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Les secrets de Cloudesley
Quand un manoir de famille anglais recèle un terrible secret, celui des amours interdites entre une femme du monde et un peintre célèbre de l'après-guerre... Maggie, artiste de 25 ans, a mis les voiles pour l'Australie après une rupture avec son ami d'enfance et fiancé, Gus. Un jour, un appel de l'hôpital : Lillian, sa grand-mère chérie, celle qui l'a élevée, vient d'avoir une attaque. Aussitôt, Maggie s'envole direction l'Angleterre et la petite ville de Clouds Green dans la campagne du Buckinghamshire. Au chevet de Lilian, elle lui promet de la ramener chez elle, au manoir de Cloudesley. Mais Maggie se rend compte que la maison de son enfance a perdu de sa superbe : la poussière a colonisé les lieux, les fuites d'eaux et les dettes s'accumulent. Au fil des années, la fortune de feu Charles Overton, riche marchand d'art, s'est réduite comme peau de chagrin et les promoteurs immobiliers rodent tel des vautours. La jeune femme est bien décidée à remuer ciel et terre pour sauver le domaine mais la tâche s'annonce ardue. Elle ne sait pas encore qu'entre ses vieux murs, la demeure abrite un trésor mais aussi un terrible secret. Car soixante ans auparavant, le temps d'un été, Lillian a connu une passion dévastatrice, dangereuse, et a vu sa vie basculer... Maggie parviendra-t-elle à sauver Cloudesley ? La révélation du secret de Lillian lui permettra-t-elle de faire la paix avec son propre passé ?
360 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2018
409 people are currently reading
4349 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Richell
7 books723 followersI wrote my debut novel, Secrets of the Tides, around the time my first child was born. Since then, I’ve written four novels, with my fifth, The Search Party, to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2024. My work is available in twenty-four territories and has been translated into nineteen languages. My books have been selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club, the Waterstones Book Club, WHSmith Book of the Week, shortlisted for two ABIAs and an Indie Book Award in Australia, as well as shortlisted for the Bonniers Bokklubb Book of the Year Award in Sweden.
While each of my novels is a stand-alone story, what connects them all is my fascination with families and secrets, my desire to dive below the surface and explore the darker recesses of the human experience, the weight of grief and the echoes of loss, the light and resilience that can be found in unexpected places, combined with my ambition to tell you a cracking story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
I have written fiction and non-fiction pieces for various media outlets in both the UK and Australia and am a judge on the annual Richell Prize, established in 2014 by Hachette and the Emerging Writers’ Festival in memory of my late husband, Matt Richell. It’s an incredible privilege to be invited to read a writer’s first pages and to support new authors as they take the next steps in their career.
I am a dual citizen of Australia and the United Kingdom but currently live in the South West of England with my family.
While each of my novels is a stand-alone story, what connects them all is my fascination with families and secrets, my desire to dive below the surface and explore the darker recesses of the human experience, the weight of grief and the echoes of loss, the light and resilience that can be found in unexpected places, combined with my ambition to tell you a cracking story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
I have written fiction and non-fiction pieces for various media outlets in both the UK and Australia and am a judge on the annual Richell Prize, established in 2014 by Hachette and the Emerging Writers’ Festival in memory of my late husband, Matt Richell. It’s an incredible privilege to be invited to read a writer’s first pages and to support new authors as they take the next steps in their career.
I am a dual citizen of Australia and the United Kingdom but currently live in the South West of England with my family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 391 reviews
February 1, 2020
The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell is a 2019 Harper Paperbacks publication.
Historical fiction with strong Gothic undertones- an irresistible combination
In the 1950s, Lillian Oberon is living on the fabulously opulent estate of Cloudesley, with her successful, wealthy husband. Although her marriage is not a happy one, Lillian has resigned herself to her fate. But then a young, handsome artist, hired by her husband, moves onto the estate...
Lillian finally finds the love and passion she’s been denied. But, responsibility, duty and fear, keep Lillian grounded, no matter how much she wants to escape the trap she’s ensnared in.
In the present, Maggie Oberon abruptly broke off her engagement and runs away to Australia, after making a horrible mess of her life. But, when she learns her grandmother, Lillian, has fallen ill, she rushes home to care for her, despite her epic fall from grace.
Upon her return, the disgraced Maggie is met with scorn by her former best friend and his family. But her priority is to Lillian, and she intends to step up and start taking responsibility. One enormous decision will be what to do with the crumbling estate she will inherit. Although she would love to see it restored, the future of the once grand estate looks dim.
In the meantime, Lillian’s story is revealed in alternate chapters, as Maggie works to put her life back in order, managing the estate and facing up to her past. In the process, Maggie makes some startling discoveries about her grandmother, giving her a fresh perspective on love and life.
This story has several of my favorite elements - such as the combination of historical fiction mingled with Gothic tones, and a bittersweet love story. So many things about the story worked for me. I loved the historical segments best of all, as it embodied the atmosphere I love and was the very soul of the story.
The weak spot in the book was Maggie. It's not that I'm passing judgment- because everyone makes mistakes in life. However, despite the way Maggie's character matures, in one instance, she was stubbornly indignant, refusing to acknowledge a pain far more serious than that which stems from a broken romance. Some decisions impact people in a more permanent way, which can’t be forgiven or forgotten so easily. This scenario shows two sides of a controversial issue and was a bit of an eye opener for me. Maggie’s terse insensitivity to the aggrieved party was hard for me to shake off.
However, Maggie did do a lot of growing up, and was instrumental in righting some wrongs, which opened the door to forgiveness and redemption.
Despite some of my misgivings, I enjoyed the book, especially Lillian’s part of the story. I loved the way everything wrapped up in the end. Although, the conclusion was heart-breakingly bittersweet, it was full of promise and hope for the future- which made reading the book worth my time.
3 stars
Historical fiction with strong Gothic undertones- an irresistible combination
In the 1950s, Lillian Oberon is living on the fabulously opulent estate of Cloudesley, with her successful, wealthy husband. Although her marriage is not a happy one, Lillian has resigned herself to her fate. But then a young, handsome artist, hired by her husband, moves onto the estate...
Lillian finally finds the love and passion she’s been denied. But, responsibility, duty and fear, keep Lillian grounded, no matter how much she wants to escape the trap she’s ensnared in.
In the present, Maggie Oberon abruptly broke off her engagement and runs away to Australia, after making a horrible mess of her life. But, when she learns her grandmother, Lillian, has fallen ill, she rushes home to care for her, despite her epic fall from grace.
Upon her return, the disgraced Maggie is met with scorn by her former best friend and his family. But her priority is to Lillian, and she intends to step up and start taking responsibility. One enormous decision will be what to do with the crumbling estate she will inherit. Although she would love to see it restored, the future of the once grand estate looks dim.
In the meantime, Lillian’s story is revealed in alternate chapters, as Maggie works to put her life back in order, managing the estate and facing up to her past. In the process, Maggie makes some startling discoveries about her grandmother, giving her a fresh perspective on love and life.
This story has several of my favorite elements - such as the combination of historical fiction mingled with Gothic tones, and a bittersweet love story. So many things about the story worked for me. I loved the historical segments best of all, as it embodied the atmosphere I love and was the very soul of the story.
The weak spot in the book was Maggie. It's not that I'm passing judgment- because everyone makes mistakes in life. However, despite the way Maggie's character matures, in one instance, she was stubbornly indignant, refusing to acknowledge a pain far more serious than that which stems from a broken romance. Some decisions impact people in a more permanent way, which can’t be forgiven or forgotten so easily. This scenario shows two sides of a controversial issue and was a bit of an eye opener for me. Maggie’s terse insensitivity to the aggrieved party was hard for me to shake off.
However, Maggie did do a lot of growing up, and was instrumental in righting some wrongs, which opened the door to forgiveness and redemption.
Despite some of my misgivings, I enjoyed the book, especially Lillian’s part of the story. I loved the way everything wrapped up in the end. Although, the conclusion was heart-breakingly bittersweet, it was full of promise and hope for the future- which made reading the book worth my time.
3 stars
April 27, 2019
EXCERPT: All those versions of herself she has lived. So many different Lillians, all in this one body. If she could reach back through the years and warn the person she once was, what would she say? What would she tell that sorrowful girl standing in a London graveyard scattering earth onto the lid of her mother's coffin? Or the young woman with grazed knees and a twisted bike lying at her feet? The woman staring down at a solitaire diamond ring, marvelling at its dazzling promise? Would she have a warning for the wife walking away into the woods carrying a crumpled bird in a cardboard box? Or wisdom for the cold-hearted woman standing in this very room watching a man thrash and convulse in front of her? Life, she thinks, is strange and mysterious. Not linear, but a jumbled mess of moments: elation, sadness, pain and excruciating boredom.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Set in a fading family estate nestled within the Chiltern Hills, this is the story of two summers, sixty years apart, woven together to reveal one dramatic family story.
MY THOUGHTS: The synopsis of this book says nothing, yet everything. This is a moving, emotional, heart-wrenching story of the lives of two women, three generations apart. Of Lillian, who literally falls into a life of wealth and privilege; and Maggie, her grand-daughter, come back to care for her ailing grandmother after fleeing the family home some years earlier.
The past and the present circle warily about one another, sometimes overlapping, sometimes becoming entangled as Maggie is drawn into a mystery that she is not even aware of.
The Peacock Summer is beautifully written, and beautiful to read. It overflows with passion, yet is subtle. Hannah Richell has again demonstrated her wonderful ability to make the reader feel and live the emotions of her characters.
💖💖💖💖.5
THE AUTHOR: Hannah Richell was born in Kent, England and spent her childhood years in Buckinghamshire and Canada. After graduating from the University of Nottingham in 1998 she worked in book publishing and film. Hannah began to write while pregnant with her first child. The result was Secrets of the Tides, picked for the 2012 Richard & Judy Book Club, the Waterstones Book Club and shortlisted for the Australian Independent Bookseller Best Debut Fiction Award, ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year (2013) and ABIA Newcomer of the Year (2013). The novel has been translated into sixteen languages. Her follow-up novel was The Shadow Year and her third, The Peacock Summer, will be published in 2018.
Hannah has written for a number of media outlets including Harper’s Bazaar, The Independent, Fairfax Media and Australian Women’s Weekly. She is a dual citizen of the UK and Australia, though currently lives in the South West of England with her family.
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell, published by Hachette Australia. I purchased my copy from Yellow Door Books in Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia. Yellow Door Books and Gifts is owned and operated by Home Support Association. In this business environment, staff and volunteers work alongside people with a disability who seek to develop their work skills and contribute to their community. Proceeds from this business assist in increasing the participation of people with a disability in our community.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Set in a fading family estate nestled within the Chiltern Hills, this is the story of two summers, sixty years apart, woven together to reveal one dramatic family story.
MY THOUGHTS: The synopsis of this book says nothing, yet everything. This is a moving, emotional, heart-wrenching story of the lives of two women, three generations apart. Of Lillian, who literally falls into a life of wealth and privilege; and Maggie, her grand-daughter, come back to care for her ailing grandmother after fleeing the family home some years earlier.
The past and the present circle warily about one another, sometimes overlapping, sometimes becoming entangled as Maggie is drawn into a mystery that she is not even aware of.
The Peacock Summer is beautifully written, and beautiful to read. It overflows with passion, yet is subtle. Hannah Richell has again demonstrated her wonderful ability to make the reader feel and live the emotions of her characters.
💖💖💖💖.5
THE AUTHOR: Hannah Richell was born in Kent, England and spent her childhood years in Buckinghamshire and Canada. After graduating from the University of Nottingham in 1998 she worked in book publishing and film. Hannah began to write while pregnant with her first child. The result was Secrets of the Tides, picked for the 2012 Richard & Judy Book Club, the Waterstones Book Club and shortlisted for the Australian Independent Bookseller Best Debut Fiction Award, ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year (2013) and ABIA Newcomer of the Year (2013). The novel has been translated into sixteen languages. Her follow-up novel was The Shadow Year and her third, The Peacock Summer, will be published in 2018.
Hannah has written for a number of media outlets including Harper’s Bazaar, The Independent, Fairfax Media and Australian Women’s Weekly. She is a dual citizen of the UK and Australia, though currently lives in the South West of England with her family.
DISCLOSURE: I own my copy of The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell, published by Hachette Australia. I purchased my copy from Yellow Door Books in Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia. Yellow Door Books and Gifts is owned and operated by Home Support Association. In this business environment, staff and volunteers work alongside people with a disability who seek to develop their work skills and contribute to their community. Proceeds from this business assist in increasing the participation of people with a disability in our community.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
June 17, 2018
Lillian was a naïve young woman of twenty-one when the wealthy and aristocratic Charles Oberon asked for her hand in marriage. She only had her beloved sister Helene to care for, and Charles assured her he would take care of her needs. Lillian loved Charles’ six-year-old son, Albie and in her innocence, thought she could make a difference to the man who had lost so much. Living in the Chilterns manor house, Cloudesley, Lillian began to feel trapped and caged – but she had no choice. This was her life and her future with a damaged and volatile husband.
The summer that Charles hired a young artist to do a commission for him in one of the rooms of the manor became a changing point in Lillian’s life. Lillian was twenty-six, exhausted and robotic in her endeavours to keep her husband happy. The constant parties where she needed to impress drained the life from her – it was only Albie who kept her sane. But then Jack arrived…
Almost sixty years later, Maggie Oberon, Lillian’s granddaughter, was in Australia when she received the phone call to say her beloved grandmother had taken ill. Immediately rushing to be by her side, Maggie knew she would face aggression and censure over the events of her leaving twelve months prior. But her priority was Lillian. She had raised Maggie – and Maggie owed her everything. But Cloudesley was falling into ruin – the repairs the old manor needed were too many to be attempted; the debts insurmountable. What would Maggie do?
As the past slowly came to light, Maggie found it only created more questions. Would she be able to decipher the secrets of Cloudesley, or would the manor keep them hidden for all time?
The long awaited new novel from Aussie author Hannah Richell does not disappoint. The Peacock Summer, apart from having a divine cover, is a heartbreaking and heartfelt story of love, loss and dark secrets. The answer to one of the questions when it came, was a shock – I didn’t see it coming! Poignant, intriguing and utterly captivating, The Peacock Summer is one I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.
The summer that Charles hired a young artist to do a commission for him in one of the rooms of the manor became a changing point in Lillian’s life. Lillian was twenty-six, exhausted and robotic in her endeavours to keep her husband happy. The constant parties where she needed to impress drained the life from her – it was only Albie who kept her sane. But then Jack arrived…
Almost sixty years later, Maggie Oberon, Lillian’s granddaughter, was in Australia when she received the phone call to say her beloved grandmother had taken ill. Immediately rushing to be by her side, Maggie knew she would face aggression and censure over the events of her leaving twelve months prior. But her priority was Lillian. She had raised Maggie – and Maggie owed her everything. But Cloudesley was falling into ruin – the repairs the old manor needed were too many to be attempted; the debts insurmountable. What would Maggie do?
As the past slowly came to light, Maggie found it only created more questions. Would she be able to decipher the secrets of Cloudesley, or would the manor keep them hidden for all time?
The long awaited new novel from Aussie author Hannah Richell does not disappoint. The Peacock Summer, apart from having a divine cover, is a heartbreaking and heartfelt story of love, loss and dark secrets. The answer to one of the questions when it came, was a shock – I didn’t see it coming! Poignant, intriguing and utterly captivating, The Peacock Summer is one I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my copy to read and review.
October 11, 2018
I listened to this lovely and heartbreaking novel on audio last summer. It was just the right blend of mystery, historical and Gothic fiction. Dark family secrets are hidden in the walls of Cloudesley. Can Lillian save granddaughter Maggie from her same fate? Wraps up with a bittersweet ending. Enjoyable ♥
August 14, 2019
3.5 rounded up
I came upon this audiobook after downloading and trying and giving up on several others that weren't doing it for me at the time. A luxury afforded to me and others by our wonderful library system.
The blurb of this novel is perfect, as unlike many other blurbs, it says enough without giving too much away: 'Set in a fading family estate nestled within the Chiltern Hills, this is the story of two summers, sixty years apart, woven together to reveal one dramatic family story.'
I enjoyed Richell's writing, even though, at times, I thought certain parts were drawn-out and stagnant, but it seems to go with the territory for this kind of novels.
The setting was an important part of this novel, as the Cloudesley estate is the central part of this novel.
The narrative alternates between Lillian Oberon's story from sixty years before and Maggie Oberon's, Lillian's grand-daughter, who finds herself back to Cloudesley to help her elderly grandma.
As for the characterisations, I thought Lillian and her husband, Charles, lack depth and could have been a bit more nuanced, as Lillian was assigned the saint, victim status, while her husband was the monster.
As the novel progresses, the reveals and the conclusion of this novel become more satisfying, albeit somewhat predictable.
This would make for a nice BBC TV miniseries.
I came upon this audiobook after downloading and trying and giving up on several others that weren't doing it for me at the time. A luxury afforded to me and others by our wonderful library system.
The blurb of this novel is perfect, as unlike many other blurbs, it says enough without giving too much away: 'Set in a fading family estate nestled within the Chiltern Hills, this is the story of two summers, sixty years apart, woven together to reveal one dramatic family story.'
I enjoyed Richell's writing, even though, at times, I thought certain parts were drawn-out and stagnant, but it seems to go with the territory for this kind of novels.
The setting was an important part of this novel, as the Cloudesley estate is the central part of this novel.
The narrative alternates between Lillian Oberon's story from sixty years before and Maggie Oberon's, Lillian's grand-daughter, who finds herself back to Cloudesley to help her elderly grandma.
As for the characterisations, I thought Lillian and her husband, Charles, lack depth and could have been a bit more nuanced, as Lillian was assigned the saint, victim status, while her husband was the monster.
As the novel progresses, the reveals and the conclusion of this novel become more satisfying, albeit somewhat predictable.
This would make for a nice BBC TV miniseries.
May 21, 2018
The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell is a very atmospheric novel about a beautiful old mansion now crumbling and in need of repair and the secrets that it holds. Maggie comes home from Australia to look after her grandmother Lillian. The old lady has been in hospital and is confused to whether she is living in the past or present. She remembers the time of her unhappy marriage and a young painter who came to work for her husband. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking for more of her books. I would like to thank NetGalley and Orion Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Graceful. This is the perfect word to describe Hannah Richell’s latest and third release, The Peacock Summer. The writing is celestial, the characters defining and the narrative irresistible. It is all set to a stirring stage, a crumbling old manor house on an English estate. The Peacock Summer is a tale that does not give up its secrets so easily, but when they are revealed, readers will bask in the glory of the love, passion, heartbreak and tragedy that befalls the players of The Peacock Summer. Personally, this is my favourite type of novel and this one is a beauty.
Two summers, decades apart defines the enmeshed lives of two women who are both linked to a manor with long held secrets to expose. In the past, Lillian feels frustrated by her marriage to Charles. Her marriage is not what she expected, in fact, Lillian often feels like a pawn, Charles can do and say what he likes with Lillian. Lillian knows she has no form of escape from her unhappy marriage, there are expectations and obligations she must adhere to. However, Lillian’s world is forever changed when Charles commissions a piece of art to be produced in his grand home of Cloudesley. The artist charged with the task has a significant impact on Lillian’s life. Years down the track Lillian’s granddaughter Maggie makes a return visit to Cloudesley, following the news that her grandmother has fallen gravely ill. It is a time of great awakening for Maggie, as she realises that in returning to Cloudesley and attending to her grandmother’s affairs, she must settle a bevy of secrets from the past.
The Peacock Summer hails the return of Hannah Richell. Richell’s much anticipated third novel is polished, dainty and refined. The embossed gold title, along with the front, back and inside cover art is so visually pleasing. These cover aesthetics set the scene for the magnificent tale to come, where art and peacocks do feature within this involving story, along with a whole host of other events.
Richell is a master of the two-fold style of narrative. I felt nothing but comfort in the arms of Richell’s writing and her narrative approach. Richell achieves the perfect equilibrium in terms of the presentation of her past (mid 1950’s) and present day narratives. Both were a joy to read, the pages seemed to float away. I appreciated that this was a modern day style fiction tale, with one of the storylines based in the 1950’s, an era from our not too distant past.
Characterisation is clearly one of Richell’s many talents. I loved her approach to all the characters in this novel. There are some endearing protagonists in The Peacock Summer, along with some disheartening players. Richell is bold in her approach to her character set and their related arcs. We witness their moments of elation and despair. In all instances emotions are felt at a high level. Lillian, the central character of the novel, is touched with so much clarity, that I felt as if I had stepped into her shoes and faced the problems she was dealing with, thanks to Richell’s prose. This also extends to her granddaughter Maggie, my heart ached for both these women, in different ways.
Richell is a very skilled writer, a rarity, who is able to successfully draw out the finite details, as well as the contrast between the sombre and light moments within her writing. This takes great talent, but Richell seems to take this in her stride, effortlessly issuing her reader with a deep psychological sketch of her characters and the binds they are placed in. I was able to draw out many resonating themes from this novel, from the value of family, secrets, artistry, passion, betrayal, emotional abuse and reconciling the past with the present. I feel readers will want to remain loyal to this novel from the first to the parting line. The audience is rewarded with a final curtain call that offers a sense of settlement or understanding to all the strands of the novel.
I cannot close this review without mentioning the looming presence of Cloudesley, the estate and home of the lead character Lillian. It has such presence in the novel that it is the most influential factor in the creating overall unique aura of The Peacock Summer.
An aging estate, a family mystery, flawed protagonists, heartbreak and passion are all ignited in this victorious new tale from Hannah Richell. I highly recommend The Peacock Summer to all passionate readers.
*Please note that a free copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes through Beauty & Lace and Hachette Australia. To read the original review on the Beauty & Lace website please visit here http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
The Peacock Summer, is book #84 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge.
Graceful. This is the perfect word to describe Hannah Richell’s latest and third release, The Peacock Summer. The writing is celestial, the characters defining and the narrative irresistible. It is all set to a stirring stage, a crumbling old manor house on an English estate. The Peacock Summer is a tale that does not give up its secrets so easily, but when they are revealed, readers will bask in the glory of the love, passion, heartbreak and tragedy that befalls the players of The Peacock Summer. Personally, this is my favourite type of novel and this one is a beauty.
Two summers, decades apart defines the enmeshed lives of two women who are both linked to a manor with long held secrets to expose. In the past, Lillian feels frustrated by her marriage to Charles. Her marriage is not what she expected, in fact, Lillian often feels like a pawn, Charles can do and say what he likes with Lillian. Lillian knows she has no form of escape from her unhappy marriage, there are expectations and obligations she must adhere to. However, Lillian’s world is forever changed when Charles commissions a piece of art to be produced in his grand home of Cloudesley. The artist charged with the task has a significant impact on Lillian’s life. Years down the track Lillian’s granddaughter Maggie makes a return visit to Cloudesley, following the news that her grandmother has fallen gravely ill. It is a time of great awakening for Maggie, as she realises that in returning to Cloudesley and attending to her grandmother’s affairs, she must settle a bevy of secrets from the past.
The Peacock Summer hails the return of Hannah Richell. Richell’s much anticipated third novel is polished, dainty and refined. The embossed gold title, along with the front, back and inside cover art is so visually pleasing. These cover aesthetics set the scene for the magnificent tale to come, where art and peacocks do feature within this involving story, along with a whole host of other events.
Richell is a master of the two-fold style of narrative. I felt nothing but comfort in the arms of Richell’s writing and her narrative approach. Richell achieves the perfect equilibrium in terms of the presentation of her past (mid 1950’s) and present day narratives. Both were a joy to read, the pages seemed to float away. I appreciated that this was a modern day style fiction tale, with one of the storylines based in the 1950’s, an era from our not too distant past.
Characterisation is clearly one of Richell’s many talents. I loved her approach to all the characters in this novel. There are some endearing protagonists in The Peacock Summer, along with some disheartening players. Richell is bold in her approach to her character set and their related arcs. We witness their moments of elation and despair. In all instances emotions are felt at a high level. Lillian, the central character of the novel, is touched with so much clarity, that I felt as if I had stepped into her shoes and faced the problems she was dealing with, thanks to Richell’s prose. This also extends to her granddaughter Maggie, my heart ached for both these women, in different ways.
Richell is a very skilled writer, a rarity, who is able to successfully draw out the finite details, as well as the contrast between the sombre and light moments within her writing. This takes great talent, but Richell seems to take this in her stride, effortlessly issuing her reader with a deep psychological sketch of her characters and the binds they are placed in. I was able to draw out many resonating themes from this novel, from the value of family, secrets, artistry, passion, betrayal, emotional abuse and reconciling the past with the present. I feel readers will want to remain loyal to this novel from the first to the parting line. The audience is rewarded with a final curtain call that offers a sense of settlement or understanding to all the strands of the novel.
I cannot close this review without mentioning the looming presence of Cloudesley, the estate and home of the lead character Lillian. It has such presence in the novel that it is the most influential factor in the creating overall unique aura of The Peacock Summer.
An aging estate, a family mystery, flawed protagonists, heartbreak and passion are all ignited in this victorious new tale from Hannah Richell. I highly recommend The Peacock Summer to all passionate readers.
*Please note that a free copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes through Beauty & Lace and Hachette Australia. To read the original review on the Beauty & Lace website please visit here http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
The Peacock Summer, is book #84 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge.
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December 2, 2019..
Peacock Summer, written by Hannah Richell, seems to be a stand-alone novel intertwining two lives from different generations. The very little I read of this book reflects that the young woman had a very dim view of her value as a person. Her total lack of self-worth was nauseating.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Two women who long for more, and a house that holds the key to their freedom…
Two summers, decades apart…
Two women whose lives are forever entwined…
And a house that holds the dark secrets that could free them both.
1955: At twenty-six-years old, Lillian Oberon is young, beautiful, and married to the wealthy and handsome Charles Oberon. She is also the mistress of Cloudesley, a lavish estate. But not long after her nuptials, she begins to feel her marriage is a sham. Like the exquisite objets d'art, curiosities, and treasures her husband collects, she is just another possession captured within the walls of the grand countryside manor. With a sister and young stepson in her care, Lillian has made peace with her unfulfilling marriage and fate—until a charismatic artist visits for the summer and makes Lillian re-examine the choices she’s made.
The present-day: Having abruptly broken off her engagement, Maggie Oberon escapes to Australia, hoping that the distance will make her forget the mess she’s made of her life. But when her beloved grandmother, Lillian, becomes ill, she must return to England and confront the past she ran away from. When she arrives at Cloudesley, she is dismayed to find the once opulent estate crumbling into decay. As Maggie scrambles to find a way to save the old property, she is unprepared to learn the dark secrets that have remained hidden behind the dark halls of Cloudesley. But within these walls also lies the key that could change its legacy—and Maggie’s life—forever.
Unfortunately, I was unable to identify with the present-day heroine of this tale. The heroine starts out becoming so inebriated with alcohol that she makes dangerous decisions. lt is known that too much alcohol can slow down a person's ability to think, react, and make decisions at the current moment. Binge drinking, drink driving, and unsafe sex can all result from the misuse of alcohol.
The teenage years are typically a period of experimentation, regardless of parenting skills and influence. But this woman was well past her teenage years.
Maggie had been living in a grimy hostel, working in a restaurant, and her willingness to spend time with random men with whom she found a momentary distraction.
I did not get far into this book before giving up on the offensive content. It may not offend other readers, but it is outside my comfort zone. So, I chose not to continue reading something that is the total opposite of what I am looking for in a literary adventure.
..
Peacock Summer, written by Hannah Richell, seems to be a stand-alone novel intertwining two lives from different generations. The very little I read of this book reflects that the young woman had a very dim view of her value as a person. Her total lack of self-worth was nauseating.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Two women who long for more, and a house that holds the key to their freedom…
Two summers, decades apart…
Two women whose lives are forever entwined…
And a house that holds the dark secrets that could free them both.
1955: At twenty-six-years old, Lillian Oberon is young, beautiful, and married to the wealthy and handsome Charles Oberon. She is also the mistress of Cloudesley, a lavish estate. But not long after her nuptials, she begins to feel her marriage is a sham. Like the exquisite objets d'art, curiosities, and treasures her husband collects, she is just another possession captured within the walls of the grand countryside manor. With a sister and young stepson in her care, Lillian has made peace with her unfulfilling marriage and fate—until a charismatic artist visits for the summer and makes Lillian re-examine the choices she’s made.
The present-day: Having abruptly broken off her engagement, Maggie Oberon escapes to Australia, hoping that the distance will make her forget the mess she’s made of her life. But when her beloved grandmother, Lillian, becomes ill, she must return to England and confront the past she ran away from. When she arrives at Cloudesley, she is dismayed to find the once opulent estate crumbling into decay. As Maggie scrambles to find a way to save the old property, she is unprepared to learn the dark secrets that have remained hidden behind the dark halls of Cloudesley. But within these walls also lies the key that could change its legacy—and Maggie’s life—forever.
Unfortunately, I was unable to identify with the present-day heroine of this tale. The heroine starts out becoming so inebriated with alcohol that she makes dangerous decisions. lt is known that too much alcohol can slow down a person's ability to think, react, and make decisions at the current moment. Binge drinking, drink driving, and unsafe sex can all result from the misuse of alcohol.
The teenage years are typically a period of experimentation, regardless of parenting skills and influence. But this woman was well past her teenage years.
Maggie had been living in a grimy hostel, working in a restaurant, and her willingness to spend time with random men with whom she found a momentary distraction.
I did not get far into this book before giving up on the offensive content. It may not offend other readers, but it is outside my comfort zone. So, I chose not to continue reading something that is the total opposite of what I am looking for in a literary adventure.
..
December 2, 2019
Four and a half stars
Lillian’s life never turned out the way she expected it would when she agreed to marry the rich, aristocratic Charles Oberon. She loved his young son Albie and thought life at Cloudesley, her husband’s manor house would be ideal. Added to that Charles promise to provide the necessary care for her sister Helene who had been seriously injured. But then Lillian found Charles was not the man she thought he was. Her life began to feel like a prison with a controlling and abusive husband her jailer. Life changes for Lillian in ways she never imagined when Charles employs a talented young artist to stay at Cloudesley and create a unique work of art.
Maggie is Lillian’s granddaughter. She fled to Australia after events that left her feeling guilty for hurting a family she loved. But when she receives an urgent call that Lillian is ill and needs her, Maggie doesn’t hesitate. She knows she has no choice but to go back for this is the dearly loved grandmother who was always there for Maggie. But what awaits Maggie’s return? Can hurts of the past be dealt with without causing more pain to those she cares about?
The opening chapter got me in but then at first I was a little disappointed when it switched to Maggie in Chapter 2. However it didn’t take long before it came back to Lillian and the story quickly settled my attention and held it for the remainder of the book. A story of family, secrets, regrets, abuse, and love with well-developed characters. Some extremely likable, others not so much. And over all the brooding presence of Cloudesley.
An engaging read that kept me turning the pages. Fans of historical fiction with imposing manor houses at the centre should love it, as I did. Just a little disappointed with a couple of aspects of the end. But maybe that’s just me. All in all another great read from this talented author.
Lillian’s life never turned out the way she expected it would when she agreed to marry the rich, aristocratic Charles Oberon. She loved his young son Albie and thought life at Cloudesley, her husband’s manor house would be ideal. Added to that Charles promise to provide the necessary care for her sister Helene who had been seriously injured. But then Lillian found Charles was not the man she thought he was. Her life began to feel like a prison with a controlling and abusive husband her jailer. Life changes for Lillian in ways she never imagined when Charles employs a talented young artist to stay at Cloudesley and create a unique work of art.
Maggie is Lillian’s granddaughter. She fled to Australia after events that left her feeling guilty for hurting a family she loved. But when she receives an urgent call that Lillian is ill and needs her, Maggie doesn’t hesitate. She knows she has no choice but to go back for this is the dearly loved grandmother who was always there for Maggie. But what awaits Maggie’s return? Can hurts of the past be dealt with without causing more pain to those she cares about?
The opening chapter got me in but then at first I was a little disappointed when it switched to Maggie in Chapter 2. However it didn’t take long before it came back to Lillian and the story quickly settled my attention and held it for the remainder of the book. A story of family, secrets, regrets, abuse, and love with well-developed characters. Some extremely likable, others not so much. And over all the brooding presence of Cloudesley.
An engaging read that kept me turning the pages. Fans of historical fiction with imposing manor houses at the centre should love it, as I did. Just a little disappointed with a couple of aspects of the end. But maybe that’s just me. All in all another great read from this talented author.
June 17, 2018
Hannah Richell's third novel centres, as her others have, on a house. Cloudesley is a grand country manor, home to the Oberon family. Lillian Oberon, now in her late eighties, has recently had a fall and suffered a kidney infection – she needs rest, and can't bear the thought of recuperating anywhere other than Cloudesley. Her granddaughter Maggie has spent the past year in Australia, and when she comes back to care for Lillian, she finds the house in dire need of repairs nobody in the family can afford. It doesn't help that, for reasons relating to a past relationship, Maggie isn't much liked in the village of Cloud Green. The presence of her former friend (and brother of her ex), Will, makes things even more awkward.
Meanwhile, Lillian is consumed by memories of her past. In particular, a fateful postwar summer when her husband, Charles, commissioned artist Jack Fincher to paint an elaborate mural in one of the rooms at Cloudesley. Flashbacks to 1955 entwine with Maggie's present, illuminating the parallels in the two women's lives, and how both have been shaped by their family history.
The Peacock Summer is not afraid to take its time; these pages, especially the historical chapters, are immersive and rich with detail. Maggie and Lillian's facets and flaws are handled brilliantly. This is an eminently readable story that refuses to sacrifice depth (of character, of emotion). There are a few gentle plot twists, but the surprises I appreciated the most were found in the moments Richell swerved predictable happy endings.
How can a book be both heartbreaking and as comforting as sinking into a warm, fluffy duvet? I don't know, but this one pulls it off and makes it look effortless. I'm not ashamed to say there were tears pricking my eyes when I got to the end. The Peacock Summer is a delicious indulgence, a great big salted caramel truffle of a book. Absolutely perfect holiday reading; a story to get delightfully lost in.
I received an advance review copy of The Peacock Summer from the publisher through NetGalley.
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Meanwhile, Lillian is consumed by memories of her past. In particular, a fateful postwar summer when her husband, Charles, commissioned artist Jack Fincher to paint an elaborate mural in one of the rooms at Cloudesley. Flashbacks to 1955 entwine with Maggie's present, illuminating the parallels in the two women's lives, and how both have been shaped by their family history.
The Peacock Summer is not afraid to take its time; these pages, especially the historical chapters, are immersive and rich with detail. Maggie and Lillian's facets and flaws are handled brilliantly. This is an eminently readable story that refuses to sacrifice depth (of character, of emotion). There are a few gentle plot twists, but the surprises I appreciated the most were found in the moments Richell swerved predictable happy endings.
How can a book be both heartbreaking and as comforting as sinking into a warm, fluffy duvet? I don't know, but this one pulls it off and makes it look effortless. I'm not ashamed to say there were tears pricking my eyes when I got to the end. The Peacock Summer is a delicious indulgence, a great big salted caramel truffle of a book. Absolutely perfect holiday reading; a story to get delightfully lost in.
I received an advance review copy of The Peacock Summer from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr
May 28, 2020
To solve her problems, a young naive Lillian decided to marry her charming and older suitor Charles Oberon. He's rich, he's handsome and owns a beautiful house in English countryside called Cloudesley.
Lillian is struggling to raise her younger sister Helen, marrying Charles is the obvious solution to her situation and she is looking forward to being a stepmother to Charles's young son Albie.
It doesn't take long for Lillian to realize she has made a big mistake, she's lonely, Albie is a nervous wreck, her husband is extremely difficult to live with and she's trapped in a unhappy marriage.
One summer her husband decided to hire a young artist Jack to paint a room in the house and she thinks its another one of his crazy ideas!
Soon a dangerous bond is formed between the lonely Lillian and the talented painter Jack.
Maggie Oberon, Lillian's granddaughter receives a call and her dear Nan is ill, she quickly books a flight from Australia to England. When she arrives she discovers her sick aging grandmother is struggling to keep her crumbling home Cloudesley a float and it's in need of major repairs or the house will fall down.
As Maggie tries to save her beloved Nan's home, she discovers the secrets from the past and also how it's affected her whole family. It's a heart breaking story of lost love, lies, tragedy and betrayal.
I really enjoyed The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell, it was a fabulous story, full of so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I gave the book five stars and I highly recommend reading it! I have shared my review on Goodreads, Edelweiss, Kobo, Twitter, Australian Amazon and my blog.
Lillian is struggling to raise her younger sister Helen, marrying Charles is the obvious solution to her situation and she is looking forward to being a stepmother to Charles's young son Albie.
It doesn't take long for Lillian to realize she has made a big mistake, she's lonely, Albie is a nervous wreck, her husband is extremely difficult to live with and she's trapped in a unhappy marriage.
One summer her husband decided to hire a young artist Jack to paint a room in the house and she thinks its another one of his crazy ideas!
Soon a dangerous bond is formed between the lonely Lillian and the talented painter Jack.
Maggie Oberon, Lillian's granddaughter receives a call and her dear Nan is ill, she quickly books a flight from Australia to England. When she arrives she discovers her sick aging grandmother is struggling to keep her crumbling home Cloudesley a float and it's in need of major repairs or the house will fall down.
As Maggie tries to save her beloved Nan's home, she discovers the secrets from the past and also how it's affected her whole family. It's a heart breaking story of lost love, lies, tragedy and betrayal.
I really enjoyed The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell, it was a fabulous story, full of so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I gave the book five stars and I highly recommend reading it! I have shared my review on Goodreads, Edelweiss, Kobo, Twitter, Australian Amazon and my blog.
June 10, 2018
Old gothic house
Secret rooms
Secrets inside the walls
Dual time line story
One visitor to the house changes everything
A summer read to savour!
Visit the locations in the novel - Visit Cloudesley Manor in the Chiltern Hills
I loved this book from the start. The cover is gorgeous too I should add and perfectly frames the story inside.
Where do I start with this review? Recommended reading if you enjoy family mysteries set over decades and all revealing themselves in large gothic houses with secret rooms….
And the peacocks! From the real ones wandering the grounds to the ice sculptured ones melting at the end of the warm summer’s evening party, the descriptive writing both of them, their cries, and the rustling in the woods as they came upon characters talking in secret…. beautiful
The house is called Cloudelsey and it sits atop the Chiltern Hills….glorious!
This is the book to sit by the fire with or out beside a fountain if you can. Stretch out your toes and immerse yourself in luscious evocative writing. The house comes to life from the page via its creaking stairs, the wooden bannisters, the maze of rooms and corridors, the noises of the peacocks and the vast expanse of the gardens. That’s even before you get to the large secret room locked up for years and reopened for…well you’ll have to read it and see.
The characters are what made this book for me. Lillian in particular with her secrets and way she recounts her life. A woman I would love to meet in real life! She’d be fascinating.
And then there’s the visitor who comes to the house and changes Lillian’s life and the lives of those around them for ever. Then years, later Lillian’s granddaughter start to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The two stories come together very nicely indeed
Recommended!
June 26, 2018
The Peacock Summer is a brilliantly atmospheric story of illusion and heartbreak, orbiting around an illustrious English estate filled with priceless treasures and the darkest of secrets. While I was tempted to simply devour this novel, I slowed down and lingered over it, because it’s that sort of story, where you want to just immerse yourself for as long as possible, so elegant was the writing and so consuming was the story. The house itself, Cloudesley, had a presence all of its own, Hannah Richell’s beautifully descriptive prose breathing life into this inanimate fixture:
“She runs a hand over the huge, faded tapestry hanging across the wall – then turns to climb the curved staircase to her own room. Halfway up she stops and listens. There is no scrabble of dog paws on the tiled floor, no shuffle of newspaper pages from the library, no distant murmur from her grandmother’s radio. There is nothing; not even the glug of water moving through old pipes. This house, that has witnessed so much throughout the years – dinner parties and laughter, conversation and arguments, dancing and music – a house that has seen so much life, had so many people pass through its doors, stands utterly silent. It is unnerving to be its only occupant. What echoes would she hear – what stirrings from the past – if she only knew what to listen for?”
Stories revolving around houses and the mysteries from the past contained within their walls have always been a favourite of mine and Cloudesly guarded its secrets well.
For the most part, this story broke my heart. Lillian was such a beautiful young woman but life had dealt her a very unfortunate hand. Had she been more of a selfish woman, she would have undoubtedly suffered less, yet it was her capacity for love and her unselfish nature that made her who she was. The Peacock Summer is a dark story, far darker than I anticipated, and it’s all the more absorbing because of it.
“…her marriage to Charles is a complicated, volatile landscape. There are so many unspoken rules; so many uncertain dictates; so many fluctuating emotions to anticipate and interpret. She knows he has seen too much – lost too much. She does not, for one moment, underestimate the damage he has endured in those unspoken years away at war, followed so closely by the tragic loss of his first wife. She only wishes she were more adept at navigating her life with him, better able to understand the man she now finds herself bound to. For each day she wakes and steps out into the marriage, she feels as though she balances precariously, never quite sure if the ground she steps on is firm or quicksand, sucking her down into one of Charles’s more erratic moods.”
My first impression of Charles Oberon was that he was a prized arse. He really was a piece of work, taking great pleasure in publicly humiliating his wife, never failing to remind her that she was at his mercy, the beneficiary of his generosity, nothing without him – the usual misogynistic posturing that can be associated with men who make a hobby out of devaluing women. This behaviour of his extended to his young son, so I quickly formed a picture of Charles Oberon that was not in his favour. Yet as the story progressed, and more of him was revealed, I was horrified by his true nature. He may have suffered trauma in the war, and lost his first wife shortly after, but he was a monster to his family. Coupled with wealth and power, Lillian didn’t stand a chance against him, she was utterly trapped, a fact that she was very much aware of. Charles himself was a complex character; it’s not an easy thing to bring a person with such duality to life on the page. Charismatic and powerful, yet horrendously violent towards his family. Each scene containing Charles was finely drawn out, the tension for the reader mirroring the tension for his family. Hannah Richell kept his volatility entirely unpredictable, heightening the suspense throughout. Through Lillian’s relationship with Albie, Hannah Richell skilfully demonstrated the chains that can bind a woman to an untenable situation. Little Albie broke my heart and I forgave adult Albie much on account of the brutality he not only experienced, but also witnessed, while growing up. There was so much sadness within this family, so much loss, so much anger and devastation, so many wasted years of life; all owing to the tyranny of one man.
Maggie, Lillian’s granddaughter, was a bit hit and miss for me. I admired her devotion to Lillian, but I always struggle with sketchy characters who can’t seem to work out what they want so instead of trying to figure it out, they run away and sleep with random strangers. Repeatedly. In Albie, I could see the reason for this, but in Maggie, it appeared self indulgent. There was too much self-flagellation and self-pity initially, but she grew on me a little more by the end. I appreciated how Hannah Richell set the story up for her to uncover the past herself, rather than simply being told by Lillian via a reflective story or by reading diary entries – a little too common in dual timeline historical fiction nowadays for my liking. The way the past unfolded in The Peacock Summer was refreshingly unique. Lillian told Maggie very little about the past, a couple of slips here and there in a moment, but nothing solid. Maggie had to dig for her info, put the pieces together herself. It made her more of an active participant in the story and gave the reader plenty of opportunities to see Maggie’s qualities instead of simply focussing on her past mistakes. While uncovering the secrets of her family and in working towards a solution for saving Cloudesly, Maggie was able to at last find herself, or at least, she began to tread in the right direction for herself rather than directly into the arms of a saviour. She began, by the end of the story, to show signs of being the strong woman Lillian had hoped she could be. I very much enjoyed the positive open ending, it was fitting after such a grave and significant story.
“And for the briefest time, Maggie sees her life clearly: all the moments, large and small that have been, and all the ones yet to come, connected by some long, silvery thread, strong yet invisible, like a spider’s web. She feels this singular moment joining to all the rest and finds the thought strangely comforting.”
This is one novel where the past and the present were balanced and interwoven with perfection. There were many moments of poignant symmetry between Lillian and Maggie, giving a cohesion to the novel that ensured it was all one story, as opposed to a loosely linked ‘past and present’ tale. The Peacock Summer is a triumph, compelling historical fiction of the highest calibre. The significance of the title and the corresponding design of the double-sided cover is something all readers will appreciate once they’ve reached the end of this hauntingly beautiful novel.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of The Peacock Summer for review.
“She runs a hand over the huge, faded tapestry hanging across the wall – then turns to climb the curved staircase to her own room. Halfway up she stops and listens. There is no scrabble of dog paws on the tiled floor, no shuffle of newspaper pages from the library, no distant murmur from her grandmother’s radio. There is nothing; not even the glug of water moving through old pipes. This house, that has witnessed so much throughout the years – dinner parties and laughter, conversation and arguments, dancing and music – a house that has seen so much life, had so many people pass through its doors, stands utterly silent. It is unnerving to be its only occupant. What echoes would she hear – what stirrings from the past – if she only knew what to listen for?”
Stories revolving around houses and the mysteries from the past contained within their walls have always been a favourite of mine and Cloudesly guarded its secrets well.
For the most part, this story broke my heart. Lillian was such a beautiful young woman but life had dealt her a very unfortunate hand. Had she been more of a selfish woman, she would have undoubtedly suffered less, yet it was her capacity for love and her unselfish nature that made her who she was. The Peacock Summer is a dark story, far darker than I anticipated, and it’s all the more absorbing because of it.
“…her marriage to Charles is a complicated, volatile landscape. There are so many unspoken rules; so many uncertain dictates; so many fluctuating emotions to anticipate and interpret. She knows he has seen too much – lost too much. She does not, for one moment, underestimate the damage he has endured in those unspoken years away at war, followed so closely by the tragic loss of his first wife. She only wishes she were more adept at navigating her life with him, better able to understand the man she now finds herself bound to. For each day she wakes and steps out into the marriage, she feels as though she balances precariously, never quite sure if the ground she steps on is firm or quicksand, sucking her down into one of Charles’s more erratic moods.”
My first impression of Charles Oberon was that he was a prized arse. He really was a piece of work, taking great pleasure in publicly humiliating his wife, never failing to remind her that she was at his mercy, the beneficiary of his generosity, nothing without him – the usual misogynistic posturing that can be associated with men who make a hobby out of devaluing women. This behaviour of his extended to his young son, so I quickly formed a picture of Charles Oberon that was not in his favour. Yet as the story progressed, and more of him was revealed, I was horrified by his true nature. He may have suffered trauma in the war, and lost his first wife shortly after, but he was a monster to his family. Coupled with wealth and power, Lillian didn’t stand a chance against him, she was utterly trapped, a fact that she was very much aware of. Charles himself was a complex character; it’s not an easy thing to bring a person with such duality to life on the page. Charismatic and powerful, yet horrendously violent towards his family. Each scene containing Charles was finely drawn out, the tension for the reader mirroring the tension for his family. Hannah Richell kept his volatility entirely unpredictable, heightening the suspense throughout. Through Lillian’s relationship with Albie, Hannah Richell skilfully demonstrated the chains that can bind a woman to an untenable situation. Little Albie broke my heart and I forgave adult Albie much on account of the brutality he not only experienced, but also witnessed, while growing up. There was so much sadness within this family, so much loss, so much anger and devastation, so many wasted years of life; all owing to the tyranny of one man.
Maggie, Lillian’s granddaughter, was a bit hit and miss for me. I admired her devotion to Lillian, but I always struggle with sketchy characters who can’t seem to work out what they want so instead of trying to figure it out, they run away and sleep with random strangers. Repeatedly. In Albie, I could see the reason for this, but in Maggie, it appeared self indulgent. There was too much self-flagellation and self-pity initially, but she grew on me a little more by the end. I appreciated how Hannah Richell set the story up for her to uncover the past herself, rather than simply being told by Lillian via a reflective story or by reading diary entries – a little too common in dual timeline historical fiction nowadays for my liking. The way the past unfolded in The Peacock Summer was refreshingly unique. Lillian told Maggie very little about the past, a couple of slips here and there in a moment, but nothing solid. Maggie had to dig for her info, put the pieces together herself. It made her more of an active participant in the story and gave the reader plenty of opportunities to see Maggie’s qualities instead of simply focussing on her past mistakes. While uncovering the secrets of her family and in working towards a solution for saving Cloudesly, Maggie was able to at last find herself, or at least, she began to tread in the right direction for herself rather than directly into the arms of a saviour. She began, by the end of the story, to show signs of being the strong woman Lillian had hoped she could be. I very much enjoyed the positive open ending, it was fitting after such a grave and significant story.
“And for the briefest time, Maggie sees her life clearly: all the moments, large and small that have been, and all the ones yet to come, connected by some long, silvery thread, strong yet invisible, like a spider’s web. She feels this singular moment joining to all the rest and finds the thought strangely comforting.”
This is one novel where the past and the present were balanced and interwoven with perfection. There were many moments of poignant symmetry between Lillian and Maggie, giving a cohesion to the novel that ensured it was all one story, as opposed to a loosely linked ‘past and present’ tale. The Peacock Summer is a triumph, compelling historical fiction of the highest calibre. The significance of the title and the corresponding design of the double-sided cover is something all readers will appreciate once they’ve reached the end of this hauntingly beautiful novel.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of The Peacock Summer for review.
October 31, 2019
Turiu pagirti šios knygos viršelį, bent man asmeniškai jis labai dailus. O ir anotacija žadėjo, prikaustančią istoriją.
Nieko nepaaiškinusi Megė staiga nutraukia sužadėtuves ir išvyksta iš savo gimtojo miestelio į Australiją. Mergina tikisi, jog svetimame mieste bus lengviau užsimiršti ir negalvoti apie nuoskaudas bei padarytas klaidas, kurios apie save jai primena kiekvieną dieną. Tačiau viskas toli gražu nėra taip paprasta, kaip gali pasirodyti iš pirmo žvilgsnio..
Netikėtai Megė sužino, jog smarkiai pablogėjo jos senelės Lilianos sveikata. Net nesvarstydama mergina leidžiasi atgal į gimtąją Angliją. Taip Megė po truputį vėl iš naujo susipažįsta su savo senele, bei sužino daug paslapčių iš jos gyvenimo, kurios ilgą laiką buvo užrakintos po devyniais užraktais..
Jeigu mėgstate knygas, kuriose gausu šeimos paslapčių - ši Jums turėtų patikti. Tokia paprasta, bet tikrai nebuvo prasta ši istorija. Sukėlusi peno apmąstymams apie tai, kiek vienas žmogus gali iškęsti ir paaukoti vardan kito gerovės.. Taip pamindamas savo jausmus.. Ir žinoma visų svarbiausia - MEILĖ. Ta tikroji, tyroji meilė..
Dar kas man patiko šioje istorijoje tai, jog skyreliai rašomi dabarties metu ir iš praeities prisiminimų. Labai mėgstu taip parašytus kūrinius. Man asmeniškai ši knyga skaitėsi labai lengvai. Tikiu, jog šis kūrinys tikrai nėra literatūrinis šedevras, bet atsipalaidavimui man labai tiko bei patiko.
Nieko nepaaiškinusi Megė staiga nutraukia sužadėtuves ir išvyksta iš savo gimtojo miestelio į Australiją. Mergina tikisi, jog svetimame mieste bus lengviau užsimiršti ir negalvoti apie nuoskaudas bei padarytas klaidas, kurios apie save jai primena kiekvieną dieną. Tačiau viskas toli gražu nėra taip paprasta, kaip gali pasirodyti iš pirmo žvilgsnio..
Netikėtai Megė sužino, jog smarkiai pablogėjo jos senelės Lilianos sveikata. Net nesvarstydama mergina leidžiasi atgal į gimtąją Angliją. Taip Megė po truputį vėl iš naujo susipažįsta su savo senele, bei sužino daug paslapčių iš jos gyvenimo, kurios ilgą laiką buvo užrakintos po devyniais užraktais..
Jeigu mėgstate knygas, kuriose gausu šeimos paslapčių - ši Jums turėtų patikti. Tokia paprasta, bet tikrai nebuvo prasta ši istorija. Sukėlusi peno apmąstymams apie tai, kiek vienas žmogus gali iškęsti ir paaukoti vardan kito gerovės.. Taip pamindamas savo jausmus.. Ir žinoma visų svarbiausia - MEILĖ. Ta tikroji, tyroji meilė..
Dar kas man patiko šioje istorijoje tai, jog skyreliai rašomi dabarties metu ir iš praeities prisiminimų. Labai mėgstu taip parašytus kūrinius. Man asmeniškai ši knyga skaitėsi labai lengvai. Tikiu, jog šis kūrinys tikrai nėra literatūrinis šedevras, bet atsipalaidavimui man labai tiko bei patiko.
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July 12, 2023Aš tokių knygų jau pradedu bijoti. Jų tiek daug leidžia, jos tokios vienodos, kad pirmą kartą savo skaitymo istorijoje pasakysiu: „Gaila akių.“ Ką reiškia „tokių knygų“? Ogi tokių, kurias rašytojai rašo pagal vieną kurpalių. Senas namas, sena dama jame, dama turi daug visokių praeities paslapčių (greičiausiai jos jaunystė buvo karo siautuly), ją aplanko jauna giminaitė, turinti savų problemų, randa kokią užuominą į senolės praeitį ir pradeda joje knaisiotis. Kaip taisyklė – istorija pasakojama dviem laikais ir tu dažniausiai gali nuspėti 99,9% įvykių. Tokia ir ši knyga. Jau seniai tokio tipo pasakojimuose tik pasakojimo ir pagraudenimų neužtenka. Ieškau originalumo, kažko kitokio, kažko ko dar neskaičiau toje krūvoje išleistų analagų. Nieko iš išvardytų dalykų „Povų dvare“ neradau.
Megė sulaukia žinios, kad jos senelė, viena gyvenanti didžiulieme dvare, atsidūrė ligoninėje. Nieko nelaukdama, mergina išskuba į savo gimtą kraštą, kurį paliko ne vien savo noru. Tačiau savos nuoskaudos nėra svarbesnės už močiutės Lilianos ligas. Grįžusi Anglijon, Megė pamato, jog Lilianos sveikata smarkiai pablogėjusi, o dvaro būklė apgailėtina. Ji ima ieškoti lėšų remontui ar bent jau išeities kaip išsaugoti pastatą, tačiau tokios, atrodo, net nėra. Lygiagrečiai su Megės istorija, mums pasakojama ir Lilianos jaunystė. Ji, jos vyras ir posūnis gyvena dištaigingame name, tačiau prabanga maskuoja nesutarimus ir smurtą šeimoje. Toli gražu ne tviskančią kasdienybę Lilianai praskaidrina į dvarą atsikėlęs dailininkas, kurį jos vyras nusamdė kambariui dekoruoti. Tarp menininko ir jos atsiranda ypatingas ryšys, tačiau net vienintelei Lilianos laimei nelemta išlikti.
Kaip ir sakiau: tas pats per tą patį ir nieko naujo. Viskas labai nuspėjama, veikėjai labai šabloniški, įvykiai tokie pat kaip ir daugumoje tokių romanų. Pradedu pavargti nuo atsikartojančių siužetų, mat tokio tipo knygų šiemet leidžiama kaip niekad daug. Belieka pasidžiaugti už tuos, kuriems tokios istorijos patinka – šie metai jūsų.
Megė sulaukia žinios, kad jos senelė, viena gyvenanti didžiulieme dvare, atsidūrė ligoninėje. Nieko nelaukdama, mergina išskuba į savo gimtą kraštą, kurį paliko ne vien savo noru. Tačiau savos nuoskaudos nėra svarbesnės už močiutės Lilianos ligas. Grįžusi Anglijon, Megė pamato, jog Lilianos sveikata smarkiai pablogėjusi, o dvaro būklė apgailėtina. Ji ima ieškoti lėšų remontui ar bent jau išeities kaip išsaugoti pastatą, tačiau tokios, atrodo, net nėra. Lygiagrečiai su Megės istorija, mums pasakojama ir Lilianos jaunystė. Ji, jos vyras ir posūnis gyvena dištaigingame name, tačiau prabanga maskuoja nesutarimus ir smurtą šeimoje. Toli gražu ne tviskančią kasdienybę Lilianai praskaidrina į dvarą atsikėlęs dailininkas, kurį jos vyras nusamdė kambariui dekoruoti. Tarp menininko ir jos atsiranda ypatingas ryšys, tačiau net vienintelei Lilianos laimei nelemta išlikti.
Kaip ir sakiau: tas pats per tą patį ir nieko naujo. Viskas labai nuspėjama, veikėjai labai šabloniški, įvykiai tokie pat kaip ir daugumoje tokių romanų. Pradedu pavargti nuo atsikartojančių siužetų, mat tokio tipo knygų šiemet leidžiama kaip niekad daug. Belieka pasidžiaugti už tuos, kuriems tokios istorijos patinka – šie metai jūsų.
August 7, 2018
The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell is an absolutely captivating novel; full of intrigue, imagination and everything beautiful.
Summer and peacocks; garden parties; art and murals; music and cocktails.
Set in a dual timezone where we venture from the coast of Australia to a beautiful home named Cloudesley in rural England.
It does hold some exciting elements; it's cleverly written and a bit of a thriller ~ I felt as if I was watching a movie and asking myself 'what's going to happen next'?
Each time surprised...
I absolutely loved The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell and would highly recommend this novel.
Summer and peacocks; garden parties; art and murals; music and cocktails.
Set in a dual timezone where we venture from the coast of Australia to a beautiful home named Cloudesley in rural England.
It does hold some exciting elements; it's cleverly written and a bit of a thriller ~ I felt as if I was watching a movie and asking myself 'what's going to happen next'?
Each time surprised...
I absolutely loved The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell and would highly recommend this novel.
June 30, 2019
This was the perfect book to read on a summer day while sitting on the deck. Taking place over a summer, one during the 1950s and the other present day, this compelling gothic encompassed everything needed for a tantalizing read: a crumbling manor house in the English countryside, juicy family secrets, and a secret love affair, all wrapped up in the satisfying conclusion.
Readers Kate Morton and Eve Chase will enjoy this as will those who enjoyed Ruth Ware's DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY and Claire Fuller's BITTER ORANGE.
[A bit of a spoiler alert: Part of the plot involves a bit more domestic violence than what is usually in past gothic novels.]
Thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.
Readers Kate Morton and Eve Chase will enjoy this as will those who enjoyed Ruth Ware's DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY and Claire Fuller's BITTER ORANGE.
[A bit of a spoiler alert: Part of the plot involves a bit more domestic violence than what is usually in past gothic novels.]
Thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.
June 29, 2019
To solve her problems, a young naive Lillian decides to marry the charming and rich Charles Oberon. He has money, he's handsome and owns a beautiful house in English countryside called Cloudesley.
Lillian is struggling to raise her younger sister Helen, her marriage to Charles is the obvious solution to her ease her worries and she is looking forward to being a stepmother to Charles's young son Albie.
It doesn't take long for Lillian to realize she has made a big mistake, she's lonely, her husband is extremely difficult to live with and she's trapped in a unhappy marriage.
One summer her husband decides to hire a young artist Jack to paint a room in the house and she thinks its another one of his crazy projects.
Soon a dangerous bond is formed between the lonely Lillian and the talented painter Jack.
Maggie Oberon, Lillian's granddaughter receives a call and her dear Nan is ill, she quickly books a flight from Australia home to England. When she arrives, she discovers her sick aging grandmother is struggling to keep her crumbling home Cloudesley a float and it's in need of major repairs or the house will fall down.
As Maggie tries to save her beloved Nan's home, she also discovers the secrets from the past and how they have effected her whole family. It's a heart breaking story of lost love, lies, tragedy and betrayal.
I really enjoyed The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell, it was a fabulous story, full of so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I gave the book five stars and I highly recommend reading it!
Lillian is struggling to raise her younger sister Helen, her marriage to Charles is the obvious solution to her ease her worries and she is looking forward to being a stepmother to Charles's young son Albie.
It doesn't take long for Lillian to realize she has made a big mistake, she's lonely, her husband is extremely difficult to live with and she's trapped in a unhappy marriage.
One summer her husband decides to hire a young artist Jack to paint a room in the house and she thinks its another one of his crazy projects.
Soon a dangerous bond is formed between the lonely Lillian and the talented painter Jack.
Maggie Oberon, Lillian's granddaughter receives a call and her dear Nan is ill, she quickly books a flight from Australia home to England. When she arrives, she discovers her sick aging grandmother is struggling to keep her crumbling home Cloudesley a float and it's in need of major repairs or the house will fall down.
As Maggie tries to save her beloved Nan's home, she also discovers the secrets from the past and how they have effected her whole family. It's a heart breaking story of lost love, lies, tragedy and betrayal.
I really enjoyed The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell, it was a fabulous story, full of so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I gave the book five stars and I highly recommend reading it!
June 14, 2019
For my full review of "The Peacock Summer" visit: https://fictionophile.com/2019/06/13/...
Loved it!
Combine family secrets, an atmospheric old English manor house, and dual timelines and you've created a recipe for a novel I'm sure to enjoy. "The Peacock Summer" did just that - making it a standout read for me personally.
I was absolutely riveted by both Maggie's and Lillian's stories. The characters were fully developed, real people, with strengths and weaknesses. They both have made decisions that they have cause to regret... But then, haven't we all?
The old house, the grounds, all were vivid in my imagination. When the book ended, I was loath to leave them.
In short, I loved this novel. In my opinion it was comparable to the best work of Kate Morton, Rosamund Pilcher, and Harriet Evans. A realistic family saga that might pull at your heart strings.
Highly recommended!
Loved it!
Combine family secrets, an atmospheric old English manor house, and dual timelines and you've created a recipe for a novel I'm sure to enjoy. "The Peacock Summer" did just that - making it a standout read for me personally.
I was absolutely riveted by both Maggie's and Lillian's stories. The characters were fully developed, real people, with strengths and weaknesses. They both have made decisions that they have cause to regret... But then, haven't we all?
The old house, the grounds, all were vivid in my imagination. When the book ended, I was loath to leave them.
In short, I loved this novel. In my opinion it was comparable to the best work of Kate Morton, Rosamund Pilcher, and Harriet Evans. A realistic family saga that might pull at your heart strings.
Highly recommended!
February 8, 2023
Nuvylė. Iš aprašymo tikėjausi vingiuotos šeimos dramos, o gavau lengvutį meilės romaną, kas šiaip nėra blogai, tik vat būtent dabar, po "Pakankamai gera motina", "Visiškai eilinė šeima", "Prašau, pasirūpink mama", labai nublanko.
Pasakojimas vyksta dviem laikais: prisiminimų, dar jaunos senelės Lilianos istorija, ir anūkės Megės gyvenimas. Man labiau patiko Lilianos, netgi rašymo stilius pasikeisdavo, istorija plaukė, na o Megės tik trukdė, skaitant apimdavo jausmas, kad autorei buvo vargas dėlioti žodžius, o ir pati Megė kaip personažas erzino.
Pasakojimas vyksta dviem laikais: prisiminimų, dar jaunos senelės Lilianos istorija, ir anūkės Megės gyvenimas. Man labiau patiko Lilianos, netgi rašymo stilius pasikeisdavo, istorija plaukė, na o Megės tik trukdė, skaitant apimdavo jausmas, kad autorei buvo vargas dėlioti žodžius, o ir pati Megė kaip personažas erzino.
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April 15, 2018 A compelling story of forbidden love and ruined lives...with a house that holds secrets.
July 1, 2018
Haunting, heartbreaking and stunningly beautiful!! Just read it, it is a brilliant work! Thank you Hannah Richell.
August 14, 2019
This story is told in two timelines, sixty years apart. It is told by Maggie and her grandmother Lillian. It is a family saga, full of secrets and emotions. It is the story of how a house affects the life of its inhabitants. It is a beautifully written story that captured my imagination and had me listening intently to find out what was going to happen to Lillian, Maggie and even Albee (Lillian's stepson, Maggie's father). Lillian literally falls into a life of wealth and privilege but without happiness and Maggie who returns to the estate to care for her ailing grandmother after fleeing the family home earlier with her own secret.
Maggie is not aware of Lillian's past and the secrets she has kept for years. As Lillian's health fades, the secrets are shared and the past and present collide. My emotions were all over reading this one. Both Maggie and Lillian have things in their past that they wish they could change and have brought them to where they are now. The other issue is that Lillian has almost run out of money and cannot maintain Cloudsley anymore. Maggie wants to save the manor house, but will she be able to find something in the past that the National Trust will be interested in? I really enjoyed this story. It was just the right blend of mystery, historical and Gothic fiction, that wraps up with a bittersweet ending.
I listened to this audiobook and enjoyed it, once I got used to the narrator's voice. Both Lillian and Maggie had their own voice, but the rest of the characters were quite similar. It was more of a reading of the book than a performance of the story. Having said that, it was still a very enjoyable story to listen to. I received a copy of this audiobook from HarperAudio upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
Maggie is not aware of Lillian's past and the secrets she has kept for years. As Lillian's health fades, the secrets are shared and the past and present collide. My emotions were all over reading this one. Both Maggie and Lillian have things in their past that they wish they could change and have brought them to where they are now. The other issue is that Lillian has almost run out of money and cannot maintain Cloudsley anymore. Maggie wants to save the manor house, but will she be able to find something in the past that the National Trust will be interested in? I really enjoyed this story. It was just the right blend of mystery, historical and Gothic fiction, that wraps up with a bittersweet ending.
I listened to this audiobook and enjoyed it, once I got used to the narrator's voice. Both Lillian and Maggie had their own voice, but the rest of the characters were quite similar. It was more of a reading of the book than a performance of the story. Having said that, it was still a very enjoyable story to listen to. I received a copy of this audiobook from HarperAudio upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
April 9, 2018
This is exactly the kind of book I love to curl up and lose myself in. Incredibly moving and wonderfully told, I just adored this story from the first page to the last. The descriptive prose throughout is so beautiful and the characterisation superb. I was totally drawn into Lillian's story as she recounts her past life at her home 'Cloudesley' (Such a pretty name!).
Her granddaughter Maggie is trying to work through issues of her own while caring for a now elderly Lillian and attempting to save 'Cloudesley' from crumbling around them. She has no idea of the history 'Cloudesley' holds for Lillian, especially details of her relationship with Maggie's grandfather Charles and a certain artist who appeared on the scene and changed Lillian's life. I loved Maggie's story and the dilemmas she faced in the present just as much as Lillian's recollections of the past. Both parts came together so well, but it was Lillian's love story and her compassion that captured my heart. I don't usually mention the covers of books, but this one is so gorgeous and makes sense when you have read the story, it certainly lured me in to read the book initially too. I'm really looking forward this authors next work and am going to be downloading her previous books tout suite!
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Her granddaughter Maggie is trying to work through issues of her own while caring for a now elderly Lillian and attempting to save 'Cloudesley' from crumbling around them. She has no idea of the history 'Cloudesley' holds for Lillian, especially details of her relationship with Maggie's grandfather Charles and a certain artist who appeared on the scene and changed Lillian's life. I loved Maggie's story and the dilemmas she faced in the present just as much as Lillian's recollections of the past. Both parts came together so well, but it was Lillian's love story and her compassion that captured my heart. I don't usually mention the covers of books, but this one is so gorgeous and makes sense when you have read the story, it certainly lured me in to read the book initially too. I'm really looking forward this authors next work and am going to be downloading her previous books tout suite!
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2018
The Peacock Summer by Hannah Richell is the perfect historical fiction novel and I just loved it! Replete with crumbling mansion/estate that has seen better years, the novel is a story about family, secrets and regrets unfolding in a dual narrative.
Lillian marries Charles Oberon at the age of 26 and becomes mistress of Cloudesley, a manor house in the Chilterns. Now quite elderly, Lillian's story unfolds in a series of flashbacks.
Maggie comes back to Cloudesley to care for her Grandmother Lillian and is forced to face the repercussions and shame of her own actions a year or so ago.
I flew through The Peacock Summer and felt as though it was written just for me. Don't you love it when that happens? The pacing was perfect without any dull periods and the writing was so atmospheric I could almost hear the peacocks in the garden with Lillian and trace my finger through the dusty rooms along with Maggie.
The Peacock Summer is definitely for fans of Kate Morton and those who enjoy historical fiction. Highly recommended. I'm just sad it's over.
* Copy courtesy of Hachette Australia *
Lillian marries Charles Oberon at the age of 26 and becomes mistress of Cloudesley, a manor house in the Chilterns. Now quite elderly, Lillian's story unfolds in a series of flashbacks.
Maggie comes back to Cloudesley to care for her Grandmother Lillian and is forced to face the repercussions and shame of her own actions a year or so ago.
I flew through The Peacock Summer and felt as though it was written just for me. Don't you love it when that happens? The pacing was perfect without any dull periods and the writing was so atmospheric I could almost hear the peacocks in the garden with Lillian and trace my finger through the dusty rooms along with Maggie.
The Peacock Summer is definitely for fans of Kate Morton and those who enjoy historical fiction. Highly recommended. I'm just sad it's over.
* Copy courtesy of Hachette Australia *
July 20, 2018
What a disappointing book!
After reading the glowing reviews, was expecting the next best book since Gone with The Wind.
Instead had to suffer through a throughly miserable tale of sad, lonely, frustrated people with a little touch of a Mills & Boon romance lurking in the shadows.
How anyone could write these rapturous, spell binding comments is beyond me and I will perhaps stick to the recommendations I trust, to offer me entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable reads.
Ainslie Birrell
After reading the glowing reviews, was expecting the next best book since Gone with The Wind.
Instead had to suffer through a throughly miserable tale of sad, lonely, frustrated people with a little touch of a Mills & Boon romance lurking in the shadows.
How anyone could write these rapturous, spell binding comments is beyond me and I will perhaps stick to the recommendations I trust, to offer me entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable reads.
Ainslie Birrell
July 28, 2018
‘The Peacock Summer’ is just the type of book I love to read. A dual narrative story, it is beautifully written, a tale of intrigue and mystery, and most importantly the characters are brought to life. Cloudesley, the crumbling manor house in England is such a place of secrets that I kept turning the pages of the book until the very end. The character of Lillian was beautifully written, both in the past and the present day, if she stepped through my front door I’d know her immediately. The book itself has a lovely cover and art work. Highly recommended.
March 8, 2019
Novel of life, love and family set in the CHILTERNS
4.5*
This is a dual timeline novel following the story of Lillian in the post WW2 years and granddaughter Maggie in the present day. There are various backstories which are beautifully knitted together. At the heart is the historic family home of Cloudesley, set in fictional Cloud Green in the Chilterns. Parties and peacocks were the order of the day back then. Now, however, the whole estate has fallen into disrepair and a lot of money is required to turn everything around. That is down to Maggie to sort out.
The author has a real gift for transitioning between the two time periods, the stories flow effortlessly which is a real feat. She feeds in quite a few themes – not too many – and knits them all together in a cohesive way.
After the war Lillian meets Charles (they literally run into each other on a road) who is the owner of the mansion Cloudesley and who is on the look-out for a new mother for Albie; his first wife is dead. Lillian slides into the role of wife and parent but soon discovers Charles’ darker side and his growing abusive behaviour towards her. The author builds up the picture of domestic violence in a layered and thoughtful way. Lillian’s focus throughout is on Albie, the young son, and she will tolerate most things in order to protect him.
Charles engages a young painter, Jack Fincher, to paint a mural in the room that was the nursery. Lillian is now barren. This handsome and capable young man joins the household over one Summer and the scene is set. His mural gains significance as he finds his inspiration and gets into his stride.
Albie is the missing generation. He has seen too much of his caregivers’ relationship and flees when he can. He travels the world without a care, elusive and with neither a real sense of purpose nor responsibility. He has a fling and into the world comes Maggie. Both birth parents literally abandon her and she is brought up by grandmother Lillian (who is not a blood relative but the next best thing). I feel that the hurt and abandonment issues suffered by Maggie could perhaps have had more core exploration and tended to be brushed over in the narrative; the single flaw to my mind in the otherwise very good story.
Maggie is called back from Australia as Lillian has taken a fall and needs care. Just the previous year Maggie had a local entanglement which devastated those involved. And now she is back to face her past as well as pick up the threads with her grandmother and truly understand the weight of the estate and its disrepair. Her own history starts to unfurl as she discovers secrets and the true story of her family history.
The writing is thoughtful and as graceful as the peacocks that once strutted the Cloudesley manicured lawns. It’s well put together and a pleasure to read. Recommended.
4.5*
This is a dual timeline novel following the story of Lillian in the post WW2 years and granddaughter Maggie in the present day. There are various backstories which are beautifully knitted together. At the heart is the historic family home of Cloudesley, set in fictional Cloud Green in the Chilterns. Parties and peacocks were the order of the day back then. Now, however, the whole estate has fallen into disrepair and a lot of money is required to turn everything around. That is down to Maggie to sort out.
The author has a real gift for transitioning between the two time periods, the stories flow effortlessly which is a real feat. She feeds in quite a few themes – not too many – and knits them all together in a cohesive way.
After the war Lillian meets Charles (they literally run into each other on a road) who is the owner of the mansion Cloudesley and who is on the look-out for a new mother for Albie; his first wife is dead. Lillian slides into the role of wife and parent but soon discovers Charles’ darker side and his growing abusive behaviour towards her. The author builds up the picture of domestic violence in a layered and thoughtful way. Lillian’s focus throughout is on Albie, the young son, and she will tolerate most things in order to protect him.
Charles engages a young painter, Jack Fincher, to paint a mural in the room that was the nursery. Lillian is now barren. This handsome and capable young man joins the household over one Summer and the scene is set. His mural gains significance as he finds his inspiration and gets into his stride.
Albie is the missing generation. He has seen too much of his caregivers’ relationship and flees when he can. He travels the world without a care, elusive and with neither a real sense of purpose nor responsibility. He has a fling and into the world comes Maggie. Both birth parents literally abandon her and she is brought up by grandmother Lillian (who is not a blood relative but the next best thing). I feel that the hurt and abandonment issues suffered by Maggie could perhaps have had more core exploration and tended to be brushed over in the narrative; the single flaw to my mind in the otherwise very good story.
Maggie is called back from Australia as Lillian has taken a fall and needs care. Just the previous year Maggie had a local entanglement which devastated those involved. And now she is back to face her past as well as pick up the threads with her grandmother and truly understand the weight of the estate and its disrepair. Her own history starts to unfurl as she discovers secrets and the true story of her family history.
The writing is thoughtful and as graceful as the peacocks that once strutted the Cloudesley manicured lawns. It’s well put together and a pleasure to read. Recommended.
May 11, 2020
Hannah Richell "Povų dvaras"
Atėjus pavasariui visad norisi lengvesnių ir ne tokio rimto turinio knygų. O vasarą nusprendžiau pasitikti sudalyvaudama Mama su knyga sugalvotame knygų iššūkyje. "Povų dvaras" priklauso "Knyga su gėle" kategorijai.
Knygos skaitytojai susipažįsta su dviem nepaprastomis moterimis: Liliana ir Mege Oberon. Tai močiutė ir anūkė. Dvi nepaprastos, įdomios ir išskirtinės asmenybės. ir jas abi jungia didingas Klaudeslio dvaras, jo praeitis ir dabartis. Dvi vasaros pakeitusios jų abiejų gyvenimus.
Liliana 1955 metais susipažįsta su jaunu ir labai perspektyviu dailininku Džeku Finčeriu, kuris atvyksta ištapyti dvare esančio vaikų kambario, vykdydamas jos vyro Čarlzo užsakymą. Lilianai tai tampa svajonių ir košmarų vasara.
Megė - jauna ir savęs dar neatradusi mergina. Per visą trumpą savo gyvenimą, ji bando išsiaiškinti, kodėl mama ją paliko, o tėtis jos gyvenime pasirodo kaip jaunas mėnulis. Vienintelis tikras ir stabilus žmogus jos gyvenime - močiutė Liliana. Ji visad buvo ir yra šalia. Močiutei atsidūrus ligoninėje, Megė meta viską ir grįžta į Angliją.
Iš pirmo žvilgsnio gali pasirodyti, kad H. Richell pasakoja tiesiog gražią ir "cukruotą" istoriją. Tik verčiant puslapius suvoki, kad autorė gvildena gana rimtas ir šiai dienai labai aktualias problemas: smurtas artimoje aplinkoje, psichologinis ir fizinis teroras, moters teisė pasirinkti, kokius keliu ji nori eiti, tėvų ir vaikų santykiai.
Dvaras, kuris sužiba visame savo grožyje 6 -ajame dešimtmetyje. Skaitant labai įdomu atskleisti jo klestėjimo laikus bei paslaptis. O jų tikrai nemažai. Ir kartu tai knyga apie meilę: vyro - moteriai, moters - vaikams ir anūkams, seserų ryšys, kurio niekas negali sugriauti.
Kaskart, kai skaitau Baltos Lankos knygas, susižaviu kokybiškai išverstu tekstu ir tuo, ką jaučiu skaitydama. O ši knyga - kaip nedrąsiai ateinanti vasara: šiek tiek vėsoka, bet švelni ir šviesi.
Patiks visiems, kurie ieško gražios ir nenuobodžios knygos dovanai, arba nekantrauja sutikti vasarą :)
Atėjus pavasariui visad norisi lengvesnių ir ne tokio rimto turinio knygų. O vasarą nusprendžiau pasitikti sudalyvaudama Mama su knyga sugalvotame knygų iššūkyje. "Povų dvaras" priklauso "Knyga su gėle" kategorijai.
Knygos skaitytojai susipažįsta su dviem nepaprastomis moterimis: Liliana ir Mege Oberon. Tai močiutė ir anūkė. Dvi nepaprastos, įdomios ir išskirtinės asmenybės. ir jas abi jungia didingas Klaudeslio dvaras, jo praeitis ir dabartis. Dvi vasaros pakeitusios jų abiejų gyvenimus.
Liliana 1955 metais susipažįsta su jaunu ir labai perspektyviu dailininku Džeku Finčeriu, kuris atvyksta ištapyti dvare esančio vaikų kambario, vykdydamas jos vyro Čarlzo užsakymą. Lilianai tai tampa svajonių ir košmarų vasara.
Megė - jauna ir savęs dar neatradusi mergina. Per visą trumpą savo gyvenimą, ji bando išsiaiškinti, kodėl mama ją paliko, o tėtis jos gyvenime pasirodo kaip jaunas mėnulis. Vienintelis tikras ir stabilus žmogus jos gyvenime - močiutė Liliana. Ji visad buvo ir yra šalia. Močiutei atsidūrus ligoninėje, Megė meta viską ir grįžta į Angliją.
Iš pirmo žvilgsnio gali pasirodyti, kad H. Richell pasakoja tiesiog gražią ir "cukruotą" istoriją. Tik verčiant puslapius suvoki, kad autorė gvildena gana rimtas ir šiai dienai labai aktualias problemas: smurtas artimoje aplinkoje, psichologinis ir fizinis teroras, moters teisė pasirinkti, kokius keliu ji nori eiti, tėvų ir vaikų santykiai.
Dvaras, kuris sužiba visame savo grožyje 6 -ajame dešimtmetyje. Skaitant labai įdomu atskleisti jo klestėjimo laikus bei paslaptis. O jų tikrai nemažai. Ir kartu tai knyga apie meilę: vyro - moteriai, moters - vaikams ir anūkams, seserų ryšys, kurio niekas negali sugriauti.
Kaskart, kai skaitau Baltos Lankos knygas, susižaviu kokybiškai išverstu tekstu ir tuo, ką jaučiu skaitydama. O ši knyga - kaip nedrąsiai ateinanti vasara: šiek tiek vėsoka, bet švelni ir šviesi.
Patiks visiems, kurie ieško gražios ir nenuobodžios knygos dovanai, arba nekantrauja sutikti vasarą :)
July 21, 2018
I have mixed emotions after
finishing this book. I am really glad to have read the conclusion but sad to be saying farewell at the same time.
I love dual timeline books and this is a good example of why.
Such a good read. My favourite book this year so far
#aussieauthor #awwc
finishing this book. I am really glad to have read the conclusion but sad to be saying farewell at the same time.
I love dual timeline books and this is a good example of why.
Such a good read. My favourite book this year so far
#aussieauthor #awwc
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