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Μια θάλασσα αστέρια
Στις ζοφερές ακτές της Βόρειας Αγγλίας του 1874, η ατίθαση Άγκνες φεύγει επιτέλους από το αυστηρό ορφανοτροφείο στο οποίο μεγάλωσε. Και την ίδια μέρα ανακαλύπτει ένα μυστικό, όταν η μητέρα της την είχε εγκαταλείψει, είχε κρύψει στα ρούχα της ένα κουμπί με έναν μονόκερο.
Πάντα πίστευε ότι η μητέρα της ήταν πολύ φτωχή για να την αναθρέψει, αλλά διαπιστώνει ότι το κουμπί αυτό ανήκει στην όμορφη και δυναμική Τζένεβιν, κληρονόμο μιας αριστοκρατικής οικογένειας. Η Άγκνες την έχει δει μόνο μία φορά, αλλά δεν θα ξεχάσει ποτέ το πρόσωπό της…
Προκειμένου να ανακαλύψει τα ίχνη της εξαφανισμένης Τζένεβιν, η Άγκνες ρίχνεται σε μια αναζήτηση που θα την οδηγήσει από τις φτωχές γειτονιές του Λονδίνου μέχρι το απατηλό Παρίσι, και από εκεί σε ένα ταξίδι πέρα απ’ τον ωκεανό…
Το Μια Θάλασσα Αστέρια δεν είναι μόνο ένα συγκινητικό, ατμοσφαιρικό μυθιστόρημα αλλά και μια ωδή στην αγάπη, στη μητρότητα και στο θάρρος που χρειάζεται για να ανακαλύψουμε τις επιθυμίες μας.
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που, όταν το τελειώσετε, θα θελήσετε να βρείτε τους ήρωές του και να συζητήσετε μαζί τους.
Πάντα πίστευε ότι η μητέρα της ήταν πολύ φτωχή για να την αναθρέψει, αλλά διαπιστώνει ότι το κουμπί αυτό ανήκει στην όμορφη και δυναμική Τζένεβιν, κληρονόμο μιας αριστοκρατικής οικογένειας. Η Άγκνες την έχει δει μόνο μία φορά, αλλά δεν θα ξεχάσει ποτέ το πρόσωπό της…
Προκειμένου να ανακαλύψει τα ίχνη της εξαφανισμένης Τζένεβιν, η Άγκνες ρίχνεται σε μια αναζήτηση που θα την οδηγήσει από τις φτωχές γειτονιές του Λονδίνου μέχρι το απατηλό Παρίσι, και από εκεί σε ένα ταξίδι πέρα απ’ τον ωκεανό…
Το Μια Θάλασσα Αστέρια δεν είναι μόνο ένα συγκινητικό, ατμοσφαιρικό μυθιστόρημα αλλά και μια ωδή στην αγάπη, στη μητρότητα και στο θάρρος που χρειάζεται για να ανακαλύψουμε τις επιθυμίες μας.
Είναι ένα βιβλίο που, όταν το τελειώσετε, θα θελήσετε να βρείτε τους ήρωές του και να συζητήσετε μαζί τους.
576 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2017
18 people are currently reading
1295 people want to read
About the author
Kimberley Freeman
18 books690 followersPen name of Kim Wilkins.
Kimberley was born in London and her family moved back to Australia when she was three years old. She grew up in Queensland where she currently lives.
Kimberley has written for as long as she can remember and she is proud to write in many genres. She is an award-winning writer in children’s, historical and speculative fiction under her birth name Kim Wilkins. She adopted the pen name Kimberley Freeman for her commercial women’s fiction novels Duet and Gold Dust to honour her maternal grandmother and to try and capture the spirit of the page-turning novels she has always loved to read. Kim has an Honours degree, a Masters degree and a PhD from The University of Queensland where she is also a lecturer. She lives in Brisbane with her young family.
Kimberley was born in London and her family moved back to Australia when she was three years old. She grew up in Queensland where she currently lives.
Kimberley has written for as long as she can remember and she is proud to write in many genres. She is an award-winning writer in children’s, historical and speculative fiction under her birth name Kim Wilkins. She adopted the pen name Kimberley Freeman for her commercial women’s fiction novels Duet and Gold Dust to honour her maternal grandmother and to try and capture the spirit of the page-turning novels she has always loved to read. Kim has an Honours degree, a Masters degree and a PhD from The University of Queensland where she is also a lecturer. She lives in Brisbane with her young family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
June 6, 2017
3.5 stars. A compelling historical fiction novel with strong characters.
This was my first experience reading a Kimberley Freeman novel and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved Freeman’s writing and the idea behind the storyline. Freeman does a fantastic job pulling the reader into the lives of her characters – each character is well developed with a personal history that is intriguing and enticing.
Unfortunately, some parts of this story seemed a little far-fetched to me which took away from my overall enjoyment. The writing itself was great, but the believability of the story wasn’t fully there for me. I also found the three storylines slightly confusing at times. I had to break after starting a new chapter a few times to remind myself which storyline I was reading about and which characters belonged to which storyline.
Overall, I was impressed with Freeman’s writing and will definitely look into reading more of her novels. A big thank you to NetGalley, Hachette and Kimberley Freeman for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
This was my first experience reading a Kimberley Freeman novel and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved Freeman’s writing and the idea behind the storyline. Freeman does a fantastic job pulling the reader into the lives of her characters – each character is well developed with a personal history that is intriguing and enticing.
Unfortunately, some parts of this story seemed a little far-fetched to me which took away from my overall enjoyment. The writing itself was great, but the believability of the story wasn’t fully there for me. I also found the three storylines slightly confusing at times. I had to break after starting a new chapter a few times to remind myself which storyline I was reading about and which characters belonged to which storyline.
Overall, I was impressed with Freeman’s writing and will definitely look into reading more of her novels. A big thank you to NetGalley, Hachette and Kimberley Freeman for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
January 12, 2018
It was 1874 when Agnes Resolute reached the age when she could finally leave the place that had been her home her whole life, Perdita Hall. Agnes was a foundling and had never known either her mother or her father. But in the weeks leading up to her departure, she discovered something to make her focus on Genevieve Breckby as the woman she believed to be her mother. And she was sure Genevieve was in London…
From the harsh streets of London, to the dangers of Paris, Agnes followed the trail of her elusive mother. Adventures, lost hope but equal determination would lead Agnes across the ocean aboard the Royal Mail ship Udolpho, and then onward on the sailing ship, Persephone – always following the trail of her mother. Would Agnes eventually find Genevieve? And would she be rejected once again if she did find her?
Set in three timeframes, Stars Across the Ocean by Aussie author Kimberley Freeman tells Moineau and Agnes’ story in the past, with present day Tori from Australia with her mother in London. I absolutely loved this historical fiction novel which I finished late last night, but haven’t stopped thinking about. I found Agnes’ character to be strong, determined, gutsy and focussed – though it was 1874, she would not conform to what was expected of her. I have no hesitation in recommending Stars Across the Ocean to all historical fiction fans.
From the harsh streets of London, to the dangers of Paris, Agnes followed the trail of her elusive mother. Adventures, lost hope but equal determination would lead Agnes across the ocean aboard the Royal Mail ship Udolpho, and then onward on the sailing ship, Persephone – always following the trail of her mother. Would Agnes eventually find Genevieve? And would she be rejected once again if she did find her?
Set in three timeframes, Stars Across the Ocean by Aussie author Kimberley Freeman tells Moineau and Agnes’ story in the past, with present day Tori from Australia with her mother in London. I absolutely loved this historical fiction novel which I finished late last night, but haven’t stopped thinking about. I found Agnes’ character to be strong, determined, gutsy and focussed – though it was 1874, she would not conform to what was expected of her. I have no hesitation in recommending Stars Across the Ocean to all historical fiction fans.
January 18, 2018
This was written by an Australian author so it was not surprising that the main character made a short visit to Melbourne and that she came by sea. Thank heavens we now have airplanes to make the whole travelling part a whole lot less horrific.
Stars Across the Ocean is an enjoyable piece of historical fiction concentrating mainly on the character of Agnes who grew up in a Foundling Home in Northern England. Some tiny clues lead her to believe her mother is an upper class lady who has moved overseas and Agnes pursues her across the oceans. Her story is compelling and Agnes is a delightful character, naïve, determined, unswayable and very brave.
The author has used the fairly common technique of bracketing the historical story with a current day story in which a letter is found. This leads to a second time period in which another story unfolds from the content of the letter. And then Agnes' story which relates to the story in the letter is told. If that sounds complicated it was, and I was not really sure it was all required.
Still it was a very enjoyable book and one I would still have enjoyed if it was told as just Agnes' story without all the trimmings:)
Stars Across the Ocean is an enjoyable piece of historical fiction concentrating mainly on the character of Agnes who grew up in a Foundling Home in Northern England. Some tiny clues lead her to believe her mother is an upper class lady who has moved overseas and Agnes pursues her across the oceans. Her story is compelling and Agnes is a delightful character, naïve, determined, unswayable and very brave.
The author has used the fairly common technique of bracketing the historical story with a current day story in which a letter is found. This leads to a second time period in which another story unfolds from the content of the letter. And then Agnes' story which relates to the story in the letter is told. If that sounds complicated it was, and I was not really sure it was all required.
Still it was a very enjoyable book and one I would still have enjoyed if it was told as just Agnes' story without all the trimmings:)
March 22, 2018
This was an enjoyable historical novel mostly set in the mid to late 1800s and stretching from the north of England to Australia (and back again!). It is the story of Agnes Resolute, a foundling brought up in an orphanage and sent out into the world at the age of 19 to be a seamstress. However, Agnes is determined to find her mother and her place in the world and sets off on a grand adventure of discovery.
Told in three time frames, the threads all converge towards the end of the novel. In the current time frame a professor of history has been researching the events described in a letter written by a wealthy young woman in the mid 1800s and this events are interwoven with Agnes' story in the 1870s. Agnes is a strong and determined woman who doesn't let anything hold her back. She is perhaps, due to her sheltered upbringing, also a little naive and unaware of the dangers of the world for women travelling alone in the late 19th century, but in some ways this acts to protect her and doesn't hold her back from tackling difficult situations or making new friends. She does eventually find her place in the world, although it is not what she expected at the start of her journey. 3.5★
Told in three time frames, the threads all converge towards the end of the novel. In the current time frame a professor of history has been researching the events described in a letter written by a wealthy young woman in the mid 1800s and this events are interwoven with Agnes' story in the 1870s. Agnes is a strong and determined woman who doesn't let anything hold her back. She is perhaps, due to her sheltered upbringing, also a little naive and unaware of the dangers of the world for women travelling alone in the late 19th century, but in some ways this acts to protect her and doesn't hold her back from tackling difficult situations or making new friends. She does eventually find her place in the world, although it is not what she expected at the start of her journey. 3.5★
April 6, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Kimberley Freeman is the pen name for Kim Wilkins, the author of over twenty titles. Although I have not explored these twenty titles by Kim Wilkins, I have read most of the Kimberley Freeman published titles. I am always left in awe of Freeman’s ability to merge the past with present, in two equally engaging storylines. Stars Across the Ocean is Freeman’s latest and it is a book I enjoyed from cover to cover.
Two strong stories make up Stars Across the Ocean. In the late 19th century, a young foundling named Agnes Resolute makes the journey to London, from the safety of her home, in search of her birth mother. With only an engraved unicorn button as a clue to her birth, Agnes has little to go on in the search for the mother who abandoned her. Agnes’ quest to discover her origins takes her from the north of England, to the tough streets of inner London, to a noble family home, Paris, Ceylon and finally Australia. The search to find her mother is a perilous one, filled with adventure and mystery, as Agnes gets closer to discovering the identity of her mother. In the present day, Tori uncovers a letter which reveals the story behind the mother who abandoned a baby in over a century before. This letter plays a key role in reconciling Agnes with the mother she longs for.
There is always great excitement when a new release by one of my favourite authors, Kimberley Freeman brings out a new novel. I have been savouring this one for some time to read.
Kimberley Freeman is an author who is especially skilled in her ability to draw two separate stories, from the past and present together in a streamlined manner. Stars Across the Ocean shows us once again, how adept Freeman is in converging the past and present together. There are never any confusing moments in Freeman’s novels and the transitions always occur with the utmost care. Freeman is a skilled writer for the historical fiction genre. In this particular novel, the book moves to a number of locations. Freeman displays a great flair in getting the specific period details of her novel just right. The international locales of England (north and south), France, Sri Lanka and Australia are vivid, realistic and utterly engaging.
In terms of the narrative itself, the content is absorbing. I was soon swept up in the mystery of this novel, once the letter was discovered by Tori in the present day. I was also equally taken in by the origins of the unicorn engraved button that Agnes in the 1870’s narrative possessed. There are plenty of twists and turns in the novel. The central family mystery keeps the reader completely on their toes. This is a book that successfully combines themes of family, identity, romance, love, loss, adventure and history all in the one absorbing book. My attention did not lag at any point as a result.
Freeman has a full character list and on the whole, all were fascinating. Agnes, the heroine of the past storyline, has a great character journey that I enjoyed being a part of. Agnes is quite young and naive. At times I could see ahead that she would become the victim of many of the unfortunate circumstances that touched her. However, I did admire her strong resolve and determination to find her birth mother.
Freeman takes the reader on a fabulous adventure in her exploration of mothers and daughters. Freeman closes her novel off well and readers will be satisfied by the final result, both for the past heroine and Tori in the present day.
Stars Across the Ocean is an expansive and all encompassing tale that all lovers of historical fiction should not miss. If you have exhausted the work of Kate Morton or Kate Forsyth, Kimberley Freeman is an author you need to put on your reading agenda.
Stars Across the Ocean is book #31 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
Kimberley Freeman is the pen name for Kim Wilkins, the author of over twenty titles. Although I have not explored these twenty titles by Kim Wilkins, I have read most of the Kimberley Freeman published titles. I am always left in awe of Freeman’s ability to merge the past with present, in two equally engaging storylines. Stars Across the Ocean is Freeman’s latest and it is a book I enjoyed from cover to cover.
Two strong stories make up Stars Across the Ocean. In the late 19th century, a young foundling named Agnes Resolute makes the journey to London, from the safety of her home, in search of her birth mother. With only an engraved unicorn button as a clue to her birth, Agnes has little to go on in the search for the mother who abandoned her. Agnes’ quest to discover her origins takes her from the north of England, to the tough streets of inner London, to a noble family home, Paris, Ceylon and finally Australia. The search to find her mother is a perilous one, filled with adventure and mystery, as Agnes gets closer to discovering the identity of her mother. In the present day, Tori uncovers a letter which reveals the story behind the mother who abandoned a baby in over a century before. This letter plays a key role in reconciling Agnes with the mother she longs for.
There is always great excitement when a new release by one of my favourite authors, Kimberley Freeman brings out a new novel. I have been savouring this one for some time to read.
Kimberley Freeman is an author who is especially skilled in her ability to draw two separate stories, from the past and present together in a streamlined manner. Stars Across the Ocean shows us once again, how adept Freeman is in converging the past and present together. There are never any confusing moments in Freeman’s novels and the transitions always occur with the utmost care. Freeman is a skilled writer for the historical fiction genre. In this particular novel, the book moves to a number of locations. Freeman displays a great flair in getting the specific period details of her novel just right. The international locales of England (north and south), France, Sri Lanka and Australia are vivid, realistic and utterly engaging.
In terms of the narrative itself, the content is absorbing. I was soon swept up in the mystery of this novel, once the letter was discovered by Tori in the present day. I was also equally taken in by the origins of the unicorn engraved button that Agnes in the 1870’s narrative possessed. There are plenty of twists and turns in the novel. The central family mystery keeps the reader completely on their toes. This is a book that successfully combines themes of family, identity, romance, love, loss, adventure and history all in the one absorbing book. My attention did not lag at any point as a result.
Freeman has a full character list and on the whole, all were fascinating. Agnes, the heroine of the past storyline, has a great character journey that I enjoyed being a part of. Agnes is quite young and naive. At times I could see ahead that she would become the victim of many of the unfortunate circumstances that touched her. However, I did admire her strong resolve and determination to find her birth mother.
Freeman takes the reader on a fabulous adventure in her exploration of mothers and daughters. Freeman closes her novel off well and readers will be satisfied by the final result, both for the past heroine and Tori in the present day.
Stars Across the Ocean is an expansive and all encompassing tale that all lovers of historical fiction should not miss. If you have exhausted the work of Kate Morton or Kate Forsyth, Kimberley Freeman is an author you need to put on your reading agenda.
Stars Across the Ocean is book #31 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
January 8, 2018
The story stars in the present day with a daughter who has left her husband Geoff and come home from Australia, to sort out what is happening with her mother. Several times her mother has been found wandering and is often confused. She wonders when her mother mentions a person called Emile. Then she finds a letter which starts ‘To my child, whom I could not keep.’ Only part of the letter is there. The rest is missing. The story then turns back to 1874 to Agnes Resolute, who is just about to leave Perdita Hall, a home for orphans and foundlings, where Agnes has lived for nineteen years since being left there as a baby. Agnes remembers seeing a woman and a jacket with unicorn buttons. A unicorn button is the memento that accompanied Agnes when she was left. Agnes believes it belongs to her mother. So starts the search to track her down. Agnes is prepared to do whatever it takes to find her mother.
The story of Agnes and her adventures takes up most of the book. But every now and then it flips back to the present day and the letter. This is an enjoyable read. Agnes is a spunky and determined, or one might say stubborn, but a likeable and kind hearted character. Sometimes the story does get a little farfetched but if you can suspend disbelief and go along with it, this is an entertaining read. with possibly a surprise or two along the way.
The story of Agnes and her adventures takes up most of the book. But every now and then it flips back to the present day and the letter. This is an enjoyable read. Agnes is a spunky and determined, or one might say stubborn, but a likeable and kind hearted character. Sometimes the story does get a little farfetched but if you can suspend disbelief and go along with it, this is an entertaining read. with possibly a surprise or two along the way.
May 19, 2017
To say I liked this book is an understatement, this was pure joy to read. Superbly written, and a story I didn’t want to let go of. I’m always thrilled when I start reading a book and realise it’s in multiple time periods. I can’t get enough of these types of historical novels and Kimberley Freeman has a talent for penning such books.
Within the first few pages the reader is drawn into a tale of suspense via a mystifying square of paper which reads: To my child, whom I could not keep. Only a page long and finishes in mid sentence… And thus begins the task of locating the missing pages which will be recovered by Victoria, or Tori as she prefers. Tori travelled from Australia to Bristol, England, to visit her mother who is unwell and finding it hard to remember things. Her mother’s office is left in complete disarray and Tori is sent by her to locate some papers she’d been sorting through before her accident, those papers which are the letters to the mystifying square of paper will tell the tale of Agnes Resolute and her adventures around the globe looking for her mother.
Set in 1874 and the present, this novel will leave the reader breathing hard and on pins and needles until the final page. And oh, what a delightful ending and one I did not anticipate.
I highly recommend this novel, the reader will fall in love with Agnes Resolute, her story is engaging and will hold your interest throughout the book.
Thanks to Hachette for the review copy.
Within the first few pages the reader is drawn into a tale of suspense via a mystifying square of paper which reads: To my child, whom I could not keep. Only a page long and finishes in mid sentence… And thus begins the task of locating the missing pages which will be recovered by Victoria, or Tori as she prefers. Tori travelled from Australia to Bristol, England, to visit her mother who is unwell and finding it hard to remember things. Her mother’s office is left in complete disarray and Tori is sent by her to locate some papers she’d been sorting through before her accident, those papers which are the letters to the mystifying square of paper will tell the tale of Agnes Resolute and her adventures around the globe looking for her mother.
Set in 1874 and the present, this novel will leave the reader breathing hard and on pins and needles until the final page. And oh, what a delightful ending and one I did not anticipate.
I highly recommend this novel, the reader will fall in love with Agnes Resolute, her story is engaging and will hold your interest throughout the book.
Thanks to Hachette for the review copy.
July 6, 2017
Stars Across the Ocean is an adventure set far and wide, expertly written by Kimberley Freeman.
I absolutely love sea stories and Stars Across the Ocean, as the title is so aptly named did it for me!
Set in 1874, an adventure from Northern England to the streets of London, to Paris and then on board a steamship set for Ceylon then onto the coast of Australia.
Utterly engaging, full of turmoil, sadness and an emotional roller-coaster.
This is a huge read with a lot to take in and it's the first novel I've read by this author and I'm very impressed.
How far would you go to find your past to reveal the present?
Read it and explore in Stars Across the Ocean by Kimberley Freeman.
I absolutely love sea stories and Stars Across the Ocean, as the title is so aptly named did it for me!
Set in 1874, an adventure from Northern England to the streets of London, to Paris and then on board a steamship set for Ceylon then onto the coast of Australia.
Utterly engaging, full of turmoil, sadness and an emotional roller-coaster.
This is a huge read with a lot to take in and it's the first novel I've read by this author and I'm very impressed.
How far would you go to find your past to reveal the present?
Read it and explore in Stars Across the Ocean by Kimberley Freeman.
June 26, 2018
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Ένα βιβλίο που εστιάζει στους ισχυρούς δεσμούς της οικογένειας, της ταυτότητας, του ρομαντισμού, της αγάπης, της απώλειας, της περιπέτειας και της ιστορίας!
Κινείται σε τρεις εποχές.Ξεκινά με το σήμερα και στην επιστροφή της Βικτόρια-Τόρι στην Αγγλία από την Αυστραλία λόγω σοβαρών προβλημάτων υγείας της μητέρας της, που βρίσκεται στα αρχικά στάδια της άνοια.
Κατά τη διαδικασία της οργάνωσης των υποθέσεων της μητέρας της, η Τόρι βρίσκει μια συγκινητική επιστολή που αποκαλύπτει μια ιστορία για μια μητέρα που εγκατέλειψε το μωρό της έναν αιώνα πριν.Ο Αναγνώστης γυρνάει στο παρελθόν, στο 1800 και γνωρίζει την ευγενή οικογένεια Μπρέκμπι και τις κόρες αυτής, Μαριάννα και Τζένεβιν .Αυτή είναι η δεύτερη ιστορία, η τρίτη που καταλαμβάνει το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του βιβλίου είναι η ιστορία της Άγκνες, που ξεκινά το 1874 στη στέγη των εγκαταλειμμένων παιδιών.Είναι το μέρος που έζησε μέχρι την ενηλικίωση της.Μοναδική της επιθυμία, είναι να βρει και να γνωρίσει τη μητέρα της. Το μόνο της εφόδιο φεύγοντας από τη στέγη είναι ένα ανάγλυφο κουμπί που έχει πάνω του ένα μονόκερο, σαν απόδειξη της ταυτότητας της. Άγκνες μια και αυτή είναι στην ουσία η κεντρική ηρωίδα του βιβλίου ένα κορίτσι τόσο δυναμικό και συγχρόνως τόσο ασυμβίβαστο! Τίποτε και κανείς δεν μπόρεσε να την αποσπάσει από τον επικεντρωμένο στόχο της.Άλλωστε όταν θες κάτι πολύ όλο το σύμπαν συνωμοτεί για να το αποκτήσεις!!Τη θαύμασα για όλα τα ρίσκα που πήρε αφήνοντας πίσω την απόλυτη ευτυχία που βρήκε στο πρόσωπο του ευγενικού Τζούλιους. Η αναζήτηση της επικίνδυνη, γεμάτη περιπέτεια και αγωνία καθώς πλησιάζει περισσότερο στην ανακάλυψη της ταυτότητας, της μητέρας της. Έντονη πλοκή, γεμάτη αναταραχή, θλίψη και συναισθηματική περιπέτεια.Ένα απολαυστικό ανάγνωσμα, με δύο πολύ ισχυρές ιστορίες.
Όσο και αν αγάπησα την Άγκνες, η ιστορία που γκρατζούνισε την καρδιά μου είναι η ιστορία της Μαριάννας και του Εμίλ..
Πόσο μακριά θα μπορούσατε να πάτε για να βρείτε το παρελθόν σας και να αποκαλύψετε το παρόν;Ανακαλύψτε μέχρι που έφτασαν οι ήρωες της ιστορίας !Για άλλη μια φορά η kimberley Freeman δεν με απογοήτευσε, στάθηκε αντάξια των προσδοκιών μου!
Ένα βιβλίο που εστιάζει στους ισχυρούς δεσμούς της οικογένειας, της ταυτότητας, του ρομαντισμού, της αγάπης, της απώλειας, της περιπέτειας και της ιστορίας!
Κινείται σε τρεις εποχές.Ξεκινά με το σήμερα και στην επιστροφή της Βικτόρια-Τόρι στην Αγγλία από την Αυστραλία λόγω σοβαρών προβλημάτων υγείας της μητέρας της, που βρίσκεται στα αρχικά στάδια της άνοια.
Κατά τη διαδικασία της οργάνωσης των υποθέσεων της μητέρας της, η Τόρι βρίσκει μια συγκινητική επιστολή που αποκαλύπτει μια ιστορία για μια μητέρα που εγκατέλειψε το μωρό της έναν αιώνα πριν.Ο Αναγνώστης γυρνάει στο παρελθόν, στο 1800 και γνωρίζει την ευγενή οικογένεια Μπρέκμπι και τις κόρες αυτής, Μαριάννα και Τζένεβιν .Αυτή είναι η δεύτερη ιστορία, η τρίτη που καταλαμβάνει το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του βιβλίου είναι η ιστορία της Άγκνες, που ξεκινά το 1874 στη στέγη των εγκαταλειμμένων παιδιών.Είναι το μέρος που έζησε μέχρι την ενηλικίωση της.Μοναδική της επιθυμία, είναι να βρει και να γνωρίσει τη μητέρα της. Το μόνο της εφόδιο φεύγοντας από τη στέγη είναι ένα ανάγλυφο κουμπί που έχει πάνω του ένα μονόκερο, σαν απόδειξη της ταυτότητας της. Άγκνες μια και αυτή είναι στην ουσία η κεντρική ηρωίδα του βιβλίου ένα κορίτσι τόσο δυναμικό και συγχρόνως τόσο ασυμβίβαστο! Τίποτε και κανείς δεν μπόρεσε να την αποσπάσει από τον επικεντρωμένο στόχο της.Άλλωστε όταν θες κάτι πολύ όλο το σύμπαν συνωμοτεί για να το αποκτήσεις!!Τη θαύμασα για όλα τα ρίσκα που πήρε αφήνοντας πίσω την απόλυτη ευτυχία που βρήκε στο πρόσωπο του ευγενικού Τζούλιους. Η αναζήτηση της επικίνδυνη, γεμάτη περιπέτεια και αγωνία καθώς πλησιάζει περισσότερο στην ανακάλυψη της ταυτότητας, της μητέρας της. Έντονη πλοκή, γεμάτη αναταραχή, θλίψη και συναισθηματική περιπέτεια.Ένα απολαυστικό ανάγνωσμα, με δύο πολύ ισχυρές ιστορίες.
Όσο και αν αγάπησα την Άγκνες, η ιστορία που γκρατζούνισε την καρδιά μου είναι η ιστορία της Μαριάννας και του Εμίλ..
Πόσο μακριά θα μπορούσατε να πάτε για να βρείτε το παρελθόν σας και να αποκαλύψετε το παρόν;Ανακαλύψτε μέχρι που έφτασαν οι ήρωες της ιστορίας !Για άλλη μια φορά η kimberley Freeman δεν με απογοήτευσε, στάθηκε αντάξια των προσδοκιών μου!
January 20, 2018
This was the group-read members’ choice for Aussie Readers in January 2018, and I’m glad, because I may not have got to it otherwise.
Told in 3 parts, this is mainly the story of Agnes Resolute, a foundling who has come of age in the 1870s and is leaving the Yorkshire orphanage to make her own way in the world. In the weeks leading up to her departure, she stumbles upon a few clues as to her mother’s identity, and makes her way firstly to London, then Paris, Ceylon and Melbourne in pursuit of the woman who, coincidentally, she vividly remembers an encounter with in the village as a child. She’s a determined and gutsy young woman, and her adventures had me cheering her on all the way, even though I was pretty certain I knew something that Agnes didn’t...
Supporting the story of Agnes are two other vital threads; a letter (the longest letter ever penned?) from a mother ‘to my child, whom I could not keep’, and the present-day anchoring story of Victoria who has returned to England to check up on her historian mother who is beginning to suffer from the confusion brought on my Alzheimers. Through the letter and her mother’s occasional moments of lucidity, Victoria starts to piece together Agnes’s story.
This really was a rollicking adventure that was a delight to read. Highly recommended.
Told in 3 parts, this is mainly the story of Agnes Resolute, a foundling who has come of age in the 1870s and is leaving the Yorkshire orphanage to make her own way in the world. In the weeks leading up to her departure, she stumbles upon a few clues as to her mother’s identity, and makes her way firstly to London, then Paris, Ceylon and Melbourne in pursuit of the woman who, coincidentally, she vividly remembers an encounter with in the village as a child. She’s a determined and gutsy young woman, and her adventures had me cheering her on all the way, even though I was pretty certain I knew something that Agnes didn’t...
Supporting the story of Agnes are two other vital threads; a letter (the longest letter ever penned?) from a mother ‘to my child, whom I could not keep’, and the present-day anchoring story of Victoria who has returned to England to check up on her historian mother who is beginning to suffer from the confusion brought on my Alzheimers. Through the letter and her mother’s occasional moments of lucidity, Victoria starts to piece together Agnes’s story.
This really was a rollicking adventure that was a delight to read. Highly recommended.
March 29, 2017
Absolutely adored this book. Full of warmth and so much love, it made me want to call my mum immediately after closing the pages. Sometimes cross-generational/international travel stories can get a bit convoluted and difficult to follow, but Kimberley Freeman manages the jumps incredibly well, and infuses the stories into each other in such a beautiful way. I can't wait to read this again.
March 5, 2020
Pues... no ha estado mal del todo. Mejor de lo que esperaba porque tenía "cero" expectativas con él.
1-La historia. Agnes, una niña huérfana criada en una inclusa, que el día que se convierte en mayor de edad, tras recibir sus papeles y pertenencias (y descubrir/robar un botón junto al que la abandonaron), decide siguiendo las escasas pistas que tiene, encontrar a su madre. Y para ello recorrerá medio mundo metiéndose en unos cuantos líos y saliendo de ellos, cruzándose con amigos y enemigos.
Al mismo tiempo se nos cuenta la historia de Tori, una australiana que ha viajado a Londres para "cuidar" a su madre y unas cartas que esta tiene perdidas entre sus cosas (y que tienen mucho que ver con la historia principal).
2-Los Personajes. Agnes, una mujer fuerte y decidida que nunca se rinde, que toma decisiones dolorosas y estúpidas, y que resulta un personaje demasiado forzado. A veces es demasiado perfecta y tiene demasiada suerte.
Los demás son los típicos segundones que están ahí para ayudar o interponerse en el camino de la protagonista y que sirven para su evolución pero que están muy pobremente desarrollados.
Mención especial para la aborrecible y egoísta de Genevieve. No se puede ser más detestable. Bueno sí, se puede ser Madame Beaulieu.
3-La narrativa y demás. Contada en tres voces. El presente a través de Tori, el pasado a través de Agnes ,y más pasado a través de las cartas de Moineau.
La parte del presente es bastante superflua, las cartas son un poco más amenas y a la parte de Agnes (el grueso de la historia) le falta a veces un poco más de "infortunios".
La pluma es sencilla y la lectura es ágil, pero al final como le falta tensión, se acaba haciendo pesado.
4-El final. Muy predecible, le faltan giros. Pero lo peor de todo es que es demasiado "y vivieron felices y comieron felices". Me gusta que las historias terminen bien, o al menos de una forma justa. Lo malo es que esta historia es demasiado azucarada. La parte de buscarle un novio a Tori... me sobra mucho.
En fin, 3 estrellas sobre 5 porque me gustó más de lo esperado, pero a veces pecaba de sencillez y le faltó más "sufrimiento" para el lector a través del de su protagonista.
*Popsugar-2020 categoría 12: Un libro que haya superado el test de Bechdel.
1-La historia. Agnes, una niña huérfana criada en una inclusa, que el día que se convierte en mayor de edad, tras recibir sus papeles y pertenencias (y descubrir/robar un botón junto al que la abandonaron), decide siguiendo las escasas pistas que tiene, encontrar a su madre. Y para ello recorrerá medio mundo metiéndose en unos cuantos líos y saliendo de ellos, cruzándose con amigos y enemigos.
Al mismo tiempo se nos cuenta la historia de Tori, una australiana que ha viajado a Londres para "cuidar" a su madre y unas cartas que esta tiene perdidas entre sus cosas (y que tienen mucho que ver con la historia principal).
2-Los Personajes. Agnes, una mujer fuerte y decidida que nunca se rinde, que toma decisiones dolorosas y estúpidas, y que resulta un personaje demasiado forzado. A veces es demasiado perfecta y tiene demasiada suerte.
Los demás son los típicos segundones que están ahí para ayudar o interponerse en el camino de la protagonista y que sirven para su evolución pero que están muy pobremente desarrollados.
Mención especial para la aborrecible y egoísta de Genevieve. No se puede ser más detestable. Bueno sí, se puede ser Madame Beaulieu.
3-La narrativa y demás. Contada en tres voces. El presente a través de Tori, el pasado a través de Agnes ,y más pasado a través de las cartas de Moineau.
La parte del presente es bastante superflua, las cartas son un poco más amenas y a la parte de Agnes (el grueso de la historia) le falta a veces un poco más de "infortunios".
La pluma es sencilla y la lectura es ágil, pero al final como le falta tensión, se acaba haciendo pesado.
4-El final. Muy predecible, le faltan giros. Pero lo peor de todo es que es demasiado "y vivieron felices y comieron felices". Me gusta que las historias terminen bien, o al menos de una forma justa. Lo malo es que esta historia es demasiado azucarada. La parte de buscarle un novio a Tori... me sobra mucho.
En fin, 3 estrellas sobre 5 porque me gustó más de lo esperado, pero a veces pecaba de sencillez y le faltó más "sufrimiento" para el lector a través del de su protagonista.
*Popsugar-2020 categoría 12: Un libro que haya superado el test de Bechdel.
December 22, 2017
Kimberley Freeman is one of those authors that instantly come to mind when someone asks to recommend a captivating author. A superb historical writer that has multiple time periods is a great way to draw the readers to the many, well written characters throughout this book. Set in the late 1800’s and current time I really enjoyed each time period’s story and how they intertwined. I had a little inkling of the ending (got thrown off of track a couple of times) and Agnes was such a fantastic, brave character to take us on such an adventure to find her mother. An easy 5 stars for me!
January 31, 2020
¿Os gustan los cuentos de hadas? ¿El recurso literario Deus ex machina? Pues entonces este es vuestro libro.
He de decir que entretiene, pero a ratos se hace pesado. Una historia contada en tres tiempos, dos de los cuales están bien; pero el que resulta ser el meollo de la cuestión, pues... meeehhhh, todo demasiado bonito, qué buena es la gente que se cruza en el camino de nuestra protagonista...
Una lectura de esas que buscas para dejarte llevar sin pensar en nada.
Reto Pop Sugar 2020 # 12 Un libro que supere el test de Beschel
He de decir que entretiene, pero a ratos se hace pesado. Una historia contada en tres tiempos, dos de los cuales están bien; pero el que resulta ser el meollo de la cuestión, pues... meeehhhh, todo demasiado bonito, qué buena es la gente que se cruza en el camino de nuestra protagonista...
Una lectura de esas que buscas para dejarte llevar sin pensar en nada.
Reto Pop Sugar 2020 # 12 Un libro que supere el test de Beschel
May 13, 2019
Δεν ήταν άσχημο βιβλιο όμως βρήκα την αφήγηση λιγω ως πολύ ανευρη και αδύναμη. Ενώ το θέμα είναι δραματικό και στο παρών και στο παρελθόν και η ιστορία έχει όλα τα συστατικά ενός πετυχημένου δράματος δεν κατάφερε να μου το μεταδώσει στο σημείο που θα επρεπε. Το βρήκα λίγο ξυλινο
October 21, 2021
Ωραίο, όπως όλα της συγγραφέως. Δεν έχει πολλές εντάσεις αλλά σε καμία περίπτωση δεν το λες και βαρετό. Μια χαρά πέρασα.
July 31, 2019
Una novela muy entretenida, fácil de leer, llena de aventuras (más o menos creíbles), bien ambientada y con unos diálogos amenos y ágiles.
Siguiendo su estilo habitual Kimberly Freeman nos ofrece una narración a tres voces en tres momentos históricos diferentes que se van entretejiendo a lo largo del libro y aportando diferentes datos que ayudan al lector a comprender la historia y hacerse una composición de lugar. Personalmente creo que la voz del presente es un añadido que no aporta mucho, pero creo que tiene más que ver con la forma de escribir de la autora que con la importancia narrativa.
El hilo argumental es coherente y la tensión, si bien es superficial, consigue mantener la atención del lector de principio a fin.
La historia de la protagonista quizás esté poco trabajada, demasiado simple, para ser más creíble hubieran sido necesarios más datos para ella misma y para el lector, no obstante, es un personaje que se deja querer y con el que se empatiza rápidamente, ahora bien, el romance que vive está poco elaborado, añadido para tener un final redondo, el amor entre sus progenitores tiene más garra y más credibilidad, aunque su final también sea edulcorado.
Muy recomendable como lectura ligera para los amantes de la novela histórica de sagas familiares con un toque de romance, eso sí, escrito con sencillez y elegancia.
Siguiendo su estilo habitual Kimberly Freeman nos ofrece una narración a tres voces en tres momentos históricos diferentes que se van entretejiendo a lo largo del libro y aportando diferentes datos que ayudan al lector a comprender la historia y hacerse una composición de lugar. Personalmente creo que la voz del presente es un añadido que no aporta mucho, pero creo que tiene más que ver con la forma de escribir de la autora que con la importancia narrativa.
El hilo argumental es coherente y la tensión, si bien es superficial, consigue mantener la atención del lector de principio a fin.
La historia de la protagonista quizás esté poco trabajada, demasiado simple, para ser más creíble hubieran sido necesarios más datos para ella misma y para el lector, no obstante, es un personaje que se deja querer y con el que se empatiza rápidamente, ahora bien, el romance que vive está poco elaborado, añadido para tener un final redondo, el amor entre sus progenitores tiene más garra y más credibilidad, aunque su final también sea edulcorado.
Muy recomendable como lectura ligera para los amantes de la novela histórica de sagas familiares con un toque de romance, eso sí, escrito con sencillez y elegancia.
January 25, 2019
Ένα υπέροχο ιστορικό μυθιστόρημα που διαδραματίζεται επί το πλείστον στα μέσα ως τα τέλη του 1800 στην Βόρεια Αγγλία. Η κύρια ηρωίδα του η Άγκνες ένα κορίτσι που από βρέφος αφέθηκε σε ένα τοπικό ορφανοτροφείο φτάνοντας στην ηλικία των 19 ετών, φεύγ��ι από εκεί έχοντας στις αποσκευές της εκτός των άλλων το πάθος της να ανακαλύψει την μητέρα της και την θέση της στον κόσμο.
Πριν φύγει από το ορφανοτροφείο, ανακαλύπτει ένα στοιχείο που την οδηγεί στο συμπέρασμα ότι η μητέρα της είναι η Τζενεβιβ Μπρέκμπι και μαθαίνοντας ότι εκείνη βρίσκεται στο Λονδίνο ξεκινά το ταξίδι της για να την γνωρίσει και να μάθει γιατί την εγκατέλειψε.
Ξεκινά η περιπέτεια της από το Λονδίνο, ταξιδεύει στο Παρίσι, στην Κεΰλάνη , φτάνει στην Αυστραλία και πάλι πίσω στο Λονδίνο εκεί που την περιμένει ο έρωτας και όλα όσα ποθεί να μάθει για την ζωή της.
Η δύναμη του χαρακτήρα της, η καλοσύνη και η αποφασιστικότητα της την βοηθούν να ανταπεξέλθει σε όλες τις δυσκολίες που βρίσκει στο δρόμο της, να βοηθήσει όσο μπορεί ανθρώπους που νοιάζεται, όσο εκείνη ακολουθεί τα ίχνη της μητέρας της.
Είναι άραγε εφικτό να ανακαλύψει την Τζενεβιβ και να πάρει τις απαντήσεις που γυρεύει; Θα την απορρίψει άλλη μια φορά, μόλις την βρει; Τελικά βρίσκει την θέση της στον κόσμο αν και δεν είναι αυτό που περίμενε στην αρχή του ταξιδιού της.
Η ιστορία εξελίσσεται σε δύο χρονικές περιόδους καθώς η συγγραφέας από την αρχή του μυθιστορήματος μας οδηγεί μέσα στην ιστορία από ένα γράμμα που λείπουν κάποια μέρη του, και ανακαλύπτονται σιγά σιγά από την Καθηγήτρια Κάμπερ στο Λονδίνο..... Ένα γράμμα που γράφτηκε από μια νεαρή γυναίκα καλής οικογενείας με τίτλο: Στο παιδί μου, που δεν μπόρεσα να κρατήσω......
Η επιστολή αυτή μας δίνει κομμάτια της ίδιας ιστορίας καθώς ξετυλλίγονται παράλληλα.
Ένα βιβλίο που θα αγαπήσετε γιατί δίνει μαθήματα αγάπης, φιλίας και θάρρους!!!
Πριν φύγει από το ορφανοτροφείο, ανακαλύπτει ένα στοιχείο που την οδηγεί στο συμπέρασμα ότι η μητέρα της είναι η Τζενεβιβ Μπρέκμπι και μαθαίνοντας ότι εκείνη βρίσκεται στο Λονδίνο ξεκινά το ταξίδι της για να την γνωρίσει και να μάθει γιατί την εγκατέλειψε.
Ξεκινά η περιπέτεια της από το Λονδίνο, ταξιδεύει στο Παρίσι, στην Κεΰλάνη , φτάνει στην Αυστραλία και πάλι πίσω στο Λονδίνο εκεί που την περιμένει ο έρωτας και όλα όσα ποθεί να μάθει για την ζωή της.
Η δύναμη του χαρακτήρα της, η καλοσύνη και η αποφασιστικότητα της την βοηθούν να ανταπεξέλθει σε όλες τις δυσκολίες που βρίσκει στο δρόμο της, να βοηθήσει όσο μπορεί ανθρώπους που νοιάζεται, όσο εκείνη ακολουθεί τα ίχνη της μητέρας της.
Είναι άραγε εφικτό να ανακαλύψει την Τζενεβιβ και να πάρει τις απαντήσεις που γυρεύει; Θα την απορρίψει άλλη μια φορά, μόλις την βρει; Τελικά βρίσκει την θέση της στον κόσμο αν και δεν είναι αυτό που περίμενε στην αρχή του ταξιδιού της.
Η ιστορία εξελίσσεται σε δύο χρονικές περιόδους καθώς η συγγραφέας από την αρχή του μυθιστορήματος μας οδηγεί μέσα στην ιστορία από ένα γράμμα που λείπουν κάποια μέρη του, και ανακαλύπτονται σιγά σιγά από την Καθηγήτρια Κάμπερ στο Λονδίνο..... Ένα γράμμα που γράφτηκε από μια νεαρή γυναίκα καλής οικογενείας με τίτλο: Στο παιδί μου, που δεν μπόρεσα να κρατήσω......
Η επιστολή αυτή μας δίνει κομμάτια της ίδιας ιστορίας καθώς ξετυλλίγονται παράλληλα.
Ένα βιβλίο που θα αγαπήσετε γιατί δίνει μαθήματα αγάπης, φιλίας και θάρρους!!!
January 12, 2018
The book begins with the return to England from Australia Tori, to assess the health issues of her well respected Professor mother who is in the early stages of dementia. Tori is in her own state of emotional turmoil which hinders her ability to make decisions. In the process of organising her mother’s affairs Tori discovers documents of the 1800 ‘s relating to a particular noble family, with Marianna and Genevieve the daughters.
The story moves around the present and 2 in the past. The present is well defined, however, the manuscript/diary written by a grieving mother moves to form it’s own identity even though it is delivered as part of the Present Day story. The second story in the past revolves around Agnes who is a foundling child delivered to the orphanage run by Captain Forest of Perdita Hall. Agnes appears to be a wilful “Tom boy” but obviously a bright and resourceful child who cannot accept that she doesn’t have a mother somewhere who would love her. With only a speciality button as her proof of identity at seventeen when released from the orphanage does Agnes embark on her adventures to find her mother. The story of Agnes and her adventures is a really good read and I loved her determination, her concern for others that she comes into contact with and never failing to keep her eye on the main goal. However, I found the present day character of Tori clunky with her own emotional state, the mother etc simply out of kink with that of the main stories. The discovery of the manuscript/diary could have been written in a less involved manner.
The story moves around the present and 2 in the past. The present is well defined, however, the manuscript/diary written by a grieving mother moves to form it’s own identity even though it is delivered as part of the Present Day story. The second story in the past revolves around Agnes who is a foundling child delivered to the orphanage run by Captain Forest of Perdita Hall. Agnes appears to be a wilful “Tom boy” but obviously a bright and resourceful child who cannot accept that she doesn’t have a mother somewhere who would love her. With only a speciality button as her proof of identity at seventeen when released from the orphanage does Agnes embark on her adventures to find her mother. The story of Agnes and her adventures is a really good read and I loved her determination, her concern for others that she comes into contact with and never failing to keep her eye on the main goal. However, I found the present day character of Tori clunky with her own emotional state, the mother etc simply out of kink with that of the main stories. The discovery of the manuscript/diary could have been written in a less involved manner.
November 9, 2018
Ah çok güzeldi sonunda ağlattı beni. Bazen mutluluk veya aradığınız şey yanı başınızdadır. Kitabın ana konusu bu bence.
Agnesii ufacık bir düğmeden annesini, babasını bulmayı başardığı bir hikaye. Müthişti. Issız Kar Taneleri de hayal kırıklığına uğramıştı ama bu hikaye ile yazarının muhteşem kalemi geri dönmüş oldu.
Başlarda yine hikayenin vasat olacağını düşünmüştüm ama sayfalar ilerledikçe heyecan dozunu artırmaya başladı. Kitabı okurken iki hikaye dönüşümlü okurken bir an üçüncü hikaye de araya girdi bu da Agnes'in aradığı annesinin hikayesi idi. Agnes annesini yanlış yerde arıyordu tabii ki o bunu bilmiyordu. Annesini aramak için dünyanın bir ucuna kadar gittiği gibi sevdiği adam ile de bir türlü birleşemedi. Ama o yılmadı en değerli arkadaşını kaybettiği halde yılmadı. Tavsiye ederim okuyun..
Agnesii ufacık bir düğmeden annesini, babasını bulmayı başardığı bir hikaye. Müthişti. Issız Kar Taneleri de hayal kırıklığına uğramıştı ama bu hikaye ile yazarının muhteşem kalemi geri dönmüş oldu.
Başlarda yine hikayenin vasat olacağını düşünmüştüm ama sayfalar ilerledikçe heyecan dozunu artırmaya başladı. Kitabı okurken iki hikaye dönüşümlü okurken bir an üçüncü hikaye de araya girdi bu da Agnes'in aradığı annesinin hikayesi idi. Agnes annesini yanlış yerde arıyordu tabii ki o bunu bilmiyordu. Annesini aramak için dünyanın bir ucuna kadar gittiği gibi sevdiği adam ile de bir türlü birleşemedi. Ama o yılmadı en değerli arkadaşını kaybettiği halde yılmadı. Tavsiye ederim okuyun..
January 24, 2020
Popsugar Reading Challenge #12: Un libro que haya superado el test de Bechdel
Es un libro sencillo, pero con una historia muy bonita.
Supera con creces el test de Bechdel
Aparecen al menos dos personajes femeninos.
Estos personajes se hablan una a la otra en algún momento.
Esta conversación trata de algo distinto a un hombre.
Ya que el libro esta plagado de personajes femeninos que no giran en torno a un hombre, si no a la aventura de la vida. Disfruté mucho la historia por su sencillez y por la manera en que esta narrada.
Es un libro sencillo, pero con una historia muy bonita.
Supera con creces el test de Bechdel
Aparecen al menos dos personajes femeninos.
Estos personajes se hablan una a la otra en algún momento.
Esta conversación trata de algo distinto a un hombre.
Ya que el libro esta plagado de personajes femeninos que no giran en torno a un hombre, si no a la aventura de la vida. Disfruté mucho la historia por su sencillez y por la manera en que esta narrada.
October 5, 2018
Yazarın yazdığı hee kitabı çok seviyorum. Bu kitabı da beni hayal kırıklığına uğratmadı 👌 Kitapta bahsedilen mektup ve Agnes'ın maceralarını büyük bir merakla okudum. Günümüzden bahsedildiği bölümde ise Victoria ve annesinin hayatı ve olayların nasıl geliştiği biraz daha ayrıntılı olabilirdi diye düşünüyorum 😉
May 29, 2019
Beni biraz yoran bir kitap oldu. Freeman’ın harika kitaplarını okudum, ama bu kadar zorla ilerlediğim ve karışık bir kitabı olmamıştı. Sonunu harika bağlamış her zaman ki gibi bunu inkar edemem, keşke 500 küsür sayfa yerine 350-400 olsaymış ve daha sade olsaymış işte o zaman diğer muhteşem kitapları gibi olurmuş. Fazla uzatılmış ve kısır döngü içinde dönen bir hikaye olarak uzun süre ilerliyor. Sadece sonu için de 500 sayfa okunur mu buna da siz karar verin bence. Geçmiş ve günümüz olarak ilerliyor kitap. Kısacası zorla ilerleyip sonunu çok beğendiğim bir kitap oldu. Karar sizin.
March 25, 2017
Kimberley Freeman has given us a wonderful story of women, courage and adventure. Her Agnes Resolute is resolute and much more besides, such a good, kind, strong young woman who sets out on a quest for the mother who left her but never forgot her. There is a modern frame story of a mother and daughter losing one another and then finding one another again, together seeking the truth about Agnes and her mother. Impeccable research, careful structure and wonderful characters add up to give us Kimberley's best so far, and as her fans know, it has many great books to compete with!
June 3, 2018
δεν ξέρω αν θα μπορούσε να το κάνει αυτο το ταξείδι μια 20χρονη.... δεν μπήκα σαυτη τη διαδικασία να το σκεφτω.... εμενα με ταξειδεψε. Κι αυτο μετραει
May 21, 2019
Θάλασσα γεμάτη αστέρια - Κίμπερλι Φρίμαν
Τρεις ιστορίες που περιπλέκονται λόγω ενός μισοτελειωμένου γράμματος, ενός κουμπιού και ενός ωκεανού ανάμεσά τους :
Η μελαγχολική απόγνωση της Τόρι του σήμερα που δεν μπορεί να κάνει παιδιά και που προσπαθεί να βρει κάπου να πιαστεί καθώς παραπαίει μπροστά στον ωκεανό της χαμένης μνήμης της μητέρας της, για την οποία έχει ταξιδέψει ως την Αυστραλία για να τη φροντίσει. Η θλίψη της πολύφερνης νέας Moineau στα 1855 που ξεχύνεται σε ένα γράμμα προς το χαμένο της παιδί για τον καταδικασμένο της έρωτα με τον ξυλουργό Εμίλ που έχει τα δικά του μυστικά. Και το θαρραλέο πείσμα της Άγκνες στα 1874 που από το ίδρυμα στο οποίο έχει μεγαλώσει ως έκθετο, κινεί γη κι ουρανό και ταξιδεύει ηπείρους και ωκεανούς για βρει την άγνωστη μητέρα της.
Ζωντανές περιγραφές, όπου π.χ. η εγκατάλειψη της άλλοτε καλλιεργημένης προσωπικότητας της μητέρας είναι διανθισμένη με άπειρα κίτρινα χαρτάκια κολλημένα εδώ κι εκεί. Ή το παλιό κτίριο με τα σκούρα ξύλα, τα στριμωγμένα όνειρα των παιδιών στο ίδρυμα, όπου η Άγκνες ονειρεύεται να βρει τη θέση της στον κόσμο. Ή η ζοφερή εξοχή με τις συνεδρίες της θείας για τον πεθαμένο σύζυγό της εκεί όπου περιπλέκεται ένα ειδύλλιο στο ξέφωτο με το δέντρο γεμάτο κορδέλες για τάματα. Το πιο δυνατό τμήμα είναι φυσικά η Άγκνες με το μαχητικό της πνεύμα ενάντια σε όλες τις προβλέψεις, όπως και η ανατροπή προς το τέλος του βιβλίου. Ο πιο συμπαθητικός χαρακτήρας είναι η ... Τζακ, αλλά ο πιο αληθινός είναι η Τόρι (της οποίας την κατάσταση ταυτίστηκα γιατί έχω ζήσει προσωπικά παρόμοια). Το τέλος είναι ικανοποιητικό, λίγο η συνταγή τείνει να γίνει μανιέρα αλλά έχει ενδιαφέροντα συστατικά και δημιουργεί ένα ωραίο αποτέλεσμα.
Three stories which are linked by an unfinished letter, a button and an ocean between them:
The melancholic despair of today's Torie, who can't have children, and who is trying to find somewhere to rely on, while she's sinking in the ocean of her mother's lost memory for whom she has traveled to Australia to take care of her. The sadness of the rich young Moineau in 1855, that she's unfolding in a letter to her lost child about her condemned love with a carpenter named Emil who has his own secrets. And the bold stubbornness of Agnes in 1874, who begins from the place where she has grown up to as an abandoned child, moves heaven and earth and crosses whole continents and oceans to find her unknown mother.
Live descriptions where, for example, the abandonment of the formerly cultivated personality of the mother is embellished with the infinite yellow papers, which are stuck here and there. Or the old building with dark woods and the cramped dreams of the children in the institution, where Agnes dreams of finding her place in the world. Or the gloomy countryside with the aunt's sessions for her dead husband where a romance is blooming in the clearing with the tree full of ribbons for oblations. The strongest part is, of course, Agnes with her fierce spirit against all odds, as well as the overturning towards the end of the book. The most sympathetic character is ... Jack, but the most real is Torie (whose situation I empathize because I have experienced personally a similar situation). The end is satisfactory, just the plot tends to become predictable but it has interesting ingredients and creates a nice result.
Τρεις ιστορίες που περιπλέκονται λόγω ενός μισοτελειωμένου γράμματος, ενός κουμπιού και ενός ωκεανού ανάμεσά τους :
Η μελαγχολική απόγνωση της Τόρι του σήμερα που δεν μπορεί να κάνει παιδιά και που προσπαθεί να βρει κάπου να πιαστεί καθώς παραπαίει μπροστά στον ωκεανό της χαμένης μνήμης της μητέρας της, για την οποία έχει ταξιδέψει ως την Αυστραλία για να τη φροντίσει. Η θλίψη της πολύφερνης νέας Moineau στα 1855 που ξεχύνεται σε ένα γράμμα προς το χαμένο της παιδί για τον καταδικασμένο της έρωτα με τον ξυλουργό Εμίλ που έχει τα δικά του μυστικά. Και το θαρραλέο πείσμα της Άγκνες στα 1874 που από το ίδρυμα στο οποίο έχει μεγαλώσει ως έκθετο, κινεί γη κι ουρανό και ταξιδεύει ηπείρους και ωκεανούς για βρει την άγνωστη μητέρα της.
Ζωντανές περιγραφές, όπου π.χ. η εγκατάλειψη της άλλοτε καλλιεργημένης προσωπικότητας της μητέρας είναι διανθισμένη με άπειρα κίτρινα χαρτάκια κολλημένα εδώ κι εκεί. Ή το παλιό κτίριο με τα σκούρα ξύλα, τα στριμωγμένα όνειρα των παιδιών στο ίδρυμα, όπου η Άγκνες ονειρεύεται να βρει τη θέση της στον κόσμο. Ή η ζοφερή εξοχή με τις συνεδρίες της θείας για τον πεθαμένο σύζυγό της εκεί όπου περιπλέκεται ένα ειδύλλιο στο ξέφωτο με το δέντρο γεμάτο κορδέλες για τάματα. Το πιο δυνατό τμήμα είναι φυσικά η Άγκνες με το μαχητικό της πνεύμα ενάντια σε όλες τις προβλέψεις, όπως και η ανατροπή προς το τέλος του βιβλίου. Ο πιο συμπαθητικός χαρακτήρας είναι η ... Τζακ, αλλά ο πιο αληθινός είναι η Τόρι (της οποίας την κατάσταση ταυτίστηκα γιατί έχω ζήσει προσωπικά παρόμοια). Το τέλος είναι ικανοποιητικό, λίγο η συνταγή τείνει να γίνει μανιέρα αλλά έχει ενδιαφέροντα συστατικά και δημιουργεί ένα ωραίο αποτέλεσμα.
Three stories which are linked by an unfinished letter, a button and an ocean between them:
The melancholic despair of today's Torie, who can't have children, and who is trying to find somewhere to rely on, while she's sinking in the ocean of her mother's lost memory for whom she has traveled to Australia to take care of her. The sadness of the rich young Moineau in 1855, that she's unfolding in a letter to her lost child about her condemned love with a carpenter named Emil who has his own secrets. And the bold stubbornness of Agnes in 1874, who begins from the place where she has grown up to as an abandoned child, moves heaven and earth and crosses whole continents and oceans to find her unknown mother.
Live descriptions where, for example, the abandonment of the formerly cultivated personality of the mother is embellished with the infinite yellow papers, which are stuck here and there. Or the old building with dark woods and the cramped dreams of the children in the institution, where Agnes dreams of finding her place in the world. Or the gloomy countryside with the aunt's sessions for her dead husband where a romance is blooming in the clearing with the tree full of ribbons for oblations. The strongest part is, of course, Agnes with her fierce spirit against all odds, as well as the overturning towards the end of the book. The most sympathetic character is ... Jack, but the most real is Torie (whose situation I empathize because I have experienced personally a similar situation). The end is satisfactory, just the plot tends to become predictable but it has interesting ingredients and creates a nice result.
May 21, 2017
http://jessjustreads.com
This historical fiction novel by Kimberley Freeman moves between past and present. The book opens in the present (no specific year mentioned) with a young woman named Victoria travelling from Australia to England to assist her ill mother, who has had an accident at work and is currently in recovery. Victoria helps her mother recover some documents from her workplace and then she finds a letter from the 19th century. It’s a letter from an unknown woman to her child that she gave away. Victoria reads the letter and becomes enthralled in the circumstances surrounding it.
The letter then abruptly cuts off and the novel takes us back to Agnes Resolute’s story in the mid 19th century. She is on a desperate search to find her birth mother and this search takes her to London, Paris, Ceylon and then on to Australia. It’s a novel about loss, love, identity and family.
“Even though Harriet adored me, even though she didn’t believe women should be so constrained as we are, she used all the words I expected. ‘Improper’ and ‘unsuitable’: even ‘shocking’ and ‘indecent’.
‘Emile Venson is a carpenter,’ she said to me at the end. ‘You cannot fall in love with a carpenter.’
Kimberley Freeman has crafted an enjoyable historical fiction novel. The transition between past and present is smooth and not confusing at all, and the writing is effortless. The storyline keeps readers on their toes and eager to find out more, and the huge cast of characters are interesting to read and engaging for the reader.
Agnes spends almost the entire novel following Genevieve Breckby, an allusive woman that Agnes believes is her mother. Genevieve is hard to track down. First, Agnes travels to London and works for a time with Genevieve’s sister Marianna and Genevieve’s son Julius. And then she continues to follow the woman's trail all the way to Australia. Kimberley Freeman constantly flicks between past and present as Victoria finds out more information about the illusive woman who has written this letter. The reader then finds out all the circumstances of the birth because the actual story is being detailed intermittently as well.
“Agnes’ heart fell all the way to her toes. This house did not look inhabited, just like the house in Colombo. That meant she was miles and miles from anywhere, without means to return to the village — and, quite honestly, barely any idea which way the village lay — and evening was approaching.”
I felt like Agnes wasn’t a very likeable protagonist. She came across extremely naive and there were a few parts in the novel where I could sense exactly what was going to happen. When she decides to sleep at the abandoned train station, I knew she was going to wake up to find that her suitcase had been stolen. And when she arrives in London and is accommodated by Madame Beaulieu, I could tell that Beaulieu was a running a brothel and would no doubt be an antagonist in the novel. Everyone seemed to know it but Agnes, and when Madame Beaulieu took her purse and wouldn’t give her back her money, I was not surprised in the least.
“After her encounter with Monsieur Valois, she was more certain than ever that she would not sell her body as Madame Beaulieu wanted her to, and no amount of vile menial work would have her change her mind. She could endure it; it wasn’t forever.”
I know that Agnes is supposed to be in her late teens, but Kimberley dropped a lot of hints and things then became a little predictable. Agnes’ nativity became a little exhausting, thus making her an unlikable character. The ending to the novel, which I won’t give away in this review, was also something that I found predictable. I picked the ‘twist’ about 100 pages into the book, feeling like Kimberley made it too easy for the reader and that there were a lot of hints and comments that gave away the ending.
I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction — while it has some flaws, it is interesting and enjoyable. Kimberley has illustrated all of the different settings so well; she has captured the feel and atmosphere of each location with great skill. And as far as historical fiction goes, the story is intriguing and engaging and you’ll want to read right until the end.
This historical fiction novel by Kimberley Freeman moves between past and present. The book opens in the present (no specific year mentioned) with a young woman named Victoria travelling from Australia to England to assist her ill mother, who has had an accident at work and is currently in recovery. Victoria helps her mother recover some documents from her workplace and then she finds a letter from the 19th century. It’s a letter from an unknown woman to her child that she gave away. Victoria reads the letter and becomes enthralled in the circumstances surrounding it.
The letter then abruptly cuts off and the novel takes us back to Agnes Resolute’s story in the mid 19th century. She is on a desperate search to find her birth mother and this search takes her to London, Paris, Ceylon and then on to Australia. It’s a novel about loss, love, identity and family.
“Even though Harriet adored me, even though she didn’t believe women should be so constrained as we are, she used all the words I expected. ‘Improper’ and ‘unsuitable’: even ‘shocking’ and ‘indecent’.
‘Emile Venson is a carpenter,’ she said to me at the end. ‘You cannot fall in love with a carpenter.’
Kimberley Freeman has crafted an enjoyable historical fiction novel. The transition between past and present is smooth and not confusing at all, and the writing is effortless. The storyline keeps readers on their toes and eager to find out more, and the huge cast of characters are interesting to read and engaging for the reader.
Agnes spends almost the entire novel following Genevieve Breckby, an allusive woman that Agnes believes is her mother. Genevieve is hard to track down. First, Agnes travels to London and works for a time with Genevieve’s sister Marianna and Genevieve’s son Julius. And then she continues to follow the woman's trail all the way to Australia. Kimberley Freeman constantly flicks between past and present as Victoria finds out more information about the illusive woman who has written this letter. The reader then finds out all the circumstances of the birth because the actual story is being detailed intermittently as well.
“Agnes’ heart fell all the way to her toes. This house did not look inhabited, just like the house in Colombo. That meant she was miles and miles from anywhere, without means to return to the village — and, quite honestly, barely any idea which way the village lay — and evening was approaching.”
I felt like Agnes wasn’t a very likeable protagonist. She came across extremely naive and there were a few parts in the novel where I could sense exactly what was going to happen. When she decides to sleep at the abandoned train station, I knew she was going to wake up to find that her suitcase had been stolen. And when she arrives in London and is accommodated by Madame Beaulieu, I could tell that Beaulieu was a running a brothel and would no doubt be an antagonist in the novel. Everyone seemed to know it but Agnes, and when Madame Beaulieu took her purse and wouldn’t give her back her money, I was not surprised in the least.
“After her encounter with Monsieur Valois, she was more certain than ever that she would not sell her body as Madame Beaulieu wanted her to, and no amount of vile menial work would have her change her mind. She could endure it; it wasn’t forever.”
I know that Agnes is supposed to be in her late teens, but Kimberley dropped a lot of hints and things then became a little predictable. Agnes’ nativity became a little exhausting, thus making her an unlikable character. The ending to the novel, which I won’t give away in this review, was also something that I found predictable. I picked the ‘twist’ about 100 pages into the book, feeling like Kimberley made it too easy for the reader and that there were a lot of hints and comments that gave away the ending.
I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction — while it has some flaws, it is interesting and enjoyable. Kimberley has illustrated all of the different settings so well; she has captured the feel and atmosphere of each location with great skill. And as far as historical fiction goes, the story is intriguing and engaging and you’ll want to read right until the end.
June 18, 2021
4.5 stars! This book was very enjoyable. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was good and the story kept me interested. Although it’s obvious to guess part of Agnes’s mystery, there is still more to learn and the adventure is fun to follow along. I enjoyed the three stories and how they were interwoven. Agnes is such a fun character. I loved her honesty, compassion, and willingness to befriend anyone (even though she did embellish the truth at times). Clean read
October 12, 2019
#beendet
🐭 🐭 🐭 🐭 🐭
Kimberly Freeman
"Sterne über dem Meer"
- Roman -
Sehr einfühlsam und ohne kitschig zu sein erzählt die Autorin die Geschichte über Agnes und ihre Suche nach ihrer Mutter.
Sie konnte mich von Beginn an für sich einnehmen und mit jeder Seite hat mich die Geschichte mehr fesseln können.
Für mich ein Buch, das ich mich begeistert hat und eine sehr gelungene Erzählung ist.
🐭 🐭 🐭 🐭 🐭
Kimberly Freeman
"Sterne über dem Meer"
- Roman -
Sehr einfühlsam und ohne kitschig zu sein erzählt die Autorin die Geschichte über Agnes und ihre Suche nach ihrer Mutter.
Sie konnte mich von Beginn an für sich einnehmen und mit jeder Seite hat mich die Geschichte mehr fesseln können.
Für mich ein Buch, das ich mich begeistert hat und eine sehr gelungene Erzählung ist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews