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The Key
From the #1 bestselling author of The Letter Kathryn Hughes comes The Key, an unforgettable story of a heartbreaking secret that will stay with you for ever. 'Riveting' Lesley Pearse on The Letter. 'Gripping' Good Housekeeping on The Secret. 1956 It's Ellen Crosby's first day at work as a student nurse at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum. When she meets a young girl committed by her father, and a pioneering physician keen to try out the various 'cures' available for mental illness, little does Ellen know that a choice she will make is to change all their lives for ever...2006Sarah is drawn to the abandoned Ambergate Asylum and whilst exploring the old corridors she discovers a suitcase in an attic belonging to a female patient who was admitted to the asylum fifty years earlier. The shocking contents of the suitcase lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only Sarah may have the power to put right.Join the hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide who have lost their hearts to Kathryn Hughes' 'I cried buckets of tears reading it''You cannot fail to fall for this story''I went through every emotion under the sun''One of the finest stories I have ever read''I have finished this book with tears in my eyes but a smile on my face''I feel like I'm a better person for reading it'
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2018
4847 people are currently reading
6822 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Hughes
28 books793 followersKathryn Hughes was born in Altrincham, near Manchester. After completing a secretarial course, Kathryn met her husband and they married in Canada. For twenty-nine years they ran a business together, raised two children and travelled when they could to places such as India, Singapore, South Africa and New Zealand. Kathryn and her family now make their home in a village near Manchester. The Letter, Kathryn's first novel, was an international bestseller, and her second The Secret has been highly acclaimed. Kathryn is now at work on her third novel, The Key.~ Headline Publishing
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 868 reviews
March 2, 2018
Having read Kathryn Hughes before and absolutely adoring 'The Letter' I was very much excited to get her latest book "The Key" knowing that it would be a beautifully written and heart warming story. Inspired by the true story of The Willard Asylum in Willard, New York, Kathryn has created a beautiful, heart wrenching and moving story you could ever read.
Whilst researching into the abandoned Ambergate Asylum, Sarah discovers a suitcase in an attic belonging to a female patient who was admitted to the asylum fifty years earlier. The shocking contents lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only Sarah maybe able to put right. We then travel down the 1956 timeline of the Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum meeting Ellen Crosby, a student nurse starting her first day at work. The 'then and now' works really well and come together at the end in some shocking revelations. I was totally stunned by the twists to the story and thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the years.
Although the patients were generally cared and looked after in a sense it was still very distressing to read why some of the patients were admitted to the asylum in the first place, some even for just grief. The treatment the patients were given e.g. electric shock therapy was terrible and very sad to learn about, even though the doctors and psychiatrists genuinely believed it would work. I was particularly moved by Gertie's story and can't believe why so many were certified for such menial conditions.
"The Key" is a totally engrossing, addictive and emotional read that will leave you both smiling and sad. The author always knows how to capture the heart of the reader and she has certainly succeeded again with this powerful but beautiful book.
5 stars
Whilst researching into the abandoned Ambergate Asylum, Sarah discovers a suitcase in an attic belonging to a female patient who was admitted to the asylum fifty years earlier. The shocking contents lead Sarah to unravel a forgotten story of tragedy, lost love and an old wrong that only Sarah maybe able to put right. We then travel down the 1956 timeline of the Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum meeting Ellen Crosby, a student nurse starting her first day at work. The 'then and now' works really well and come together at the end in some shocking revelations. I was totally stunned by the twists to the story and thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the years.
Although the patients were generally cared and looked after in a sense it was still very distressing to read why some of the patients were admitted to the asylum in the first place, some even for just grief. The treatment the patients were given e.g. electric shock therapy was terrible and very sad to learn about, even though the doctors and psychiatrists genuinely believed it would work. I was particularly moved by Gertie's story and can't believe why so many were certified for such menial conditions.
"The Key" is a totally engrossing, addictive and emotional read that will leave you both smiling and sad. The author always knows how to capture the heart of the reader and she has certainly succeeded again with this powerful but beautiful book.
5 stars
November 5, 2018
4.5 ⭐️ Every once in a while I like to pick up a book thats outside my comfort zone, a book that takes me away from serial killers, murders and mayhem, and when I read the book description for The Key I knew it was one I had to read. I’ve always been intrigued by asylums, I put that down to spending so many years working as a psychiatric nurse. When I think of asylums I conjure up images of wrong doings, barbaric treatments and an environment that was definitely not therapeutic to those living within the walls of such a place. Despite this Katherine Hughes has written a book that’s beautifully told, with a moving and thought provoking storyline, it’s one that pulls at the most hardened heart strings.
The Key has a dual timeline, alternating between the 1950s and present day. Sarah, historian, finds a stash of old suitcases whilst going through the ruins of the old asylum. She is drawn to one suitcase in particular that contains a 50-year-old secret about the tragic life of Amy, a former patient. Katherine Hughes manages to convey the attitudes of the staff and the treatment of patients in Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum with such conviction that some readers may find this book an uncomfortable and upsetting read at times. There is no doubt The Key makes for a heartbreaking read, and more so because of the cruelty of such asylums, the author also highlights the shocking and unbelievable reasons patients found themselves incarcerated.
The author has done a magnificent job in creating characters that are so well drawn that you can’t help but invest in their story, especially Amy’s it’s a tragic one and all the more upsetting because it’s a very believable one. It’s easy to imagine Amy’s confusion, her feeling of helplessness, but mostly you can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of injustice at the way Amy was treated in Ambergate. This could have been a depressing read, but the author manages to add some heartwarming moments of friendship, hope and love within its pages.
Katherine Hughes has written a novel that made for a enthralling read, at times I found myself quite emotional which is a testament to the author’s writing skills, by the time I reached the last page I felt like I had been alongside Amy in her life journey, a path filled with heartbreak, fear and rejection. The Key is a wonderful told story of pain, loss, truth, and redemption. A disturbing yet captivating read that I would highly recommend to readers of historical fiction.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
The Key has a dual timeline, alternating between the 1950s and present day. Sarah, historian, finds a stash of old suitcases whilst going through the ruins of the old asylum. She is drawn to one suitcase in particular that contains a 50-year-old secret about the tragic life of Amy, a former patient. Katherine Hughes manages to convey the attitudes of the staff and the treatment of patients in Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum with such conviction that some readers may find this book an uncomfortable and upsetting read at times. There is no doubt The Key makes for a heartbreaking read, and more so because of the cruelty of such asylums, the author also highlights the shocking and unbelievable reasons patients found themselves incarcerated.
The author has done a magnificent job in creating characters that are so well drawn that you can’t help but invest in their story, especially Amy’s it’s a tragic one and all the more upsetting because it’s a very believable one. It’s easy to imagine Amy’s confusion, her feeling of helplessness, but mostly you can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of injustice at the way Amy was treated in Ambergate. This could have been a depressing read, but the author manages to add some heartwarming moments of friendship, hope and love within its pages.
Katherine Hughes has written a novel that made for a enthralling read, at times I found myself quite emotional which is a testament to the author’s writing skills, by the time I reached the last page I felt like I had been alongside Amy in her life journey, a path filled with heartbreak, fear and rejection. The Key is a wonderful told story of pain, loss, truth, and redemption. A disturbing yet captivating read that I would highly recommend to readers of historical fiction.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
February 27, 2018
I missed out reading The Letter. I found The Key really well written that's based on a true story. The Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane was opened in 1869 and is located in Willard, NY. In 1995, after the asylum closed its doors a collection of over four hundred suitcases was discovered behind a locked attic door. In The Key Ambergate Country Lunatic Asylum was originally built to care for 1,000 patients . The name was then change to Ambergate Mental Hospital. People were sent to asylums for all sorts of reasons back then not everyone was mad. Sarah is writing a book about the Ambergate Asylum. Inside the Asylum Sarah finds a pile of old suitcases in an attic. It does make you wonder how does anyone pack to stay in a lunatic asylum, and why would anyone leave without their possessions. I'm not going to disclose any more as I don't want to spoil your reading time. I found this book extremely an interesting read. I totally recommend The Key and I hope any readers that reads The Key enjoy every page like I did.
May 10, 2019
Šios autorės vardą bei knygas jau kuris laikas esu pastebėjusi ir atkreipusi dėmesį. Visų pirma, akį patraukia štai tokio grožio kaip šis viršelis 😍 Nors nesirenku knygos tik pagal jį, bet pripažinkite, jog ir Jūs į tai atkreipiate dėmesį 😉 O ir knygos istorija pasirodė be galo įdomi..
1956 - ieji metai. Elena Krosbi tampa Ambergeito pamišėlių prieglaudos slauge.
Ten ji sutinka Eimę, jauną merginą, kurią į prieglaudą atvežė jos tėvas. Ja susidomi vienas gydytojas, kuris taiko bei nori išbandyti naujus gydymo metodus.
Elena net nenutuokia, jog vienas jos priimtas sprendimas, taip smarkiai pakeis daugelio žmonių gyvenimus..
2006-ieji metai. Jauna istorikė vardu Sara, pradeda domėtis apleista Ambergeito pamišėlių prieglauda. Beklaidžiodama ligoninės koridoriais ji aptinka palėpę, kurioje guli krūva lagaminų.. Jie kažkada priklausė ten atvykusiems pacientams.
Taip tyrinėdama ji aptinka vieną lagaminą, kuris priklausė pacientei, atvykusiai gydytis prieš 50 metų..
Neįtikėtinas radinys lagamine Sarai padeda atskleisti senai pamirštas paslaptis bei pamirštą meilę..
Istorija tiesiog įsuko mane į savo liūną.. Buvo be galo įdomu skaityti. Ir vis norėjosi sužinoti, kaip klostysis toliau veikėjų likimai.
Šią knygą skaitydami išgyvensite daug jausmų : laimę, pyktį, liūdesį, džiaugsmą.. Ir tai tik keletas iš jų.
Man asmeniškai pasirodė įdomu ir tas, jog tokia įstaiga kadaise iš tiesų egzistavo. Knygos gale yra pateiktas interviu su autore ir tai kuo ji rėmėsi ją rašydama.
Tad kam norisi knygos, kurią tiesiog "suvalgysite" - siūlau rinktis šią. Tikrai nenusivilsite.
1956 - ieji metai. Elena Krosbi tampa Ambergeito pamišėlių prieglaudos slauge.
Ten ji sutinka Eimę, jauną merginą, kurią į prieglaudą atvežė jos tėvas. Ja susidomi vienas gydytojas, kuris taiko bei nori išbandyti naujus gydymo metodus.
Elena net nenutuokia, jog vienas jos priimtas sprendimas, taip smarkiai pakeis daugelio žmonių gyvenimus..
2006-ieji metai. Jauna istorikė vardu Sara, pradeda domėtis apleista Ambergeito pamišėlių prieglauda. Beklaidžiodama ligoninės koridoriais ji aptinka palėpę, kurioje guli krūva lagaminų.. Jie kažkada priklausė ten atvykusiems pacientams.
Taip tyrinėdama ji aptinka vieną lagaminą, kuris priklausė pacientei, atvykusiai gydytis prieš 50 metų..
Neįtikėtinas radinys lagamine Sarai padeda atskleisti senai pamirštas paslaptis bei pamirštą meilę..
Istorija tiesiog įsuko mane į savo liūną.. Buvo be galo įdomu skaityti. Ir vis norėjosi sužinoti, kaip klostysis toliau veikėjų likimai.
Šią knygą skaitydami išgyvensite daug jausmų : laimę, pyktį, liūdesį, džiaugsmą.. Ir tai tik keletas iš jų.
Man asmeniškai pasirodė įdomu ir tas, jog tokia įstaiga kadaise iš tiesų egzistavo. Knygos gale yra pateiktas interviu su autore ir tai kuo ji rėmėsi ją rašydama.
Tad kam norisi knygos, kurią tiesiog "suvalgysite" - siūlau rinktis šią. Tikrai nenusivilsite.
May 27, 2020
Tai pirmoji mano pažintis su Kathryn Hughes. Žinau, jog tai ne pirmoji jos knyga, bet būtent ši mane suviliojo istorija apie 19a pradžios pamišėlių prieglaudą. Ši tema mane kažkuo traukia, bet logiškai paaiškinti kodėl, negaliu. 😅
Istorija mus nukelia į 1956-uosius kuomet lemta susitikti dviems jaunoms, beveik bendraamžėms merginoms. Tik jų situacija visiškai skirtinga. Elena įsidarbina kaip slaugė, o Eimė atvežta tėvo tampa paciente.
Kaip šių merginų gyvenimai persipina tarpusavyje aš nepasakosiu, bet kad jos bus susijusios, tai faktas.
Tiesa, yra dar viena pasakojimo linija, kuri vystosi 2006m. Mergina vardu Sara nori parašyti knygą būtent apie tą pačią Ambergeito pamišėlių prieglaudą, nes jos tėvas kažkaip su tuo susijęs. Kaip? Išaiškėja tik pabaigoje.
Šioje vietoje nerimavau, jog vėl naudojamas dažnai matytas scenarijus: kas vyksta dabartyve ir kas nutiko 50 metų anksčiau, kuris pripažinkim, tikrai dažnai naudojamas ir jau bepradedantis atsibosti. Tačiau šį kartą istoriją išgelbėjo tai, jog jos neina lygiagrečiai. Dabarties pasakojimas palyginus su praeitimi užima vos 30% knygos, tad abu pasakojimai nesimaišo tarpusavyje, kas man labai patiko! Įsijautusi į pasakojimą, visai nenorėjau jo pertraukinėti dabarties vaizdais.
Kuom man ši knyga pasirodė ypatingą? Mane palietė pačios istorijos grožis. Na taip, kalba eina apie psichiškai nestabilius pacientus, bet joje aš radau tiek gėrio! Jaunutė slaugė Elena, vis dar tikinti savo kaip slaugės pašaukimu padėti žmonėms, palengvinti jų dalią. Daug kitų žmonių , tame tarpe ir pacientų, ir slaugytojų, pasiruošusių padėti ir padaryti viską, kad šioje baisioje vietoje pacientai pasijustų bent kiek geriau.
Skaičiau ir mėgavausi puikiai parašyta knyga, gražia kalba, įdomia istorija ir kažkokia sklindančia ramybe. Pastaroji, gal labiau priklausė man, bet ji taip puikiai atspindėjo knygą, jog negalėjau priešintis ir savo emocijų atskirti nuo istorijos.
Puiki istorija primenanti apie paprastas žmogiškas vertybes, tokias kaip apkabinimas, žmogiškas ryšys, rūpestis.
Tikiu, kad dauguma sakys, jog tai mano vidinė būsena man nupiešė tokį jaukų knygos paveikslą, bet man nesvarbu. Aš absoliučiai įsimylėjau ir tikrai ieškosiu, ir kitų autorės knygų.🖤
Mano įvertinimas ⭐5/5 ir jei ieškote gražios, žmogiškos, bet tuo pačiu įdomios istorijos, tai griebkite ją nedvejodami!
Beje, vos nepamiršau 🙈 Rašant šią knygą autorė rėmėsi tikrai faktais ir kas įdomiausia – knygos gale yra interviu su ja, kur ji ir pasakoja apie taip kaip gimė ši knyga 😊 Skaičiau su didžiausiu susidomėjimu!🌿
Istorija mus nukelia į 1956-uosius kuomet lemta susitikti dviems jaunoms, beveik bendraamžėms merginoms. Tik jų situacija visiškai skirtinga. Elena įsidarbina kaip slaugė, o Eimė atvežta tėvo tampa paciente.
Kaip šių merginų gyvenimai persipina tarpusavyje aš nepasakosiu, bet kad jos bus susijusios, tai faktas.
Tiesa, yra dar viena pasakojimo linija, kuri vystosi 2006m. Mergina vardu Sara nori parašyti knygą būtent apie tą pačią Ambergeito pamišėlių prieglaudą, nes jos tėvas kažkaip su tuo susijęs. Kaip? Išaiškėja tik pabaigoje.
Šioje vietoje nerimavau, jog vėl naudojamas dažnai matytas scenarijus: kas vyksta dabartyve ir kas nutiko 50 metų anksčiau, kuris pripažinkim, tikrai dažnai naudojamas ir jau bepradedantis atsibosti. Tačiau šį kartą istoriją išgelbėjo tai, jog jos neina lygiagrečiai. Dabarties pasakojimas palyginus su praeitimi užima vos 30% knygos, tad abu pasakojimai nesimaišo tarpusavyje, kas man labai patiko! Įsijautusi į pasakojimą, visai nenorėjau jo pertraukinėti dabarties vaizdais.
Kuom man ši knyga pasirodė ypatingą? Mane palietė pačios istorijos grožis. Na taip, kalba eina apie psichiškai nestabilius pacientus, bet joje aš radau tiek gėrio! Jaunutė slaugė Elena, vis dar tikinti savo kaip slaugės pašaukimu padėti žmonėms, palengvinti jų dalią. Daug kitų žmonių , tame tarpe ir pacientų, ir slaugytojų, pasiruošusių padėti ir padaryti viską, kad šioje baisioje vietoje pacientai pasijustų bent kiek geriau.
Skaičiau ir mėgavausi puikiai parašyta knyga, gražia kalba, įdomia istorija ir kažkokia sklindančia ramybe. Pastaroji, gal labiau priklausė man, bet ji taip puikiai atspindėjo knygą, jog negalėjau priešintis ir savo emocijų atskirti nuo istorijos.
Puiki istorija primenanti apie paprastas žmogiškas vertybes, tokias kaip apkabinimas, žmogiškas ryšys, rūpestis.
Tikiu, kad dauguma sakys, jog tai mano vidinė būsena man nupiešė tokį jaukų knygos paveikslą, bet man nesvarbu. Aš absoliučiai įsimylėjau ir tikrai ieškosiu, ir kitų autorės knygų.🖤
Mano įvertinimas ⭐5/5 ir jei ieškote gražios, žmogiškos, bet tuo pačiu įdomios istorijos, tai griebkite ją nedvejodami!
Beje, vos nepamiršau 🙈 Rašant šią knygą autorė rėmėsi tikrai faktais ir kas įdomiausia – knygos gale yra interviu su ja, kur ji ir pasakoja apie taip kaip gimė ši knyga 😊 Skaičiau su didžiausiu susidomėjimu!🌿
January 26, 2018
While exploring derelict Ambergate asylum as research for a book, writer Sarah discovers a dusty suitcase - and inside it, the key to a heartbreaking decades old tragedy...
I'm afraid Kathryn Hughes' latest dual-time offering didn't really work for me - a shame, given that I've found her previous novels easy but rewarding reads. There is a distinct lack of atmosphere - disappointing, considering an abandoned asylum offers plenty of opportunity to create great wads of it. Sadly, the writing is bland and dull, so the place never seems to come alive as it should, in either the 1950s or modern-day strands. And really, in a disused hospital frequented by drug addicts and opportunist party-goers for a decade, would a dentist's chair complete with 'rusting instruments' have survived - much less a room chock-full of suitcases, contents undisturbed and intact?
Characters (all of whom 'stare at' and 'survey' things incessantly) are all thinly drawn with not much meat on their bones. The 1950s cast relies heavily on cliche and stereotype, and the 'locals' speak with a perplexing mix of cockney and generic 'oop north' accents (apart from student nurse Ellen, who speaks very 'properly' - unlike the rest of her family, oddly). On the subject of Ellen, surely a student psychiatric nurse would know what ECT is without needing to ask the handsome doctor for an explanation? The same handsome doctor who comes over all Mills & Boon when he sets eyes on a new patient, that is...
The Key isn't entirely without redeeming features. Hughes doesn't shy away from depicting the true, visceral horrors of asylum life in the 1950s and the reader is left in no doubt as to the diabolically, criminally unfair way in which psychiatric patients (particularly women, of course) were treated in days past. It's all tied up very neatly, if a little predictably, and there's plenty of nostalgia in the 1950s strand. It's all very Call The Midwife, and fans of that show will no doubt enjoy this. However, I found it all just a tad too predictable and lacking emotional punch, and the lacklustre, repetitive writing made the pages drag.
Mildly diverting, but there are far better novels on this topic to be read.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm afraid Kathryn Hughes' latest dual-time offering didn't really work for me - a shame, given that I've found her previous novels easy but rewarding reads. There is a distinct lack of atmosphere - disappointing, considering an abandoned asylum offers plenty of opportunity to create great wads of it. Sadly, the writing is bland and dull, so the place never seems to come alive as it should, in either the 1950s or modern-day strands. And really, in a disused hospital frequented by drug addicts and opportunist party-goers for a decade, would a dentist's chair complete with 'rusting instruments' have survived - much less a room chock-full of suitcases, contents undisturbed and intact?
Characters (all of whom 'stare at' and 'survey' things incessantly) are all thinly drawn with not much meat on their bones. The 1950s cast relies heavily on cliche and stereotype, and the 'locals' speak with a perplexing mix of cockney and generic 'oop north' accents (apart from student nurse Ellen, who speaks very 'properly' - unlike the rest of her family, oddly). On the subject of Ellen, surely a student psychiatric nurse would know what ECT is without needing to ask the handsome doctor for an explanation? The same handsome doctor who comes over all Mills & Boon when he sets eyes on a new patient, that is...
The Key isn't entirely without redeeming features. Hughes doesn't shy away from depicting the true, visceral horrors of asylum life in the 1950s and the reader is left in no doubt as to the diabolically, criminally unfair way in which psychiatric patients (particularly women, of course) were treated in days past. It's all tied up very neatly, if a little predictably, and there's plenty of nostalgia in the 1950s strand. It's all very Call The Midwife, and fans of that show will no doubt enjoy this. However, I found it all just a tad too predictable and lacking emotional punch, and the lacklustre, repetitive writing made the pages drag.
Mildly diverting, but there are far better novels on this topic to be read.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2021
A good story which kept my attention all the way through. On the other hand, none of the characters really drew me in, nor did they linger on my mind.
March 7, 2018
Having thoroughly enjoyed the authors previous two releases I could wait to get my hands on her newest read - and as ever, the story was captivating from page one. The book is told via two different time lines and features more than one protagonist, but the structure and careful editing of the book ensures the reader is not lost in translation.
This story shines a light on an important topic and simultaneously explores how mental healthcare was addressed in the mid twentieth century. Although we do not longer have asylums for the mentally ill and care in the community is now commonplace, there are still adjustments to be made to how mentally unwell people are treated. The authors notes show how she has researched her subject matter and considered how this impacts her writing.
Like her previous novels, the author is adept at creating emotion and her stories are always heartfelt. I will undoubtedly continue to read her books for hopefully a long time! Recommended for fans of historical fiction.
This story shines a light on an important topic and simultaneously explores how mental healthcare was addressed in the mid twentieth century. Although we do not longer have asylums for the mentally ill and care in the community is now commonplace, there are still adjustments to be made to how mentally unwell people are treated. The authors notes show how she has researched her subject matter and considered how this impacts her writing.
Like her previous novels, the author is adept at creating emotion and her stories are always heartfelt. I will undoubtedly continue to read her books for hopefully a long time! Recommended for fans of historical fiction.
June 13, 2018
Having read and loved Kathryn previous two books The Secret and The Secret, I literally couldn't wait to read this her latest book.
Given the subject matter and how the story revolves around it so much, it tells you just how much research the author must have done, all of which definitely paid off.
The author Kathryn has written a truly wonderful and heartfelt story, quite emotional in places. Right from the first page you are completely drawn in and then very much captivated throughout, wanting to discover the secrets and going ons at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum.
The characters so very well written, and I really felt sad and heartbroken for some of them. I especially loved the characters of Ellen and Dougie and how things ended for them.
I loved how the story was told, in that you start in the present, then go back to the past and the back to the present and then how everything ultimately falls into place come the end. It really was great storytelling.
Given the subject matter and how the story revolves around it so much, it tells you just how much research the author must have done, all of which definitely paid off.
The author Kathryn has written a truly wonderful and heartfelt story, quite emotional in places. Right from the first page you are completely drawn in and then very much captivated throughout, wanting to discover the secrets and going ons at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum.
The characters so very well written, and I really felt sad and heartbroken for some of them. I especially loved the characters of Ellen and Dougie and how things ended for them.
I loved how the story was told, in that you start in the present, then go back to the past and the back to the present and then how everything ultimately falls into place come the end. It really was great storytelling.
November 14, 2021
This was quite a gripping and captivating book that I didn't want to put down really. A star less as it included many instances of cursing and taking the Lord's name in vain...some crude descriptions and words used here n there. Such a hard to fathom tale in one sense knowing that this is based upon upon how the asylums for the mentally ill were in actual life for so many years before being abolished eventually....My heart ached knowing that so many poor wretched souls were subjected to these atrocious conditions and barbaric treatments! Anyone could be classified as a "lunatic" no less as the institutions were named just that!!Sounds like much was classified as what now would be PTSD perhaps, no actual comfort nor counseling services available to allow people to grieve. Many lives lost and wasted away due to I guess misguided intentions on how to care for such folk :( Pitiful++... The secrets and mysteries peak my interest in this one as well as in many.....It made me think of how a difference could have been made had only some genuine Christian people had perhaps worked or ran them, even to the govt who made the rules for it to care for such broken souls who needed some love and compassion.... It was otherwise a very insightful read as are these mystery, based upon true circumstances, and had satisfying conclusions type books for the most part....
June 15, 2018
4.5★s
The Key is the third novel by British author, Kathryn Hughes. In 2006, while living with her recently widowed father, thirty-eight-year-old librarian Sarah Charlton makes daily visits to the now derelict Ambergate Hospital. She is writing a history of the asylum because she feels it is important research, a story that needs to be told. While there, she has encountered an eighteen-year-old runaway, Nathan who seems willing, even eager to assist. Inexplicably, Sarah’s father, who once worked at the asylum, is less enthusiastic about her hobby.
In late 1956, Student Nurse Ellen Crosby began working at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum not long before young Amy Sullivan was brought in by her father. Ellen felt a connection to this woman of her own age, incarcerated for what seemed to be no real reason. It was evident to Ellen that Amy was not in any way mad but, from her lowly position, she had no hope of influencing the sister in charge, let alone the resident psychiatrist, Dr Lambourn.
While Amy does her utmost to convince Dr Lambourn that she is fit to be released home, even as he becomes inclined to agree, events ensure that Amy’s stay will be longer than anyone had ever intended. It’s a situation that was repeated often during that period in history. The depth of research that Hughes has done into practices commonly employed in mid-twentieth-century psychiatric institutions, many of which may leave the reader gasping, is apparent on every page.
Hughes easily evokes the era, in particular with societal attitudes, but also with the general way of life portrayed. Her main characters develop from their initial somewhat flat typecast as their flaws and weaknesses, and their strengths, are revealed. Their dialogue is credible and the paths that their lives take is entirely believable.
The story is told through four narrative strands: the perspectives of Ellen, Amy and Dr Lambourn describe events in the asylum during the late 1950s, while Sarah’s account deals with the lives of the main characters fifty years later, as well as including a minor mystery set in the present day, and elements of Sarah’s life that distract from her research.
Many readers will correctly guess part of the mystery, but the potential for an overly-contrived happily-ever-after ending is thankfully not realised in place of the more realistic conclusion that Hughes provides. An interesting and moving piece of historical fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Hachette Australia.
The Key is the third novel by British author, Kathryn Hughes. In 2006, while living with her recently widowed father, thirty-eight-year-old librarian Sarah Charlton makes daily visits to the now derelict Ambergate Hospital. She is writing a history of the asylum because she feels it is important research, a story that needs to be told. While there, she has encountered an eighteen-year-old runaway, Nathan who seems willing, even eager to assist. Inexplicably, Sarah’s father, who once worked at the asylum, is less enthusiastic about her hobby.
In late 1956, Student Nurse Ellen Crosby began working at Ambergate County Lunatic Asylum not long before young Amy Sullivan was brought in by her father. Ellen felt a connection to this woman of her own age, incarcerated for what seemed to be no real reason. It was evident to Ellen that Amy was not in any way mad but, from her lowly position, she had no hope of influencing the sister in charge, let alone the resident psychiatrist, Dr Lambourn.
While Amy does her utmost to convince Dr Lambourn that she is fit to be released home, even as he becomes inclined to agree, events ensure that Amy’s stay will be longer than anyone had ever intended. It’s a situation that was repeated often during that period in history. The depth of research that Hughes has done into practices commonly employed in mid-twentieth-century psychiatric institutions, many of which may leave the reader gasping, is apparent on every page.
Hughes easily evokes the era, in particular with societal attitudes, but also with the general way of life portrayed. Her main characters develop from their initial somewhat flat typecast as their flaws and weaknesses, and their strengths, are revealed. Their dialogue is credible and the paths that their lives take is entirely believable.
The story is told through four narrative strands: the perspectives of Ellen, Amy and Dr Lambourn describe events in the asylum during the late 1950s, while Sarah’s account deals with the lives of the main characters fifty years later, as well as including a minor mystery set in the present day, and elements of Sarah’s life that distract from her research.
Many readers will correctly guess part of the mystery, but the potential for an overly-contrived happily-ever-after ending is thankfully not realised in place of the more realistic conclusion that Hughes provides. An interesting and moving piece of historical fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Hachette Australia.
July 31, 2019
Well, I love a great dual timeline story, and one with a subject matter that fascinates me is even better!
You can see how much research the author has done and it shows how passionate she is about what she's writing. With that in mind, the book stands out.
I struggled with Sarah, but it didn't stop the fascination I had for the book.
Highly recommend it.
You can see how much research the author has done and it shows how passionate she is about what she's writing. With that in mind, the book stands out.
I struggled with Sarah, but it didn't stop the fascination I had for the book.
Highly recommend it.
July 1, 2019
This is my third book by Kathryn Hughes and certainly not my last. Kathryn Hughes is my “go-to” author for audible as her books are pure escape, always brilliantly narrated and the characters slip under my skin within the first few chapters.
The Key is utterly compelling and beautifully told through the eyes of Sarah in 2006, a historian who is researching the abandoned Ambergate Asylum and Ellen Crosby who joined Ambergate as a Student Nurse in 1956. The dual timelines are cleverly interwoven and I was immediately drawn into Sarah and Ellen’s lives.
The subject matter is uncomfortable and at times heartbreaking, and listening to what the “inmates” of Ambergate had to endure during the 50’s was at times unbearable and barbaric, but the author had obviously researched this subject thoroughly which ensured a level of sensitivity and empathy throughout.
Amy certainly shone brightest for me as one of the main characters, a young girl who had a traumatic life and had been committed to the asylum indefinitely by her father. She arrived on the same day as Student Nurse Ellen Crosby and therefore their lives became entwined with some heartbreaking results.
I thoroughly recommend The Key to anyone who is looking for a beautifully constructed novel with plausible characters and a story line guaranteed to make your heart break and soar.
The Key is utterly compelling and beautifully told through the eyes of Sarah in 2006, a historian who is researching the abandoned Ambergate Asylum and Ellen Crosby who joined Ambergate as a Student Nurse in 1956. The dual timelines are cleverly interwoven and I was immediately drawn into Sarah and Ellen’s lives.
The subject matter is uncomfortable and at times heartbreaking, and listening to what the “inmates” of Ambergate had to endure during the 50’s was at times unbearable and barbaric, but the author had obviously researched this subject thoroughly which ensured a level of sensitivity and empathy throughout.
Amy certainly shone brightest for me as one of the main characters, a young girl who had a traumatic life and had been committed to the asylum indefinitely by her father. She arrived on the same day as Student Nurse Ellen Crosby and therefore their lives became entwined with some heartbreaking results.
I thoroughly recommend The Key to anyone who is looking for a beautifully constructed novel with plausible characters and a story line guaranteed to make your heart break and soar.
March 5, 2018
Loved! All of Kathryn Hughes' books are amazing! She always lands on my top books of the year. Get the audiobook. Review to follow.
March 31, 2019
Wow. I think this book deserves a much more enticing cover and more hype. It is a book that I won't forget for the rest of my life. As a young Pre nursing student my first placement was in a very large institutionalised Psychiatric hospital and I gasped out loud as this took me right back to my time there in1976 a full twenty years after this book covers.Very little had changed to how life was portrayed in Ambergate. Asylums had been abolished but goodness me the degradation,the violence,the loss of human rights certainly hadn't. This placement certainly had a big impact on my career and what spurred me on to get to a position to make changes for the better.
This book made me cry so much for the injustice done to people who suffered any sign of mental I'll health and certainly for those poor humans who were locked away due to bereavement, pregnancy, un married motherhood,homosexuals and illiteracy.
This follows a split time narratives with Amy in 1959 and Sarah in 2009. Amber gate Hospital the scene of this beautifully executed book and the memorable array of characters that you cannot help but be invested in.
This wasn't in the dark ages,this is healthcare in my lifetime and everyone should read this story and breathe a sigh of relief for all the fantastic changes in both medical and psychological support for sufferers of mental health problems. Also thank goodness for better human rights.
It isn't all doom and gloom, there are tender moments and a mystery to the plot which reaches a satisfying ending. Can't wait to read more from this author.
#thekey#kathrynhughes
This book made me cry so much for the injustice done to people who suffered any sign of mental I'll health and certainly for those poor humans who were locked away due to bereavement, pregnancy, un married motherhood,homosexuals and illiteracy.
This follows a split time narratives with Amy in 1959 and Sarah in 2009. Amber gate Hospital the scene of this beautifully executed book and the memorable array of characters that you cannot help but be invested in.
This wasn't in the dark ages,this is healthcare in my lifetime and everyone should read this story and breathe a sigh of relief for all the fantastic changes in both medical and psychological support for sufferers of mental health problems. Also thank goodness for better human rights.
It isn't all doom and gloom, there are tender moments and a mystery to the plot which reaches a satisfying ending. Can't wait to read more from this author.
#thekey#kathrynhughes
February 15, 2019
The Key
by Kathryn Hughes
---This was my first book by the author. I'm surprised it's getting mixed reviews.
I really enjoyed the story, it had some emotional spots and sad ones and good ones also but I read it in one sitting!
We start out in 2006 where Sarah is drawn to an abandoned asylum where there are....suitcases!
The story touches on the 2006 and 1950s where student nurse Ellen Crosby starts working at Ambergate asylum.
I learned that not all "patients" are "crazy" and that women especially, could be placed there and forced to live many years there.
I enjoyed the mystery and shed some tears near the end of the book.
it will not be my last book by Ms Hughes for sure!
by Kathryn Hughes
---This was my first book by the author. I'm surprised it's getting mixed reviews.
I really enjoyed the story, it had some emotional spots and sad ones and good ones also but I read it in one sitting!
We start out in 2006 where Sarah is drawn to an abandoned asylum where there are....suitcases!
The story touches on the 2006 and 1950s where student nurse Ellen Crosby starts working at Ambergate asylum.
I learned that not all "patients" are "crazy" and that women especially, could be placed there and forced to live many years there.
I enjoyed the mystery and shed some tears near the end of the book.
it will not be my last book by Ms Hughes for sure!
February 11, 2018
A well written book, but I didn’t find it as enjoyable as her previous two books. Still a good read though.
December 20, 2019
4,5/5*
Een pracht van een proloog maakt zeker nieuwsgierig naar het verhaal en het personage waarover je hier leest met als titel: 'November 1956'.
"Overal om me heen heerst duisternis, niet alleen in de lucht, maar ook in het water, in mijn hart en in mijn hoofd. Ik voel ook verdriet. Ik heb altijd verdriet gevoeld."
Daarna maken we een sprong in de tijd en maken we in 2006 onder andere kennis met Sarah, haar vader en Nathan. Alle drie hebben ze op een of andere manier te maken met krankzinnigengesticht Ambergate. Een koperen sleutel zorgt voor het contact met het verleden waarnaar Sarah op zoek is.
Lees mijn recensie hier verder: https://graaggelezen.blogspot.com/201...
Een pracht van een proloog maakt zeker nieuwsgierig naar het verhaal en het personage waarover je hier leest met als titel: 'November 1956'.
"Overal om me heen heerst duisternis, niet alleen in de lucht, maar ook in het water, in mijn hart en in mijn hoofd. Ik voel ook verdriet. Ik heb altijd verdriet gevoeld."
Daarna maken we een sprong in de tijd en maken we in 2006 onder andere kennis met Sarah, haar vader en Nathan. Alle drie hebben ze op een of andere manier te maken met krankzinnigengesticht Ambergate. Een koperen sleutel zorgt voor het contact met het verleden waarnaar Sarah op zoek is.
Lees mijn recensie hier verder: https://graaggelezen.blogspot.com/201...
February 26, 2020
Un roman très touchant et un sujet délicat. J'ai senti les larmes me monter aux yeux au fur et à mesure que je découvrais l'asile psychiatrique.
Bouleversant et poignant, d'autant plus que c'est tiré d'une histoire vraie.
Bouleversant et poignant, d'autant plus que c'est tiré d'une histoire vraie.
August 3, 2020
1956, Ellen Crosby woont in een authentiek Engels dorpje en besluit om te reageren op een vacature voor leerling verpleegsters die ze in de lokale krant zag staan. Haar nieuwe werkplek wordt Ambergate, gebouwd tussen 1870 en 1872 om psychiatrische patiënten in op te vangen. Tijdens haar eerste werkdag wordt de twintigjarige Amy Sullivan opgenomen, onmiddellijk voelt ze een sterke band met het meisje gezien ze leeftijdsgenoten zijn en op dezelfde dag toegekomen zijn in de instelling. Al snel heeft Ellen enkele bedenkingen bij de behandelingen die verscheidene patiënten ondergaan.
2006, Sarah werkt in de plaatselijke bibliotheek en het is haar droom om een boek te schrijven. Ze raakt geobsedeerd door een vervallen herenhuis waar voorheen het Mental Health Act in gehuisvest was, ook wel Ambergate genoemd en wil daar haar boek over schrijven. Samen met Nathan die het pand gekraakt heeft duikt ze in het verleden van het oude gesticht en ontrafelt ze wel een zeer bijzonder geheim, dat ook haar eigen toekomst zal veranderen.
Kathryn Hughes publiceerde haar eerste boek The Letter zelf in 2013 nadat het voorheen door diverse uitgevers afgewezen was. Toen ze haar boek gratis aanbood op Kindle werd het een hit, tienduizenden downloads en lovende kritieken volgden en het boek kwam in de kortste keren op nummer één bij Kindle. Nu is The letter vertaald in 25 talen en wereldwijd werden er reeds duizenden exemplaren van verkocht. Voor mij was De sleutel, Kathryn’s tweede boek, een eerste kennismaking met haar werk en ik was aangenaam verrast. De sleutel is een ontroerend verhaal dat op een heerlijke manier gebracht wordt. Dit is één van de boeken die je best begint te lezen zonder reeds al te veel over het verhaal te weten op voorhand, er zijn namelijk heel wat onverwachte plotwendingen en die zorgen voor heel wat spanning. Hierdoor kan je het boek bijna onmogelijk opzij leggen eenmaal je erin bent begonnen. De tekst op de achterflap van het boek werd door de uitgever dan ook terecht beknopt gehouden en ook ik heb dit proberen aan te houden in deze recensie.
Kathryn heeft een soort van magische schrijfstijl, het is alsof ze je betovert met haar woorden waardoor je als lezer aan haar lippen hangt, zelfs wanneer het verhaal je minder kan boeien blijf je gefascineerd verder lezen. Ze schrijft op een filmische manier over de personages en hun omgeving, hierdoor lijkt het wel alsof je je in het verhaal zelf bevindt. Voor haar research deed de auteur onderzoek naar het Denbigh Asylum in North Wales en doorspitte ze ‘The National Sound’ archieven van de Britse bibliotheek in Londen, waar verschillende geluidsfragmenten beschikbaar zijn van patiënten uit verscheidene instellingen zoals Ambergate. Ze heeft haar verhaal niet gebaseerd op één specifiek persoon maar wel op de verschillende stemmen die ze hoorde tijdens haar research in ‘The National Sound’ archieven. De auteur schuwt het dan ook niet om de gruwelijke waarheden over de behandelingen die patiënten ondergingen in de instellingen aan de kaak te stellen. Als lezer is het dan ook wel af en toe eventjes slikken wanneer de auteur het heeft over de elektro-techniek, de isoleercel of andere speciale behandelingen. Verwacht dus zeker niet een zeemzoete roman, want door de journalistieke achtergrond van Kathryn worden feiten op een knappe manier verwerkt in een krachtige roman en wordt het geheel realistisch voorgesteld. Je zou zo kunnen denken dat het een verhaal is dat gebaseerd werd op waargebeurde feiten.
Het verhaal wordt afwisselend verteld in twee tijdlijnen, 1956 en 2006, in korte hoofdstukken waarbij niet alleen de hoofdpersonages de nodige aandacht krijgen maar ook nevenpersonages, waaronder verscheidene patiënten van Ambergate. Het is moeilijk om onberoerd te blijven bij de verhalen van Gertie, Queenie of Belinda. Vol ongeloof en machteloosheid leer je het tragische verhaal van Amy kennen. Het onrecht dat haar aangedaan wordt maakt je stil, je gaat er even bij zitten en het heeft tijd nodig om te bezinken. Stel je voor dat je je in Amy haar plaatst bevindt… De sleutel onderscheidt zich van andere boeken over dit thema door het personeel van de instelling niet aan te klagen, ook zij zijn met hun handen en voeten gebonden aan “het” systeem. Via leerling verpleegster Ellen wordt dan duidelijk hoe zwaar hun werk wel niet is, zowel fysisch als mentaal. Ellen is machteloos doordat ze gebonden is aan het systeem en heeft het moeilijk met de manier waarop de patiënten behandeld worden.
De sleutel is niet alleen op een zeer boeiende manier geschreven, inhoudelijk is het een zeer sterk verhaal. Voor mij was het een zeer positieve kennismaking met deze auteur. Hoewel de cover het niet prijsgeeft is het boek niet alleen geschikt voor liefhebbers van een mooi romantisch verhaal, maar ook een aanrader voor liefhebbers van historische romans. Een dik verdiende 4,5 sterren!
2006, Sarah werkt in de plaatselijke bibliotheek en het is haar droom om een boek te schrijven. Ze raakt geobsedeerd door een vervallen herenhuis waar voorheen het Mental Health Act in gehuisvest was, ook wel Ambergate genoemd en wil daar haar boek over schrijven. Samen met Nathan die het pand gekraakt heeft duikt ze in het verleden van het oude gesticht en ontrafelt ze wel een zeer bijzonder geheim, dat ook haar eigen toekomst zal veranderen.
Kathryn Hughes publiceerde haar eerste boek The Letter zelf in 2013 nadat het voorheen door diverse uitgevers afgewezen was. Toen ze haar boek gratis aanbood op Kindle werd het een hit, tienduizenden downloads en lovende kritieken volgden en het boek kwam in de kortste keren op nummer één bij Kindle. Nu is The letter vertaald in 25 talen en wereldwijd werden er reeds duizenden exemplaren van verkocht. Voor mij was De sleutel, Kathryn’s tweede boek, een eerste kennismaking met haar werk en ik was aangenaam verrast. De sleutel is een ontroerend verhaal dat op een heerlijke manier gebracht wordt. Dit is één van de boeken die je best begint te lezen zonder reeds al te veel over het verhaal te weten op voorhand, er zijn namelijk heel wat onverwachte plotwendingen en die zorgen voor heel wat spanning. Hierdoor kan je het boek bijna onmogelijk opzij leggen eenmaal je erin bent begonnen. De tekst op de achterflap van het boek werd door de uitgever dan ook terecht beknopt gehouden en ook ik heb dit proberen aan te houden in deze recensie.
Kathryn heeft een soort van magische schrijfstijl, het is alsof ze je betovert met haar woorden waardoor je als lezer aan haar lippen hangt, zelfs wanneer het verhaal je minder kan boeien blijf je gefascineerd verder lezen. Ze schrijft op een filmische manier over de personages en hun omgeving, hierdoor lijkt het wel alsof je je in het verhaal zelf bevindt. Voor haar research deed de auteur onderzoek naar het Denbigh Asylum in North Wales en doorspitte ze ‘The National Sound’ archieven van de Britse bibliotheek in Londen, waar verschillende geluidsfragmenten beschikbaar zijn van patiënten uit verscheidene instellingen zoals Ambergate. Ze heeft haar verhaal niet gebaseerd op één specifiek persoon maar wel op de verschillende stemmen die ze hoorde tijdens haar research in ‘The National Sound’ archieven. De auteur schuwt het dan ook niet om de gruwelijke waarheden over de behandelingen die patiënten ondergingen in de instellingen aan de kaak te stellen. Als lezer is het dan ook wel af en toe eventjes slikken wanneer de auteur het heeft over de elektro-techniek, de isoleercel of andere speciale behandelingen. Verwacht dus zeker niet een zeemzoete roman, want door de journalistieke achtergrond van Kathryn worden feiten op een knappe manier verwerkt in een krachtige roman en wordt het geheel realistisch voorgesteld. Je zou zo kunnen denken dat het een verhaal is dat gebaseerd werd op waargebeurde feiten.
Het verhaal wordt afwisselend verteld in twee tijdlijnen, 1956 en 2006, in korte hoofdstukken waarbij niet alleen de hoofdpersonages de nodige aandacht krijgen maar ook nevenpersonages, waaronder verscheidene patiënten van Ambergate. Het is moeilijk om onberoerd te blijven bij de verhalen van Gertie, Queenie of Belinda. Vol ongeloof en machteloosheid leer je het tragische verhaal van Amy kennen. Het onrecht dat haar aangedaan wordt maakt je stil, je gaat er even bij zitten en het heeft tijd nodig om te bezinken. Stel je voor dat je je in Amy haar plaatst bevindt… De sleutel onderscheidt zich van andere boeken over dit thema door het personeel van de instelling niet aan te klagen, ook zij zijn met hun handen en voeten gebonden aan “het” systeem. Via leerling verpleegster Ellen wordt dan duidelijk hoe zwaar hun werk wel niet is, zowel fysisch als mentaal. Ellen is machteloos doordat ze gebonden is aan het systeem en heeft het moeilijk met de manier waarop de patiënten behandeld worden.
De sleutel is niet alleen op een zeer boeiende manier geschreven, inhoudelijk is het een zeer sterk verhaal. Voor mij was het een zeer positieve kennismaking met deze auteur. Hoewel de cover het niet prijsgeeft is het boek niet alleen geschikt voor liefhebbers van een mooi romantisch verhaal, maar ook een aanrader voor liefhebbers van historische romans. Een dik verdiende 4,5 sterren!
March 1, 2018
I was a late entrant to join The Key blog tour and I thought that I would struggle to read the book in the time given, but I couldn't have been more wrong. No sooner had I picked the book up than I was wiping my eyes after turning the final page. Kathryn Hughes is such a talented author that she effortlessly weaves so much emotion into the pages that even the coldest heart can't fail to be moved.
The prologue is set in 1956 with an attempted dual suicide and murder that made me gasp out loud, but we are teasingly left dangling for quite a few chapters before we pick up this thread again. As we meet Sarah in 2006 we discover the abandoned Ambergate Lunatic Asylum and Sarah is determined to tell its story through a book she is writing. Sarah befriends a homeless young man who is sheltering in the asylum and the pair investigate the empty corridors and empty rooms together. One day they stumble across the attic filled with suitcases and one suitcase in particular is like opening the wardrobe door to Narnia as we glimpse into the past of 1956.
Student Nurse Ellen Crosby is very empathetic and wants to make a difference; her outspoken views often get her into trouble with the sister and the doctor, but I loved her standing up to them to get her point across. Ellen is drawn to Amy Sullivan who is admitted on the same day that Ellen started at Ambergate and is the same age as her. Amy's story is terribly tragic and her misery is compounded as each day of her incarceration in Ambergate passes. In 2006, Sarah traces Amy via Ellen and the whole heartbreaking story is revealed.
I had to brush a few tears away whilst reading The Key; the pain and suffering must have been immense for the men and women forced into institutions, many of them as sane as you or I. It's quite shocking to think that places such as Ambergate Asylum actually existed. Thank goodness for Enoch Powell, then Minister of Health, who promised to close many of these asylums in his 'water tower' speech delivered in 1961.
The Key is a completely heart-wrenching and poignant story that left me completely powerless to prevent my eyes blurring with tears as the story unfolded. It reminded me of the TV show Long Lost Families as my happiness for the characters at the end of the book was coupled with a lone tear trickling down my face. It's a beautifully written novel, inspired by the real-life discovery of a room filled with suitcases in a derelict asylum in Willard, New York. In addition to reading The Key, it's well worth visiting the Willard Suitcases website to read more about this amazing story. I definitely won't forget The Key anytime soon.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The prologue is set in 1956 with an attempted dual suicide and murder that made me gasp out loud, but we are teasingly left dangling for quite a few chapters before we pick up this thread again. As we meet Sarah in 2006 we discover the abandoned Ambergate Lunatic Asylum and Sarah is determined to tell its story through a book she is writing. Sarah befriends a homeless young man who is sheltering in the asylum and the pair investigate the empty corridors and empty rooms together. One day they stumble across the attic filled with suitcases and one suitcase in particular is like opening the wardrobe door to Narnia as we glimpse into the past of 1956.
Student Nurse Ellen Crosby is very empathetic and wants to make a difference; her outspoken views often get her into trouble with the sister and the doctor, but I loved her standing up to them to get her point across. Ellen is drawn to Amy Sullivan who is admitted on the same day that Ellen started at Ambergate and is the same age as her. Amy's story is terribly tragic and her misery is compounded as each day of her incarceration in Ambergate passes. In 2006, Sarah traces Amy via Ellen and the whole heartbreaking story is revealed.
I had to brush a few tears away whilst reading The Key; the pain and suffering must have been immense for the men and women forced into institutions, many of them as sane as you or I. It's quite shocking to think that places such as Ambergate Asylum actually existed. Thank goodness for Enoch Powell, then Minister of Health, who promised to close many of these asylums in his 'water tower' speech delivered in 1961.
The Key is a completely heart-wrenching and poignant story that left me completely powerless to prevent my eyes blurring with tears as the story unfolded. It reminded me of the TV show Long Lost Families as my happiness for the characters at the end of the book was coupled with a lone tear trickling down my face. It's a beautifully written novel, inspired by the real-life discovery of a room filled with suitcases in a derelict asylum in Willard, New York. In addition to reading The Key, it's well worth visiting the Willard Suitcases website to read more about this amazing story. I definitely won't forget The Key anytime soon.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 19, 2018
It's 2006, and Sarah is researching the now derelict asylum that housed mental health patients in the late 50's. While exploring the abandoned building, she discovers suitcases belonging to former residents and is drawn to one in particular that contains details of a terrible secret. As her enquiries continue, she starts to unwrap a haunting story from the past.
I liked this book, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would from reading the synopsis. Dual timeline stories are my favourite, and while this one was easy to follow, I most definitely had a preference for the 2006 segments as Sarah was the best character for me. The 50's timeline about young Amy describes the terrible way patients of asylums were treated back then and was obviously well researched. It did make me stop and think about the heartache people must have endured in these places, but the characters here just didn't endear them themselves to me and so some of these chapters dragged a bit. I liked the conclusion to Amy's story and the parallels it raised about mental health treatment then and now, less so Sarah's ending which just felt a bit too neat and tidy. Overall, a good read though.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would from reading the synopsis. Dual timeline stories are my favourite, and while this one was easy to follow, I most definitely had a preference for the 2006 segments as Sarah was the best character for me. The 50's timeline about young Amy describes the terrible way patients of asylums were treated back then and was obviously well researched. It did make me stop and think about the heartache people must have endured in these places, but the characters here just didn't endear them themselves to me and so some of these chapters dragged a bit. I liked the conclusion to Amy's story and the parallels it raised about mental health treatment then and now, less so Sarah's ending which just felt a bit too neat and tidy. Overall, a good read though.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2018
Who is Kathryn Hughes, what is all the buzz about and why the 4.32 stars on GR? This intrigued my interested prior to reading The Key and now, I get it. I am a fan, a big fan! What a compelling writer. I was absolutely captivated by each and every chapter. This story consumed me from the individually unique characters that stay with you long after, to the fascinatingly illustrated life within the walls of an (mental illness) Asylum. There was never a dull moment, always engaging, I didn’t want the story to end. I was so absorbed, transported in the story that I quickly downloaded her two other novels, The Letter and The Secret, so I can experience this exceptional writing again and again. The reader’s only dilemma … You want to immerse yourself into the story, savoring every chapter yet compelled to devour one more chapter, one more chapter, one more chapter, long into the night, way past your bedtime!
October 16, 2018
3.5 Stars on this one. I did enjoy coming back to it each night, and the story (based on a real asylum) was compelling and disturbing (as it should be). But upon reflection, the characters were not quite exposed or complex enough for me to really sink my teeth into it and feel like I REALLY cared for them. Of course you had to root for Amy to get the HELL out of there - and I am glad that part ended as it did. But her nurse Ellen was so caring in the 50's, then seems once she met her man- she got just enough amnesia to turn her back on the woman she had fought so boldly to protect despite the rules and general cruelty for the mentally ill 60 years ago. There were repetitious parts as well that made it drag just a bit. I don't know, I seem to be in the minority- but I just felt a bit let down after finishing it.
April 29, 2019
I needed a break from the psychological thrillers and I’m so glad I chose this book to read as an escape!
This book is so moving on many different levels. I’ve always been fascinated with old ‘lunatic asylums’ and the stories the walls of these premises could tell. Although this book is fiction I believe that many people who were placed in the asylums would have very similar stories to tell. At the end of the story we are told in the authors notes that this story was loosely based on Denbigh Mental, not far from where I grew up. I have visited the building and grounds as it is still there, a large imposing masterpiece of a building which will most definitely hold so many moving accounts of its residents . If walls could talk!
Fabulous read.
This book is so moving on many different levels. I’ve always been fascinated with old ‘lunatic asylums’ and the stories the walls of these premises could tell. Although this book is fiction I believe that many people who were placed in the asylums would have very similar stories to tell. At the end of the story we are told in the authors notes that this story was loosely based on Denbigh Mental, not far from where I grew up. I have visited the building and grounds as it is still there, a large imposing masterpiece of a building which will most definitely hold so many moving accounts of its residents . If walls could talk!
Fabulous read.
January 13, 2018
Absolutely loved this book. The story is told in two timelines. In the current day, we meet Sarah who is researching an old Asylum for a book. In the past we meet Amy who has had a traumatic life, and was admitted to the asylum by her father despite being more sad than mad.
Kathryn’s writing is so good that you feel the horror and frustration Amy must feel. A sane, if depressed, young lady in an asylum where she patently doesn’t belong. You have hope that this will be recognised by the authorities, but things don’t always work out in the way you think - as in real life.
Altogether a disturbing but brilliant read, and I highly recommend it. Solid 5 stars from me.
Kathryn’s writing is so good that you feel the horror and frustration Amy must feel. A sane, if depressed, young lady in an asylum where she patently doesn’t belong. You have hope that this will be recognised by the authorities, but things don’t always work out in the way you think - as in real life.
Altogether a disturbing but brilliant read, and I highly recommend it. Solid 5 stars from me.
July 9, 2019
What a story. Once again a book that had me blinking back tears in the final pages. It was inherently sad and so I don't think it was possible to have a 'happy' ending but it was very fitting and solidified the 5 star rating.
Set in an asylum in the 1950's it was depressing to read about what I've no doubt life inside entailed for the residents - some of whom were there for the most innocent of things. Amy's story had me captivated from start to finish and I loved the information the author included once the story was finished about it being based on a true story, I will certainly be looking into the websites provided for further details.
This was a real gem that I'd highly recommend.
Set in an asylum in the 1950's it was depressing to read about what I've no doubt life inside entailed for the residents - some of whom were there for the most innocent of things. Amy's story had me captivated from start to finish and I loved the information the author included once the story was finished about it being based on a true story, I will certainly be looking into the websites provided for further details.
This was a real gem that I'd highly recommend.
June 13, 2020
Wat een mooi verhaal, heerlijk!! Ik heb genoten van dit boek. Een roman verdeeld in geschiedenis en nu, precies wat ik altijd mooi vind. Ongelooflijk goed beschreven,ik vond de schrijfstijl echt fijn. Zowel verleden als heden speelt af in Ambergate , een krankzinnigen gesticht (zo werd dat vroeger genoemd). Vreselijk te lezen hoe de mensen in dat tehuis vroeger werden behandeld? Het vertaal wordt steeds verteld door Sarah (heden) en Ellen en Amy (verleden). Uiteindelijk lopen heden en verleden uiteraard door elkaar, maar zeer zeker een aanrader!,
August 7, 2020
Dieser Roman von Kathryn Hughes hat mich mehr als positiv überrascht. Cover und Titel vermitteln eine ganz andere Story, als ich sie lesen durfte.
Der Roman spielt auf zwei Zeitebenen, einmal im Jahr 1959 und im Jahr 2006. Der Schauplatz ist das Sanatorium in Ambergate nahe Manchester in Großbritannien.
2006 ist das Sanatorium nur mehr eine Ruine. Sarah Charlton interessierte sich schon immer sehr für die Geschichte um Ambergate. Ihr Vater war vor Jahrzehnten dort als Arzt tätig, schweigt aber beharrlich über diese Zeit. Das erweckt Sarahs Neugier nur noch mehr. Sie verschafft sich regelmäßig Zugang zum Lost Place, der bald abgerissen werden soll. Eines Tages entdeckt sie tatsächlich auf einen der Dachböden mehrere Koffer. Einer davon erweckt ganz besonders ihr Interesse. Und so versucht Sarah mehr über die Person, der der Koffer gehörte, zu erfahren...
Der Vergangenheitsstrang nimmt einen Großteil des Romans ein. Zu dieser Zeit beginnt die junge und engagierte Ellen Crosby ihre Ausbildung als Krankenschwester in Ambergate. Sie ist entsetzt über die oft mittelalterlich anmutenden Behandlungsgmethoden an vielen Langzeitpatienen.
Am selben Tag, als sie ihre Arbeit beginnt, wird ein junges Mädchen, Amy Sullivan, von ihrem Vater im Santoriumn untergebracht, die völlig gesund erscheint. Sie leidet unter dem Tod der Mutter und ihr Vater weiß sich nicht anders zu helfen, als sie ins Sanatorium zu stecken. Viele der Insassinnen wurden, wie diese junge Frau, von ihrer Familie nach einem tragischen Vorfall einfach "abgeladen" und/oder für verrückt erklärt. Frauen, die als Hysterikerinnen oder wegen eines Fehltrittes in der Familie zu dieser Zeit als unzumutbar abgeschoben wurden - und das vor gerade mal sechzig Jahren!!
Mit Ellen verbringen wir den Klinikalltag und erfahren so mehr über die Insassen und ihre Schicksale. Als sich Ellen mit Dougie anfreundet, der als Pfleger in der Männerabteilung arbeitet, erhalten wir auch einen kleinen Einblick in die Schicksale der männlichen Insassen, die vorallem aus Kriegstraumatiserenden besteht.
Das schwere Los mancher Frauen ging mir sehr zu Herzen. Die oftmals fragwürdigen Heilungsmethoden und die rigorose Art der Pflegerinnen und Ärzte nimmt einem beim Lesen oft die Luft zum Atmen.
Als sich die Ereignisse im letzten Viertel immer mehr zuspitzen, wechselt die Autorin öfters die Zeiten, was die Spannung erhöht.
Charaktere:
Die Charaktere sind vielfältig und facettenreich dargestellt. Vorallem Amy bleibt undurchschaubar. Der Autorin gelingt es mit überraschenden Wendungen vorzüglich Amy einmal als Opfer und dann wieder als Täterin darzustellen. Als Leser rätselt man bis zum Schluss, ob die junge Frau gesund oder psychisch krank ist.
Ellen hat das Herz auf den rechten Fleck und hinterfragt die Methoden, die in Ambergate Gang und Gäbe sind. Sie sieht in den Patienten noch Menschen mit schweren Schicksalen und versucht ihnen zu helfen, während die langjährigen Pflegerinnen oftmals völlig abgestumpft sind.
Einzig Sarah blieb mir etwas zu blass, aber ihr Part ist auch wesentlich reduzierter im Vergleich zu Ellens. Ich konnte mich zwar gut in ihre Figur hineinversetzen, aber ich fand nicht wirklich eine Bindung zu ihr.
Fazit:
Ein bewegender und erschütternder Roman, der mich positiv überraschte. Ich konnte den Roman kaum aus der Hand legen und empfehle die Geschichte gerne weiter.
Der Roman spielt auf zwei Zeitebenen, einmal im Jahr 1959 und im Jahr 2006. Der Schauplatz ist das Sanatorium in Ambergate nahe Manchester in Großbritannien.
2006 ist das Sanatorium nur mehr eine Ruine. Sarah Charlton interessierte sich schon immer sehr für die Geschichte um Ambergate. Ihr Vater war vor Jahrzehnten dort als Arzt tätig, schweigt aber beharrlich über diese Zeit. Das erweckt Sarahs Neugier nur noch mehr. Sie verschafft sich regelmäßig Zugang zum Lost Place, der bald abgerissen werden soll. Eines Tages entdeckt sie tatsächlich auf einen der Dachböden mehrere Koffer. Einer davon erweckt ganz besonders ihr Interesse. Und so versucht Sarah mehr über die Person, der der Koffer gehörte, zu erfahren...
Der Vergangenheitsstrang nimmt einen Großteil des Romans ein. Zu dieser Zeit beginnt die junge und engagierte Ellen Crosby ihre Ausbildung als Krankenschwester in Ambergate. Sie ist entsetzt über die oft mittelalterlich anmutenden Behandlungsgmethoden an vielen Langzeitpatienen.
Am selben Tag, als sie ihre Arbeit beginnt, wird ein junges Mädchen, Amy Sullivan, von ihrem Vater im Santoriumn untergebracht, die völlig gesund erscheint. Sie leidet unter dem Tod der Mutter und ihr Vater weiß sich nicht anders zu helfen, als sie ins Sanatorium zu stecken. Viele der Insassinnen wurden, wie diese junge Frau, von ihrer Familie nach einem tragischen Vorfall einfach "abgeladen" und/oder für verrückt erklärt. Frauen, die als Hysterikerinnen oder wegen eines Fehltrittes in der Familie zu dieser Zeit als unzumutbar abgeschoben wurden - und das vor gerade mal sechzig Jahren!!
Mit Ellen verbringen wir den Klinikalltag und erfahren so mehr über die Insassen und ihre Schicksale. Als sich Ellen mit Dougie anfreundet, der als Pfleger in der Männerabteilung arbeitet, erhalten wir auch einen kleinen Einblick in die Schicksale der männlichen Insassen, die vorallem aus Kriegstraumatiserenden besteht.
Das schwere Los mancher Frauen ging mir sehr zu Herzen. Die oftmals fragwürdigen Heilungsmethoden und die rigorose Art der Pflegerinnen und Ärzte nimmt einem beim Lesen oft die Luft zum Atmen.
Als sich die Ereignisse im letzten Viertel immer mehr zuspitzen, wechselt die Autorin öfters die Zeiten, was die Spannung erhöht.
Charaktere:
Die Charaktere sind vielfältig und facettenreich dargestellt. Vorallem Amy bleibt undurchschaubar. Der Autorin gelingt es mit überraschenden Wendungen vorzüglich Amy einmal als Opfer und dann wieder als Täterin darzustellen. Als Leser rätselt man bis zum Schluss, ob die junge Frau gesund oder psychisch krank ist.
Ellen hat das Herz auf den rechten Fleck und hinterfragt die Methoden, die in Ambergate Gang und Gäbe sind. Sie sieht in den Patienten noch Menschen mit schweren Schicksalen und versucht ihnen zu helfen, während die langjährigen Pflegerinnen oftmals völlig abgestumpft sind.
Einzig Sarah blieb mir etwas zu blass, aber ihr Part ist auch wesentlich reduzierter im Vergleich zu Ellens. Ich konnte mich zwar gut in ihre Figur hineinversetzen, aber ich fand nicht wirklich eine Bindung zu ihr.
Fazit:
Ein bewegender und erschütternder Roman, der mich positiv überraschte. Ich konnte den Roman kaum aus der Hand legen und empfehle die Geschichte gerne weiter.
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