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The Garden of Lost and Found
Nightingale House, 1919. Liddy Horner discovers her husband, the world-famous artist Sir Edward Horner, burning his best-known painting The Garden of Lost and Found days before his sudden death.
Nightingale House was the Horner family's beloved home - a gem of design created to inspire happiness - and it was here Ned painted 'The Garden of Lost and Found', capturing his children on a perfect day, playing in the rambling Eden he and Liddy made for them.
One magical moment. Before it all came tumbling down...
When Ned and Liddy's great-granddaughter Juliet is sent the key to Nightingale House, she opens the door onto a forgotten world. The house holds its mysteries close but she is in search of answers. For who would choose to destroy what they love most? Whether Ned's masterpiece - or, in Juliet's case, her own children's happiness.
Something shattered this corner of paradise. But what?
Nightingale House was the Horner family's beloved home - a gem of design created to inspire happiness - and it was here Ned painted 'The Garden of Lost and Found', capturing his children on a perfect day, playing in the rambling Eden he and Liddy made for them.
One magical moment. Before it all came tumbling down...
When Ned and Liddy's great-granddaughter Juliet is sent the key to Nightingale House, she opens the door onto a forgotten world. The house holds its mysteries close but she is in search of answers. For who would choose to destroy what they love most? Whether Ned's masterpiece - or, in Juliet's case, her own children's happiness.
Something shattered this corner of paradise. But what?
555 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2019
606 people are currently reading
7242 people want to read
About the author
Harriet Evans
109 books1,206 followersI was born in London and grew up there. I was very bookish, and had a huge imagination which used to cause me to get rather anxious at times. Now I know it's a good thing for a writer to have. I loved musicals, and playing imaginative games, and my Barbie perfume making kit. Most of all I loved reading. I read everything, but I also read lots of things over and over, which I think is so important.
At university I read Classical Studies, which is a great way of finding out that the world doesn't change much and people make the same mistakes but it's interesting to look at why. I was at Bristol, and i loved the city, making new friends, being a new person.
After university I came back to London and got a job in publishing. I loved working in publishing so much, and really felt for the first time in my life that when I spoke people understood what I was saying. Book people are good people. I became an editor after a few years, working with many bestselling novelists, and in 2009 I left to write full time.
I've written 13 novels and several short stories and one Quick Read, which is an excellent way of getting people into reading more. I've acquired a partner and two children along the way.
In 2019 we moved to Bath, out of London, and I am very happy there. We live opposite a hedgerow, and I can be boring about gardening, and there's room for my collection of jumpsuits and all our books. We have lots of books. Apart from anything else they keep the house warm. xxx
At university I read Classical Studies, which is a great way of finding out that the world doesn't change much and people make the same mistakes but it's interesting to look at why. I was at Bristol, and i loved the city, making new friends, being a new person.
After university I came back to London and got a job in publishing. I loved working in publishing so much, and really felt for the first time in my life that when I spoke people understood what I was saying. Book people are good people. I became an editor after a few years, working with many bestselling novelists, and in 2009 I left to write full time.
I've written 13 novels and several short stories and one Quick Read, which is an excellent way of getting people into reading more. I've acquired a partner and two children along the way.
In 2019 we moved to Bath, out of London, and I am very happy there. We live opposite a hedgerow, and I can be boring about gardening, and there's room for my collection of jumpsuits and all our books. We have lots of books. Apart from anything else they keep the house warm. xxx
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews
June 27, 2021
This book has taken me nearly two months to read, which is totally shameful for me, despite the fact I didn't love the book, I usually wrap things up faster than that. The Garden of Lost and Found is a book I bought on a whim, purely because of the beautiful cover, and, because I adore books set around gardens, and even grand old buildings.
Around a quarter of the way in, I realised that much of the focus was on a house, and not the garden, which was slightly confusing, as well as disappointing. I expected to be whisked away to a garden full of memories, but instead, I was taken to a family, with multiple problems, and an uncomfortable environment. That's great, but it had nothing to do with the garden.
I had major issues with the characters. I couldn't engage with them, and I definitely didn't like any of them. Our main character, Juliet, was way too soft, and just let her kids walk all over her, and as for her husband, well, I could write an essay on that unworthy dick.
When the book jumped back in time, which was always rather abruptly, it was difficult to keep up with what was happening, and the relevance it had to the present day wasn't clear. I enjoyed the historical parts of the story more than the present day, and I would have appreciated more history behind it, too.
The ending was definitely anticlimactic for me, as nothing really happened, and here I am, feeling rather let down by this initially promising book.
Around a quarter of the way in, I realised that much of the focus was on a house, and not the garden, which was slightly confusing, as well as disappointing. I expected to be whisked away to a garden full of memories, but instead, I was taken to a family, with multiple problems, and an uncomfortable environment. That's great, but it had nothing to do with the garden.
I had major issues with the characters. I couldn't engage with them, and I definitely didn't like any of them. Our main character, Juliet, was way too soft, and just let her kids walk all over her, and as for her husband, well, I could write an essay on that unworthy dick.
When the book jumped back in time, which was always rather abruptly, it was difficult to keep up with what was happening, and the relevance it had to the present day wasn't clear. I enjoyed the historical parts of the story more than the present day, and I would have appreciated more history behind it, too.
The ending was definitely anticlimactic for me, as nothing really happened, and here I am, feeling rather let down by this initially promising book.
September 15, 2019
The title, ‘The Garden of Lost and Found’ actually refers to a painting. It’s a dual time story, beginning in the late 1800s/1900s with the story of Lydia (Liddy) Desart Horner and her family and alternating with a timeframe in 2014 with her great grand-daughter, Juliet Horner. The family home, Nightingale House, is the glue that binds both strands of the story together and is a wonderful character in its own right.
This is an epic family drama, spanning the generations of the lives, loves and tragedies of the Dysarts and Horners – my proof copy was just over 550 pages however I was enthralled throughout with the lives of the Horner family. Lydia’s marriage to Ned, his rise to fame as an artist and subsequent fall back down. Her backstory together with that of her brother and sister was heart wrenching at times and in the modern day, Juliet’s life was just a car crash of disorganisation and muddleness (if there is such a word!). Of all the characters, she frustrated me the most. She was very engaging but life and especially motherhood seemed to be a huge challenge. I just wanted her to get a grip of her life, her miserable marriage, have some control over her rude and disrespectful children and regain her self respect and happiness. Although having said that, I think that Bea was the child that I felt the most sorry for. At just 15 and struggling to find out where she fitted in, she needed a lot of support which her family seemed oblivious to for much of the time.
I loved the rich detail of this story – the vivid descriptions of the house and gardens, the well developed characters, the trials and tribulations they faced, it was captivating. There must have been quite a lot of research which has gone into this book and it shows in the detail with various historical references. One thing I especially enjoyed were scenes involving the dolls house, which was made for Liddy and is a replica of Nightingale House. I’ve always been fascinated by dolls house and the detailed miniatures for them.
The Garden of Lost and Found is one of those stories that you could lose yourself in for hours. There are family secrets to be discovered and surprises along the way. I loved it and think it’s probably one of my favourite books by Harriet Evans so far.
This is an epic family drama, spanning the generations of the lives, loves and tragedies of the Dysarts and Horners – my proof copy was just over 550 pages however I was enthralled throughout with the lives of the Horner family. Lydia’s marriage to Ned, his rise to fame as an artist and subsequent fall back down. Her backstory together with that of her brother and sister was heart wrenching at times and in the modern day, Juliet’s life was just a car crash of disorganisation and muddleness (if there is such a word!). Of all the characters, she frustrated me the most. She was very engaging but life and especially motherhood seemed to be a huge challenge. I just wanted her to get a grip of her life, her miserable marriage, have some control over her rude and disrespectful children and regain her self respect and happiness. Although having said that, I think that Bea was the child that I felt the most sorry for. At just 15 and struggling to find out where she fitted in, she needed a lot of support which her family seemed oblivious to for much of the time.
I loved the rich detail of this story – the vivid descriptions of the house and gardens, the well developed characters, the trials and tribulations they faced, it was captivating. There must have been quite a lot of research which has gone into this book and it shows in the detail with various historical references. One thing I especially enjoyed were scenes involving the dolls house, which was made for Liddy and is a replica of Nightingale House. I’ve always been fascinated by dolls house and the detailed miniatures for them.
The Garden of Lost and Found is one of those stories that you could lose yourself in for hours. There are family secrets to be discovered and surprises along the way. I loved it and think it’s probably one of my favourite books by Harriet Evans so far.
March 14, 2019
I've been totally absorbed by Harriet Evans's recent family sagas, especially The Butterfly Summer and The Wildflowers, so I found The Garden of Lost and Found to be a real disappointment, despite its beautiful cover. The novel switches between two intertwined timelines; in the present day, Juliet, working at an art dealer's, loses her job at the same time that her marriage falls apart. Unexpectedly inheriting her family's ancestral home, where the Edwardian painter Ned Horner produced his most famous work, offers her a lifeline - but what family secrets will she uncover? In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, two sisters, Liddy and Mary, suffer in an oppressive household, until Liddy's marriage to the painter, Ned Horner, offers them a way out. But why will Ned ultimately burn his most significant painting, 'The Garden of Lost and Found'?
Neither timeline held my interest. Juliet's story feels a bit chick-litty, and drags on for far too many pages, whereas the historical thread was just silly and melodramatic. The pace was very slow, and I wasn't convinced by most of the characters, especially Liddy, Mary and Ned. One saving grace, as ever, is Evans's gift for writing teenagers and children - I loved the sympathetic description of Juliet's relationship with her teenage daughter, Bea, and her younger daughter, Isla, who is obsessed with the Ancient Egyptians, is absolutely hilarious. But as neither Bea nor Isla are especially central to the plot, this failed to lift a long and confusing novel. I hope Evans's next book is back to her usual standard, as I found both The Butterfly Summer and The Wildflowers much more original. Two and a half stars.
I received a proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
Neither timeline held my interest. Juliet's story feels a bit chick-litty, and drags on for far too many pages, whereas the historical thread was just silly and melodramatic. The pace was very slow, and I wasn't convinced by most of the characters, especially Liddy, Mary and Ned. One saving grace, as ever, is Evans's gift for writing teenagers and children - I loved the sympathetic description of Juliet's relationship with her teenage daughter, Bea, and her younger daughter, Isla, who is obsessed with the Ancient Egyptians, is absolutely hilarious. But as neither Bea nor Isla are especially central to the plot, this failed to lift a long and confusing novel. I hope Evans's next book is back to her usual standard, as I found both The Butterfly Summer and The Wildflowers much more original. Two and a half stars.
I received a proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
April 18, 2019
It’s been a while since I read a family saga but I was quickly reminded of why they make such engrossing stories. Especially when they are as brilliantly written as this one. It took just a few pages for me to be swept along and become absolutely captivated.
The Garden of Lost and Found is centred around the Horner family and a painting. Ned Horner used to be quite the well-known artist and “The Garden of Lost and Found” was his masterpiece. It captured his children on a beautiful day, playing in the garden of their beloved home, Nightingale House. But in 1919, a few days before his death, Ned destroys the painting.
Now, Ned’s great-granddaughter Juliet returns to Nightingale House for the first time since her grandmother died. True to form, there are a lot of family secrets to discover but most importantly, there is a mystery to be solved. Because what could possibly have driven Ned to destroy his most famous painting?
The Garden of Lost and Found is full of complex characters, some a bit more flawed and unlikeable than others, yet all incredibly realistic and believable. For most of the novel, I was mostly drawn to the chapters set in the past. I suspect that’s the crime fiction lover in me, who was desperately trying to figure out the answers before Juliet did in the modern day setting. And to be quite fair, her children drove me up the wall. Yet it also brought home how different things were generations back when the kind of behaviour they display wouldn’t have been tolerated for a second.
Despite having had The Wildflowers on my shelf for the longest time, this was my first introduction to Harriet Evans. I really enjoyed her writing style as it’s beautifully descriptive. At times it felt as if I was right there at Nightingale House, hearing the rain patter on the windows, smelling the glorious scents from the garden, maybe even hear a mouse skitter across the floorboards.
At almost 500 pages, this isn’t exactly a quick read but at no point did it drag or become boring. It never felt like a long book as I became completely immersed and invested in these characters’ lives, losing myself within the pages. The Garden of Lost and Found is an engrossing, enchanting and sometimes emotional story about family, love and secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these characters and I will definitely be reading more by Harriet Evans.
The Garden of Lost and Found is centred around the Horner family and a painting. Ned Horner used to be quite the well-known artist and “The Garden of Lost and Found” was his masterpiece. It captured his children on a beautiful day, playing in the garden of their beloved home, Nightingale House. But in 1919, a few days before his death, Ned destroys the painting.
Now, Ned’s great-granddaughter Juliet returns to Nightingale House for the first time since her grandmother died. True to form, there are a lot of family secrets to discover but most importantly, there is a mystery to be solved. Because what could possibly have driven Ned to destroy his most famous painting?
The Garden of Lost and Found is full of complex characters, some a bit more flawed and unlikeable than others, yet all incredibly realistic and believable. For most of the novel, I was mostly drawn to the chapters set in the past. I suspect that’s the crime fiction lover in me, who was desperately trying to figure out the answers before Juliet did in the modern day setting. And to be quite fair, her children drove me up the wall. Yet it also brought home how different things were generations back when the kind of behaviour they display wouldn’t have been tolerated for a second.
Despite having had The Wildflowers on my shelf for the longest time, this was my first introduction to Harriet Evans. I really enjoyed her writing style as it’s beautifully descriptive. At times it felt as if I was right there at Nightingale House, hearing the rain patter on the windows, smelling the glorious scents from the garden, maybe even hear a mouse skitter across the floorboards.
At almost 500 pages, this isn’t exactly a quick read but at no point did it drag or become boring. It never felt like a long book as I became completely immersed and invested in these characters’ lives, losing myself within the pages. The Garden of Lost and Found is an engrossing, enchanting and sometimes emotional story about family, love and secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with these characters and I will definitely be reading more by Harriet Evans.
December 3, 2019
Need to read this one with a family tree to hand and not one for dipping in and out of - great story line but the constant chopping and changing made it difficult to remember who was who - even at the last pages I was thinking - who was that? Worth the read if you can go for it in a shorter time frame than I did.
July 16, 2019
I'm a bit torn about this book, I liked the writing and liked the overall plot but didn't like most of the characters.
As others have said, this is a family saga, but what a horrible, dysfunctional family they are!
The great grandfather hires a nanny that physically abuses & torments his children.
When those children grow up they are quite awful to their own kids and to each other as well. Then in the modern day part of the story the main character has 3 horrible children of her own (they are so rude and badly behaved towards their mother that they almost made me stop reading the book).
None of them are kind or forgiving to each other, no-one welcomes the long lost relative back with open arms, no they get chased off and told never to come back on several occasions even though they did nothing wrong.
Surely the author could have given some of them some redeeming qualities?
As others have said, this is a family saga, but what a horrible, dysfunctional family they are!
The great grandfather hires a nanny that physically abuses & torments his children.
When those children grow up they are quite awful to their own kids and to each other as well. Then in the modern day part of the story the main character has 3 horrible children of her own (they are so rude and badly behaved towards their mother that they almost made me stop reading the book).
None of them are kind or forgiving to each other, no-one welcomes the long lost relative back with open arms, no they get chased off and told never to come back on several occasions even though they did nothing wrong.
Surely the author could have given some of them some redeeming qualities?
April 18, 2019
I loved this book and found it touched on so many current issues such as divorce and social media bullying which unfortunately is mentioned a lot these days. The story starts in the past and then comes forward to the present day and does this all through the book.
This didn’t spoil it for me at all it enhanced the story and I found it very interesting.
I hope to read more of Harriet Evans books in the future. This was sent to me by Netgalley for an honest review.
This didn’t spoil it for me at all it enhanced the story and I found it very interesting.
I hope to read more of Harriet Evans books in the future. This was sent to me by Netgalley for an honest review.
October 17, 2019
A truly magnificent read.
This magnificent dual timeline set in London and rural England had me gripped from the very first page.
It is a cleverly constructed story of hidden art, an old family home, and lots of secrets, twists and turns.
Harriet Evans is a new author to me; I love her writing style, and will be seeking more of her books.
This magnificent dual timeline set in London and rural England had me gripped from the very first page.
It is a cleverly constructed story of hidden art, an old family home, and lots of secrets, twists and turns.
Harriet Evans is a new author to me; I love her writing style, and will be seeking more of her books.
April 18, 2025
A wonderfully gripping family saga that nicely moves between the past and present.
The title of the novel relates to a painting, one that famous artist Ned Horner is buring in a moment of madness just days before his death in 1918.
The narrative also jumps to 2014 as his Great Granddaughter Juilet finds herself at a crossroads in her life.
Both an extract from The Guardian and a radio news report from John Humphrys is an excellent way of explaining how the rare masterpiece is going up for auction.
The narrative is very complex with lots of different time periods involved including the First World War and the 1870's.
Whilst the whole notion of why Ned would want to burn a beautiful picture adds an extra layer to the tale.
It's true that there's plenty of characters that at times can get a little bogged down, but it's also very driven by them too.
This was a first time read from this author, I liked her writing style and enjoyed that it demands you to pay attention.
The title of the novel relates to a painting, one that famous artist Ned Horner is buring in a moment of madness just days before his death in 1918.
The narrative also jumps to 2014 as his Great Granddaughter Juilet finds herself at a crossroads in her life.
Both an extract from The Guardian and a radio news report from John Humphrys is an excellent way of explaining how the rare masterpiece is going up for auction.
The narrative is very complex with lots of different time periods involved including the First World War and the 1870's.
Whilst the whole notion of why Ned would want to burn a beautiful picture adds an extra layer to the tale.
It's true that there's plenty of characters that at times can get a little bogged down, but it's also very driven by them too.
This was a first time read from this author, I liked her writing style and enjoyed that it demands you to pay attention.
June 15, 2021
This book took me forever to get through. It was very confusing with the constant back and forth between past and present. It took me ages to finally connect the pieces. I also couldn’t figure out why Juliet was a constant mess and was rooting for her to pull herself together, which never seemed to happen, if only slightly towards the end. The story was a bit of a rollercoaster of highs and lows. It would pick up in certain areas that were entertaining and then slow way down again. The overlapping ages of all the characters was confusing to me as well. I guess it’s safe to say the Horner’s have longevity on their side. It ended rather abruptly, but perhaps that was the intent. Tie all the pieces together and be done with it. Some parts were very moving and some parts were dull, but I guess you can’t have everything.
October 14, 2021
Really liked this book but a couple of questions not sure about by the end or would be a 5 ⭐️
November 28, 2019
La experiencia de lectura estuvo llena de contrastes. Hay dos líneas de tiempo: una, en mi opinión magnífica, y la otra con una protagonista nada empática. Me gustó mucho descubrir a esta autora.
April 30, 2019
I really liked the synopsis of this book, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations.
I don't care for books that jump back and forwards between time zones, the only purpose that seems to serve is to make for a longer book. The book was supposedly 320 pages, but I think it was twice this length.
The characters were confusing, who was related to whom. I didn't particularly like any of them, none of them stood out. All this, my love, darling etc became rather nauseous after a while.
It was a shame as the idea was good, but poorly executed. It didn't grip you, and for a book that length it really does need to.
My copy of the book was full of typos and badly formatted. One word on a line and then when conversations were going on, both on the same line. Confusing, but maybe that will be sorted for the production copy. Another big bug bear is lots of use of Italics. Very difficult to read for some people. The book also finished rather abruptly, and felt very odd.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review.
I don't care for books that jump back and forwards between time zones, the only purpose that seems to serve is to make for a longer book. The book was supposedly 320 pages, but I think it was twice this length.
The characters were confusing, who was related to whom. I didn't particularly like any of them, none of them stood out. All this, my love, darling etc became rather nauseous after a while.
It was a shame as the idea was good, but poorly executed. It didn't grip you, and for a book that length it really does need to.
My copy of the book was full of typos and badly formatted. One word on a line and then when conversations were going on, both on the same line. Confusing, but maybe that will be sorted for the production copy. Another big bug bear is lots of use of Italics. Very difficult to read for some people. The book also finished rather abruptly, and felt very odd.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for review.
March 1, 2021
I’ll be honest - Juliet annoyed me a bit at first. She seriously needed to get a grip on her life and stop being so passive and weak. However, I did enjoy the character development and I was close to liking her by the end. The dual timeline worked well for me and I had a strong sense of the setting of the house and garden. Characters were skilfully drawn and although I guessed some of the twists there was still plenty to surprise me. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend this book.
November 17, 2019
It’s a long time since I’ve read a proper ‘saga’ set over multiple generations of a family. Suzanne had read and given 5* so thought I would give it a try. Really very easy to read and an interesting story, I may well go back and pick up some more Harriet Evans.
November 17, 2022
Loved this, so many moments where my jaw dropped and I had to stop reading cos I was so mad I was shaking and had to rant to my husband about what was going on. My gosh, who knew the person who wrote my son's favourite book about a Crab could also write an absolute ass wipe of a character 🤣
November 29, 2019
An absolute stinker! Part chick-lit, part pantomime. Couldn’t finish it. Life is too short to waste it on this garbage. Where oh where are the good books these days?
April 25, 2019
Harriet Evans' new book The Garden of Lost and Found is an epic read at over 500 pages. It is a dual timeline story with two distinct narratives but the characters are connected through family and a painting that held many spellbound when it was first painted and exhibited to the world. The painting entitled The Garden of Lost and Found is a key feature in this book almost like a character in itself and it forms the backbone to this story around which everything else flows. The book starts off very very slowly and really does take some time to find its direction. Persistence is the key here, once you make it through the first half of the book things really do start to become much more clearer and I was glad I kept going with it. For there were times I felt like stopping and leaving it and I have never felt this way about this authors books before. But once I reached the halfway mark things really did take it off and I felt the second half more than made up for the first and I became much more engrossed in the overall story as things became apparent and endless twists and turns arose which kept me intrigued.
Family dynamics, motherhood and the way we are raised form the major themes of this book. The contrast between our two main female characters are many yet there are similarities to be found too. The brief prologue is interesting and really does set the scene for what is to unfold over many pages. Famous artist Ned Horner has just burned his most prominent work which held such special significance for his wife given she has endured such loss and hardship. She is torn in two, how could her husband do this as it is the last remaining link to her children? It is a graceful, magnificent and special moment captured at Nightingale House - two children playing in the garden while their mother sits indoors writing at a desk. What drove Ned to do this?
In the present day art historian Juliet Horner, the great granddaughter of Ned and Liddy, sees a sketch of the original painting come up for sale. But what intrigues her even more is when she receives a letter with a key. She is now the owner of Nightingale House which she finds surprising considering the last few years of estrangement from her grandmother Stella. What secrets are enshrined in the house and can Juliet be the one to uncover them? Is the time right for her to move or is it fate considering the sad state of her marriage to Matt and the discovery she will soon make? Juliet feels that things are all wrong and that she has messed up and that her family is spiralling out of control. A leap of faith is made, one which will test her and throw up many surprises and difficulties. She knows unless she takes this step and embraces the opportunity presented to her than her children will continue to suffer. A break with the chain is needed and I was ever so glad when she left Matt and brought the children Bea, Isla and Sandy to Nightingale House.
I thought there would have been a lot of digging in the past by Juliet in order to discover what actually did happen to the painting considering she had such a feeling of unfinished business when it came to the house. Instead for the majority of the book, the focus turned more on her relationship with her children and how she could break down the barriers especially with Bea. Bea was a wonderfully written character such thought went into creating her and her frustrations, hesitations and her traumas were dealt with so well. She was confused, hurt and exploring her way in the world and it was brilliant to have a young character with such complex issues.
If only Juliet could see beyond her own personal problems and reach out to her daughter but at times I thinks he was too caught up in her own world to see what was going on around her. Now was the time for her to fix her faults and become the woman who she wanted to be instead for someone who was lost. She needed to engage with her children and understand them better and then maybe other things would fall into place. As one line in the book said 'The future is yet unwritten. The past is burnt and gone'. I hoped Juliet would heed this advice and whilst doing so also delve a little bit into the past because some of the answers there might very well help her in the future. Juliet, to me, proved to be a frustrating character who always needed a shoulder to cry on and I didn't think she was always strong and able to get up and get motivated and change her fortunes and her family relationships and dynamics herself but maybe she was too constrained by her recent past and coming to Nightingale House would hopefully free her from the shackles she had become encased in.
In order to gain a deeper insight into Lydia and how a major life changing event came to feature in the prologue we are taken back to May 1891. Lydia lives with her sister Mary, brother Pertwee and their father. They lost their mother to small pox and now a family nanny has taken over the role of bringing them up. Lydia is a free spirit yet all the siblings are haunted by the loss of their mother. It doesn't help that things in the family home are not the way they should be. What follows are harsh and harrowing scenes and at times they were very difficult to read. I couldn't understand how certain things were allowed to happen. It all just seemed so evil and cruel. Lydia was resilient but deeply affected by her experiences and going against convention and order as we follow her over several years her life changes when she meets and is able to marry struggling artist Ned Horner.
We follow the pair over many years and it allows the reader to make comparisons and connections with Juliet in the present day. There is an awful lot that unfolds with Lydia and the timespan in which we follow her journey is quite long. She is brought to nothing time and time again and her marriage is complicated and life has many challenges, disappointments and heartbreak in store for her. But as I have mentioned I always questioned what was the big connection to the present day? Would there be shocking reveals and twists and turns? There were but it, as the story, was so slow in getting going I did think was a lot of the first half relevant and could it have been condensed down a bit?
The Garden of Lost and Found is a real character driven story and the author really takes the time to present detailed descriptions of the characters, their thoughts, motivations and feelings. Don't expect surprises and thrills with every turn of the page that's saved more for the last quarter or so. In fact right up until the last two pages there was even more being revealed which I thought was just too rushed given the length of the book and how long it had taken us to reach the point of discovery. The tying up of loose ends seemed abrupt and it was as if the author had forgotten one or two things she wanted to mention and felt the need to get them in right up until the last paragraph.
The Garden of Lost and Found is a very good book and you will be rewarded for your patience but in my opinion it is just too long and needed to be shortened. There seemed to be endless pages of narrative before the point was actually made where a paragraph or two would have sufficed. I thought things became bogged down in the first half and I found it challenging to see where the story was trying to go. Don't get me wrong, I love dual timeline stories especially ones which delve into the past and I like this new direction Harriet Evans is going in which is very different to her earlier books but here although there was something magical, alluring and captivating about the overall story and its themes it wasn't always quite pulled off given its length. The Garden of Lost and Found is a compelling book but its one which needs all of your attention. I was glad I continued on with it as the discoveries that followed more than made up for the first hal
Family dynamics, motherhood and the way we are raised form the major themes of this book. The contrast between our two main female characters are many yet there are similarities to be found too. The brief prologue is interesting and really does set the scene for what is to unfold over many pages. Famous artist Ned Horner has just burned his most prominent work which held such special significance for his wife given she has endured such loss and hardship. She is torn in two, how could her husband do this as it is the last remaining link to her children? It is a graceful, magnificent and special moment captured at Nightingale House - two children playing in the garden while their mother sits indoors writing at a desk. What drove Ned to do this?
In the present day art historian Juliet Horner, the great granddaughter of Ned and Liddy, sees a sketch of the original painting come up for sale. But what intrigues her even more is when she receives a letter with a key. She is now the owner of Nightingale House which she finds surprising considering the last few years of estrangement from her grandmother Stella. What secrets are enshrined in the house and can Juliet be the one to uncover them? Is the time right for her to move or is it fate considering the sad state of her marriage to Matt and the discovery she will soon make? Juliet feels that things are all wrong and that she has messed up and that her family is spiralling out of control. A leap of faith is made, one which will test her and throw up many surprises and difficulties. She knows unless she takes this step and embraces the opportunity presented to her than her children will continue to suffer. A break with the chain is needed and I was ever so glad when she left Matt and brought the children Bea, Isla and Sandy to Nightingale House.
I thought there would have been a lot of digging in the past by Juliet in order to discover what actually did happen to the painting considering she had such a feeling of unfinished business when it came to the house. Instead for the majority of the book, the focus turned more on her relationship with her children and how she could break down the barriers especially with Bea. Bea was a wonderfully written character such thought went into creating her and her frustrations, hesitations and her traumas were dealt with so well. She was confused, hurt and exploring her way in the world and it was brilliant to have a young character with such complex issues.
If only Juliet could see beyond her own personal problems and reach out to her daughter but at times I thinks he was too caught up in her own world to see what was going on around her. Now was the time for her to fix her faults and become the woman who she wanted to be instead for someone who was lost. She needed to engage with her children and understand them better and then maybe other things would fall into place. As one line in the book said 'The future is yet unwritten. The past is burnt and gone'. I hoped Juliet would heed this advice and whilst doing so also delve a little bit into the past because some of the answers there might very well help her in the future. Juliet, to me, proved to be a frustrating character who always needed a shoulder to cry on and I didn't think she was always strong and able to get up and get motivated and change her fortunes and her family relationships and dynamics herself but maybe she was too constrained by her recent past and coming to Nightingale House would hopefully free her from the shackles she had become encased in.
In order to gain a deeper insight into Lydia and how a major life changing event came to feature in the prologue we are taken back to May 1891. Lydia lives with her sister Mary, brother Pertwee and their father. They lost their mother to small pox and now a family nanny has taken over the role of bringing them up. Lydia is a free spirit yet all the siblings are haunted by the loss of their mother. It doesn't help that things in the family home are not the way they should be. What follows are harsh and harrowing scenes and at times they were very difficult to read. I couldn't understand how certain things were allowed to happen. It all just seemed so evil and cruel. Lydia was resilient but deeply affected by her experiences and going against convention and order as we follow her over several years her life changes when she meets and is able to marry struggling artist Ned Horner.
We follow the pair over many years and it allows the reader to make comparisons and connections with Juliet in the present day. There is an awful lot that unfolds with Lydia and the timespan in which we follow her journey is quite long. She is brought to nothing time and time again and her marriage is complicated and life has many challenges, disappointments and heartbreak in store for her. But as I have mentioned I always questioned what was the big connection to the present day? Would there be shocking reveals and twists and turns? There were but it, as the story, was so slow in getting going I did think was a lot of the first half relevant and could it have been condensed down a bit?
The Garden of Lost and Found is a real character driven story and the author really takes the time to present detailed descriptions of the characters, their thoughts, motivations and feelings. Don't expect surprises and thrills with every turn of the page that's saved more for the last quarter or so. In fact right up until the last two pages there was even more being revealed which I thought was just too rushed given the length of the book and how long it had taken us to reach the point of discovery. The tying up of loose ends seemed abrupt and it was as if the author had forgotten one or two things she wanted to mention and felt the need to get them in right up until the last paragraph.
The Garden of Lost and Found is a very good book and you will be rewarded for your patience but in my opinion it is just too long and needed to be shortened. There seemed to be endless pages of narrative before the point was actually made where a paragraph or two would have sufficed. I thought things became bogged down in the first half and I found it challenging to see where the story was trying to go. Don't get me wrong, I love dual timeline stories especially ones which delve into the past and I like this new direction Harriet Evans is going in which is very different to her earlier books but here although there was something magical, alluring and captivating about the overall story and its themes it wasn't always quite pulled off given its length. The Garden of Lost and Found is a compelling book but its one which needs all of your attention. I was glad I continued on with it as the discoveries that followed more than made up for the first hal
August 1, 2023
An enjoyable read. Settling in for a 500-ish page novel it did not disappoint. It contained a dual storyline which fitted nicely with the plot. It contained enough depth and story for me to sink into, but also the right amount of suspense to keep me interested right until the end. The gardening advice throughout was something I particularly enjoyed, as it really helped to build a visual image of the garden at Nightingale House.
Despite not warming to all the characters including Juliet, I still became invested in them and some parts of the plot had me feeling quite moved and emotional.
My only complaint is the complexity of the family links and generations as at times it became a little too difficult to keep up with, and the list of family members at the beginning of the book didn’t help much. I also felt that some of the minor characters just weren’t necessary and didn’t add to the main plot.
Despite not warming to all the characters including Juliet, I still became invested in them and some parts of the plot had me feeling quite moved and emotional.
My only complaint is the complexity of the family links and generations as at times it became a little too difficult to keep up with, and the list of family members at the beginning of the book didn’t help much. I also felt that some of the minor characters just weren’t necessary and didn’t add to the main plot.
July 30, 2022
2.5🌟
This book simply wasn't for me. I had moments of liking Juliet but on the whole didn't care about any of the characters. As the story switches between the past and present, the writing style changes, matching the time each part is set in. While it's done well, I personally didn't enjoy the reading experience. I felt that the back and forth messed with the pace and prevented momentum from building. Overall I was just left a bit bored tbh.
This book simply wasn't for me. I had moments of liking Juliet but on the whole didn't care about any of the characters. As the story switches between the past and present, the writing style changes, matching the time each part is set in. While it's done well, I personally didn't enjoy the reading experience. I felt that the back and forth messed with the pace and prevented momentum from building. Overall I was just left a bit bored tbh.
October 10, 2022
A well written tale of the history of a house and it’s family spread over generations. Story switches from past to present revealing the lives of the characters. A great read that unfolds to reveal secrets and intrigue.
August 7, 2021
The house became her world and the world shrank to only that, to John, her darling boy, and the grave of her little girl, buried still with the twigs and the leaves in her hair.
Alas, I am mad at myself yet again.
The Garden of Lost and Found would have easily made it on my all-time-favorites shelf if not for two things:
1. Juliet and her annoying children
2. The horribly busy week I had that did not allow me to enjoy this book in its entirety
Oh, I loved this book. Immensely. I always get so enthralled with novels set in a time way before our own, when pain and misery were common and (ironically) everything was so...innocent. I wish I had more time to read this book. I wish I was more patient with Juliet’s story. The Garden of Lost and Found is the type of novel that does not hesitate to show you the pain that is life. It is the type of book that wraps vines around your heart and squeezes and squeezes until your heart is equivalent to a piece of paper. I was transported to a world of pain and love and friendship and harsh brutalities that life is never easy.
1. Tragedy at every turn of a page, be it Juliet, Liddy, Mary, Dalbeattie, Ned, John...every single character has their woes, even little Sandy. I think this is something I really admired about this book, the fact that nobody had the perfect life, that no matter what life throws your way, you must learn to overcome it.
2. The casual Muslim Representation made me so happy: Zeina, a hijab-wearing Lawyer? Liddy quoting a verse from the Qur’an that she found resonated deeply within her? It is not yet the amount of representation I wish to see in novels, but it is representation all the same, and I cannot express how soft my heart was when I read these parts.
3. Despite having absolutely no magical aspects whatsoever, this book still did not fail to be exactly that: magical. There’s just something about a house and garden that is treasured within generations of a family and a lost painting capturing the innocence of childhood that does not fail to sprinkle a hefty dose of ethereal and mystical feelings to your day.
4. This is what I am talking about when I say I love family sagas. This is what I mean. A perfect transition from present to past. Mystery. Pain. Confusion. Lost love. The bonds of friendship and companionship and love and the extents to which one goes for the people they love.
5. There was so much history within these pages. The world-building and time setting was honestly spot-on; I really did feel like I was strolling the streets of London in the late 1800’s to 1900’s or lying in the soft grass of the garden in the Nightingale House or falling in love with a man who risked everything to be with me. It was surreal.
6. Juliet’s children about drove me crazy with anxiety. I am sure that was the author's intention, but I absolutely hated it. I hated Bea and Isla and Sandy and Matt. The irrational part of my brain wishes that this book was just about Ned and Liddy, but the rational part knows if Juliet’s part was taken out, The Garden of Lost and Found would lose its mysterious, magical appeal. So, as annoying as Juliet and her children were, stay they must.
7. I loved the nuggets of symbolism I found while reading. I was so intrigued by the name of the novel and Ned’s drawing that I really tried connecting every event-be it good or bad-that happened in this book to the name of the painting: The Garden of Lost and Found. There was not one moment where I could not relate any instance in the book to it...a first. Also, the symbolism of spring...so thought-provoking. It’s these type of things that make a book stick in your mind.
8. Can we talk about the soul-crushing love between Ned and Liddy and Mary and Dalbeattie? Love that survives wars and abusive nursemaids and distance and years and pain and death. That kind of love.
9. Sisterhood, years of pain and love bonding two sisters in a way so endearing to the heart. Family will always resurface, will always be tied, no matter what you try to do. Mary and Liddy reminded me of what I would do for my sisters and, honestly, need I say more?
The Garden of Lost and Found was a whimsical, magical, sad, surreal, mysterious, page-turning book that made ghosts swim out of pages and dance before my eyes. I don’t know what to tell you. I only wish that I had read this in one sitting rather than elongate it over 9 days-what blasphemy. I am very disappointed in myself, my procrastination and my busy schedule. Maybe I can hope to find a book that enticed the same nostalgic feeling The Garden of Lost and Found gave me? Is that such an impossible thing to ask?
February 11, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this, even though I got a bit lost by who was who at times but maybe that was just me. A book that was a joy to read and get lost in
April 16, 2019
A family saga spanning many generations. The bulk of the story is based around two main timelines, focusing on Ned and Liddy who lived in Nightingale House in 1919 and Juliet, their great-granddaughter, who inherits the house in the present day. Ned was a world famous painter who, days before his sudden death burns his most famous painting for no apparent reason. Generations later, Juliet, an art historian, is determined to find out why.
The common thread running through the book is Nightingale House and as such there is some structure to it and a carefully planned plot. Some of the individual family stories are interesting but the story of Liddy and her siblings’ childhood was a wonderful piece of writing which was both chilling and memorable. There are the makings of a really good book in there somewhere but unfortunately, in my view the overall execution was not a great success.
The flaws can be easily summed up: too many characters and too many words. The different generations of the family are very hard to disentangle initially and trying to work out who is related to who is a bit of a logistical nightmare. Also, there were very few characters who really stood out for me but this may be purely a function of the size of the cast list. However, this is a minor problem compared to the second issue. The book is huge – nearly 600 pages of very small print. A book of this size needs to be gripping and I’m afraid it plodded rather than gripped. This is a family saga of epic proportions but, as we all know, size isn’t everything and in this case I think smaller would undoubtedly have been better. It was just far too long and, as a result, was boring, slow and just not very memorable. After about the first 100 pages I’d virtually lost the will to live and found myself looking for excuses not to read any more. In fact, I very nearly gave up, something I rarely do but I decided to persevere and, to be fair, it did improve marginally. This was largely because the initial confusion over who was who began to resolve itself as I came to know the characters. However, it never gained enough momentum or generated enough interest for me to really care and I was very relieved to finish it. I’m really sorry that I didn’t enjoy it and I feel almost guilty because I’m sure a lot of work went into writing the book, but it just wasn’t for me.
This is the first Harriet Evans book I have read and I’m afraid it may be the last, especially if this is her typical writing style.
The common thread running through the book is Nightingale House and as such there is some structure to it and a carefully planned plot. Some of the individual family stories are interesting but the story of Liddy and her siblings’ childhood was a wonderful piece of writing which was both chilling and memorable. There are the makings of a really good book in there somewhere but unfortunately, in my view the overall execution was not a great success.
The flaws can be easily summed up: too many characters and too many words. The different generations of the family are very hard to disentangle initially and trying to work out who is related to who is a bit of a logistical nightmare. Also, there were very few characters who really stood out for me but this may be purely a function of the size of the cast list. However, this is a minor problem compared to the second issue. The book is huge – nearly 600 pages of very small print. A book of this size needs to be gripping and I’m afraid it plodded rather than gripped. This is a family saga of epic proportions but, as we all know, size isn’t everything and in this case I think smaller would undoubtedly have been better. It was just far too long and, as a result, was boring, slow and just not very memorable. After about the first 100 pages I’d virtually lost the will to live and found myself looking for excuses not to read any more. In fact, I very nearly gave up, something I rarely do but I decided to persevere and, to be fair, it did improve marginally. This was largely because the initial confusion over who was who began to resolve itself as I came to know the characters. However, it never gained enough momentum or generated enough interest for me to really care and I was very relieved to finish it. I’m really sorry that I didn’t enjoy it and I feel almost guilty because I’m sure a lot of work went into writing the book, but it just wasn’t for me.
This is the first Harriet Evans book I have read and I’m afraid it may be the last, especially if this is her typical writing style.
April 15, 2019
The Garden of Lost and Found is a sweeping, epic novel covering several generations of a family from the late 1800s to the present day. At more than 500 pages, it really does deserve that title epic although it really didn’t feel like a long book at all. I had saved it for reading on holiday so I could curl up and get lost in the story. Once I read the first few pages, I was hooked.
I really don’t want to give away too much about the plot but this is the story of a famous painting, a grand old house and a family living with secrets and tragedy. It is told mostly through the eyes of Liddy, who is the wife of famous artist Ned Horner and Juliet, her great granddaughter, with some glimpses into the lives of the generations in between.
One thing that really struck me when reading the book was the contrasts in family lives and experiences for the different generations. Juliet loves her children fiercely and while trying to do best for them, never seems to quite get it right, at least in her children’s eyes. Liddy and her siblings had a very different experience with a cruel nursemaid and a father who didn’t seem to notice or care. It was actually painful to read about Liddy’s childhood and how damaging it was to her. Not surprisingly, she was determined that her own children would know only love and kindness. Attitudes to all kinds of different relationships changed over time but what remained the same was the loving support of family and friends for Liddy and for Juliet.
Harriet Evans writes so beautifully that I was drawn into the world of Nightingale House. I could picture it so clearly in my mind whether it was the grand house that Ned and Liddy shared, the slightly decaying version that Juliet moves to or even the doll’s house version so loved by the children throughout the generations. She creates an image of a bygone golden era but shows also how it all came crashing down so suddenly, with the repercussions reverberating through the decades which followed.
I was completely enthralled by this book the whole time I was reading it, whether it was Juliet’s part of the story or Liddy’s. I found The Garden of Lost and Found to be a hugely satisfying read, a real contender for my top read this year. It is the first Harriet Evans book I’ve read but it definitely won’t be the last.
I really don’t want to give away too much about the plot but this is the story of a famous painting, a grand old house and a family living with secrets and tragedy. It is told mostly through the eyes of Liddy, who is the wife of famous artist Ned Horner and Juliet, her great granddaughter, with some glimpses into the lives of the generations in between.
One thing that really struck me when reading the book was the contrasts in family lives and experiences for the different generations. Juliet loves her children fiercely and while trying to do best for them, never seems to quite get it right, at least in her children’s eyes. Liddy and her siblings had a very different experience with a cruel nursemaid and a father who didn’t seem to notice or care. It was actually painful to read about Liddy’s childhood and how damaging it was to her. Not surprisingly, she was determined that her own children would know only love and kindness. Attitudes to all kinds of different relationships changed over time but what remained the same was the loving support of family and friends for Liddy and for Juliet.
Harriet Evans writes so beautifully that I was drawn into the world of Nightingale House. I could picture it so clearly in my mind whether it was the grand house that Ned and Liddy shared, the slightly decaying version that Juliet moves to or even the doll’s house version so loved by the children throughout the generations. She creates an image of a bygone golden era but shows also how it all came crashing down so suddenly, with the repercussions reverberating through the decades which followed.
I was completely enthralled by this book the whole time I was reading it, whether it was Juliet’s part of the story or Liddy’s. I found The Garden of Lost and Found to be a hugely satisfying read, a real contender for my top read this year. It is the first Harriet Evans book I’ve read but it definitely won’t be the last.
February 16, 2020
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this story, and the telling of the various connected strands through time. In the front story, Juliette is a strong and likeable heroine caught in a rut that will be very familiar to some, and struggling to remember who she was. The back story concerns the painting of the title, which was apparently destroyed by the artist and lost to the world. It was of his two children and his wife in the garden of the house Juliette inherits in the front story.
So that's the set up - is the painting really lost, what's the story behind the painting, and how does Juliette get her life back together. More than enough to keep me turning pages, and it did. As I said, I enjoyed this, but I do have a few quibbles. I think there was far too much story in the end, and overall the book suffered for that. There was too much to be unfolded, leaving insufficient words to spend on the interesting stuff - Juliette's new life, and Liddy's failing marriage. All the secondary characters were well-drawn, but there were too many of them. Ev, Juliette's childhood friend and boyfriend, was built up to be someone key, but in the end he wasn't more than a walk-on two. Her various friends in London and in the country too, played minor roles, and I felt that one would have done, and allowed her to have a couple of more meaningful scenes with them. Beatrice, her teenage daughter, was a story in itself, yet you got the impression that she was thrust centre stage at some points, then arbitrarily confined to the back stage as the story hurtled towards its conclusion. And finally Juliette's parents, and the one bit of the plot that I didn't buy. I don't want to spoil it, but they were more or less estranged from her. The reasons are explained, but given very little words, there's a quick reconciliation and we move on. This is the one bit of the plot that stopped me in my tracks (not in a good way) and again, I wonder if they were really essential, or if the other part of the story concerned (sorry to be cryptic) could have been unfolded in a different way.
But that said, I DID enjoy this - I'm always a bit pickier with a book I liked. And I will certainly be coming bac for more.
I enjoyed this story, and the telling of the various connected strands through time. In the front story, Juliette is a strong and likeable heroine caught in a rut that will be very familiar to some, and struggling to remember who she was. The back story concerns the painting of the title, which was apparently destroyed by the artist and lost to the world. It was of his two children and his wife in the garden of the house Juliette inherits in the front story.
So that's the set up - is the painting really lost, what's the story behind the painting, and how does Juliette get her life back together. More than enough to keep me turning pages, and it did. As I said, I enjoyed this, but I do have a few quibbles. I think there was far too much story in the end, and overall the book suffered for that. There was too much to be unfolded, leaving insufficient words to spend on the interesting stuff - Juliette's new life, and Liddy's failing marriage. All the secondary characters were well-drawn, but there were too many of them. Ev, Juliette's childhood friend and boyfriend, was built up to be someone key, but in the end he wasn't more than a walk-on two. Her various friends in London and in the country too, played minor roles, and I felt that one would have done, and allowed her to have a couple of more meaningful scenes with them. Beatrice, her teenage daughter, was a story in itself, yet you got the impression that she was thrust centre stage at some points, then arbitrarily confined to the back stage as the story hurtled towards its conclusion. And finally Juliette's parents, and the one bit of the plot that I didn't buy. I don't want to spoil it, but they were more or less estranged from her. The reasons are explained, but given very little words, there's a quick reconciliation and we move on. This is the one bit of the plot that stopped me in my tracks (not in a good way) and again, I wonder if they were really essential, or if the other part of the story concerned (sorry to be cryptic) could have been unfolded in a different way.
But that said, I DID enjoy this - I'm always a bit pickier with a book I liked. And I will certainly be coming bac for more.
May 23, 2020
The Garden Of Lost And Found by Harriet Evans is the most beautiful historical and contemporary epic novel that will ‘speak’ to your heart and soul.
The novel follows the generations of a family from 1880-1918 and then in present day. The bonds between a granddaughter and a grandmother are strong, surviving the grave.
Motherhood and the role of the female are explored. As the novel opens it is pre the suffragette movement, however little changes for females down the generations as the males dominate. The females are inwardly strong and this inner strength is their saving grace.
Our childhood influences the adults we become. Childhood nightmares and curses follow a character down the years.
Being a mother can be hard. I recognised myself in some of the contemporary breakfast scenes! – Trying to please all but ending up pleasing none.
One set of characters lived through World War I. It was billed as ‘exciting’ and ‘an adventure’. The reality was a bloodbath, from which, if you survived would haunt you for the rest of your life.
Nightingale House links the generations. It becomes a character in its own right. Harriet Evans painted its picture with her words so that I could ‘see’ the house.
I adored The Garden Of Lost And Found. I could not put it down, pausing only to sleep. Harriet Evans is a new author to me and oh how I adored her style of writing. She has been added to my ever growing list of favourite authors. I cannot wait to read more by her.
The novel follows the generations of a family from 1880-1918 and then in present day. The bonds between a granddaughter and a grandmother are strong, surviving the grave.
Motherhood and the role of the female are explored. As the novel opens it is pre the suffragette movement, however little changes for females down the generations as the males dominate. The females are inwardly strong and this inner strength is their saving grace.
Our childhood influences the adults we become. Childhood nightmares and curses follow a character down the years.
Being a mother can be hard. I recognised myself in some of the contemporary breakfast scenes! – Trying to please all but ending up pleasing none.
One set of characters lived through World War I. It was billed as ‘exciting’ and ‘an adventure’. The reality was a bloodbath, from which, if you survived would haunt you for the rest of your life.
Nightingale House links the generations. It becomes a character in its own right. Harriet Evans painted its picture with her words so that I could ‘see’ the house.
I adored The Garden Of Lost And Found. I could not put it down, pausing only to sleep. Harriet Evans is a new author to me and oh how I adored her style of writing. She has been added to my ever growing list of favourite authors. I cannot wait to read more by her.
August 19, 2022
This book was unfortunately not what I was expecting. I expected it to have a focus around an important garden rather than ‘Nightingale House’. The garden is a painting and even with the focus on and off around that I feel that this is not enough within the storyline to have based the title of the book on it. I wanted to be transported to a lovely, vivid place but instead I was taken to a stressful family environment with really rude and unappreciative kids. None of the characters were likeable. The story is split between present day and the past and this makes it really hard to remember who is who. I suppose that is why it is hard to become drawn to any of the characters. The modern day part in particular was cheapened in my opinion by the constant references to things such as ‘Hollyoaks’ and ‘Wagamamas’. I was struggling to be engaged in each part but when the storyline did eventually draw me in, the writer would then switch to a different time period. Tip: this is not a book that should be read over a long time. It was difficult enough to keep up with what was happening whilst reading the whole book over two days. Probably wouldn’t read again but definitely enjoyed the historical part of the novel more than the modern day setting.
October 3, 2019
The writing isnt the greatest, but its hard to compare with some of the authors I read. Nevertheless the story caught my attention and kept me going. Quite enjoyable. Too bad about the half stars or it would be a half more.
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