gesturile de afecțiune sunt împărtășite în aria vizuală a tuturor, unde totul avansează într-un mod rapid și eficient. Toate astea i se păr de necrezut tinerei și încă nu poate accepta chiar fiecare noutate ce i se “aruncă” în față. Dar Mark are grijă să-i explice fiecare lucru cât mai pe înțelesul ei, grijuliu să n-o facă să pară prea neștiutoare față de lumea sa. O calitate pe care i-o admir! Câți oameni mai fac astfel în ziua de astăzi?
Totuşi, pentru câtă vreme se vor plimba dintr-un prezent într-altul, fără ca nimic să nu se întâmple? Vor reuşi să dejoace planurile timpului şi să le întoarcă în favoarea lor? Sau vor trebui să suporte consecinţele riscurilor nebuneşti pe care şi le-au asumat, continuând să se vadă unul pe altul, ignorând necesitatea cascadei?
Puterea şi voinţa Susannei de-a lupta şi de a merge mai departe, hotărârea ei de a înfrunta totul singură, compasiunea şi iubirea ei pentru copilaşii familiei de care are grijă, cât şi determinarea, încrederea şi ambiția lui Mark de a o ajuta pe noua sa prietenă să aibă parte de mult dorita libertate, m-au făcut pentru a nu ştiu câta oară să realizez de ce sunt în stare să facă unele persoane, nevoite să se maturizeze mult prea repede, pentru cei pe care-i iubesc. Toate acestea, combinate într-o manieră captivantă şi atât de realistă de către autoare, fac din acest roman o lectură irezistibilă, în care timpul îşi aşterne încă o dată efectele sale năucitoare pentru a-şi pregăti lovitura finală.
Nota mea: 4.5/5
August 16, 2023
This time travel romance was fine, but not quite my personal cup of tea--a kind of boring boy saves a more interesting girl from a predictable situation thanks to a magical waterfall and they are in love. I had trouble caring as much as I knew I was supposed to, and the central conflict was so predictable there was no tension. If I had lost the book halfway through reading it, I wouldn't have cared over much. But it was just interesting enough for three stars....
April 29, 2020
Ok - I did NOT expect to get sucked in by a book on romance!! But this is good!! It was exciting, scary, thrilling, and very entertaining - I have to read the next in the series!! I seriously avoid romantic novels, but the intersect with history was fascinating - and, here I am!!
December 7, 2020
This really picked up at the 50% mark. I found myself eager to find out how everything would resolve. It was well written, and I enjoyed it.
October 10, 2013
Whisper Falls, is a brutal and heartbreaking story about one girl life in an unjust colonial time and the boy who cared enough to want to save her from a cruel fate.
Mark Lewis is training for an intense Cross Country mountain bike challenge, when he stumbles off his bike by Whisper Falls. There, he see's an odd girl wearing strange colonial times clothing in the cave behind the falls. But when she spoke to him about his "odd machine", Mark suspects something is off. The strange girl is named, Susanna Marsh and she claims that the year is 1796...two hundred years before Marks time.
Whisper Falls is a very impressive debut novel by Elizabeth Langston. It has about everything I like in my escape. Time travel, fantasy, romance and even though I don't usually read historical, I found this one to be exceptionally interesting.
This is a very strong and compassionate tale that reflects on a cruel time period. Langston writing is very bold and brave, with emotional and touching skills, she brilliantly and painfully captures what life was like in colonial times. Every time we visited 1796, I felt like I was transported through the pages. I felt so nervous to see what would happen next to Susanna or the other people in her life.
To think of that time period in history hurts my heart. The life of an indentured servant or any servant for that matter, is hard, lonely, bitter and utterly cruel. To think, you must obey your master and be mindful of everything you do. To be barefooted (except for winter), to clean, cook, sleep on hay and endure savage punishments when ever the master see's fit. To be hungry, lost and always frightened and not being able to change your fate.
I think that's why I took to this book so quickly. The way Susanna's story is expressed really does weigh heavily in your mind and heart and like Mark, you feel like you would do anything and everything to change this fate.
I also found the history aspects fascinating as Mark would find new information to uncover about Worthville, North Carolina and the consequences his actions has caused in Susanna's time period. There is a lot of gray areas -realistically speaking- about walking into each other's time periods and the unanswered question of why Whisper Falls acts as a sort of portal to the past. I think this could have been ironed out a little more, but once the story is said and done, it really doesn't seem to matter. Call it destiny or magic or an act of mercy, Mark and Susanna were meant to be brought together.
The moments between Susanna and Mark was very sweet, tender and warm. Susanna is from a different century, so a lot of the conversations between the two was very amusing, specially since Mark doesn't hold back today's lingo's and slang.
Susanna is a sweet and humble girl who has a beautiful heart. She's brave and caring and tougher then one would expect.
Mark is good people. He's like your everyday teenager with family issues and girl problems, but he's dedicated to his sport and always tries to be a good person. Something about Susanna touched him and without any real reason, his whole world changed and all he wanted to do was find a way to see her, be with her and free her. This is the kind of love story that I want to hug. It's not about lust or want, it's simply about caring about a person so deeply that you would do anything, even walk through centuries, to save her. And it was beautifully done.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this book. It was hard to read at times since certain scenes were a bit disturbing to get through, but the writing is absorbing and outstanding, the story is inspiring, magical and moving and Susanna and Mark will steal your heart and make you believe in a fate like no other. A terrific debut! I can't wait to see what Langston will come with next!
Mark Lewis is training for an intense Cross Country mountain bike challenge, when he stumbles off his bike by Whisper Falls. There, he see's an odd girl wearing strange colonial times clothing in the cave behind the falls. But when she spoke to him about his "odd machine", Mark suspects something is off. The strange girl is named, Susanna Marsh and she claims that the year is 1796...two hundred years before Marks time.
Whisper Falls is a very impressive debut novel by Elizabeth Langston. It has about everything I like in my escape. Time travel, fantasy, romance and even though I don't usually read historical, I found this one to be exceptionally interesting.
This is a very strong and compassionate tale that reflects on a cruel time period. Langston writing is very bold and brave, with emotional and touching skills, she brilliantly and painfully captures what life was like in colonial times. Every time we visited 1796, I felt like I was transported through the pages. I felt so nervous to see what would happen next to Susanna or the other people in her life.
To think of that time period in history hurts my heart. The life of an indentured servant or any servant for that matter, is hard, lonely, bitter and utterly cruel. To think, you must obey your master and be mindful of everything you do. To be barefooted (except for winter), to clean, cook, sleep on hay and endure savage punishments when ever the master see's fit. To be hungry, lost and always frightened and not being able to change your fate.
I think that's why I took to this book so quickly. The way Susanna's story is expressed really does weigh heavily in your mind and heart and like Mark, you feel like you would do anything and everything to change this fate.
I also found the history aspects fascinating as Mark would find new information to uncover about Worthville, North Carolina and the consequences his actions has caused in Susanna's time period. There is a lot of gray areas -realistically speaking- about walking into each other's time periods and the unanswered question of why Whisper Falls acts as a sort of portal to the past. I think this could have been ironed out a little more, but once the story is said and done, it really doesn't seem to matter. Call it destiny or magic or an act of mercy, Mark and Susanna were meant to be brought together.
The moments between Susanna and Mark was very sweet, tender and warm. Susanna is from a different century, so a lot of the conversations between the two was very amusing, specially since Mark doesn't hold back today's lingo's and slang.
Susanna is a sweet and humble girl who has a beautiful heart. She's brave and caring and tougher then one would expect.
Mark is good people. He's like your everyday teenager with family issues and girl problems, but he's dedicated to his sport and always tries to be a good person. Something about Susanna touched him and without any real reason, his whole world changed and all he wanted to do was find a way to see her, be with her and free her. This is the kind of love story that I want to hug. It's not about lust or want, it's simply about caring about a person so deeply that you would do anything, even walk through centuries, to save her. And it was beautifully done.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this book. It was hard to read at times since certain scenes were a bit disturbing to get through, but the writing is absorbing and outstanding, the story is inspiring, magical and moving and Susanna and Mark will steal your heart and make you believe in a fate like no other. A terrific debut! I can't wait to see what Langston will come with next!
January 6, 2015
Elizabeth Langston delivers with this time travel historical and current day romance. She effortlessly switches the narrative between Mark, the present day character, and Susanna, the indentured slave who is living in 1796. I have read few other books that switch the voice so well. Typically you are reading trying to figure out who is talking.
I love reading historical fiction because not only am I entertained, but I also walk away with new knowledge of a different time or culture. The story of a female teen indentured servant has not (to my knowledge) been told on the YA fiction level ever. While this is not a history book, I think it is an important book to share with anyone (especially YA teens) to give us a good glimpse into that life and time and remind us of our lucky we are today.
The bad parts:
I mistakenly read a couple of reviews before reading this book. ((which I never do!!!...lol don't read reviews!)) One was very critical of the main male character Mark. So while reading the review I saw some of the things the critical person pointed out. Yah he does talk about cycling a lot, but that's his passion and he is a teenager. My husband is a big time cyclist and I know how important his training schedules are. Anyone to that matter that cared about anything (or cares if you are actually a YA) when you were young knows how obsessive you can get. Then re: the critical reviews about going back in time through a falls or time travel in general...if you feel the desire to pick and pull at every little fiction novel string, then you should not read fiction.
Great novel, easy and quick read, wondering what else is next for Whisper Falls....
I love reading historical fiction because not only am I entertained, but I also walk away with new knowledge of a different time or culture. The story of a female teen indentured servant has not (to my knowledge) been told on the YA fiction level ever. While this is not a history book, I think it is an important book to share with anyone (especially YA teens) to give us a good glimpse into that life and time and remind us of our lucky we are today.
The bad parts:
I mistakenly read a couple of reviews before reading this book. ((which I never do!!!...lol don't read reviews!)) One was very critical of the main male character Mark. So while reading the review I saw some of the things the critical person pointed out. Yah he does talk about cycling a lot, but that's his passion and he is a teenager. My husband is a big time cyclist and I know how important his training schedules are. Anyone to that matter that cared about anything (or cares if you are actually a YA) when you were young knows how obsessive you can get. Then re: the critical reviews about going back in time through a falls or time travel in general...if you feel the desire to pick and pull at every little fiction novel string, then you should not read fiction.
Great novel, easy and quick read, wondering what else is next for Whisper Falls....
March 25, 2014
I received a free copy of Whisper Falls.
After finishing Whisper Falls last night, I decided to wait a little while to post my review. After a night of contemplation, I am still unsure how to review such an amazing book and do it any kind of justice with just a few words.
That being said, Whisper Falls is both beautiful and devastating, heart-warming and heart-breaking.The pains and suffering the characters go through for the one's they love touched my soul and broke my heart at the same time.
The author made an amazing choice when she chose to write this book from the alternating perspectives of Susanna and Mark. I believe this story wouldn't have worked if she hadn't given the reader a view of both sides. Both characters are extraordinarily strong and brave, their love for each other pure and beautiful.
I personally feel that this book would be an excellent addition to any high school English curriculum. I learned a lot about how the indentured servants lived just from this first book in the Whisper Falls series and I think the aspect of having one character from the 18th century and one from the 21st would be an excellent tool in teaching teens about the vast differences two hundred years can make. Also, this book is very exciting and age appropriate (unlike some I read in High School that were a little boring for someone in their teens to have to read).
I cannot wait to continue reading Mark and Susanna's story in the next book. Thank you Elizabeth Langston for the opportunity to read your amazing book.
After finishing Whisper Falls last night, I decided to wait a little while to post my review. After a night of contemplation, I am still unsure how to review such an amazing book and do it any kind of justice with just a few words.
That being said, Whisper Falls is both beautiful and devastating, heart-warming and heart-breaking.The pains and suffering the characters go through for the one's they love touched my soul and broke my heart at the same time.
The author made an amazing choice when she chose to write this book from the alternating perspectives of Susanna and Mark. I believe this story wouldn't have worked if she hadn't given the reader a view of both sides. Both characters are extraordinarily strong and brave, their love for each other pure and beautiful.
I personally feel that this book would be an excellent addition to any high school English curriculum. I learned a lot about how the indentured servants lived just from this first book in the Whisper Falls series and I think the aspect of having one character from the 18th century and one from the 21st would be an excellent tool in teaching teens about the vast differences two hundred years can make. Also, this book is very exciting and age appropriate (unlike some I read in High School that were a little boring for someone in their teens to have to read).
I cannot wait to continue reading Mark and Susanna's story in the next book. Thank you Elizabeth Langston for the opportunity to read your amazing book.
April 8, 2014
If you are a fan of historical novels, you want to take the time to check this one out. Plain and simple, this is one of the most surprising books of the year.
I love the way the author managed to overlay one story on top of the other, showing the reader the similarities between the lives and experiences of the two main characters, regardless of the fact that they were centuries apart from one another. The way Elizabeth Langston managed to weave together two separate time periods and make it come out smooth and wrinkle free was most impressive.
This book was lovely, and there is nothing to complain about. The characters were richly drawn and three dimensional. The story was beautiful and the historical research was evident in the story and the writing.
I loved the dialogue in this book and felt like I was right there with the events of the novel every step of the way. From the beginning, the reader is invited to feel what the characters feel and to experiences their worlds. I felt close to both of the central characters from an early point and by the end, was sorry to see them go.
If you are looking for something new to read, this may be the book you have been searching for.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I love the way the author managed to overlay one story on top of the other, showing the reader the similarities between the lives and experiences of the two main characters, regardless of the fact that they were centuries apart from one another. The way Elizabeth Langston managed to weave together two separate time periods and make it come out smooth and wrinkle free was most impressive.
This book was lovely, and there is nothing to complain about. The characters were richly drawn and three dimensional. The story was beautiful and the historical research was evident in the story and the writing.
I loved the dialogue in this book and felt like I was right there with the events of the novel every step of the way. From the beginning, the reader is invited to feel what the characters feel and to experiences their worlds. I felt close to both of the central characters from an early point and by the end, was sorry to see them go.
If you are looking for something new to read, this may be the book you have been searching for.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
April 22, 2014
4.5 stars
Loved reading this historical fiction with contemporary and magical realism elements!
At first, I thought it might be confusing having both main points of view in first person (and it maybe was during the first three chapters or so), but the writing style/inner dialogue for each is easily to differentiate.
The abundant action, concept of Whisper Falls, and history are all very interesting. I kept telling some people around me about aspects of the book, which is usually a good sign that the plot and characters intrigue me.
The conversations between Mark and Susanna about speech and cultural differences are so interesting (and feel fairly realistic), reminding me what we often take for granted in our current era. Plus, these conversations enlighten some of the weirdness of some of our current customs.
If you're interested in finding out what aspects of history included are fact or fiction, check out the author's website! She also lists some of the resources she used while researching the history.
Loved reading this historical fiction with contemporary and magical realism elements!
At first, I thought it might be confusing having both main points of view in first person (and it maybe was during the first three chapters or so), but the writing style/inner dialogue for each is easily to differentiate.
The abundant action, concept of Whisper Falls, and history are all very interesting. I kept telling some people around me about aspects of the book, which is usually a good sign that the plot and characters intrigue me.
The conversations between Mark and Susanna about speech and cultural differences are so interesting (and feel fairly realistic), reminding me what we often take for granted in our current era. Plus, these conversations enlighten some of the weirdness of some of our current customs.
If you're interested in finding out what aspects of history included are fact or fiction, check out the author's website! She also lists some of the resources she used while researching the history.
July 11, 2017
Despre "Cascada șoaptelor"(primul volum din seria Whisper Falls) de Elizabeth Langston pot spune că este o carte memorabilă, de nota 10+++ . Editura a avut cea mai bună idee atunci când s-a decis asupra acestui roman. Nu pot să-l cataloghez ca fiind un fantasy, deși există călătorii în timp (1796-2016), nici YA ( având în vedere capitolele cu Mark ), ci un historical. O să vă impresioneze viața aspră pe care o duce Susanna. Stăpânul Pratt este parcă desprins din operele lui Cronin. Este vanitos și crud.
Au fost momente când am zâmbit (atunci când Susanna ajunge în anul 2016 și vede aparatele electrocasnice, baia, mașina, etc ), am plâns ( bătăile pe care le îndură, umilința, nedreptatea, zilele petrecute în închisoare), m-am îngrozit când am văzut că magistratul a fost de acord ca stăpânul fetei să o țină legată în lanțuri. Și am fost foarte mulțumită de final! Mi-a plăcut și faptul că romanul are o anumită finalitate, nu se termină în coadă de pește. Dar sper ca editura să traducă și celelalte două volume.
Au fost momente când am zâmbit (atunci când Susanna ajunge în anul 2016 și vede aparatele electrocasnice, baia, mașina, etc ), am plâns ( bătăile pe care le îndură, umilința, nedreptatea, zilele petrecute în închisoare), m-am îngrozit când am văzut că magistratul a fost de acord ca stăpânul fetei să o țină legată în lanțuri. Și am fost foarte mulțumită de final! Mi-a plăcut și faptul că romanul are o anumită finalitate, nu se termină în coadă de pește. Dar sper ca editura să traducă și celelalte două volume.
Want to read
January 9, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (1/9/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
Behind the waterfall waits 1796--and the girl who is slowly capturing his heart. But if Mark travels through time to save Susanna, will her brutal world trap him too?
While mountain biking in the woods, Mark Lewis spots a mysterious girl dressed in odd clothing, standing behind a waterfall. When she comments on the strange machine he's riding, he suspects something isn’t right. When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796, he wonders if she’s crazy, yet he's compelled to find out more.
Mark enters a long-distance relationship with Susanna through the temperamental barrier of Whisper Falls. Curious about her world, Mark searches through history to learn about the brutal life she’s trapped in. But knowledge can be dangerous. Soon he must choose between changing the past--or dooming the girl he can’t stop thinking about to a lifetime of misery.
Blurb:
Behind the waterfall waits 1796--and the girl who is slowly capturing his heart. But if Mark travels through time to save Susanna, will her brutal world trap him too?
While mountain biking in the woods, Mark Lewis spots a mysterious girl dressed in odd clothing, standing behind a waterfall. When she comments on the strange machine he's riding, he suspects something isn’t right. When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796, he wonders if she’s crazy, yet he's compelled to find out more.
Mark enters a long-distance relationship with Susanna through the temperamental barrier of Whisper Falls. Curious about her world, Mark searches through history to learn about the brutal life she’s trapped in. But knowledge can be dangerous. Soon he must choose between changing the past--or dooming the girl he can’t stop thinking about to a lifetime of misery.
April 11, 2014
The story told in Whisper Falls is far more riveting than anything that I would have imagined upon first endeavoring to read it.
The story of Susanna, and her plight as an indenture to a family in colonial America; is enough to make one rethink all of one's notions about the guises and slippery slope justifications for slavery and its brutalities.
Though the book does have a time travel premise. The element of future versus past is thankfully not as much of an issue as the more important one involving Susanna. The romantic element is even allowed a backseat to the stronger component of social injustice.
There was no time where the plot seemed forced or rushed. If anything, the reader becomes so invested in the story that one is loathed to see it end
Full review to come.
The story of Susanna, and her plight as an indenture to a family in colonial America; is enough to make one rethink all of one's notions about the guises and slippery slope justifications for slavery and its brutalities.
Though the book does have a time travel premise. The element of future versus past is thankfully not as much of an issue as the more important one involving Susanna. The romantic element is even allowed a backseat to the stronger component of social injustice.
There was no time where the plot seemed forced or rushed. If anything, the reader becomes so invested in the story that one is loathed to see it end
Full review to come.
December 31, 2015
It grew on me.
It's such a cute story.
But to be honest the first half was a struggle. I was not sure I liked it. But at the halfway point it just blew me away. It was so good. I found myself attached to Mark, and Susanna, even Phoebe and the children Susanna looked after.
Man! What a tough decision to make. Do you stay in 1798 and deal with your douchebag master. Or take a risk and go to 2015 where everything is so weird? The shock of it all. The whole thing gave me anxiety.
I think the author did a great job with this subject. It was fun and had that magical realism feel, but it also felt realistic.
I also liked that it took place in North Carolina. Now I've never been to Raleigh, but I've been to SC and that state is so gorgeous it was fun to imagine a colonial Carolina.
It's such a cute story.
But to be honest the first half was a struggle. I was not sure I liked it. But at the halfway point it just blew me away. It was so good. I found myself attached to Mark, and Susanna, even Phoebe and the children Susanna looked after.
Man! What a tough decision to make. Do you stay in 1798 and deal with your douchebag master. Or take a risk and go to 2015 where everything is so weird? The shock of it all. The whole thing gave me anxiety.
I think the author did a great job with this subject. It was fun and had that magical realism feel, but it also felt realistic.
I also liked that it took place in North Carolina. Now I've never been to Raleigh, but I've been to SC and that state is so gorgeous it was fun to imagine a colonial Carolina.
Want to read
September 28, 2012OH MY GOSH. Oh my gosh. The plot sounds so awesome and pure genius. You got me from 'When Susanna claims to be an indentured servant from 1796'. This sounds like a totally cool historical time-travel romance. Wopee!! I honestly cannot wait for this! I hope the book IS as awesome as its synopsis. :)
BTW, who else thinks that cover is gorgeous? x
BTW, who else thinks that cover is gorgeous? x
December 17, 2013
Wonderful book, didn't want to put it down!!! I was especially drawn to Susanna's story. I cannot wait until book two in the series comes out!
May 26, 2018
3.5 stars - Review copy provided by the author & Patchworlk Press for an honest review.
Whisper Falls was a light and breezy historical romance with a splash of science fiction and time travel thrown in for the hell of it. There was sweet romance, loveable characters, suspenseful action scenes and brilliantly written historical fiction sections. Altogether it was a hearty read that was easy to breeze through but remained enchanting and delightful at the same time.
The characters were what really made the book shine for me. They were down-to-earth, relatable and realistic. It was a nice change of pace to read about some characters that weren't perfectly flawless and down right impossibly hot like most of the YA and NA characters haunting our other new releases. Both Mark and Susanna made mistakes, pulled some stupid moves and generally weren't all that perfect, but they learnt to deal with that and move past it all which was rather refreshing.
Their romance was spot on. It did blur between the line of instalove and a well-developed relationship slightly but it was better plotted out than most of the garbage I have been reading lately. I enjoyed the fact that they were cute without being all that wishy-washy lovey-dovey stuff and that Susanna was clearly able to function without Mark (and vice-versa) even once their relationship developed further. They were both independent people and that was another strange relief from the other needy, borderline obsessive couples that are found in most YA books.
The plotline was the only thing that let me down. I have to say that while I was simply fascinated with the rich and illustrative historical side of the story, I was hoping for a more scientific and upbeat time travel side to it as well. In that way this book was a bit of a flop. I struggled to understand how Whisper Falls actually worked and I didn't understand how the surrounding area turned between the different times. How did it become "Mark's" world? What made it "Susanna's" world? That part wasn't handled very well and I wish that more could have been establish in more detail because I found myself slightly bored not being able to grasp the theory.
Saying that I did enjoy this book and I most certainly will be picking up A Whisper in Time so I can see how Susanna's journey ends.
Whisper Falls was a light and breezy historical romance with a splash of science fiction and time travel thrown in for the hell of it. There was sweet romance, loveable characters, suspenseful action scenes and brilliantly written historical fiction sections. Altogether it was a hearty read that was easy to breeze through but remained enchanting and delightful at the same time.
The characters were what really made the book shine for me. They were down-to-earth, relatable and realistic. It was a nice change of pace to read about some characters that weren't perfectly flawless and down right impossibly hot like most of the YA and NA characters haunting our other new releases. Both Mark and Susanna made mistakes, pulled some stupid moves and generally weren't all that perfect, but they learnt to deal with that and move past it all which was rather refreshing.
Their romance was spot on. It did blur between the line of instalove and a well-developed relationship slightly but it was better plotted out than most of the garbage I have been reading lately. I enjoyed the fact that they were cute without being all that wishy-washy lovey-dovey stuff and that Susanna was clearly able to function without Mark (and vice-versa) even once their relationship developed further. They were both independent people and that was another strange relief from the other needy, borderline obsessive couples that are found in most YA books.
The plotline was the only thing that let me down. I have to say that while I was simply fascinated with the rich and illustrative historical side of the story, I was hoping for a more scientific and upbeat time travel side to it as well. In that way this book was a bit of a flop. I struggled to understand how Whisper Falls actually worked and I didn't understand how the surrounding area turned between the different times. How did it become "Mark's" world? What made it "Susanna's" world? That part wasn't handled very well and I wish that more could have been establish in more detail because I found myself slightly bored not being able to grasp the theory.
Saying that I did enjoy this book and I most certainly will be picking up A Whisper in Time so I can see how Susanna's journey ends.
January 14, 2022
Stau cocârjată pe un scăunel, în colţul sufrageriei, cu coşuleţul pentru cârpit haine la picioare şi o pereche de nădragi rupţi în poală. E bine că sunt nevoită să stau cu spatele la ei. Dacă stăpânul mi-ar putea vedea mâinile, şi-ar da seama că stau nemişcate.
O bătaie cu încheieturile degetelor în masă mă trezeşte din reverie.
— Vino aici, Jedidiah, zice stăpânul, e timpul să-ţi faci lecţiile. Deborah şi Dorcas, haideţi şi voi încoace. Şi aduceţi-vă cu voi lucrurile de cusut.
Aud scaune, bănci şi picioare târşâindu-se în timp ce clanul Pratt se strânge în salon.
Îndes nădragii în coş şi mă grăbesc să strâng masa, nerăbdătoare să termin cu treburile pe seara asta. Prin zdrăngănitul vaselor, vocea domnului Pratt, care citeşte din Sfânta Biblie, se ridică şi coboară. Trec în vârful picioarelor prin faţa uşii de la salon şi stăpânul se opreşte şi-şi plimbă privirea de la mine la fiul mai mare, transmiţându-i un mesaj fără cuvinte.
În seara asta o să mă urmărească.
Soarele a început deja să coboare când traversez curtea spre clădirea unde se află bucătăria. Cât ai clipi din ochi, spăl farfuriile, mătur podeaua şi sting focul. Mâncarea de mâine arde în oalele cuibărite printre cărbunii din vatră.
E oare posibil să-mi termin treburile înainte ca fiul stăpânului să le termine pe ale lui? Arunc o privire spre corpul principal de clădire.
— Susanna? se strecoară spre mine pe după uşa din spate a bucătăriei o voce răguşită.
Mă răsucesc pe călcâie şi inima îmi tresare în piept. În graba de a termina mai iute cu treburile, am uitat cu totul de sclav. Câtă nepăsare din partea mea!
— Hector, ai venit pentru cină?
Dă din cap şi îmi azvârle un zâmbet sfios.
— Îmi pare rău, încă nu e gata, acum mă apuc să o pregătesc.
Tai turta de mălai şi între timp mă gândesc cu ce altceva aş putea să-l servesc. Familia Pratt a dat gata toată tocana.
— Ce e pe foc? mă întreabă el. Miroase tare bine.
— E pui.
Hector n-a mâncat carne de multe zile. Aş vrea să-i pot oferi aşa ceva în seara asta, dar oare o fi fiert îndeajuns? Ridic capacul greu de pe oală, rup o bucăţică de carne şi o gust. Da, e făcută. Aşez o aripioară şi un cartof dulce fiert pe fundul de lemn şi îl împing spre Hector.
— Poftim.
O bătaie cu încheieturile degetelor în masă mă trezeşte din reverie.
— Vino aici, Jedidiah, zice stăpânul, e timpul să-ţi faci lecţiile. Deborah şi Dorcas, haideţi şi voi încoace. Şi aduceţi-vă cu voi lucrurile de cusut.
Aud scaune, bănci şi picioare târşâindu-se în timp ce clanul Pratt se strânge în salon.
Îndes nădragii în coş şi mă grăbesc să strâng masa, nerăbdătoare să termin cu treburile pe seara asta. Prin zdrăngănitul vaselor, vocea domnului Pratt, care citeşte din Sfânta Biblie, se ridică şi coboară. Trec în vârful picioarelor prin faţa uşii de la salon şi stăpânul se opreşte şi-şi plimbă privirea de la mine la fiul mai mare, transmiţându-i un mesaj fără cuvinte.
În seara asta o să mă urmărească.
Soarele a început deja să coboare când traversez curtea spre clădirea unde se află bucătăria. Cât ai clipi din ochi, spăl farfuriile, mătur podeaua şi sting focul. Mâncarea de mâine arde în oalele cuibărite printre cărbunii din vatră.
E oare posibil să-mi termin treburile înainte ca fiul stăpânului să le termine pe ale lui? Arunc o privire spre corpul principal de clădire.
— Susanna? se strecoară spre mine pe după uşa din spate a bucătăriei o voce răguşită.
Mă răsucesc pe călcâie şi inima îmi tresare în piept. În graba de a termina mai iute cu treburile, am uitat cu totul de sclav. Câtă nepăsare din partea mea!
— Hector, ai venit pentru cină?
Dă din cap şi îmi azvârle un zâmbet sfios.
— Îmi pare rău, încă nu e gata, acum mă apuc să o pregătesc.
Tai turta de mălai şi între timp mă gândesc cu ce altceva aş putea să-l servesc. Familia Pratt a dat gata toată tocana.
— Ce e pe foc? mă întreabă el. Miroase tare bine.
— E pui.
Hector n-a mâncat carne de multe zile. Aş vrea să-i pot oferi aşa ceva în seara asta, dar oare o fi fiert îndeajuns? Ridic capacul greu de pe oală, rup o bucăţică de carne şi o gust. Da, e făcută. Aşez o aripioară şi un cartof dulce fiert pe fundul de lemn şi îl împing spre Hector.
— Poftim.
January 22, 2019
Wholesome, intriguing YA
What if a simple portal to the same spot, two hundred years different, opened up near your respite hang out?
This was my first young adult book in years and it was delightful. I was on the lookout for character development, historical accuracy, learning about the human condition, and authenticity of teenage mindsets. I found all to be well cared for and well done.
Both characters matured in playing ways, while maintaining flaws. The villain was disgusting, but the reader gets some believable insight into his reason for invoking what little power he had on his victims.
Historical descriptions felt real and lived in. Conversely, the narration of 21st century items and weighs through the point of view of a nineteenth-century pair of eyes was equally authentic.
one of my number one pet peeves is when an author holds your hand to try to explain things the entire time rather than showing. This author was a breath of fresh air, showing and not telling for the majority of the novel. I also appreciated how wholesome it was without being Christian fiction. Christian fiction hold the wholesome in front of your face the whole time smacking you with it every once in awhile. This book allowed the characters to be attracted to each other, but become friends before anything else. It happened the way we all wish it would, without over sexualizing seventeen year olds nor being naive.
What if a simple portal to the same spot, two hundred years different, opened up near your respite hang out?
This was my first young adult book in years and it was delightful. I was on the lookout for character development, historical accuracy, learning about the human condition, and authenticity of teenage mindsets. I found all to be well cared for and well done.
Both characters matured in playing ways, while maintaining flaws. The villain was disgusting, but the reader gets some believable insight into his reason for invoking what little power he had on his victims.
Historical descriptions felt real and lived in. Conversely, the narration of 21st century items and weighs through the point of view of a nineteenth-century pair of eyes was equally authentic.
one of my number one pet peeves is when an author holds your hand to try to explain things the entire time rather than showing. This author was a breath of fresh air, showing and not telling for the majority of the novel. I also appreciated how wholesome it was without being Christian fiction. Christian fiction hold the wholesome in front of your face the whole time smacking you with it every once in awhile. This book allowed the characters to be attracted to each other, but become friends before anything else. It happened the way we all wish it would, without over sexualizing seventeen year olds nor being naive.
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