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حارسة الكهرمان
تعود بطلة رواية “حارسة الكهرمان” آبي مايرز إلى بلدها الأم في مقاطعة البحيرة بصحبة ابنتها الصغيرة ولكن دون أن يزين إصبعها خاتم الزواج. وبعد غربة طويلة قضتها بعيداً عن أسرتها التي يسودها الاضطراب، تشعر آبي الآن أنها مفطورة الفؤاد عندما تجد أفراد عائلتها يوجّهون اللوم إليها لوقوع مـأساة الانتحار. فتجد آبي في نفسها دافعاً يملؤها بالتصميم لتكشف النقاب عن لغز ماضي والدتها المحير. فتبدأ بالتقرب من جدتها المحبوبة، ميلي، سعياً وراء الحصول على بعض الإجابات عن أسئلتها. فتكتشف لها تلك السيدة المسنة عن قصة حياتها الماضية عندما سافرت إلى روسيا في شبابها عام 1911 لتعمل مربية أطفال ووجدت نفسها عالقة في غمرة أحداث الثورة الروسية التي اكتسحت البلاد برمتها في تلك الآونة.
وبينما تقاسي آبي الأمرين لتنهي الخلاف بينها وبين عائلتها وتكافح لتعيل نفسها وطفلتها، تكتشف أن تلك الأحداث التي طواها الماضي قد خلفت عواقب ما زالت تهدد السلام الهش الذي لطالما تاقت نفسها لتنعم به في حياتها.
تعد رواية “حارسة الكهرمان” مرآة تعكس خلفية مجتمع مقاطعة البحيرات البريطانية في الستينات من القرن العشرين ومجريات الثورة البلشفية وتروي في الوقت ذاته قصة مؤثرة، تلمس القلوب وتفيض بمشاعر الغيرة والانتقام والمصالحة والغفران.
وبينما تقاسي آبي الأمرين لتنهي الخلاف بينها وبين عائلتها وتكافح لتعيل نفسها وطفلتها، تكتشف أن تلك الأحداث التي طواها الماضي قد خلفت عواقب ما زالت تهدد السلام الهش الذي لطالما تاقت نفسها لتنعم به في حياتها.
تعد رواية “حارسة الكهرمان” مرآة تعكس خلفية مجتمع مقاطعة البحيرات البريطانية في الستينات من القرن العشرين ومجريات الثورة البلشفية وتروي في الوقت ذاته قصة مؤثرة، تلمس القلوب وتفيض بمشاعر الغيرة والانتقام والمصالحة والغفران.
415 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2014
943 people are currently reading
4705 people want to read
About the author
Freda Lightfoot
74 books211 followersBorn in Lancashire, I've been a teacher, bookseller and in a mad moment, a smallholder on the freezing fells of the Lake District where I tried my hand at the ‘good life’, kept sheep and hens, various orphaned cats and dogs, built drystone walls, planted a small wood and even learned how to make jam. I now spend the winter in Spain and summer in the UK. I have now published 48 books including many bestselling family sagas and historical novels.
For more information, visit my website www.fredalightfoot.co.uk.
For more information, visit my website www.fredalightfoot.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
July 6, 2019
Very interesting story set in two different timelines, 1911-19 in Russia during the revolution and the late 60's in England's Lake District. It follows the lives of Millie, an English governess for the Russian aristocracy, and her granddaughter Abby, recently returned to England with her young daughter after a failed relationship. Millie's daughter, Abby's mother, has recently committed suicide, and there are questions as to why?
Abby's father and brother are blaming Abby for breaking her mothers heart, but why after Abby has been away for so many years. Abby goes to her grandmother searching for answers, to which Millie slowly reveals her life in revolutionary Russia, and the paths that led three generations of women to where they are today.
I found this book to be quite riveting, especially the Russian part. It was very interesting to read about the revolution from the eyes of a young English girl. Recommended for all lovers of Historical Fiction.
Abby's father and brother are blaming Abby for breaking her mothers heart, but why after Abby has been away for so many years. Abby goes to her grandmother searching for answers, to which Millie slowly reveals her life in revolutionary Russia, and the paths that led three generations of women to where they are today.
I found this book to be quite riveting, especially the Russian part. It was very interesting to read about the revolution from the eyes of a young English girl. Recommended for all lovers of Historical Fiction.
May 10, 2015
‘The cave, the cave,’ yelled Jonathon. Fay appeared with a wriggling Carrie desperate to escape the confines of her pushchair. ‘Can we come too?’ her sister-in-law asked, her tone revealing her own eagerness to escape for a while.
DNF.
The Amber Keeper was recommended to me by a friend and I really wanted to like it. Not least because I had not enjoyed her previous recommendation all that much either.
So, deciding to DNF was - and this is unusual for me - hard.
So, anyway, why did the book not work for me?
Well, The Amber Keeper tells the story set in the 1960s of Abbie, an un-wed single mother who returns to the Lake District for her mother's funeral. In the aftermath of the funeral and the squabble about inheritance etc. Abbie spends a lot of time talking to her grandmother and finds out about her gran's time in Russia during the years of the Revolution.
I really like the premise of the plot. What I had an issue with was the delivery.
Let the book speak for itself:
"Abbie felt a sudden hopelessness overwhelm her as she sat gazing out of her bedroom window, her transistor radio playing Andy Williams singing Can’t Get Used To Losing You, which was exactly how she felt right now. To lose her mother just when she needed her most, needed that much-longed-for reconciliation, was more than she could bear. How cruel life was at times. If only she possessed her grandmother’s strength. She watched the whooper swans preparing to leave Carreckwater for their summer breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra. How far those beautiful birds must have to travel, and to a region even colder than this one. Rather as Millie had done when she’d sailed to Russia."
Why is it important that Andy Williams gets a mention?
Why the reference to her grandmother's strength? This is before her gran reveals her story in the book, and up to this point there are only vague references about family secrets - and not much about her gran.
And most important - and most annoying to me - why do I need to know that whooper swans have summer breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra? I'm sorry, but unless the swans feature in the story, I do not want to read about their summer breeding grounds.
(Btw, I checked - there are no further references to the swans. So, why....?)
So, puzzled, I continued to find this:
" ‘Sorry I didn’t manage to call yesterday, Gran, only we took the children out on Coniston Water for a treat.’ ‘Good for you. Cheer you all up, I expect.’ ‘Indeed it did.’ Abbie sipped her coffee as the two lapsed into a comfortable silence, watching a house martin flying frantically to and fro as it gathered material for its nest."
I think the author may be a twitcher. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does not move the story forward or create any of the much needed atmosphere. Nor do the references seem to be metaphors for anything. So, still puzzled I read on.
"Both women lapsed into silence for a moment as they recalled happier days, then Abbie gave a little sigh.
‘I still can’t get my head around why Mum would do this. It’s quite beyond my comprehension. But then she was never easy to understand.’
‘It’s true she was rather a complicated person, a bit screwed up, as you young people would say. But then she had a lot to deal with, not knowing exactly who she was, for one thing.’
‘That must have been awful for her.’
‘I’m afraid it did trouble her greatly.’
Abbie tried to recall when first she’d learned that her mother had been adopted, perhaps when she was being something of a problem during her own teen years. Kate had told her that she considered herself fortunate to have enjoyed a good upbringing with loving parents, which included being privately educated at a local girls’ school, when she could so easily have suffered a deprived childhood confined in an orphanage."
It was at this point that I had to laugh. I mean, it can be difficult to convey to readers how characters might feel, but fear not - in this book, the author does an awesome job at telling you exactly what people think and feel and why they do it.
Incidentally, when trying to contrast growing up at an orphanage with growing up in a loving family - who cares about the private education at a local girls school?
From here the reading became less laugh out loud and more strenuous because of the amount of eye-rolling I felt compelled to engage in. So, at risk of causing permanent damage from eye-strain I decided to skim through the rest of the book and see if it does get better. Then the following caught my attention:
" ‘Good for you. Amber is beautiful, likened to the sun because of its colour and clarity. There are many myths and legends attached to it, not least that it is considered to possess healing properties, often worn by children when they are teething. And significantly it is a symbol of fidelity, meant to represent everlasting love,’ Millie said with a smile.
‘Oh, I like that. We could do with a bit more fidelity in this world, judging by all the scandalous goings-on in this Profumo affair. What his lovely wife feels about her MP husband sleeping with a woman who is also having it off with a Russian diplomat, I dread to think. Poor woman!’
‘Windmill girls, or so they think, and the dreadful scandal is having to be carefully kept from Lady Astor that her son has become an innocent victim in the affair, a scapegoat in fact, just because he allowed Stephen Ward to use a cottage on the Cliveden estate."
How do you get from making jewelry to the Profumo Affair? And most importantly - WHY??? It has nothing whatsoever to do with story - and none of it is ever mentioned again. (I checked.)
Is it just thrown in there the give the story a sense of being set in the early 1960s? If so, why not do this by setting the scene rather than by throwing a reference to a political scandal that most people outside of the UK have not heard of?
And for what it's worth, don't get me started on "poor" Lord and Lady Astor. How could they not have know what was going on at Cliveden. They were there!
Anyway, I'm digressing - much like the book. Unlike the book, however, I'm not trying to tell a story.
In summary, The Amber Keeper is an interesting story but the patronising, over-explaining, info-dumping, tell-rather-than-show kind of writing drove me nuts!
DNF.
The Amber Keeper was recommended to me by a friend and I really wanted to like it. Not least because I had not enjoyed her previous recommendation all that much either.
So, deciding to DNF was - and this is unusual for me - hard.
So, anyway, why did the book not work for me?
Well, The Amber Keeper tells the story set in the 1960s of Abbie, an un-wed single mother who returns to the Lake District for her mother's funeral. In the aftermath of the funeral and the squabble about inheritance etc. Abbie spends a lot of time talking to her grandmother and finds out about her gran's time in Russia during the years of the Revolution.
I really like the premise of the plot. What I had an issue with was the delivery.
Let the book speak for itself:
"Abbie felt a sudden hopelessness overwhelm her as she sat gazing out of her bedroom window, her transistor radio playing Andy Williams singing Can’t Get Used To Losing You, which was exactly how she felt right now. To lose her mother just when she needed her most, needed that much-longed-for reconciliation, was more than she could bear. How cruel life was at times. If only she possessed her grandmother’s strength. She watched the whooper swans preparing to leave Carreckwater for their summer breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra. How far those beautiful birds must have to travel, and to a region even colder than this one. Rather as Millie had done when she’d sailed to Russia."
Why is it important that Andy Williams gets a mention?
Why the reference to her grandmother's strength? This is before her gran reveals her story in the book, and up to this point there are only vague references about family secrets - and not much about her gran.
And most important - and most annoying to me - why do I need to know that whooper swans have summer breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra? I'm sorry, but unless the swans feature in the story, I do not want to read about their summer breeding grounds.
(Btw, I checked - there are no further references to the swans. So, why....?)
So, puzzled, I continued to find this:
" ‘Sorry I didn’t manage to call yesterday, Gran, only we took the children out on Coniston Water for a treat.’ ‘Good for you. Cheer you all up, I expect.’ ‘Indeed it did.’ Abbie sipped her coffee as the two lapsed into a comfortable silence, watching a house martin flying frantically to and fro as it gathered material for its nest."
I think the author may be a twitcher. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it does not move the story forward or create any of the much needed atmosphere. Nor do the references seem to be metaphors for anything. So, still puzzled I read on.
"Both women lapsed into silence for a moment as they recalled happier days, then Abbie gave a little sigh.
‘I still can’t get my head around why Mum would do this. It’s quite beyond my comprehension. But then she was never easy to understand.’
‘It’s true she was rather a complicated person, a bit screwed up, as you young people would say. But then she had a lot to deal with, not knowing exactly who she was, for one thing.’
‘That must have been awful for her.’
‘I’m afraid it did trouble her greatly.’
Abbie tried to recall when first she’d learned that her mother had been adopted, perhaps when she was being something of a problem during her own teen years. Kate had told her that she considered herself fortunate to have enjoyed a good upbringing with loving parents, which included being privately educated at a local girls’ school, when she could so easily have suffered a deprived childhood confined in an orphanage."
It was at this point that I had to laugh. I mean, it can be difficult to convey to readers how characters might feel, but fear not - in this book, the author does an awesome job at telling you exactly what people think and feel and why they do it.
Incidentally, when trying to contrast growing up at an orphanage with growing up in a loving family - who cares about the private education at a local girls school?
From here the reading became less laugh out loud and more strenuous because of the amount of eye-rolling I felt compelled to engage in. So, at risk of causing permanent damage from eye-strain I decided to skim through the rest of the book and see if it does get better. Then the following caught my attention:
" ‘Good for you. Amber is beautiful, likened to the sun because of its colour and clarity. There are many myths and legends attached to it, not least that it is considered to possess healing properties, often worn by children when they are teething. And significantly it is a symbol of fidelity, meant to represent everlasting love,’ Millie said with a smile.
‘Oh, I like that. We could do with a bit more fidelity in this world, judging by all the scandalous goings-on in this Profumo affair. What his lovely wife feels about her MP husband sleeping with a woman who is also having it off with a Russian diplomat, I dread to think. Poor woman!’
‘Windmill girls, or so they think, and the dreadful scandal is having to be carefully kept from Lady Astor that her son has become an innocent victim in the affair, a scapegoat in fact, just because he allowed Stephen Ward to use a cottage on the Cliveden estate."
How do you get from making jewelry to the Profumo Affair? And most importantly - WHY??? It has nothing whatsoever to do with story - and none of it is ever mentioned again. (I checked.)
Is it just thrown in there the give the story a sense of being set in the early 1960s? If so, why not do this by setting the scene rather than by throwing a reference to a political scandal that most people outside of the UK have not heard of?
And for what it's worth, don't get me started on "poor" Lord and Lady Astor. How could they not have know what was going on at Cliveden. They were there!
Anyway, I'm digressing - much like the book. Unlike the book, however, I'm not trying to tell a story.
In summary, The Amber Keeper is an interesting story but the patronising, over-explaining, info-dumping, tell-rather-than-show kind of writing drove me nuts!
January 4, 2016
I have mixed feelings about The Amber Keeper. The historical parts in which Millie (Abbie's grandmother) recalls her times in Russia between the years 1911 - 1919 were excellent. But when reverting to the present day of 1963 England were not so good. The writing, in my opinion, was off. And Abbie wasn't a sympathetic character; she appears weak, whiny, and a bit self absorbed. True, a feminine take on the prodigal son was different, and I liked that; especially since she was a single mother. And who can blame her for wanting to find out more about her mother that just died of an apparent suicide? No one, but her family.
And the the Countess was a truly vile person, but a bit over the top depiction of a Russian autocrat. And the perpetual trust that allowed Millie and her family to live in Cheswick until ??? And what happened to the Count and Serge?
The ending seemed rushed also as if the author was also bored with the story by this time. I am giving 3 Stars to the novel because of the well written historical parts, but I'm not sure if I will visit this author again.
And the the Countess was a truly vile person, but a bit over the top depiction of a Russian autocrat. And the perpetual trust that allowed Millie and her family to live in Cheswick until ??? And what happened to the Count and Serge?
The ending seemed rushed also as if the author was also bored with the story by this time. I am giving 3 Stars to the novel because of the well written historical parts, but I'm not sure if I will visit this author again.
August 27, 2020
*PopSugar2020 Reto #21: Publicado en el mes de mi cumpleaños*
“Qué sabios somos todos en retrospectiva. Desafortunadamente no fue posible volver atrás y cambiar el pasado: sólo se podía seguir adelante hacia un nuevo futuro”.
Una historia conmovedora teniendo como fondo el fin de la Rusia zarista. Me gustó que la autora manejará dos lineas temporales para conocer la historia de la familia. Cada uno de ellos tiene un papel importante y ninguno deja indiferente.
Odie a la condesa y por ratos a Stefan. Y me encariñé mucho con las pequeña que necesita todo el amor y confianza que Millie pueda darle. También hay escenas que sacan varias lagrimas, pero todo vale la pena por ver ese mensaje esperanzador y esa sonrisa que queda al terminal el libro
“Qué sabios somos todos en retrospectiva. Desafortunadamente no fue posible volver atrás y cambiar el pasado: sólo se podía seguir adelante hacia un nuevo futuro”.
Una historia conmovedora teniendo como fondo el fin de la Rusia zarista. Me gustó que la autora manejará dos lineas temporales para conocer la historia de la familia. Cada uno de ellos tiene un papel importante y ninguno deja indiferente.
Odie a la condesa y por ratos a Stefan. Y me encariñé mucho con las pequeña que necesita todo el amor y confianza que Millie pueda darle. También hay escenas que sacan varias lagrimas, pero todo vale la pena por ver ese mensaje esperanzador y esa sonrisa que queda al terminal el libro
September 25, 2016
Oh dear. This book is such a disappointment. It's all tell and no show, flat characters and unrealistic dialogue.
Each character spouts reams of exposition in lieu of setting the scene through their actions or describing the setting. The only reason we know half of the book is set in 1960s England is because a character tells us that or the author does by saying a precise song playing on the radio. The dialogue and social mores don't feel like 60s England. The same is true of the Russian parts set before and during the Russian Revolution.
The main character in the 1960s section is Abbie, granddaughter of Millie, the main character in the Russian sector. I think Abbie is supposed to be a strong young woman, ahead of her time. She's not. She's a whiny, insecure little girl with a 'why me?' attitude. Everything is black and white to her, with no shades in between. In fact, the same could be said of the whole novel.
Millie is much the same in revolutionary Russia. There's no real connection between old Millie and young Millie. And because we know that Millie is alive in the 1960s from the start, there's no sense of danger. Her love story is insipid. She flip flops around after Stefan, a character as two-dimensional as the rest of them.
The villain of the piece is the beautiful Countess. Frankly, she might as well be the Wicked Queen from Snow White, for all the subtlety she displays. She lies, shouts and stamps her foot, regardless of the situation she finds herself in, yet she gets away with it all.
The most interesting parts are the Russian ones. You could quite easily lose the 1960s parts and treat the flashbacks as the whole story. Even the author appears to get bored, dropping some characters completely, stuffing a nonsensical murder plot into the last few chapters and tying up Abbie's story in a neat bow.
I'm astounded by the five-star reviews on here. If this was well-written, there could be a decent story hidden in here, but it's not. Instead, this is writing by numbers. This is the first Freda Lightfoot novel I've read and it will definitely be the last.
Each character spouts reams of exposition in lieu of setting the scene through their actions or describing the setting. The only reason we know half of the book is set in 1960s England is because a character tells us that or the author does by saying a precise song playing on the radio. The dialogue and social mores don't feel like 60s England. The same is true of the Russian parts set before and during the Russian Revolution.
The main character in the 1960s section is Abbie, granddaughter of Millie, the main character in the Russian sector. I think Abbie is supposed to be a strong young woman, ahead of her time. She's not. She's a whiny, insecure little girl with a 'why me?' attitude. Everything is black and white to her, with no shades in between. In fact, the same could be said of the whole novel.
Millie is much the same in revolutionary Russia. There's no real connection between old Millie and young Millie. And because we know that Millie is alive in the 1960s from the start, there's no sense of danger. Her love story is insipid. She flip flops around after Stefan, a character as two-dimensional as the rest of them.
The villain of the piece is the beautiful Countess. Frankly, she might as well be the Wicked Queen from Snow White, for all the subtlety she displays. She lies, shouts and stamps her foot, regardless of the situation she finds herself in, yet she gets away with it all.
The most interesting parts are the Russian ones. You could quite easily lose the 1960s parts and treat the flashbacks as the whole story. Even the author appears to get bored, dropping some characters completely, stuffing a nonsensical murder plot into the last few chapters and tying up Abbie's story in a neat bow.
I'm astounded by the five-star reviews on here. If this was well-written, there could be a decent story hidden in here, but it's not. Instead, this is writing by numbers. This is the first Freda Lightfoot novel I've read and it will definitely be the last.
October 12, 2020
3,5 Aunque puse un 4, por la historia de Rusia que considero está muy bien definida
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February 8, 2016
I suppose it was written fairly well in terms of being correct grammatically, though there are a few strange word choices, but I disliked the protagonist from the off and that's never good. It felt slow, quite laborious, and I couldn't get in to it enough to finish it.
September 29, 2024
This is a family saga and a historical novel in one. The imagery is the gem of the story, and the author introduces a believable cast of characters, including the wonderful grandmother. There are two worlds, the English Lake District and Russia during the Russian Revolution, both of which the author deals with convincingly.
January 5, 2015
This is why I love to read Historical Fiction and one that is such a mystery to me. A historical account of the Russian Revolution, with many interesting characters, an engaging plot and little lag time, this came together nicely. I love when an author uses several generations to bring it all together.
Our main protagonist Abbie comes home after being estranged from her family when her mother commits suicide. Abbie is heartbroken. So many things left unsaid, so many things misunderstood. With the help of her Grandmother Millie, Abbie is looking for answers. Why would her mother commit suicide? Why did her mother keep her at arm’s length? Why did Millie adopt Abbie’s mother and who are her mother’s parents.
Abbie’s grandmother is somewhat reluctant to share the story. The narration is done in Abbie’s voice as she picks up the broken pieces of her family, and Millie’s voice as she tells Abbie how she became a governess to the Countess and Count of Russia. The arranged marriage of The Count and Countess is anything but loving however; Millie’s main concern is for the children. The daughter who is completely ignored by her mother and the son that is indulgent and spoiled, Millie brings stability to these children that is endearing. When the revolution breaks out, you begin to understand the politics and what a dangerous time it was. The many people that died to be free remind you that freedom has a cost. Millie is at war of her own with her employer the Countess. The tension between the two contrasting women make you wonder why did Millie stay and the hold the Countess had.
Abbie own story is just as engaging as Millie’s. She wants to continue her mother’s business at her gift store making jewelry when she comes to her own road blocks. Her father and brother and the new man in town that wants to buy the business. With determination of being a single mother, Abbie will not be thwarted in finding out what happened to her mother and making a success of her mother’s legacy.
A special thank you Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Our main protagonist Abbie comes home after being estranged from her family when her mother commits suicide. Abbie is heartbroken. So many things left unsaid, so many things misunderstood. With the help of her Grandmother Millie, Abbie is looking for answers. Why would her mother commit suicide? Why did her mother keep her at arm’s length? Why did Millie adopt Abbie’s mother and who are her mother’s parents.
Abbie’s grandmother is somewhat reluctant to share the story. The narration is done in Abbie’s voice as she picks up the broken pieces of her family, and Millie’s voice as she tells Abbie how she became a governess to the Countess and Count of Russia. The arranged marriage of The Count and Countess is anything but loving however; Millie’s main concern is for the children. The daughter who is completely ignored by her mother and the son that is indulgent and spoiled, Millie brings stability to these children that is endearing. When the revolution breaks out, you begin to understand the politics and what a dangerous time it was. The many people that died to be free remind you that freedom has a cost. Millie is at war of her own with her employer the Countess. The tension between the two contrasting women make you wonder why did Millie stay and the hold the Countess had.
Abbie own story is just as engaging as Millie’s. She wants to continue her mother’s business at her gift store making jewelry when she comes to her own road blocks. Her father and brother and the new man in town that wants to buy the business. With determination of being a single mother, Abbie will not be thwarted in finding out what happened to her mother and making a success of her mother’s legacy.
A special thank you Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2016
When I first encountered The Amber Keeper, I had just finished watching the film Gandhi and was left with a strong desire to travel further into historical tales -which is slightly significant considering I seldom ever read historical fiction. So, I rushed over to my collection of novels in my Kindle library, and stumbled upon this lovely book cover with its colorful Russian architecture -which by the way, reminded me so much of Disneyland’s “It’s A Small World” attraction. Now that I think about it, this seems to have been the pertinent detail surrounding my overall reading experience this year hasn’t it? Those enticing book covers :P
Regardless, The Amber Keeper was unlike anything I’ve ever read, but similar to everything that I have seen in a typical British drama; something comparable to Pride and Prejudice in itself, but more foreboding than a sappy love story. Oh but don’t get me wrong, there is romance, plenty of it actually to make this story almost realistic; as a matter of fact, it is the romance within the narrative that propels the plot to branch out into a complicated and hot mess.
Strangely enough, I enjoyed the sentimental approach of the prose, as well as the romance, in how it so readily captured the reckless joy and passion between the protagonist Millie and her dearest Stefan, even when it was portrayed in pain. Not to mention, Countess Olga, the concentrated physical manifestation of pure evil! If truth be told, she took center stage in this narrative and I found I was utterly engrossed with this book solely because of her role in the story; her character delivery was genius!
Frankly, if I had to reduce my experience with this novel into one word, it would be: zestful. Because that is exactly what this novel delivers: an abundance of outrageous pleasantly sharp flavors of tangy intriguing dramatics, and I liked it!
IN A NUTSHELL:
// Freda Lightfoot’s writing is simply beautiful, and while she does use an extensive amount of sophisticated words, they never seem to overwhelm the narration of the story. Actually, I felt that the usage of the polished words complimented and dressed her storytelling with elegance
// Compares to Titanic. Holding a resemblance to Rose Dawson’s verbal account of her devastating romantic story on the Titanic, this book measures up to its motif. Millie Dowthwaite similarly recounts the tale of her love story, her emotional distress as Governess to Serge and Irina and the difficult hardships fed to her through the wretchedness of Countess Olga. It seriously has that feel and tone to the prose as it alternates between past and present settings
// It’s a story that sheds light on the strife between social classes, social isolation and loneliness, as well as one that celebrates the strength found in forgiveness, resolve, and certitude; especially within family dynamics
// This novel delivers stellar character development contrary to its incredibly slothful plot; it was fun to read however, and unforgettably sinister
// I liked it! I found The Amber Keeper to be a beautifully rendered story. My only quibble was with the sluggish pacing of the storyline. Despite this reservation though, I would recommend it!
3 THINGS I LIKED:
+ Countess Olga! This antagonist seriously takes the crown for “The Wickedest Antagonist of 2014!” I’ve read a good handful of fantasy and dystopia this year, which rendered some pretty mediocre foes (i.e. Queen Levana, Jeanine Matthews, President Snow, Beliel, The Creators, Leck to name a few) and not one was able to cast a spell on me like Countess Olga. Verily, verily I say to you, Countess Olga is the perfect personification of a self-absorbing narcissists and villain and man was I ever so fascinated with her character! She desires nothing more than to feed on chaos and mayhem. I have to admit that it was more her obsessive jealous motives that made me love her, loath her and sometimes even feel sorry for her, that’s how brilliantly she plays portrays this role; I admire the creation of this character
+ By the same distance, Millie Dowthwaite. This protagonist evoked more conviction and hindrance than inspiration, and this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. I was honestly spellbound to say the least by Millie’s responsive nature when regarded with Olga’s psychological warfare. At first, Millie is defenseless and vulnerable, which had me grunting and heaving deep sighs. Gratefully however, Millie comes to blossom through the medium of embracing her sufferings and applying them as lessons -which later helped her become more and more adept at expressing her inner feelings. She eventually learns to verbalize and actualize her feelings, and to stand up for uprightness. Her rationale was moving, baffling and gripping and I gobbled her tale
+ Even though The Amber Keeper is categorized under historical fiction, not once does it feel or read like a deep exposition, nor does it ever feel like a history lesson
3 THINGS I DID NOT LIKE:
- The Amber Keeper presents itself as historical tale set in the early 1900’s during the time when the Russian Army finally begins to modernize and expand, but that is all we experience through the narrative. Remember the craving that led me to pick up this novel? A strong desire to munch on historical accounts? Unfortunately, The Amber Keeper was an unseasoned serving – the historical aspects of the prose were bland and under cooked; thus historically, the majority of the novel went by uneventful
- The sibling rivalry between Abbie and Robert was an appetizing melodramatic-dish served well, yes, but I felt that Robert’s character was underdeveloped – Robert is hot-headed and abrasive towards Abbie, and that’s all fine and dandy, but the most absorbing rivalry’s for me, are the ones that expand on the conditions and climates revolving around the bickering. I wanted to know what happened with Robert to make him so incredibly spiteful towards Abbie; I wanted to understand why Robert’s heart hardened to such a degree, I wanted to know why he was so pressing on the issue of his mother’s dying will. One obvious reason was the death of his mother, but there seemed to be more to his bitter approach then just this one issue. I simply felt that there could have been more room to explore his character and the circumstances surrounding his prose
- My main issue with the book was with the sluggish pacing of the narrative. It just dragged, terribly, and because of the torpid pacing, some of the turning points felt flat. I struggled at points to stay engaged and interested. BUT as aforementioned, Countess Olga was the reason I finished this book ;)
Overall Rating:
Storyline | 2/5
Characters | 4/5
Violence | Moderate
Profanities | Mild
Sexual Content | Heavy
Mature subjects/themes include, but are limited to: loss of a loved one, death, suicide, child abuse, aggravated assault, martial strife, divorce, adult drinking, religion, adoption, mother-daughter rapport, sibling rivalry, martial affairs, emotional and verbal abuse, depression, war and chaos, politics, disease, riots, Old Earth creationism, false imprisonment
August 3, 2024
Esta historia esconde un misterio, tan raro como el propio ámbar.
Una novela sobre la superación, la amistad, el amor propio.....
Ambientada en Rusia, me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. Sus protagonistas son ejemplo de superación, de amor por encima de todo.
Y el distrito de los Lagos, increíble.
Una novela sobre la superación, la amistad, el amor propio.....
Ambientada en Rusia, me ha gustado más de lo que esperaba. Sus protagonistas son ejemplo de superación, de amor por encima de todo.
Y el distrito de los Lagos, increíble.
November 15, 2015
В целом книга понравилась. Написано легко, понятно и увлекательно. Интересная история - с интригой, драмой и темой любви на целое столетие. Ставлю 4/5 так как мне показалось, что автору не совсем точно удалось передать атмосферу имперской России, прихода большевиков и общего русского быта.
abgebrochen
March 1, 2019Nach einer Stunde Hörzeit abgebrochen. Leider hat mich die Sprecherin kolossal genervt.
November 11, 2025
The Amber Keeper is a dual timeline story set in Lake District during the 1960s and in Russia from 1911 to 1919.
This is the story of Millie, a children’s governess who travels to Russia where she is employed by a Count and Countess of the Royal court to teach their children English. During her time there, the Russian Revolution takes place and Millie experiences two very different sides to the country.
It is also the story of Abbie, a young woman who is returning home from Paris to attend the funeral of her mother. Abbie’s mother committed suicide which appears to be very odd as she was looking forward to an upcoming trip to Russia.
Abbie’s grandmother, Millie, may hold the answers but she is very reluctant to reveal her secrets. It takes several attempts before Abbie can persuade her grandmother to talk about her past.
Of the two parts to this story I preferred the chapters that were set in Russia, although the Lake District background was also a delight to read about. The author’s notes are also worth reading as they explain how the idea for this story came about and what inspired her to write a tale around an English governess abroad.
This is the story of Millie, a children’s governess who travels to Russia where she is employed by a Count and Countess of the Royal court to teach their children English. During her time there, the Russian Revolution takes place and Millie experiences two very different sides to the country.
It is also the story of Abbie, a young woman who is returning home from Paris to attend the funeral of her mother. Abbie’s mother committed suicide which appears to be very odd as she was looking forward to an upcoming trip to Russia.
Abbie’s grandmother, Millie, may hold the answers but she is very reluctant to reveal her secrets. It takes several attempts before Abbie can persuade her grandmother to talk about her past.
Of the two parts to this story I preferred the chapters that were set in Russia, although the Lake District background was also a delight to read about. The author’s notes are also worth reading as they explain how the idea for this story came about and what inspired her to write a tale around an English governess abroad.
April 12, 2016
A perfectly fine family history-mystery novel. As with most of this genre it tends it little too much toward the romantic rather than the adventurous but not so that it gets in the way.
There is a formula to this kind of novel which usually sees a modern character finding out about a family secret some years in the past, here we get a slight twist in that both time periods are in the past, allowing the action to swing between the 1910s and the 1960s while still enabling characters from the former period to be alive in the latter. This works well though while the earlier time period is captured in terms of tone, voice, language and behaviour the more recent one strikes as a little too modern, though that in itself might be more to do with our shared expectations of how that era should be portrayed rather than how it actually was.
Where the writing does fall a little short is in character and exposition. Too many of the characters have the same voice as if there is no difference between the generations or between those who live in Russia and England. At the same time simple exposition is presented quite bluntly with the author simply stating 'It is this' or 'that means that' rather than letting the reader learn and discover for themselves. Both of these flaws smack on either lazy writing or a basic underestimation of the intelligence of the reader, neither of which I find particularly enjoyable traits when reading a novel.
That aside this is an enjoyable novel and well worth investing with a couple of hours of your time.
There is a formula to this kind of novel which usually sees a modern character finding out about a family secret some years in the past, here we get a slight twist in that both time periods are in the past, allowing the action to swing between the 1910s and the 1960s while still enabling characters from the former period to be alive in the latter. This works well though while the earlier time period is captured in terms of tone, voice, language and behaviour the more recent one strikes as a little too modern, though that in itself might be more to do with our shared expectations of how that era should be portrayed rather than how it actually was.
Where the writing does fall a little short is in character and exposition. Too many of the characters have the same voice as if there is no difference between the generations or between those who live in Russia and England. At the same time simple exposition is presented quite bluntly with the author simply stating 'It is this' or 'that means that' rather than letting the reader learn and discover for themselves. Both of these flaws smack on either lazy writing or a basic underestimation of the intelligence of the reader, neither of which I find particularly enjoyable traits when reading a novel.
That aside this is an enjoyable novel and well worth investing with a couple of hours of your time.
May 4, 2015
The plot was decent, but I couldn't get over my annoyance at the way the grandmother related her past. Page after page of uninterrupted dialogue, with no pauses to emote/interact with the person listening? That was bizarre enough on its own, but the way she supposedly remembered every detail of events that happened *decades* before is just absurdly unrealistic. For the major upheavals, sure, but she was repeating even the most mundane conversations verbatim, describing exactly what was eaten on ordinary days. Somehow, more than 40 years later, she was able to remember everyone's expressions and tone of voice, regardless of whether they were freaking out about the revolution, or just asking for another cup of tea.
As such, her story lacked authenticity for me. There was nothing conversational about it, no real feeling that relating these events was particularly difficult or painful for Millie (despite repeated insistence to the contrary). It's just one big information dump, written more like standard narrative than a genuine flashback.
Beyond that, some of the dialogue made me cringe, and the ending felt cobbled together, as if the author was determined to shoot for "happily ever after" than something with more depth or realism.
Solid plot, but the execution left a lot to be desired.
As such, her story lacked authenticity for me. There was nothing conversational about it, no real feeling that relating these events was particularly difficult or painful for Millie (despite repeated insistence to the contrary). It's just one big information dump, written more like standard narrative than a genuine flashback.
Beyond that, some of the dialogue made me cringe, and the ending felt cobbled together, as if the author was determined to shoot for "happily ever after" than something with more depth or realism.
Solid plot, but the execution left a lot to be desired.
December 22, 2014
The historical part of this novel tells the story of Millie, a young English nanny to a Russian family who witnesses the Russian Revolution first hand. This part of the novel is very interesting and well developed.
The other part is the modern day story of Abbie, Millie’s granddaughter. Unfortunately, this part of the book just isn’t as good. It’s not bad per se, just not as well plotted. Abbie as a character is hard to like or sympathize with. She seems too flighty, not at all a strong person. This makes it hard to believe some of her actions towards the end of the book. In addition, the ending seemed rushed and not well plotted. It was as if the author just wanted to end the book.
All in all, this is not a bad book. It’s a quick read and the parts detailing Millie’s experience during the war are well worth the read.
Borrow it from your library.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The other part is the modern day story of Abbie, Millie’s granddaughter. Unfortunately, this part of the book just isn’t as good. It’s not bad per se, just not as well plotted. Abbie as a character is hard to like or sympathize with. She seems too flighty, not at all a strong person. This makes it hard to believe some of her actions towards the end of the book. In addition, the ending seemed rushed and not well plotted. It was as if the author just wanted to end the book.
All in all, this is not a bad book. It’s a quick read and the parts detailing Millie’s experience during the war are well worth the read.
Borrow it from your library.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 12, 2018
"Set against the backdrop of revolutionary Russia"...great chance to touch on some Russian history.
Story is told in flashbacks by the Grandma in England, telling Abbie about her life and that of her mothers. The dreadful helpless life of people trapped as servants to the rich and mighty.
Abbie wants a new life for her daughter Aimee and to reconnect with her family and gain their respect.
Story is told in flashbacks by the Grandma in England, telling Abbie about her life and that of her mothers. The dreadful helpless life of people trapped as servants to the rich and mighty.
Abbie wants a new life for her daughter Aimee and to reconnect with her family and gain their respect.
April 10, 2023
Se deja leer, pero me ha emocionado y atrapado mucho menos de lo que esperaba. Personajes bastante planos y una trama muy previsible. Bien, no es un mal libro, pero tampoco me ha aportado demasiado.
February 24, 2015
If you go about buying this book for the Russian Revolution angle, you may not get exactly what you were expecting. It is mentioned, but not described in detail as this is rather a very character driven story. That didn't really bother me, as the plot sounded interesting and it turned out that it was a great read.
This story begins with a main character that finds herself in a bad situation and things only get worse for her when she returns home to her very judgmental family. I felt bad for her, and it was this feeling that drew me into the story and made me want to learn more about her and her family. I wasn't expecting for the story to go backward in time as soon as it did, but I was grateful for the author's ability to make many story lines intersect at crucial moments and keep the reader interested and turning pages.
This is a book that will make you stop and think about the decisions we make and how they affect our futures and the lives of those around us. I liked the way the author described her settings and thought that the narrative voice was inviting, regardless of which character was telling the story.
Overall this was a really good book and I am glad that I took the time to read it. Quite an adventure one finds in these pages.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This story begins with a main character that finds herself in a bad situation and things only get worse for her when she returns home to her very judgmental family. I felt bad for her, and it was this feeling that drew me into the story and made me want to learn more about her and her family. I wasn't expecting for the story to go backward in time as soon as it did, but I was grateful for the author's ability to make many story lines intersect at crucial moments and keep the reader interested and turning pages.
This is a book that will make you stop and think about the decisions we make and how they affect our futures and the lives of those around us. I liked the way the author described her settings and thought that the narrative voice was inviting, regardless of which character was telling the story.
Overall this was a really good book and I am glad that I took the time to read it. Quite an adventure one finds in these pages.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
May 25, 2015
It's always the sign of a good book when you don't want to put it down and can't wait to pick it up again and this was certainly the case here. An intriguing blend of a nod to historical fiction,with half of the book set during the time of the Russian Revolution and half set in the Lake District in the 1960s, this is more a tale of hardship, deceit, love and overcoming battles, both personal and political, than it is a history lesson.
The journey the reader is taken on as you learn of Millie's past in Russia and begin to piece together the links between her own experiences and the impact they've had on future generations of the family is compelling. The 'will they, won't they' aspect of Abbie's encounters with Drew draws a nice parallel with Millie's earlier relationship with Stefan and each character is sufficiently developed to enable the reader to identify with their personalities, whether agreeable or otherwise!
The ending may feel a little contrived to some readers, but provides another twist which allows the final pieces of the puzzle of Kate's suicide to be revealed and so the author just about gets away with it.
The journey the reader is taken on as you learn of Millie's past in Russia and begin to piece together the links between her own experiences and the impact they've had on future generations of the family is compelling. The 'will they, won't they' aspect of Abbie's encounters with Drew draws a nice parallel with Millie's earlier relationship with Stefan and each character is sufficiently developed to enable the reader to identify with their personalities, whether agreeable or otherwise!
The ending may feel a little contrived to some readers, but provides another twist which allows the final pieces of the puzzle of Kate's suicide to be revealed and so the author just about gets away with it.
February 13, 2017
A young woman, Abbie, returns to her family's home in England following her mother's death. Abbie's family blames her for her mother's death, but the real reason her mother died remains a mystery, possibly connected to the big secret her grandmother, Millie, has kept from everyone. Millie spent several years in Russia working as a governess for an aristocratic family, during the last few years before the Revolution, a story she has not told anyone in any detail before. As Millie finally tells her granddaughter about her past adventures in Russia, the truth of her mother's death comes out.
This was a well crafted novel, with the modern family drama providing a nice frame for an interesting bit of historical fiction that shows life in Russia during the build-up to the revolution from the perspective of the aristocracy. I wished that Abbie was a bit better informed so she could have understood more of what was happening around her, but the fact that she was so clueless about Russian current events and politics was believable.
This was a well crafted novel, with the modern family drama providing a nice frame for an interesting bit of historical fiction that shows life in Russia during the build-up to the revolution from the perspective of the aristocracy. I wished that Abbie was a bit better informed so she could have understood more of what was happening around her, but the fact that she was so clueless about Russian current events and politics was believable.
March 9, 2015
This was a complicated little book...but I like complicated. Not quite as good as A Guide for the Perplexed, by Dara Horn, but I'm still giving it 5 stars because this was true historical fiction. I learned a lot about Russian history in the early 1900's, but the story also was brought into the 60's as we learn the stories of Millie and Abbie, grandmother and granddaughter respectively.
Millie has an amazing story that Abbie has never heard in its entirety, only bits and pieces about her grandmother's time in Russia. Abbie decides she wants to unravel the mystery behind her mother's mysterious suicide, and she believes hearing the whole story of what lead to her (Kate's) adoption from Russia might help.
What she hears was way more than she could have ever expected.
This was a mystery, several love stories, and earning a place back in her family after an unfortunate choice on Abbie's part a number of years ago.
Good book, and one I can recommend for everybody, not just women. Nothing racy. Well done.
Millie has an amazing story that Abbie has never heard in its entirety, only bits and pieces about her grandmother's time in Russia. Abbie decides she wants to unravel the mystery behind her mother's mysterious suicide, and she believes hearing the whole story of what lead to her (Kate's) adoption from Russia might help.
What she hears was way more than she could have ever expected.
This was a mystery, several love stories, and earning a place back in her family after an unfortunate choice on Abbie's part a number of years ago.
Good book, and one I can recommend for everybody, not just women. Nothing racy. Well done.
August 6, 2017
I have always been fascinated by tales of the Russian Revolution. An entire nation, caught between east and west, jumps several stages of development to try and create a workers' paradise only to erupt in terrifying violence. How did anyone survive the bloodshed and the starvation and disease and the cold? Whenever I see the Revolution mentioned in a book's description, I jump at the chance to read it, more often than not. Unfortunately for me, this doesn't always work out and in the case of Freda Lightfoot's The Amber Keeper, the Revolution was used as a more-exciting-than-usual setting for a fairly prosaic family drama/romance...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
December 25, 2014
Heartbreaking, Emotional & Engaging! A Beautiful Story!
September 8, 2017
Overall, I liked it, but only because of the Tzarist Russia-timed part. Present day side is utterly drab.
February 22, 2022
3.5* Una novela con dos líneas temporales, la época actual y la parte histórica ambientada en Rusia durante el final del Imperio Ruso y los comienzos de la Revolución Bolchevique.
A lo largo del libro Millie le va contando a su nieta Abbie su pasado como niñera/institutriz en casa de unos condes rusos, su relación con ellos y las repercusiones que eso ha tenido en el presente.
La historia me ha gustado, engancha, el marco histórico está bien construido con pinceladas de hechos reales y está bien escrito pero el romance tiene un gran peso en el libro y al final me ha faltado información sobre algunos aspectos.
A lo largo del libro Millie le va contando a su nieta Abbie su pasado como niñera/institutriz en casa de unos condes rusos, su relación con ellos y las repercusiones que eso ha tenido en el presente.
La historia me ha gustado, engancha, el marco histórico está bien construido con pinceladas de hechos reales y está bien escrito pero el romance tiene un gran peso en el libro y al final me ha faltado información sobre algunos aspectos.
August 13, 2016
This would have scored 5 stars but for some irritating mistakes and all because I read at the end that the author used to be a teacher.
The first howler was only 1% in when she writes palette instead of palate which is a different thing entirely !! There were also perhaps half a dozen instances of missing speechmarks then stags' used and not stag's/goodness and not goodness' and a horrific accident and not an and I'll used when it should've been I'd !! In no way did I anticipate these errors coming from an educator.
A few times there were some quite strangely written passages-which I'm pretty sure are wrongly written. Like this-"Later, with Aimee asleep even before she was tucked into the small bed next to her mother's old room up in the eaves" then "She had ever been a lady of high standards" and "...with a young, clearly disturbed young boy" and "...make it appear as if I'd been fully occupied within doors all day" and finally "Hadn't she heard this tale times without number over the years ?". They're just not right somehow......
She also mentioned England declaring war on Germany on August 4th. Now that's my birthday and I've never heard of that. My parents' wedding anniversary was September 3rd and I've always thought THAT was the date.
I did lose patience a little with a couple of relationships featured. One in particular was coming across as pretty juvenile and was beginning to grate a little. I was also getting a tad aggravated by Millie's habit of speaking out of turn. I have no problem whatsoever with outspokenness BUT I do had issues with her constantly regretting the transgression but in the next breath repeating it !!
The story was very good and I always enjoy tales that are based in 2 differing periods.....plus one setting is Russia during the revolution which is a time I've always found interesting.
There were a couple of moments when I gasped with shock and one event made me sniffy, too. The characters had a lot of secrets and the way they are all weaved together is very skillfully done.
The first howler was only 1% in when she writes palette instead of palate which is a different thing entirely !! There were also perhaps half a dozen instances of missing speechmarks then stags' used and not stag's/goodness and not goodness' and a horrific accident and not an and I'll used when it should've been I'd !! In no way did I anticipate these errors coming from an educator.
A few times there were some quite strangely written passages-which I'm pretty sure are wrongly written. Like this-"Later, with Aimee asleep even before she was tucked into the small bed next to her mother's old room up in the eaves" then "She had ever been a lady of high standards" and "...with a young, clearly disturbed young boy" and "...make it appear as if I'd been fully occupied within doors all day" and finally "Hadn't she heard this tale times without number over the years ?". They're just not right somehow......
She also mentioned England declaring war on Germany on August 4th. Now that's my birthday and I've never heard of that. My parents' wedding anniversary was September 3rd and I've always thought THAT was the date.
I did lose patience a little with a couple of relationships featured. One in particular was coming across as pretty juvenile and was beginning to grate a little. I was also getting a tad aggravated by Millie's habit of speaking out of turn. I have no problem whatsoever with outspokenness BUT I do had issues with her constantly regretting the transgression but in the next breath repeating it !!
The story was very good and I always enjoy tales that are based in 2 differing periods.....plus one setting is Russia during the revolution which is a time I've always found interesting.
There were a couple of moments when I gasped with shock and one event made me sniffy, too. The characters had a lot of secrets and the way they are all weaved together is very skillfully done.
September 19, 2016
I'm conflicted with this book. I was excited to read it, as the premise of parallel historical narratives is definitely something that appeals, and the First World War and the Russian Revolution were stunning backdrops to Millie's story. However, by about two thirds of the way through, I was well and truly dissatisfied.
It was easy to read, but I took issue with the language used throughout - while it can be difficult to show how characters think and feel, the prose in The Amber Keeper told you with very little nuance, and no subtlety at all. It's very dialogue-heavy, which I don't mind so much, except that here, it is stilted with little flow. To give context, Abbie is a young woman who has returned to the English Lake District with her illegitimate daughter in tow when she learns of her mother's sudden death. Over the course of some mid-level family drama, she engages her grandmother Millie to tell the story of her youth working as a governess in revolutionary Russia, hoping that the truth and family secrets will out. As far as concepts go, great, but it just failed to deliver.
Abbie is an unsympathetic character. Instead of coming across as strong-willed, she seemed selfish and judgemental. Her own story with her ex and the new man on the scene seems perfunctory and irrelevant; I couldn't engage and didn't really care what happened to her. Millie was better, but even then, as an old lady seemed like a narrative tool rather than a significant character in her own right. The whole story drags a bit in the middle, but then everything gets cleaned up tidily in a rush - except, you don't find out some key elements, like what really happened to the Countess (how did she find Kate anyway? How did she even get to the Riviera, when she was divorced with no assets?), or if the Count and Serge survived. The ending came across as though the author herself was a bit bored; she'd covered the interesting parts of the a Revolution and then just wanted to finish up.
I don't know. It was okay. The settings were fabulously communicated, but I was ultimately dissatisfied.
It was easy to read, but I took issue with the language used throughout - while it can be difficult to show how characters think and feel, the prose in The Amber Keeper told you with very little nuance, and no subtlety at all. It's very dialogue-heavy, which I don't mind so much, except that here, it is stilted with little flow. To give context, Abbie is a young woman who has returned to the English Lake District with her illegitimate daughter in tow when she learns of her mother's sudden death. Over the course of some mid-level family drama, she engages her grandmother Millie to tell the story of her youth working as a governess in revolutionary Russia, hoping that the truth and family secrets will out. As far as concepts go, great, but it just failed to deliver.
Abbie is an unsympathetic character. Instead of coming across as strong-willed, she seemed selfish and judgemental. Her own story with her ex and the new man on the scene seems perfunctory and irrelevant; I couldn't engage and didn't really care what happened to her. Millie was better, but even then, as an old lady seemed like a narrative tool rather than a significant character in her own right. The whole story drags a bit in the middle, but then everything gets cleaned up tidily in a rush - except, you don't find out some key elements, like what really happened to the Countess (how did she find Kate anyway? How did she even get to the Riviera, when she was divorced with no assets?), or if the Count and Serge survived. The ending came across as though the author herself was a bit bored; she'd covered the interesting parts of the a Revolution and then just wanted to finish up.
I don't know. It was okay. The settings were fabulously communicated, but I was ultimately dissatisfied.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2015
Set in two different time periods and 2 different locations, it follows Abbie, a selfish and immature 'heroine' in the 1960s in the Lake District and then relates back to her grandmothers story that takes place during the Russian Revolution.
I found the way the story linked back to the Russian revolution time period very clunky. Millie, Abbie's grandmother is supposed to be telling her this story in instalments but the narrative doesn't work and it ends up feeling like these are 2 completely different stories that don't gel well together.
I also really didn't like Abbie. I think she is supposed to come across as independent and headstrong but to me she seemed selfish, uncompromising and a bit of a brat. I also kept on forgetting that her part of the story was supposedly set in the 60s as the lingo didn't fit at all with the time period and in parts I found the language used quite juvenile.
Millie as a character is much more interesting and while you should think of her as brave and heroic, she seemed to consistently trust a hideous villain in the book and repeatedly put herself in difficult situations, so ultimately I had little patience for her.
Reading about the Russian revolution was kind of interesting but you were reading about people living under the protection of the aristocrat family they worked for so I think despite Millie facing hard times, you knew the peasants in the story had it so much tougher (this again made it hard for me to muster sympathy for her situation!)
In short, this was an easy to read but badly written book.
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