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Дикий горный тимьян
Книги Розамунды Пилчер (1924–2019) знают и любят во всем мире. Ее романы незамысловаты и неторопливы, зато в них много подлинного тепла и сердечности. Кредо писательницы можно охарактеризовать фразой: «У хороших людей всегда все будет хорошо», — и в данном случае это один из столпов устойчивого читательского успеха.
«Дикий горный тимьян» — история любви. Роковой мужчина с прошлым встречает неискушенную девушку, и та влюбляется в него без памяти. «Он исчезал из ее жизни и появлялся вновь — непредсказуемо, но с удивительным постоянством. И каждый раз, когда возвращался, никогда не рассказывал, где он был». И вот однажды Оливер объявляет…
«Дикий горный тимьян» — история любви. Роковой мужчина с прошлым встречает неискушенную девушку, и та влюбляется в него без памяти. «Он исчезал из ее жизни и появлялся вновь — непредсказуемо, но с удивительным постоянством. И каждый раз, когда возвращался, никогда не рассказывал, где он был». И вот однажды Оливер объявляет…
348 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
615 people are currently reading
2767 people want to read
About the author
Rosamunde Pilcher
176 books3,147 followersRosamunde Scott was born on 22 September 1924 in Lelant, Cornwall, England, UK, daughter of Helen and Charles Scott, a British commander. Just before her birth her father was posted in Burma, her mother remained in England. She attended St. Clare's Polwithen and Howell's School Llandaff before going on to Miss Kerr-Sanders' Secretarial College. She began writing when she was seven and published her first short story when she was 18. From 1943 through 1946, Pilcher served with the Women's Naval Service. On 7 December 1946, she married Graham Hope Pilcher, a war hero and jute industry executive who died in March 2009. They moved to Dundee, Scotland, where she remained until her death in 2019. They had two daughters and two sons, and fourteen grandchildren. Her son, Robin Pilcher, is also a novelist.
In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000 following publication of Winter Solstice. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000 following publication of Winter Solstice. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
January 7, 2026
Wild thyme grew underfoot, and there were hazards of whin and gorse.
My Rosamunde Pilcher binge continues on, though this entry, WILD MOUNTAIN THYME will officially go down as my “least favorite” of the five that I’ve read so far.
This novel, published in 1978, introduces us to Oliver Dobbs, a loathsome man who abducts his biological child (who doesn’t know who he is), in the very first chapter.
We find out, quickly, that Oliver is an up-and-coming writer who has already sent one young wife running for her life, beating her early on in their ill-fated marriage. She left him before their baby was even born, and then dies conveniently in a plane wreck. (These aren’t spoilers, this is all chapter one intel).
Turns out, the world of the 1970s is still full of women dumb enough to go out with an Oliver Dobbs. Young Victoria Bradshaw thinks that Oliver’s habit of slowly brushing the hair from her eyes and then kissing her neck until she gives in to him is crazy irresistible, even though he says things to her like: “If you so much as pick up a telephone, I promise you, I’ll batter you black and blue.” (In case it’s unclear, he’s not making a joke).
If Victoria had poured gasoline on him while he slept and then lit a match, I would have found this a far more rewarding read. Sadly, she’s still telling us, on page 238 (out of 294 pages) that “there was never anyone but Oliver” for her. Poor girl, at 21-years-old she thinks that a man who casually calls her a “deceitful little bitch” before throwing his disgusting cigarette in a pristine body of water is a “catch.” (If only the vibrator had been improved upon by 1978, the world might have been her oyster!)
As it is, we must witness Victoria continue on as some sort of human dishrag, despite the dishier John Dunbeath loitering in the background. You can tell, as a reader, that Ms. Pilcher is offering him up as Victoria’s future romantic prospect, but, sadly, that “device” never worked for me. Victoria needs a good clinical psychologist, then a backbone, then a vacation. In that order. It never meant enough to me that perhaps the hunky John (who came across as 48 rather than his actual age of 28) is available to her, whenever she wants him. Sure, she should plunge right into another long-term relationship after this shipwreck!
(And what’s with everyone letting the 2-year-old toddler be alone by himself near both the ocean and multiple lakes? Anyone ever heard of drowning?)
Okay, so this was my least favorite novel of hers, but I’d still like to point out that I read it in three nights, so it was still akin to literary crack. I don’t know how Ms. Pilcher pulls it off, but she does.
I’d like to finish this review by pointing out how amused I was by how so many of the older characters in this story jumped, or were startled by, or were completed unnerved by the ringing of the telephone. This reminded me so much of the summers I spent in the early 1980s as a girl with my grandmother and her husband. Every time the phone would ring, my grandmother would jump off the floor, stop whatever she was doing and make noises like “Oh! Oh! Oh!” She, and her husband, or her sister, whichever peer was nearby, would all buzz about in great consternation and whenever she’d answer the phone, she’d shout out something like, “Hello? Yes? Yes? What IS it?”
Given how our phones now rule our very existence, it’s interesting to observe how these characters perceive it as a great disruption to the general peace of their lives.
My Rosamunde Pilcher binge continues on, though this entry, WILD MOUNTAIN THYME will officially go down as my “least favorite” of the five that I’ve read so far.
This novel, published in 1978, introduces us to Oliver Dobbs, a loathsome man who abducts his biological child (who doesn’t know who he is), in the very first chapter.
We find out, quickly, that Oliver is an up-and-coming writer who has already sent one young wife running for her life, beating her early on in their ill-fated marriage. She left him before their baby was even born, and then dies conveniently in a plane wreck. (These aren’t spoilers, this is all chapter one intel).
Turns out, the world of the 1970s is still full of women dumb enough to go out with an Oliver Dobbs. Young Victoria Bradshaw thinks that Oliver’s habit of slowly brushing the hair from her eyes and then kissing her neck until she gives in to him is crazy irresistible, even though he says things to her like: “If you so much as pick up a telephone, I promise you, I’ll batter you black and blue.” (In case it’s unclear, he’s not making a joke).
If Victoria had poured gasoline on him while he slept and then lit a match, I would have found this a far more rewarding read. Sadly, she’s still telling us, on page 238 (out of 294 pages) that “there was never anyone but Oliver” for her. Poor girl, at 21-years-old she thinks that a man who casually calls her a “deceitful little bitch” before throwing his disgusting cigarette in a pristine body of water is a “catch.” (If only the vibrator had been improved upon by 1978, the world might have been her oyster!)
As it is, we must witness Victoria continue on as some sort of human dishrag, despite the dishier John Dunbeath loitering in the background. You can tell, as a reader, that Ms. Pilcher is offering him up as Victoria’s future romantic prospect, but, sadly, that “device” never worked for me. Victoria needs a good clinical psychologist, then a backbone, then a vacation. In that order. It never meant enough to me that perhaps the hunky John (who came across as 48 rather than his actual age of 28) is available to her, whenever she wants him. Sure, she should plunge right into another long-term relationship after this shipwreck!
(And what’s with everyone letting the 2-year-old toddler be alone by himself near both the ocean and multiple lakes? Anyone ever heard of drowning?)
Okay, so this was my least favorite novel of hers, but I’d still like to point out that I read it in three nights, so it was still akin to literary crack. I don’t know how Ms. Pilcher pulls it off, but she does.
I’d like to finish this review by pointing out how amused I was by how so many of the older characters in this story jumped, or were startled by, or were completed unnerved by the ringing of the telephone. This reminded me so much of the summers I spent in the early 1980s as a girl with my grandmother and her husband. Every time the phone would ring, my grandmother would jump off the floor, stop whatever she was doing and make noises like “Oh! Oh! Oh!” She, and her husband, or her sister, whichever peer was nearby, would all buzz about in great consternation and whenever she’d answer the phone, she’d shout out something like, “Hello? Yes? Yes? What IS it?”
Given how our phones now rule our very existence, it’s interesting to observe how these characters perceive it as a great disruption to the general peace of their lives.
January 3, 2015
Wow, this was a surprisingly wonderful Pilcher! I only say that because I tend to expect the shorter novels to be a little less interesting than her "big" novels but this one was nearly just as good. This was a lovely story with a compelling setting and atmosphere in the Northern Scotland seaside and interesting quirky characters. Her very visual prose, a little romance and some tragedy and angst make for a satisfying read.
July 12, 2017
lots of stupidly overdone and very strange Drama, horrendes Male Lead that kidnaps a 2 year old without anyone calling the police and a complete push over as the main female lead - for my first book by the author I think I could not have chosen a worse one!
I was told by a handful of people that I just have to read a Pilcher book because I would just love her....
I am guessing this book was NOT was those people meant for me to read since this was NOT my personal reading taste - at all!!
I hate weak female leads especially those that are constantly doing things that makes the reader want shake the character to see I maybe the little bit of spine might snap into place with enough force!
Victoria was one of the worst characters I read about for a good long while!
she wasn't only going along with something that she clearly didn't think was right but she also did not do anything at all to at least help an innocent child!
also who will be stupid enough to let a man that left you before walk all over you once again when he comes hot of no where?!??
let's just not talk about Oliver -the main man- because I will get mad and I light scream so let's just NOT go there!!
let's also not really talk about the amount of alcohol that especially Oliver drank during times where no alcohol should be served or drank!!
I can not for the life of me understand why no one in this book thought to actually tell the police a child was taken away from his home! or that why the heck the grandparents didn't try to find him or get him back in any form!!
all in all?
so not my type of plot or characters! so clearly not my type of book at all!
can't say i would recommend this bio. because this entire thing was unrealistically stupid.
still Pilcher must have more and actually good things to offer right??
I am giving her another chance but this book was not good at all!
I was told by a handful of people that I just have to read a Pilcher book because I would just love her....
I am guessing this book was NOT was those people meant for me to read since this was NOT my personal reading taste - at all!!
I hate weak female leads especially those that are constantly doing things that makes the reader want shake the character to see I maybe the little bit of spine might snap into place with enough force!
Victoria was one of the worst characters I read about for a good long while!
she wasn't only going along with something that she clearly didn't think was right but she also did not do anything at all to at least help an innocent child!
also who will be stupid enough to let a man that left you before walk all over you once again when he comes hot of no where?!??
let's just not talk about Oliver -the main man- because I will get mad and I light scream so let's just NOT go there!!
let's also not really talk about the amount of alcohol that especially Oliver drank during times where no alcohol should be served or drank!!
I can not for the life of me understand why no one in this book thought to actually tell the police a child was taken away from his home! or that why the heck the grandparents didn't try to find him or get him back in any form!!
all in all?
so not my type of plot or characters! so clearly not my type of book at all!
can't say i would recommend this bio. because this entire thing was unrealistically stupid.
still Pilcher must have more and actually good things to offer right??
I am giving her another chance but this book was not good at all!
April 16, 2014
Let me make this clear: I HATE weak women. And such a woman is, unfortunately, the protagonist Victoria Bradshaw. She is even described as being pale and having colourless hair! Everything dear Victoria cares about is pleasing men, so they don't get annoyed by her. Thus, she lets them (or this one, an artist, Oliver Dobbs) treat her like dirt, and still, as if somebody pressed the standby button on her brain (IF she has one, one might ask, reading that book), she runs after Oliver, apparently the only man in her life (how does that work if you're over 30? By living in a monastery?!), she washes his clothes, she gets him from the airport...I have to confess, every time, that Oliver guy did something mean, I thought "Great, NOW she's going to wake up and realize he's an asshole" but at the end of the book I personally thought she deserved it, being so helpless and stupid. Of course, she realizes her mistake just in time to turn to the next guy available, John, who even owns a castle and earns a LOT of money (jeeeeeez, that girl really learnt from her mistakes)...
February 9, 2015
This is one of the longer of her "short" books, and unfortunately for me, the last one I hadn't read with the exception of the short story collections of Flowers in Rain and the Blue Bedroom. I love her books because they are gently written, invoke a bygone era, and leave you with fuzzies inside. Readers should remember these were written many years ago, and I think that is why some people interpret her females as weak. You could say that Victoria in this novel is weak and stupid, or you can think of her as a young, insecure female who's unsure of her worth. I think her personality can still be seen in today's young women and the poor choices they sometimes make with men. In that way, her novels are timeless. I'm a big Pilcher fan! As usual, this one is clean, with no explicit intimacy.
June 30, 2018
Una historia entrañable, predecible, sí, pero entrañable al fin y al cabo.
Está vez viajamos hasta las tierras altas de Escocia de la mano de Rosamunde Pilcher y el viaje, como siempre que nos acompañan sus historias, resulta placentero.
No creo que sea una de sus mejores novelas pero es perfectamente disfrutable sí te gustan las historias sencillas pero llenas de reflexión y sentimiento sin llegar nunca a ser empalagosas.
Me reafirmó en que quiero seguir leyendo a esta mujer
Está vez viajamos hasta las tierras altas de Escocia de la mano de Rosamunde Pilcher y el viaje, como siempre que nos acompañan sus historias, resulta placentero.
No creo que sea una de sus mejores novelas pero es perfectamente disfrutable sí te gustan las historias sencillas pero llenas de reflexión y sentimiento sin llegar nunca a ser empalagosas.
Me reafirmó en que quiero seguir leyendo a esta mujer
March 31, 2022
I generally enjoy Rosamunde Pilcher books. This one was decent, but I absolutely despised Oliver Dobbs and the fact that the main female character couldn't stand up to him made me want to throw her through a window. Things did eventually sort out and the ending was good but Oliver Dobbs did not get a proper talking to which he greatly deserved.
September 16, 2008
Okay...going into this, I already knew that Rosamunde Pilcher's books moved at a very leisurely pace, but this one was absolutely excruciating. Besides that, just about nothing actually happened in the book and it was all just very predictable. Not to mention there are only so many descriptions of scenery a person can take. Probably about a third of the book was devoted to describing the surrounding area in Scotland. I am so relieved to be done with this book.
March 1, 2021
Το μυθιστόρημα αυτό ήταν πολύ διαφορετικό απ' ότι το περίμενα και δυστυχώς δεν ταίριαξε με τα γούστα μου και τις προσδοκίες μου. Γνωρίζοντας πως η συγγραφέας αυτή είναι της ρομαντικής/ αισθηματικής λογοτεχνίας , ήλπιζα πως θα μου δώσει ένα ανάγνωσμα στο οποίο θα γίνω μάρτυρας ενός έρωτα αξέχαστου. Αυτό όμως που διάβασα δεν θα το έβαζα καν στην κατηγορία του αισθηματικού, αλλά κυρίως κοινωνικού δράματος. Δεν ξέρω αν εξαρχής άνηκε σε αυτή τη κατηγορία και εγώ παρεξήγησα και γι' αυτό το λόγο θα είμαι επιεικής.
Η ιστορία αυτή θα έλεγα πως αναφέρεται κυρίως στις δεύτερες ευκαιρίες με έναν πιο αληθοφανή και ρεαλιστικό τρόπο, καθώς δεν ευδοκιμούν όλες οι σχέσεις, δεν ανταποκρίνονται στα θέλω μας και στις ελπίδες μας. Υπάρχουν η λεγόμενη αγάπη χωρίς ανταπόκριση και κάποιες φορές, καλώς ή κακώς, οι άνθρωποί δεν αλλάζουν , όσο και να προσπαθούν και αυτό ίσως είναι το ηθικό δίδαγμα της ιστορίας αυτής. Υπάρχουν όμως και άνθρωποι που όντως μπορούν να αλλάξουν, κάτι το οποίο επίσης συναντάμε σε αυτό το βιβλίο.
Προσωπικά αν και συμφωνώ με την εξέλιξη και την κατάληξη των γεγονότων που έλαβαν μέρος στο βιβλίο αυτό, ωστόσο δεν το απήλαυσα ιδιαίτερα, καθώς η Βικτώρια ήταν αρκετά αδύναμος χαρακτήρας, ο Όλιβερ δεν μου ήταν ιδιαίτερα συμπαθής, το αντίθετο θα έλεγα. Η μόνη μου παρηγοριά ήταν ο μικρός Τομ, Ο Τζον και γενικότερα οι περιγραφές της Σκωτίας. Όμορφες γραφικές σκηνές που με ταξίδεψαν εκεί και με έκαναν να θέλω να ζήσω στο μέρος αυτό. Αυτό θα κρατήσω από την ιστορία αυτή.
Η ιστορία αυτή θα έλεγα πως αναφέρεται κυρίως στις δεύτερες ευκαιρίες με έναν πιο αληθοφανή και ρεαλιστικό τρόπο, καθώς δεν ευδοκιμούν όλες οι σχέσεις, δεν ανταποκρίνονται στα θέλω μας και στις ελπίδες μας. Υπάρχουν η λεγόμενη αγάπη χωρίς ανταπόκριση και κάποιες φορές, καλώς ή κακώς, οι άνθρωποί δεν αλλάζουν , όσο και να προσπαθούν και αυτό ίσως είναι το ηθικό δίδαγμα της ιστορίας αυτής. Υπάρχουν όμως και άνθρωποι που όντως μπορούν να αλλάξουν, κάτι το οποίο επίσης συναντάμε σε αυτό το βιβλίο.
Προσωπικά αν και συμφωνώ με την εξέλιξη και την κατάληξη των γεγονότων που έλαβαν μέρος στο βιβλίο αυτό, ωστόσο δεν το απήλαυσα ιδιαίτερα, καθώς η Βικτώρια ήταν αρκετά αδύναμος χαρακτήρας, ο Όλιβερ δεν μου ήταν ιδιαίτερα συμπαθής, το αντίθετο θα έλεγα. Η μόνη μου παρηγοριά ήταν ο μικρός Τομ, Ο Τζον και γενικότερα οι περιγραφές της Σκωτίας. Όμορφες γραφικές σκηνές που με ταξίδεψαν εκεί και με έκαναν να θέλω να ζήσω στο μέρος αυτό. Αυτό θα κρατήσω από την ιστορία αυτή.
September 8, 2020
In the author's books, the "bad guys" are those people who with their selfishness and immaturity cause problems to others. But the truth is that she is not so strict with them, so it gives them second chances to be able to fix things. This is what happens in this book, where an egocentric writer tries to change his life and make up for what he did wrong with his behaviour. The beautiful landscape of Scotland is the ideal romantic setting, the woman who loves him is by his side and the rest you can read for yourself.
This book is slightly different, with the author dealing with the doubts and dangers of love, the mental strength one needs to change path, the difficulties that can be overcome through strong beliefs and real emotions. Beyond that, however, everything is as we would expect, with wonderful mild romance, optimism and descriptions of the natural environment being the main features. All this makes the book interesting and moving enough to leave satisfied those who appreciate what the author offers.
Στα βιβλία της συγγραφέως οι "κακοί" είναι αυτοί οι άνθρωποι που με τον εγωισμό και την ανωριμότητα τους προκαλούν προβλήματα στους άλλους. Η αλήθεια όμως είναι ότι δεν είναι τόσο αυστηρή μαζί τους, για αυτό τους δίνει δεύτερες ευκαιρίες για να μπορέσουν να διορθώσουν τα πράγματα. Αυτό γίνεται σε αυτό το βιβλίο, όπου ένας εγωκεντρικός συγγραφέας προσπαθεί να αλλάξει τη ζωή του και να επανορθώσει ότι κακό έκανε με την συμπεριφορά του. Το υπέροχο τοπίο της Σκωτίας είναι το ιδανικό ρομαντικό σκηνικό, η γυναίκα που τον αγαπά είναι δίπλα του και τα υπόλοιπα μπορείτε να τα διαβάσετε μόνοι σας.
Ελαφρώς διαφορετικό αυτό το βιβλίο, με τη συγγραφέα να ασχολείται με τις αμφιβολίες και τους κινδύνους του έρωτα, την ψυχική δύναμη που χρειάζεται κάποιος για να αλλάξει το δρόμο του, τις δυσκολίες που μπορούν να ξεπεραστούν μέσα από τις ισχυρές πεποιθήσεις και τα πραγματικά συναισθήματα. Από εκεί και πέρα, όμως, όλα είναι όπως θα τα περιμέναμε, με τον υπέροχο ήπιο ρομαντισμό, την αισιοδοξία και τις περιγραφές του φυσικού περιβάλλοντος να είναι τα κύρια χαρακτηριστικά. Όλα αυτά κάνουν το βιβλίο ενδιαφέρον και αρκετά συγκινητικό για να αφήσει ικανοποιημένους όσους εκτιμούν αυτά που προσφέρει η συγγραφέας.
This book is slightly different, with the author dealing with the doubts and dangers of love, the mental strength one needs to change path, the difficulties that can be overcome through strong beliefs and real emotions. Beyond that, however, everything is as we would expect, with wonderful mild romance, optimism and descriptions of the natural environment being the main features. All this makes the book interesting and moving enough to leave satisfied those who appreciate what the author offers.
Στα βιβλία της συγγραφέως οι "κακοί" είναι αυτοί οι άνθρωποι που με τον εγωισμό και την ανωριμότητα τους προκαλούν προβλήματα στους άλλους. Η αλήθεια όμως είναι ότι δεν είναι τόσο αυστηρή μαζί τους, για αυτό τους δίνει δεύτερες ευκαιρίες για να μπορέσουν να διορθώσουν τα πράγματα. Αυτό γίνεται σε αυτό το βιβλίο, όπου ένας εγωκεντρικός συγγραφέας προσπαθεί να αλλάξει τη ζωή του και να επανορθώσει ότι κακό έκανε με την συμπεριφορά του. Το υπέροχο τοπίο της Σκωτίας είναι το ιδανικό ρομαντικό σκηνικό, η γυναίκα που τον αγαπά είναι δίπλα του και τα υπόλοιπα μπορείτε να τα διαβάσετε μόνοι σας.
Ελαφρώς διαφορετικό αυτό το βιβλίο, με τη συγγραφέα να ασχολείται με τις αμφιβολίες και τους κινδύνους του έρωτα, την ψυχική δύναμη που χρειάζεται κάποιος για να αλλάξει το δρόμο του, τις δυσκολίες που μπορούν να ξεπεραστούν μέσα από τις ισχυρές πεποιθήσεις και τα πραγματικά συναισθήματα. Από εκεί και πέρα, όμως, όλα είναι όπως θα τα περιμέναμε, με τον υπέροχο ήπιο ρομαντισμό, την αισιοδοξία και τις περιγραφές του φυσικού περιβάλλοντος να είναι τα κύρια χαρακτηριστικά. Όλα αυτά κάνουν το βιβλίο ενδιαφέρον και αρκετά συγκινητικό για να αφήσει ικανοποιημένους όσους εκτιμούν αυτά που προσφέρει η συγγραφέας.
August 21, 2021
Blegh. Boring.
And omg Victoria, grow a set.
1.5 stars rounded down.
And omg Victoria, grow a set.
1.5 stars rounded down.
February 25, 2025
Ik vond het in het begin qua verhaallijn af en toe onrealistisch snel gaan. Victoria die na wat Oliver haar heeft aangedaan zo snel alweer met hem mee gaat. Er amper over na hoeft te denken, op dat moment ook weinig emotie vond ik, dus weinig diepgang. Ja Victoria was de needy one ... ze smachtte naar een relatie, maar dat had ook al veel eerder naar voren mogen komen. Weer die diepgang die ik mistte. Ik ergerde me wel eens aan haar , hoe ze over haar heen liet lopen door Oliver en alles maar wat deed wat hij zei. En omg... wat is Oliver een vreselijk irritant ventje.
John was dan wel weer heel leuk en wat één van mijn favoriete karakters. Pas op Benchoile zat ik echt meer in het verhaal en begon er wat meer van te genieten.
Vandaar mijn drie sterren maar. Ik vond het leuk om een keer te lezen, maar er was ook genoeg wat naar mijn mening beter had gekund, zoals wat meer diepgang bij de karakters. Maar ook wat meer diepgang in het verhaal soms, en niet zo van de hak op de tak, waarbij sommige gebeurtenissen naar mijn gevoel onrealistisch snel waren.
Behalve de dood van Jock, zag ik vele dingen aankomen, van John die het huis uiteindelijk niet verkoopt, en Victoria en John die uiteindelijk een begin met elkaar willen maken.
Ook dit kwam uit het niets, want ze had pas geleden nog tegen Oliver gezegd dat ze van hem hield. En tegen John zegt ze vervolgens dat ze op Benchoile langzaam haar gevoelens voor hem kwijt raakte, wat, als dat zo was, veel te weinig naar voren kwam.
Al met al, zoals ik al had gemeld, was het leuk om eens gelezen te hebben en dat is het. Ja ik zal sowieso nog wel eens iets van Rosamund Pilcher proberen te lezen, om te kijken hoe dat is ( ik heb sowieso Midwinter nog op mijn wishlist), maar dit boek blijft bij ok.
John was dan wel weer heel leuk en wat één van mijn favoriete karakters. Pas op Benchoile zat ik echt meer in het verhaal en begon er wat meer van te genieten.
Vandaar mijn drie sterren maar. Ik vond het leuk om een keer te lezen, maar er was ook genoeg wat naar mijn mening beter had gekund, zoals wat meer diepgang bij de karakters. Maar ook wat meer diepgang in het verhaal soms, en niet zo van de hak op de tak, waarbij sommige gebeurtenissen naar mijn gevoel onrealistisch snel waren.
Behalve de dood van Jock, zag ik vele dingen aankomen, van John die het huis uiteindelijk niet verkoopt, en Victoria en John die uiteindelijk een begin met elkaar willen maken.
Ook dit kwam uit het niets, want ze had pas geleden nog tegen Oliver gezegd dat ze van hem hield. En tegen John zegt ze vervolgens dat ze op Benchoile langzaam haar gevoelens voor hem kwijt raakte, wat, als dat zo was, veel te weinig naar voren kwam.
Al met al, zoals ik al had gemeld, was het leuk om eens gelezen te hebben en dat is het. Ja ik zal sowieso nog wel eens iets van Rosamund Pilcher proberen te lezen, om te kijken hoe dat is ( ik heb sowieso Midwinter nog op mijn wishlist), maar dit boek blijft bij ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2021
This book would have been great without Oliver, lol. Seriously, what a complete jerk! By contrast though, John is wonderful. Can I have a sequel please with much more John and his stunningly beautiful Scotland home? Also Roddy was such a sweet guy!
March 13, 2025
3 1/2 stars
You know pretty much what you are going to get with a Rosamunde Pilcher novel, and the author once again delivered. It was nice to read a linear timeline story after all of the dual timeline ones I had read lately.
Both read and listened to, and both enjoyable.
Audiobook MCL
Lucy Paterson Narrator
Duration: 08:41:13
You know pretty much what you are going to get with a Rosamunde Pilcher novel, and the author once again delivered. It was nice to read a linear timeline story after all of the dual timeline ones I had read lately.
Both read and listened to, and both enjoyable.
Audiobook MCL
Lucy Paterson Narrator
Duration: 08:41:13
January 1, 2021
3.5 stars. Another charming book by the lovely Rosamunde Pilcher. One of her shorter books, this one takes us from London to the hills of Scotland. We first meet Oliver Dobbs, a young, up and coming playwright. A very unlikeable character, who appears on the doorstep of Victoria Bradshaw, a former girlfriend. He convinces her to join him, along with his two year old son Thomas on a little adventure to Scotland.
They arrive at Benchoile, a castle belonging to the Dunbeath family. Over the next several days, we meet the other characters in the book~ Jock, Roddy, Ellen and John. Between lighting fires to keep warm and drinks to keep everyone happy, Pilcher manages to weave a delightful story. Characters that you come to know, some you like, and some you don’t. The story is not always a happy one, but I highly recommend her books.
They arrive at Benchoile, a castle belonging to the Dunbeath family. Over the next several days, we meet the other characters in the book~ Jock, Roddy, Ellen and John. Between lighting fires to keep warm and drinks to keep everyone happy, Pilcher manages to weave a delightful story. Characters that you come to know, some you like, and some you don’t. The story is not always a happy one, but I highly recommend her books.
September 19, 2024
Η Rosamunde Pilcher έχει χαρακτηριστεί ως μία από τις κορυφαίες σύγχρονες συγγραφείς της ρομαντικής λογοτεχνίας. Είναι γνωστή για την αγάπη της προς τη φύση, που σχεδόν πάντα παίζει πρωταγωνιστικό ρόλο στις ιστορίες της, μα πάνω απ' όλα για τους ανθρώπους και τον έρωτα. Ανθρώπους που μπορεί να μην είναι τέλειοι, αντίθετα έχουν δεκάδες ελαττώματα που χρειάζονται σκληρή δουλειά για να διορθωθούν, και τον έρωτα σε όλες τις εκφάνσεις και τις διαστάσεις του, πράγμα που μπορεί να μην σημαίνει πως δεν είναι πάντοτε ιδανικός και τέλειος, αλλά πως πάντοτε διαθέτει ψυχή.
Το "Άγριο θυμάρι" δεν αποτελεί εξαίρεση όλων των παραπάνω, με τον Όλιβερ Ντομπς, έναν εξαιρετικό θεατρικό συγγραφέα αλλά όχι και τόσο εξαιρετικό άνθρωπο, να φτάνει στο σημείο εκείνο της ζωής του που αποφασίζει να αναθεωρήσει κάποια πράγματα, επιχειρώντας μέσα από μικρότερες και μεγαλύτερες αλλαγές, αλλά και πράξεις, να αλλάξει τον εαυτό του, τη ζωή του, να επανορθώσει για τα λάθη του παρελθόντος του και να χτίσει ένα καλύτερο μέλλον. Είναι όμως έτσι τα πράγματα; Μπορεί πράγματι ένας άνθρωπος ν' αλλάξει, να διεκικήσει μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία κι αν ναι, πόσο εφικτό είναι να τα καταφέρει αν έχει δομήσει την προσπάθειά του αυτή πάνω σε λάθος βάσεις;
Στο άλλο άκρο έχουμε τη Βικτόρια Μπράντσο, μια γυναίκα από το παρελθόν του Όλιβερ, την οποία ο ίδιος πλήγωσε βαθιά και που τώρα επιστρέφει στη ζωή της ζητώντας του μία ακόμα ευκαιρία. Και η Βικτόρια είναι τόσο διχασμένη ανάμεσα στα θέλω και στα πρέπει, ανάμεσα σε αυτά που προστάζει το μυαλό και η καρδιά της, ανάμεσα σε όλα βλέπει μπροστά στα μάτια της και όσα εκτυλίσσονται πίσω τους, που ακροβατεί και δεν είναι σίγουρη ποιο μονοπάτι πρέπει να διαλέξει. Σίγουρα, δεν πρόκειται για μια απ' τις δυναμικότερες ηρωίδες που μας έχει προσφέρει η Pilcher, μάλλον το αντίθετο, ωστόσο δεν μπορούμε να αρνηθούμε πως ίσως είναι από τις πλέον ρεαλιστικές φυσιογνωμίες, που έστω και μέσα από τις αδυναμίες τους, φανερώνουν τις αλήθειες τους, το ποιες είναι, αναζητώντας τον δρόμο που θα τους οδηγήσει στο ποιες μπορούν να γίνουν.
Αν και η δομή της ιστορίας αυτής είναι παρόμοια με τις άλλες της συγγραφέως, τόσο στον πυρήνα της όσο και στην ανάπτυξή της, διαφέρει σε αρκετά σημεία, με κυριότερο στο ότι η αγάπη και ο έρωτας αμφισβητούνται, τονίζοντάς μας το πόσο σημαντικό είναι το να μπορεί ο καθένας μας να χειριστεί τη ζωή του, να την πάρει στα χέρια του και να πορευτεί σύμφωνα με αποφάσεις που βασίζονται στις προσωπικές, εσωτερικές μας αλήθειες, αλλά και στα πιο βαθιά μας συναισθήματα, πολύ περισσότερο όταν αυτά μπορούν να βρουν ειλικρινή ανταπόκριση και μέσα από τη διαδικασία αυτή μπορούμε κι εμείς ν' απελευθερωθούμε απ' όποια δεσμά μας. Σε κάθε περίπτωση, το βιβλίο βρίθει ρομαντικής διάθεσης που αγγίζει την ψυχή σου, ενώ σε "ταξιδεύει" όμορφα με τη μοναδική περιγραφικότητα της Pilcher, που μετατρέπει κάθε αφήγησή της σε ζωγραφικό πίνακα.
Το "Άγριο θυμάρι" δεν αποτελεί εξαίρεση όλων των παραπάνω, με τον Όλιβερ Ντομπς, έναν εξαιρετικό θεατρικό συγγραφέα αλλά όχι και τόσο εξαιρετικό άνθρωπο, να φτάνει στο σημείο εκείνο της ζωής του που αποφασίζει να αναθεωρήσει κάποια πράγματα, επιχειρώντας μέσα από μικρότερες και μεγαλύτερες αλλαγές, αλλά και πράξεις, να αλλάξει τον εαυτό του, τη ζωή του, να επανορθώσει για τα λάθη του παρελθόντος του και να χτίσει ένα καλύτερο μέλλον. Είναι όμως έτσι τα πράγματα; Μπορεί πράγματι ένας άνθρωπος ν' αλλάξει, να διεκικήσει μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία κι αν ναι, πόσο εφικτό είναι να τα καταφέρει αν έχει δομήσει την προσπάθειά του αυτή πάνω σε λάθος βάσεις;
Στο άλλο άκρο έχουμε τη Βικτόρια Μπράντσο, μια γυναίκα από το παρελθόν του Όλιβερ, την οποία ο ίδιος πλήγωσε βαθιά και που τώρα επιστρέφει στη ζωή της ζητώντας του μία ακόμα ευκαιρία. Και η Βικτόρια είναι τόσο διχασμένη ανάμεσα στα θέλω και στα πρέπει, ανάμεσα σε αυτά που προστάζει το μυαλό και η καρδιά της, ανάμεσα σε όλα βλέπει μπροστά στα μάτια της και όσα εκτυλίσσονται πίσω τους, που ακροβατεί και δεν είναι σίγουρη ποιο μονοπάτι πρέπει να διαλέξει. Σίγουρα, δεν πρόκειται για μια απ' τις δυναμικότερες ηρωίδες που μας έχει προσφέρει η Pilcher, μάλλον το αντίθετο, ωστόσο δεν μπορούμε να αρνηθούμε πως ίσως είναι από τις πλέον ρεαλιστικές φυσιογνωμίες, που έστω και μέσα από τις αδυναμίες τους, φανερώνουν τις αλήθειες τους, το ποιες είναι, αναζητώντας τον δρόμο που θα τους οδηγήσει στο ποιες μπορούν να γίνουν.
Αν και η δομή της ιστορίας αυτής είναι παρόμοια με τις άλλες της συγγραφέως, τόσο στον πυρήνα της όσο και στην ανάπτυξή της, διαφέρει σε αρκετά σημεία, με κυριότερο στο ότι η αγάπη και ο έρωτας αμφισβητούνται, τονίζοντάς μας το πόσο σημαντικό είναι το να μπορεί ο καθένας μας να χειριστεί τη ζωή του, να την πάρει στα χέρια του και να πορευτεί σύμφωνα με αποφάσεις που βασίζονται στις προσωπικές, εσωτερικές μας αλήθειες, αλλά και στα πιο βαθιά μας συναισθήματα, πολύ περισσότερο όταν αυτά μπορούν να βρουν ειλικρινή ανταπόκριση και μέσα από τη διαδικασία αυτή μπορούμε κι εμείς ν' απελευθερωθούμε απ' όποια δεσμά μας. Σε κάθε περίπτωση, το βιβλίο βρίθει ρομαντικής διάθεσης που αγγίζει την ψυχή σου, ενώ σε "ταξιδεύει" όμορφα με τη μοναδική περιγραφικότητα της Pilcher, που μετατρέπει κάθε αφήγησή της σε ζωγραφικό πίνακα.
November 18, 2018
Oh dear. I am “rereading” one of my most beloved authors and so far they are not living up to my memories. When I say rereading, I mean I am listening to them on audiobooks. I see reading the reviews of Wild Mountain Thyme, that almost everyone can’t stand Victoria. I too was very frustrated with her, especially in the beginning when she did not do the right thing by calling the kidnap victim’s grandmother and grandfather and calling the cops. The villain, Oliver Dobbs, her ex-boyfriend that she is still infatuated with, is very well drawn in his despicableness. With just a few mild observations and descriptions of emotions, the reader knows right away he is a horrible human being. That was well done by Rosamunde. Throughout the book, the reader wonders when Victoria is going to wake up. Answer: She doesn’t really. Until, that is, he leaves her and she has no choice. Even in the middle of the book when he threatens to “beat her black and blue,” she still makes excuses for him and hopes to make a life for them and his son, (that he kidnapped from his dead wife’s legal guardians), that she now loves as her very own. He never gets told off, never made to see himself as a “destroyer” as his mother-in-law characterizes him, to Victoria, at the very end. Luckily for this feeble dunderhead, there is a typical Pilcher hero to pick up the pieces. He is well-off, nice, handsome, strong, sensible, and good with children. To add to this embarrassment of riches, he is now a Scottish laird of a real almost castle. The only question is, What in the world does he see in her? We never really know.
It looks like Victoria is the least favorite of all the Pilcher heroines. I fervently hope that I will have to endure no more of heroines of this ilk. Except I felt almost as much antipathy towards the heroine of Snow in April, my first re-read. Hopefully it will be up hill from here for Rosamunde’s hapless heroines. I do love her writing, her gentle world, and the way she draws her secondary characters. I also love her decent attractive heroes. Keeping my fingers crossed that the next heroine has a backbone and common sense. The reader, Lucy Patterson, is brilliant. She does high emotion very well.
It looks like Victoria is the least favorite of all the Pilcher heroines. I fervently hope that I will have to endure no more of heroines of this ilk. Except I felt almost as much antipathy towards the heroine of Snow in April, my first re-read. Hopefully it will be up hill from here for Rosamunde’s hapless heroines. I do love her writing, her gentle world, and the way she draws her secondary characters. I also love her decent attractive heroes. Keeping my fingers crossed that the next heroine has a backbone and common sense. The reader, Lucy Patterson, is brilliant. She does high emotion very well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2015
Well written, the characters really well rounded so that you had feelings about them. Oliver- a writer, a cad, egotistical,self centred,charming, selfish, manipulative,with a mean streak.
Victoria- unsure of herself, shy, easily charmed and manipulated to fall into line with his plans. The trip to Benchoile, meeting Roddy and John,caring for Tom and seeing Oliver in a different light changes Victoria and changes the outcome of their relationship. Beautifully descriptive of the lifestlye and and lands surrounding Benchoile.
Victoria- unsure of herself, shy, easily charmed and manipulated to fall into line with his plans. The trip to Benchoile, meeting Roddy and John,caring for Tom and seeing Oliver in a different light changes Victoria and changes the outcome of their relationship. Beautifully descriptive of the lifestlye and and lands surrounding Benchoile.
January 31, 2020
3.25 stars
There's usually very little I don't like about Pilcher's novels however with this one she often puts the reader into the mind of one of her more reprehensible (in my opinion) characters, something I found very uncharacteristic of her. Still there's a good story and a wonderful Scotland setting, just not as "cosy" as I've come to expect.
There's usually very little I don't like about Pilcher's novels however with this one she often puts the reader into the mind of one of her more reprehensible (in my opinion) characters, something I found very uncharacteristic of her. Still there's a good story and a wonderful Scotland setting, just not as "cosy" as I've come to expect.
August 30, 2017
Ισως οχι το καλύτερο της (3,5 αστεράκια )αλλα η Πίλτσερ ποτε δεν με απογοητευει!Με την γραφή και τις υπέροχες περιγραφές της μου βγάζει πάντα ηρεμία και αισιοδοξία. Μου άρεσε!
July 20, 2024
Nooo! This was such a disappointment. I give it points for her classic writing and the setting, but the plot was RIDICULOUS and the characters were horrendous. Writer and uninvolved dad Oliver steals son he’s never met from loving grandparents. Then he enlists the help of a weak willed woman Victoria who loves him (who knows why) to go on holiday with him and help him with the toddler. She’s totally devoted and spineless, he’s abusive and narcissistic. The Scottish estate they go to happens to have just turned over to a new laird, John. Victoria and John had met once before and of course John is the “better” option to swoop in after Oliver leaves, though he’s not much better. If I had read this book by her first I don’t know that I would have tried any others which is sad. But I’ll keep reading her better known titles in hopes they’re more in line with The Shell Seekers, and September.
December 20, 2020
What can I say? I know that if I ever need something that will make me feel better, I should just grab one of Pilcher's books, where life seems to be so easy that the stories are always a little bit unrealistic, but the characters are well written and the landscapes are so enchanting that I feel like packing up and moving to Scotland (or Cornwall, or Cotswolds...). This book hasn't been any different, ***** for lifting my mood, ** for not being the greatest literature in the world, overall 3.5* 😁
April 30, 2018
“Leitura leve para preencher o ócio”
Este é o meu segundo livro de Rosamunde, e da mesma forma que o primeiro, a escritora conseguiu me transpor ao local da história por meio da descrição dos espaços e das personagens. Decidi iniciar o livro em um momento de ócio, e embora o enredo não tenha sido muito instigante, foi bastante agradável a leitura. Recomendo para quem procura uma leitura mais leve.
Este é o meu segundo livro de Rosamunde, e da mesma forma que o primeiro, a escritora conseguiu me transpor ao local da história por meio da descrição dos espaços e das personagens. Decidi iniciar o livro em um momento de ócio, e embora o enredo não tenha sido muito instigante, foi bastante agradável a leitura. Recomendo para quem procura uma leitura mais leve.
June 28, 2019
Novela romántica ambientada en la montaña escocesa. Chimenea, canes y suculenta comida. A pesar de que el final es muy predecible, la trama es bastante original desde el principio y logra enganchar al lector. Algunos diálogos se hacen lentos, es la única pega que le encuentro. Repetiré a Pilcher.
June 5, 2025
Two stars for the gorgeous descriptions of Scotland, the distinctive characters of Jock and Roddy Dunbeath, and the sweet reunion of little Thomas and his “Ganny.” But Oliver was a very bad man and Victoria was very weak to allow him to ensnare her in his schemes. Glad for the happyhappy endings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2024
big comfort author and yes very random woman from 80s who I discovered and love the way she writes. outdated (duh) some things don’t age well. Also the story was meh but again her writing is such a vibe. but overall very nice. This book was kind of(?) giving Tom Lake by Ann Patchett but British (and Scottish) and if it was way better
September 15, 2021
Non avevo mai letto un libro di Rosamulde Pilcher e durante la lettura di Profumo di timo continuavo a darmi della sciocca e mi sono ripromessa di recuperare al più presto altri suoi libri. Del resto com’è che si dice: le trasposizioni cinematografiche sono – quasi – sempre inferiori al libro. Quindi mai giudicare un libro dal film!
Quello che mi ha colpito della storia, narrata in terza persona, è la modalità con cui è stato strutturato l’inserimento dei personaggi e la loro interazione. Alcuni incontri si possono associare al fato, mentre altri rientrano nelle cosiddette esperienze di vita. Il tutto è circondato da paesaggi incantevoli sia che ci si trovi a Londra che nelle highlands scozzesi.
La dolce e riservata Victoria sembra in attesa di qualcosa e vive come se fosse in punta di piedi. Possiede un carattere mansueto, la gentilezza e l’educazione sono le prime cose che si notano di lei. Non ha amici stretti e le persone della società benestante che frequenta sono conoscenze della madre.
Incontra per caso Oliver e rimane affascinata dal suo atteggiamento naif nei confronti della vita. La loro è un’amicizia particolare fatta di presenza e lunghi silenzi dello scrittore e Victoria accetta tutto perché, per lei, lui è più di un amico. Quando Oliver le comunica i cambiamenti che avverranno nella sua vita, nel cuore della ragazza appare una profondissima ferita e il ritorno alla solitudine è spezzato dal lavoro in un negozio di abbigliamento.
Lo spaesamento, e un iniziale diffidenza verso Oliver che riappare dopo degli anni, è amplificata dalla presenza del piccolo Thomas.
Oliver è un uomo egoriferito e spesso il suo atteggiamento viene giustificato dal suo essere uno scrittore da chi è al suo fianco. In questo modo lui si sente ancora più libero di comportarsi senza rispettare le persone e continuare con il suo stile di vita irriverente. Conosce le sue potenzialità e la sicurezza di sé è il fattore basilare nel raggiungere l’obiettivo di diventare uno scrittore di successo. Più volte ho percepito Oliver come un approfittatore e un manipolatore, di certo non è l’uomo ideale con cui costruire una famiglia o stringere un’amicizia, e la mia impressione ha avuto conferma nella descrizione del rapporto fra lui e il figlioletto Thomas.
Interessante la storia parallela dei fratelli Roddy, Jock e Dunbeath e del nipote John. L’alternanza fra il presente e il passato racconta ancora di più di loro e in particolare della solitudine di Roddy e Jock che avvertono nella loro abitazione di Inverness, nelle highlands.
La caratterizzazione di John è particolare poiché, attraverso le parole degli zii Jock e Roddy, si capisce che il ragazzo è la rappresentazione del sogno americano. All’età di ventotto anni ha già vissuto tanto quanto gli zii e, anche lui, è senza qualcuno d’amare al proprio fianco.
La narrazione è scorrevole e molto piacevole, mentre lo stile narrativo permette di immaginare perfettamente i visi delle persone, i luoghi e i panorami dov’è ambientata la storia. La mia meraviglia è dipesa dal fatto del periodo storico in cui è ambientato il libro e di come rendesse malinconicamente bello lo scrivere lettere, che impiegavano dei giorni ad arrivare a destinazione, o le telefonate fatte con i telefoni di una volta e di come tutto si svolgesse con tempistiche e modalità più in sintonia con lo scorrere dei giorni anziché dell’orologio.
Quello che mi ha colpito della storia, narrata in terza persona, è la modalità con cui è stato strutturato l’inserimento dei personaggi e la loro interazione. Alcuni incontri si possono associare al fato, mentre altri rientrano nelle cosiddette esperienze di vita. Il tutto è circondato da paesaggi incantevoli sia che ci si trovi a Londra che nelle highlands scozzesi.
La dolce e riservata Victoria sembra in attesa di qualcosa e vive come se fosse in punta di piedi. Possiede un carattere mansueto, la gentilezza e l’educazione sono le prime cose che si notano di lei. Non ha amici stretti e le persone della società benestante che frequenta sono conoscenze della madre.
Incontra per caso Oliver e rimane affascinata dal suo atteggiamento naif nei confronti della vita. La loro è un’amicizia particolare fatta di presenza e lunghi silenzi dello scrittore e Victoria accetta tutto perché, per lei, lui è più di un amico. Quando Oliver le comunica i cambiamenti che avverranno nella sua vita, nel cuore della ragazza appare una profondissima ferita e il ritorno alla solitudine è spezzato dal lavoro in un negozio di abbigliamento.
Lo spaesamento, e un iniziale diffidenza verso Oliver che riappare dopo degli anni, è amplificata dalla presenza del piccolo Thomas.
Oliver è un uomo egoriferito e spesso il suo atteggiamento viene giustificato dal suo essere uno scrittore da chi è al suo fianco. In questo modo lui si sente ancora più libero di comportarsi senza rispettare le persone e continuare con il suo stile di vita irriverente. Conosce le sue potenzialità e la sicurezza di sé è il fattore basilare nel raggiungere l’obiettivo di diventare uno scrittore di successo. Più volte ho percepito Oliver come un approfittatore e un manipolatore, di certo non è l’uomo ideale con cui costruire una famiglia o stringere un’amicizia, e la mia impressione ha avuto conferma nella descrizione del rapporto fra lui e il figlioletto Thomas.
Interessante la storia parallela dei fratelli Roddy, Jock e Dunbeath e del nipote John. L’alternanza fra il presente e il passato racconta ancora di più di loro e in particolare della solitudine di Roddy e Jock che avvertono nella loro abitazione di Inverness, nelle highlands.
La caratterizzazione di John è particolare poiché, attraverso le parole degli zii Jock e Roddy, si capisce che il ragazzo è la rappresentazione del sogno americano. All’età di ventotto anni ha già vissuto tanto quanto gli zii e, anche lui, è senza qualcuno d’amare al proprio fianco.
La narrazione è scorrevole e molto piacevole, mentre lo stile narrativo permette di immaginare perfettamente i visi delle persone, i luoghi e i panorami dov’è ambientata la storia. La mia meraviglia è dipesa dal fatto del periodo storico in cui è ambientato il libro e di come rendesse malinconicamente bello lo scrivere lettere, che impiegavano dei giorni ad arrivare a destinazione, o le telefonate fatte con i telefoni di una volta e di come tutto si svolgesse con tempistiche e modalità più in sintonia con lo scorrere dei giorni anziché dell’orologio.
March 12, 2019
I ended up with a stack of Rosamunde Pilcher books when my mother did a bookcase cleanout. I’ve long meant to read something by her, and her covers promised some chick-lit charm the likes of Mary Stewart and Maeve Binchy, so she was definitely on my radar. I assumed I’d at least not hate her books.
But, no. This book I HATED. I hated it so much, I could barely believe what I was reading. How was this is a book that had been published? How was this a book people bought, and read, and then allowed others to do the same? How could my own mother have inflicted this misery upon me? Does she secretly hate me? Was this revenge for my teenage years?
Wild Mountain Thyme is, I am not kidding, one of the very worst books I have ever read in my entire life. And Rosamunde Pilcher is now on my DO NOT READ EVER list. Even if her other books aren’t this dire – they can’t be, right? She’s published dozens of them, surely they can’t all be this dreadful? – the sight of her name on a cover will forever give me PTSD flashbacks to this utter excrescence. I honestly don’t understand how every copy of this book ever published hasn’t spontaneously combusted, such is my hatred of it, such is the power of my loathing.
The book begins with Oliver, Jerk Oliver, The Worst Man in the World Oliver. Oliver is an aspiring writer, whose girlfriend got pregnant and they got married – because her parents paid him for it – and who then thoughtlessly abandoned his new wife and unborn child, because he was bored. His son now two-years-old, and his wife dead in a plane crash, he abducts the child and takes him to his ill-treated ex-girlfriend, and Victoria, Idiot Victoria, The Weakest Woman in the World Victoria gives up her entire life in order to care for the kid (who, by the way, no one seems to be upset was JUST ABDUCTED).
It’s just… horrid. Victoria spends most of the book in thrall to the hateful Oliver, and his rival, John, is controlling and dismissive in a whole other way, but is set up to be our romantic hero, because anyone would seem like a hero when compared with fucking Oliver. This is a book filled with terrible people, and also boring people, and dear me, why the HELL did I finish it? I wish I’d stopped after Chapter 1. Page 1.
Please don’t read this book. As a personal favour to me. Don’t let my travails be in vain. If I can save one person from this disaster, it will be… well, no, not worth it. But at least not such a waste of my time.
Save yourself.
But, no. This book I HATED. I hated it so much, I could barely believe what I was reading. How was this is a book that had been published? How was this a book people bought, and read, and then allowed others to do the same? How could my own mother have inflicted this misery upon me? Does she secretly hate me? Was this revenge for my teenage years?
Wild Mountain Thyme is, I am not kidding, one of the very worst books I have ever read in my entire life. And Rosamunde Pilcher is now on my DO NOT READ EVER list. Even if her other books aren’t this dire – they can’t be, right? She’s published dozens of them, surely they can’t all be this dreadful? – the sight of her name on a cover will forever give me PTSD flashbacks to this utter excrescence. I honestly don’t understand how every copy of this book ever published hasn’t spontaneously combusted, such is my hatred of it, such is the power of my loathing.
The book begins with Oliver, Jerk Oliver, The Worst Man in the World Oliver. Oliver is an aspiring writer, whose girlfriend got pregnant and they got married – because her parents paid him for it – and who then thoughtlessly abandoned his new wife and unborn child, because he was bored. His son now two-years-old, and his wife dead in a plane crash, he abducts the child and takes him to his ill-treated ex-girlfriend, and Victoria, Idiot Victoria, The Weakest Woman in the World Victoria gives up her entire life in order to care for the kid (who, by the way, no one seems to be upset was JUST ABDUCTED).
It’s just… horrid. Victoria spends most of the book in thrall to the hateful Oliver, and his rival, John, is controlling and dismissive in a whole other way, but is set up to be our romantic hero, because anyone would seem like a hero when compared with fucking Oliver. This is a book filled with terrible people, and also boring people, and dear me, why the HELL did I finish it? I wish I’d stopped after Chapter 1. Page 1.
Please don’t read this book. As a personal favour to me. Don’t let my travails be in vain. If I can save one person from this disaster, it will be… well, no, not worth it. But at least not such a waste of my time.
Save yourself.
November 6, 2022
There were so many ways to screw up this story. Since the beginning, I was afraid of it. I am sure that many writers would have mishandled it (making it too melodramatic or too complicated or too flat). But not Rosamunde Pilcher. Again she showed why I love her novels so much. She was a writer of the highest class.
In one sentence: Scottish setting and the longing to be loved and needed.
In my opinion, it was a classical novel driven by characters (in opposite to those driven by events). And what characters! Olivier, John, Roddy, Victoria, Thomas, Ellen. I can't tell that I liked Olivier (what is interesting, I didn't dislike him) but what a brilliant character. I am going to remember him for a long time. By the way, I wonder if Mrs Pilcher thought of someone real when she created Olivier. And about Victoria - not all people (and women) are strong. Some of us are really "weak" and the longing for love is sometimes strong. I would have never rated a book low only because the heroine is "weak". Such people do exist and they have a right to live in novels too.
The whole story was perfectly summed up in a beautiful folk song "Wild Mountain Thyme":
Rosamunde Pilcher novels aren't (typical) romances, but the love stories you can find in them give me more thrill and pleasure than most of other romances I read.
She realised that it was always possible to pick yourself up and start again, however many times you fall.
In one sentence: Scottish setting and the longing to be loved and needed.
In my opinion, it was a classical novel driven by characters (in opposite to those driven by events). And what characters! Olivier, John, Roddy, Victoria, Thomas, Ellen. I can't tell that I liked Olivier (what is interesting, I didn't dislike him) but what a brilliant character. I am going to remember him for a long time. By the way, I wonder if Mrs Pilcher thought of someone real when she created Olivier. And about Victoria - not all people (and women) are strong. Some of us are really "weak" and the longing for love is sometimes strong. I would have never rated a book low only because the heroine is "weak". Such people do exist and they have a right to live in novels too.
The whole story was perfectly summed up in a beautiful folk song "Wild Mountain Thyme":
If my true love won't come with me
Then I would surely find another
To pick wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather
Rosamunde Pilcher novels aren't (typical) romances, but the love stories you can find in them give me more thrill and pleasure than most of other romances I read.
"Perhaps not wanting to say goodbye is just another word for loving."
June 25, 2022
I would love to be able to give this book 4🌟, but I just couldn't. The main character of Oliver Dobbs was just too detestable. He doesn't have a single redeeming character trait and his treatment of everyone around him, especially Victoria, is just heartbreaking and anger-inducing. It was so difficult to read the parts of the story where he is yelling at, hitting, or treating Victoria in such a hateful way.
If I didn't have to read about Oliver, I would have really loved this book. The domestic details, nature descriptions, and other characters of the story are so wonderful and cozy. Oliver's character just completely destroyed the book.
I'm not sure why, but Rosamunde Pilcher's shorter books always seem to be this way. Part alluring and cozy, while the other part has despicable male characters and female characters who just allow themselves to be treated badly without argument.
I'm would only recommend this book if you love Rosamunde Pilcher's writing and can look past the character of Oliver. I wouldn't suggest this book to anyone new to RP's books. Only her main 4 family sagas are truly exquisite, cozy and satisfying.
If I didn't have to read about Oliver, I would have really loved this book. The domestic details, nature descriptions, and other characters of the story are so wonderful and cozy. Oliver's character just completely destroyed the book.
I'm not sure why, but Rosamunde Pilcher's shorter books always seem to be this way. Part alluring and cozy, while the other part has despicable male characters and female characters who just allow themselves to be treated badly without argument.
I'm would only recommend this book if you love Rosamunde Pilcher's writing and can look past the character of Oliver. I wouldn't suggest this book to anyone new to RP's books. Only her main 4 family sagas are truly exquisite, cozy and satisfying.
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