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The Vanishing Point
In the tradition of Philippa Gregory’s smart, transporting fiction comes this tale of dark suspense, love, and betrayal, featuring two star-crossed sisters, one lost and the other searching.
Bright and inquisitive, Hannah Powers was raised by a father who treated her as if she were his son. While her beautiful and reckless sister, May, pushes the limits of propriety in their small English town, Hannah harbors her own their father has given her an education forbidden to women. But Hannah’s secret serves her well when she journeys to colonial Maryland to reunite with May, who has been married off to a distant cousin after her sexual misadventures ruined her marriage prospects in England.
As Hannah searches for May, who has disappeared, she finds herself falling in love with her brother-in-law. Alone in a wild, uncultivated land where the old rules no longer apply, Hannah is freed from the constraints of the society that judged both her and May as dangerous—too smart, too fearless, and too hungry for life. But Hannah is also plagued by doubt, as her quest for answers to May’s fate grows ever more disturbing and tangled.
Bright and inquisitive, Hannah Powers was raised by a father who treated her as if she were his son. While her beautiful and reckless sister, May, pushes the limits of propriety in their small English town, Hannah harbors her own their father has given her an education forbidden to women. But Hannah’s secret serves her well when she journeys to colonial Maryland to reunite with May, who has been married off to a distant cousin after her sexual misadventures ruined her marriage prospects in England.
As Hannah searches for May, who has disappeared, she finds herself falling in love with her brother-in-law. Alone in a wild, uncultivated land where the old rules no longer apply, Hannah is freed from the constraints of the society that judged both her and May as dangerous—too smart, too fearless, and too hungry for life. But Hannah is also plagued by doubt, as her quest for answers to May’s fate grows ever more disturbing and tangled.
369 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
230 people are currently reading
1614 people want to read
About the author
Mary Sharratt
14 books490 followersMary Sharratt is an American writer who lives with her Belgian husband in the Pendle region of Lancashire, England, the setting for her acclaimed 2010 novel, DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL, which recasts the Pendle Witches of 1612 in their historical context as cunning folk and healers.
Previously she lived for twelve years in Germany. This, along with her interest in sacred music and herbal medicine, inspired her to write her most recent novel, ILLUMINATIONS: A NOVEL OF HILDEGARD VON BINGEN, which explores the dramatic life of the 12th century Benedictine abbess, composer, polymath, and powerfrau.
Winner of the 2005 WILLA Literary Award and a Minnesota Book Award Finalist, Mary has also written the acclaimed novels SUMMIT AVENUE (Coffee House 2000), THE REAL MINERVA (Houghton Mifflin 2004), THE VANISHING POINT (Houghton Mifflin 2006), and co-edited the subversive fiction anthology BITCH LIT (Crocus Books 2006), which celebrates female anti-heroes--strong women who break all the rules. Her short fiction has been published in TWIN CITIES NOIR (Akashic Books 2006).
Mary writes regular articles for Historical Novels Review and Solander on the theme of writing women back into history. When she isn't writing, she's usually riding her spirited Welsh mare through the Lancashire countryside.
Previously she lived for twelve years in Germany. This, along with her interest in sacred music and herbal medicine, inspired her to write her most recent novel, ILLUMINATIONS: A NOVEL OF HILDEGARD VON BINGEN, which explores the dramatic life of the 12th century Benedictine abbess, composer, polymath, and powerfrau.
Winner of the 2005 WILLA Literary Award and a Minnesota Book Award Finalist, Mary has also written the acclaimed novels SUMMIT AVENUE (Coffee House 2000), THE REAL MINERVA (Houghton Mifflin 2004), THE VANISHING POINT (Houghton Mifflin 2006), and co-edited the subversive fiction anthology BITCH LIT (Crocus Books 2006), which celebrates female anti-heroes--strong women who break all the rules. Her short fiction has been published in TWIN CITIES NOIR (Akashic Books 2006).
Mary writes regular articles for Historical Novels Review and Solander on the theme of writing women back into history. When she isn't writing, she's usually riding her spirited Welsh mare through the Lancashire countryside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
January 21, 2011
2.5 Stars. This one started out iffy for me but I kept going and was glad I did because once Hannah got to America I was hooked on the story. But then just as the mystery of what really happened to May started to heat up, Hannah unraveled and so did the rest of the story. I didn't care for the stupidity that suddenly enveloped Hannah nor the choices she made. In the end, neither of the girls were worthy enough in my eyes to be heroines and I felt like I'd been cheated out of the time it took me to read the book. It left me asking, Well what was the point of that? Bah!
December 29, 2008
When I began this book I was not sure if I even wanted to get through it. I thought the character of May being so sexually liberal from the beginning was a little forced. A woman during that time in England and in America would have been punished (quite wrongly, but still) and therefore I was not surprised at what happened to May in America with her new husband. I really liked the character of Hannah, and her naivete and then her strength. She did what she had to do to protect herself and her child. She was constantly at odds with her heart and her mind-and I just eat that up! I also enjoyed the author's use of fantasy, mysticism and fairy tale elements. I have a feeling from reading the Afterword that the author wanted the reader to admire May and her sexual and literal freedom, but I found the character to be selfish, cruel and spoiled-she did things that ultimately broke her own, her sister and Gabriel's heart. This is fiction and though the ending was not believable, sometimes I like things packaged up nicely with a real "ending"-whether happy or not.
February 5, 2014
I'm a Mary Sharratt fan, especially after DAUGHTERS OF WITCHING HILL. Her prose and her characters are easy to take in, and she spins a fine story. This book didn't disappoint in those areas, but the plot, and the shifting viewpoints, felt somehow contrived to me. One entire segment--a medically trained woman passing as a man so she could work as a doctor--was glossed over with only a few paragraphs, and was a part of the story I had been anticipating. It seemed to me that the writer spent a great deal of time was spent on what was, admittedly, a fascinating glimpse into early American history. It's not a short book at all, but it feels somehow out of balance.
Despite this reservation, though, I recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in the early American period, and also to anyone with an interest in historical medical practices. As always, Sharratt's research is impeccable, and her historical details serve rather than overshadow her story.
Despite this reservation, though, I recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in the early American period, and also to anyone with an interest in historical medical practices. As always, Sharratt's research is impeccable, and her historical details serve rather than overshadow her story.
July 19, 2010
The beginning of this book held promise, but it deteriorated into an unbelievable end that left me annoyed.
September 12, 2010
I've only recently discovered Mary Sharratt's work after reading her latest novel Daughters of the Witching Hill (which is set near to where I live and is a story I know well).
The Vanishing Point took me into new territory to explore a time and country that I wasn't so familiar with and I found the descriptions vivid and evocative.
It was written in an interesting and unusual way that twisted together the stories of the lives of two sisters and a man. The plot was unexpected, but that did not detract from my enjoyment. The story challenged me rather than taking the path I thought it would and although I was left feeling saddened at some of the lost opportunities, and especially I grieved for Gabriel Washbrook, it was a story that captivated me and held my interest.
If you're looking for a conventional happy ending you won't get one with this book, but what you will get is a story of two strong women who are both determined to live independent lives and who eventually do that, although there are casualties along the way.
The characters are still in my thoughts and although I wished that the sisters had acted differently I have to accept that they did what they did because they thought that it was for the best and both they, and I, have to accept the consequences.
It is a thought-provoking read and cleverly written and one which I enjoyed very much.
The Vanishing Point took me into new territory to explore a time and country that I wasn't so familiar with and I found the descriptions vivid and evocative.
It was written in an interesting and unusual way that twisted together the stories of the lives of two sisters and a man. The plot was unexpected, but that did not detract from my enjoyment. The story challenged me rather than taking the path I thought it would and although I was left feeling saddened at some of the lost opportunities, and especially I grieved for Gabriel Washbrook, it was a story that captivated me and held my interest.
If you're looking for a conventional happy ending you won't get one with this book, but what you will get is a story of two strong women who are both determined to live independent lives and who eventually do that, although there are casualties along the way.
The characters are still in my thoughts and although I wished that the sisters had acted differently I have to accept that they did what they did because they thought that it was for the best and both they, and I, have to accept the consequences.
It is a thought-provoking read and cleverly written and one which I enjoyed very much.
April 30, 2014
I first read Mary Sharratt's "Daughters of Witching Hill", I enjoyed it - I have just finished "Vanishing Point".
I liked her characters in this one better, the story gripped me - having to finish another chapter before putting it down - again & again.
Things don't happen as you would wish they would all the time - in real life they do not either.
Hannah, May, Gabriel, Adele and other characters were well written, the mystery slowly reveals itself in glimpses of the past.
Regrets are many, and believable.
The freedom won tastes sweet, even with a bitter aftertaste.
I will read another of Mary Sharratt's books.
I liked her characters in this one better, the story gripped me - having to finish another chapter before putting it down - again & again.
Things don't happen as you would wish they would all the time - in real life they do not either.
Hannah, May, Gabriel, Adele and other characters were well written, the mystery slowly reveals itself in glimpses of the past.
Regrets are many, and believable.
The freedom won tastes sweet, even with a bitter aftertaste.
I will read another of Mary Sharratt's books.
February 17, 2016
Termine detestando a las dos protragonistas a May por promiscua y egoísta, Hannah por que el que diran y sus inseguridades dejo envenenarse su empatía. Gabriel es el que mas me conmovió
August 8, 2010
“A mere optical illusion, Hannah,” her father told her, referring to the vanishing point on the horizon. “In truth, the ship does not disappear. The vessel is still there, even if we on the shore cannot see it.” So it transpired that both people and ships could become ghosts without ever dying or sinking beneath the waves. (Prologue, The Vanishing Point)
The Vanishing Point, by Mary Sharratt, is 364 pages and was published in 2006. It was a gift from my beloved writing critique partner, Kelly. She found it in an indie book store on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where the novel is set in the 1600′s, thus providing me with the perfect recipe for a reading experience: historical + indie bookstore + Maryland. I started it on Friday, and devoured it over Memorial Day weekend.
The Vanishing Point is the story of two sisters, May and Hannah Powers, who travel to the new world in the 1600s, separately, in order to secure their futures. First goes May, the rebellious, lusty, strong-willed, oldest daughter of the aging town physician, to wed her distant cousin from Maryland. It is a welcome prospect because of her love for adventure, and because she has shamed herself with half the village.
Hannah, the younger, intelligent, and more fragile sister, follows once her father dies, but when she arrives she meets a terrible situation. What ensues is her attraction to her brother-in-law, the freedoms of living outside of society, and ultimately, the price they all have to pay for doing so.
I couldn’t put the book down. It had a unique plot, fascinating characters, and a compelling mystery. I loved the rich descriptions of setting and society. My only disappointment came in the end, when what could have been an entire sequel’s worth of material was condensed into a letter on a few short pages, and was naturally, filled with regret. I was glad to understand all that had happened but I wished I could have read it in another novel.
Mary Sharratt is a gifted writer, and I was thrilled to learn that she has other books published. For those of you who enjoy historical fiction in the style of Philippa Gregory, you’ll love The Vanishing Point.
The Vanishing Point, by Mary Sharratt, is 364 pages and was published in 2006. It was a gift from my beloved writing critique partner, Kelly. She found it in an indie book store on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where the novel is set in the 1600′s, thus providing me with the perfect recipe for a reading experience: historical + indie bookstore + Maryland. I started it on Friday, and devoured it over Memorial Day weekend.
The Vanishing Point is the story of two sisters, May and Hannah Powers, who travel to the new world in the 1600s, separately, in order to secure their futures. First goes May, the rebellious, lusty, strong-willed, oldest daughter of the aging town physician, to wed her distant cousin from Maryland. It is a welcome prospect because of her love for adventure, and because she has shamed herself with half the village.
Hannah, the younger, intelligent, and more fragile sister, follows once her father dies, but when she arrives she meets a terrible situation. What ensues is her attraction to her brother-in-law, the freedoms of living outside of society, and ultimately, the price they all have to pay for doing so.
I couldn’t put the book down. It had a unique plot, fascinating characters, and a compelling mystery. I loved the rich descriptions of setting and society. My only disappointment came in the end, when what could have been an entire sequel’s worth of material was condensed into a letter on a few short pages, and was naturally, filled with regret. I was glad to understand all that had happened but I wished I could have read it in another novel.
Mary Sharratt is a gifted writer, and I was thrilled to learn that she has other books published. For those of you who enjoy historical fiction in the style of Philippa Gregory, you’ll love The Vanishing Point.
September 15, 2013
No sólo todo el libro es melancólico, monótono y angustiante (sin exceso de dramatismo, sino como una enfermedad crónica) sino que el final es más triste aún.
El sufrimiento de Gabriel me partió el alma y sentí una pena tan profunda que me indigné.
No fue un final justo, aunque la autora intentó dar un consuelo estúpido.
Hacia el final amé profundamente a Gabriel, mi tocayo con nombre de ángel, que no merecía sufrir así en la vida.
Leí que era una gran historia de amor, otra chica decía que nunca quería olvidar esta historia y en otra reseña leí que era una historia de amor magnífica.
Creo que es la primera vez que no me siento mal por pensar totalmente distinto al resto.
Esta historia me dolió. Acompañé a los personajes en una historia larga, pesada, monótona y triste desde el principio, pensando todo el tiempo que al final, los tres encontraríamos una recompensa y sin embargo Gabriel se quedó purgando una pena dolorosamente triste.
No lo recomiendo porque no me gustó y porque lo sufrí. Simplemente eso, una cuestión de gustos. Pero tienen el 99% de las críticas a favor del libro o si quieren … tienen la opinión de mi mamá.
Por cierto, mamá, esta reseña te la dedico a vos, que te amo con el alma, hasta el cielo, ida y vuelta. A vos que me enseñaste a leer y a escribir siendo mi maestra de primer grado… pero espero que esa enseñanza no la tenga que aplicar a otra recomendación como esta.
Resultado:
Le doy la menor calificación posible. No porque el libro este mal escrito ni porque no sea interesante. Simplemente me despertó sensaciones tristes y no lo disfruté en ningún momento.
Así de simple y subjetivo.
El sufrimiento de Gabriel me partió el alma y sentí una pena tan profunda que me indigné.
No fue un final justo, aunque la autora intentó dar un consuelo estúpido.
Hacia el final amé profundamente a Gabriel, mi tocayo con nombre de ángel, que no merecía sufrir así en la vida.
Leí que era una gran historia de amor, otra chica decía que nunca quería olvidar esta historia y en otra reseña leí que era una historia de amor magnífica.
Creo que es la primera vez que no me siento mal por pensar totalmente distinto al resto.
Esta historia me dolió. Acompañé a los personajes en una historia larga, pesada, monótona y triste desde el principio, pensando todo el tiempo que al final, los tres encontraríamos una recompensa y sin embargo Gabriel se quedó purgando una pena dolorosamente triste.
No lo recomiendo porque no me gustó y porque lo sufrí. Simplemente eso, una cuestión de gustos. Pero tienen el 99% de las críticas a favor del libro o si quieren … tienen la opinión de mi mamá.
Por cierto, mamá, esta reseña te la dedico a vos, que te amo con el alma, hasta el cielo, ida y vuelta. A vos que me enseñaste a leer y a escribir siendo mi maestra de primer grado… pero espero que esa enseñanza no la tenga que aplicar a otra recomendación como esta.
Resultado:
Le doy la menor calificación posible. No porque el libro este mal escrito ni porque no sea interesante. Simplemente me despertó sensaciones tristes y no lo disfruté en ningún momento.
Así de simple y subjetivo.
August 18, 2011
This book was so absorbing I read it in one day. It doesn't fit any of the genres of modern day but either do I think it was written in the tradition of Philippa Gregory. This book reminds me more of an older writer, Elizabeth Goudge.
May Powers is seven years older than her sister, Hannah. She is also a loose woman. Having earned a bad reputation in their small village, her father decides to send her to the new world as a bride for his cousin's son. May thinks of the journey as a great adventure while Hannah has premonitions. After their father dies, Hannah journeys to join her sister only to find all is not well.Although her brother-in-law is there, her sister is gone and all the help run off. She remains on and falls in love with Gabriel, her sister's husband but soon begins to suspect duplicity on his part. Was he or was he not responsible for her sister's death. In spite of May's loose ways with men, Hannah loved her dearly. She also loves Gabriel but now she feels torn apart.
The book alternates between dark scenes and light hearted happy scenes but the ending is not at all what the reader would expect.
Rich in history of the newly opened new world and the lore of herbal remedies, we see how the early colonists lived and how precarious their existence was.
May Powers is seven years older than her sister, Hannah. She is also a loose woman. Having earned a bad reputation in their small village, her father decides to send her to the new world as a bride for his cousin's son. May thinks of the journey as a great adventure while Hannah has premonitions. After their father dies, Hannah journeys to join her sister only to find all is not well.Although her brother-in-law is there, her sister is gone and all the help run off. She remains on and falls in love with Gabriel, her sister's husband but soon begins to suspect duplicity on his part. Was he or was he not responsible for her sister's death. In spite of May's loose ways with men, Hannah loved her dearly. She also loves Gabriel but now she feels torn apart.
The book alternates between dark scenes and light hearted happy scenes but the ending is not at all what the reader would expect.
Rich in history of the newly opened new world and the lore of herbal remedies, we see how the early colonists lived and how precarious their existence was.
August 28, 2022
I was enthralled with this book and read it over one weekend. I couldn't let it down. The plot is very complex and sometimes it felt like too much drama, but when I read the ending, I saw how it all mattered, every last detail. I read how this book was written over a period of ten years and I can see why that was so. At first, the author was discouraged about continuing with the idea, but I am glad she continued on. The history of a woman's place in society is amazing, from the late 1600s into the 1700s. All the descriptions are so authentic and graphic, giving the reader a true sense of living in those times. The ending just overwhelmed me, all those missed opportunities. I may have to read those final pages again, just to savor them fully.
June 14, 2010
I finished reading the book this morning before I went to work. Bad idea. I could not stop thinking about the ending ( I really do not want to give anything away). I could not stop my brain from trying to process all the different emotions I was going through. It is a good book. It is a thought provoking, passionate book you will not be able to put down ... whether you love OR hate the book. There are characters you love; characters you weep for; and characters you hate and wish Karma would have disposed of long ago!!
In short, I do recommend this book. It was a good dose of reality. Something I could have done with out on this dreary Monday! :)
In short, I do recommend this book. It was a good dose of reality. Something I could have done with out on this dreary Monday! :)
July 11, 2011
Please do not read the description of this book on Amazon, Goodreads, or the book jacket - they all contain spoilers. Read my spoiler-free review below:
This book is about two sisters in England in the 1600's. The eldest is sent to America to marry her distant cousin, sight unseen. Upon the death of the father, the younger daughter travels to Virginia to join her sister. Once she gets there, she finds that things are not as she expected.
This book has different levels: period piece, romance, mystery. This book hooked me from the beginning. I was impressed by the courage it would take a woman to travel alone to America, not really knowing what she would find there.
This book is about two sisters in England in the 1600's. The eldest is sent to America to marry her distant cousin, sight unseen. Upon the death of the father, the younger daughter travels to Virginia to join her sister. Once she gets there, she finds that things are not as she expected.
This book has different levels: period piece, romance, mystery. This book hooked me from the beginning. I was impressed by the courage it would take a woman to travel alone to America, not really knowing what she would find there.
August 5, 2010
This book was painful to read and I had to force myself to finish it. THe summary on the back cover was not the same as the book itself. By the end of this book I hated every character and couldn't wait to finish it so that I could move on. The distrubing details about the animal slaughterings were unnecessary and were two pages long. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
April 4, 2018
On Monday, July 30, 2007 I wrote this on bookcrossing about this book.....
10 out of 10
This was a great book. While it took me more than 1 week to read the last book, this book The Vanishing Point I could not put down.
Starting to read it yesterday I just finished it.
From the moment I started I really liked it. Not knowing which direction this book would go thrilled me and I was not disappointed
10 out of 10
This was a great book. While it took me more than 1 week to read the last book, this book The Vanishing Point I could not put down.
Starting to read it yesterday I just finished it.
From the moment I started I really liked it. Not knowing which direction this book would go thrilled me and I was not disappointed
August 21, 2022
This was a very interesting book about America in the late 1600's. It is about a woman who was trained by her doctor father to become a doctor. She went to America to be with her sister only to find her sister dead. She then married her sister's widowed husband and lived in the wilderness. There is much misunderstanding and misconception in the lives of these families. I found it very interesting.
June 25, 2023
This book totally absorbed me. I love a historical where I feel like I climb back to another time and live there while I'm reading, and that's just what The Vanishing Point did.
It was evident how much thought and research went into it, but also the pure humanity... the compassion for these flawed characters.
Outstanding.
It was evident how much thought and research went into it, but also the pure humanity... the compassion for these flawed characters.
Outstanding.
September 15, 2009
May Powers is no stranger to a good roll in the hay. In fact, she's a little bit too familiar with it. Her honor gone, and no hope of finding a respectable match in her small English town, her father sends her to America to be wed to a distant cousin's son Gabriel. May's sister Hannah is distraught about this, she doesn't want her sister to leave her all alone with their ailing father. Knowing they will meet again after their father dies, May leaves for America and Hannah is left to cling to her few and far between letters.
Once her father is gone, Hannah departs for America to join her sister but immediately knows that something is wrong. The plantation where May was supposed to be living is all but unreachable and upon arrival she can see that the land has not been worked in a very long time. May is nowhere to be found, only her husband is left behind living like an Indian off the land. Desperate to find her, Hannah looks for answers in Gabriel but ends up with only more questions, questions that threaten to break her sanity and eventually seething guilt and remorse.
"The Vanishing Point" was another one of those books. I started out loving it, couldn't put it down. I could feel in my bones that this was going to be one of those great historical fictions that leaves you wanting more and more. Unfortunately Sharratt let me down in the end.
"The Vanishing Point" started out gripping, I was engaged with the characters and wanted to know more about them. I was in love with Hannah, found her to be very deep and wanted her to be happy with her new life in the colonies. But as the book went on I liked her less and less. May's "disappearance" was given a very direct answer to in the very beginning of the book, but then it kept coming into question, then again, and again, and again. I was sick of hearing about May from Hannah's perspective. It just seemed like the girl couldn't let her sister go and let herself be happy.
In addition, just when I was really starting to like Hannah and wanted more to happen with her and Gabriel, the book switched tones and direction and changed to May's perspective. This I found annoying as opposed to being helpful to the plot. It just seemed like Sharratt couldn't decide who to write about or who her main character was supposed to be. "The Vanishing Point" took a cruel twist from historical fiction to mystery in one fell swoop. Totally not expecting it, the story was soured for me at that point.
I also felt like at the end Sharratt was grasping at straws. The ending consisted of an elongated letter that served as an epilogue and I found it to be the "easy way out" if you will. It was almost like she didn't know how to finish the story but her editors were demanding an end. I was sincerely upset at the end of "The Vanishing Point."
I admit I was entertained, but books that leave me annoyed at the end really get under my skin. I give it 3 stars for entertainment value, but can't go over that and would prefer to really give it 2 ½ stars. After the disappointing genre twist the book just went south. All and all I was left with a bad taste in my mouth after reading "The Vanishing Point" and for that reason alone I cannot review it in high regard.
Once her father is gone, Hannah departs for America to join her sister but immediately knows that something is wrong. The plantation where May was supposed to be living is all but unreachable and upon arrival she can see that the land has not been worked in a very long time. May is nowhere to be found, only her husband is left behind living like an Indian off the land. Desperate to find her, Hannah looks for answers in Gabriel but ends up with only more questions, questions that threaten to break her sanity and eventually seething guilt and remorse.
"The Vanishing Point" was another one of those books. I started out loving it, couldn't put it down. I could feel in my bones that this was going to be one of those great historical fictions that leaves you wanting more and more. Unfortunately Sharratt let me down in the end.
"The Vanishing Point" started out gripping, I was engaged with the characters and wanted to know more about them. I was in love with Hannah, found her to be very deep and wanted her to be happy with her new life in the colonies. But as the book went on I liked her less and less. May's "disappearance" was given a very direct answer to in the very beginning of the book, but then it kept coming into question, then again, and again, and again. I was sick of hearing about May from Hannah's perspective. It just seemed like the girl couldn't let her sister go and let herself be happy.
In addition, just when I was really starting to like Hannah and wanted more to happen with her and Gabriel, the book switched tones and direction and changed to May's perspective. This I found annoying as opposed to being helpful to the plot. It just seemed like Sharratt couldn't decide who to write about or who her main character was supposed to be. "The Vanishing Point" took a cruel twist from historical fiction to mystery in one fell swoop. Totally not expecting it, the story was soured for me at that point.
I also felt like at the end Sharratt was grasping at straws. The ending consisted of an elongated letter that served as an epilogue and I found it to be the "easy way out" if you will. It was almost like she didn't know how to finish the story but her editors were demanding an end. I was sincerely upset at the end of "The Vanishing Point."
I admit I was entertained, but books that leave me annoyed at the end really get under my skin. I give it 3 stars for entertainment value, but can't go over that and would prefer to really give it 2 ½ stars. After the disappointing genre twist the book just went south. All and all I was left with a bad taste in my mouth after reading "The Vanishing Point" and for that reason alone I cannot review it in high regard.
July 15, 2017
I had big hopes with this novel. So big, that, at the beginning, I pretended that I hadn't seen its shortages. It was only after more than hundred pages that I had to admit there was something wrong with this book.
Let's start with what was good.
In my opinion, Mary Sharratt did a deep historical research. I am not an historian but I think she was very accurate in describing foods, clothes and so on.
Secondly, I found the main idea of two different sister who wanted to be independent in their own way as an interesting concept. Women who wanted equal rights with men, sexual rights and the right to knowledge.
It sounds really good, don't you think?
Unfortunately, this idea developed in something odd.
May, who (I think) meant to be a woman who fights with social rules and takes pleasure with sex became rather someone who cheats and doesn't think of consequences at all. Let me explain the difference. One thing is to use my right to eat chocolate, the totally other thing is to steal and cheat to get it. What she did at the end seemed make her story a bit better but still. There was too much chaos in her personality.
Next, we had Hannah. Again, a girl who was taught what a girl wasn't taught in those times. Unfortunately this idea wasn't used at all (until the epilogue when we read what happened to her after the main story). For example, so much educated girl didn't even think of unexpected pregnancy. I mean, I can understand that the first time (first sex) she could have been unprepared but not for months. Besides she behaved often too hysterical. How many times one can ask the same question? If she didn't believe Gabriel she should just went away. If she did believe she shouldn't ask again and again. I think it was (in Sharratt's view) needed to make a story more gripping (emotional) but to me it was very annoying.
Other characters weren't better. I didn't care about anyone.
The worst thing, I was bored with all this mourning. Seriously, I felt awful that I was annoyed with it. I am not a bad person, I feel compassion (especially now because I have lost recently someone) but I felt like Sharratt overused it. One should also remember that in those times death was something more common than today. Of course I can imagine that two sisters could love each other very much and mourn also very deep, but still. May went abroad, very far away. It wasn't that it was sure she and Hannah would see each other again.
In short, I admit there was an interesting idea for a story. There were interesting historical facts (mostly about food and healing). There was even material for a wise message. But the whole needed more work, better writing and more consideration.
Let's start with what was good.
In my opinion, Mary Sharratt did a deep historical research. I am not an historian but I think she was very accurate in describing foods, clothes and so on.
Secondly, I found the main idea of two different sister who wanted to be independent in their own way as an interesting concept. Women who wanted equal rights with men, sexual rights and the right to knowledge.
It sounds really good, don't you think?
Unfortunately, this idea developed in something odd.
May, who (I think) meant to be a woman who fights with social rules and takes pleasure with sex became rather someone who cheats and doesn't think of consequences at all. Let me explain the difference. One thing is to use my right to eat chocolate, the totally other thing is to steal and cheat to get it. What she did at the end seemed make her story a bit better but still. There was too much chaos in her personality.
Next, we had Hannah. Again, a girl who was taught what a girl wasn't taught in those times. Unfortunately this idea wasn't used at all (until the epilogue when we read what happened to her after the main story). For example, so much educated girl didn't even think of unexpected pregnancy. I mean, I can understand that the first time (first sex) she could have been unprepared but not for months. Besides she behaved often too hysterical. How many times one can ask the same question? If she didn't believe Gabriel she should just went away. If she did believe she shouldn't ask again and again. I think it was (in Sharratt's view) needed to make a story more gripping (emotional) but to me it was very annoying.
Other characters weren't better. I didn't care about anyone.
The worst thing, I was bored with all this mourning. Seriously, I felt awful that I was annoyed with it. I am not a bad person, I feel compassion (especially now because I have lost recently someone) but I felt like Sharratt overused it. One should also remember that in those times death was something more common than today. Of course I can imagine that two sisters could love each other very much and mourn also very deep, but still. May went abroad, very far away. It wasn't that it was sure she and Hannah would see each other again.
In short, I admit there was an interesting idea for a story. There were interesting historical facts (mostly about food and healing). There was even material for a wise message. But the whole needed more work, better writing and more consideration.
June 27, 2019
This was the right book for the moment since I wanted something light and readable. But very quickly I started to be annoyed by Hannah. Gabriel became my favorite character, the true victim of the story. Physically and emotionally abused by his father, then repeatedly humiliated by his wife - what exactly did Hannah expect from him? She seemed to fluctuate between true love and total mistrust in every chapter, then robs him of his son and the child from his father from mere suspicion, which we soon learn was unfounded. Her undying love for her sister is great, but what about her husband. Why does he get no redemption at the end of the story? Hannah gets a quick "happy ever after" and then, of course, more sister grief. I lost what the author was trying to do with this. She was obviously interested in the story of women outside of societal expectations, but did so little with Hannah's medical knowledge and no depth to May's sexual freedom. Good idea - but went nowhere.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2018
I bought a copy of The Vanishing Point years ago, but it languished after one failed attempt to read it. I wanted to try it once more before clearing it from my shelves. The novel caught my attention quickly. I enjoyed the setting and the premise: a young woman follows in her sister's footsteps, voyaging from England to Virginia in the 1690s. Sharratt wrote very well, establishing a believable historical setting populated with believable characters. I especially enjoyed the relationship between sisters Hannah and May, the presentation of the hardships of early colonial life, the interesting mix of secondary characters, and the shift in narration and timeline. However, I did not enjoy the plot. There's quite a dark undertone throughout the book, and I found myself disappointed in the lack of a true happy ending. Poor Hannah, poor May, poor Gabriel.
September 30, 2016
I'm so disappointed. The story had such potential. The author just let these women become foolish. They didn't learn from what went on in their past. The main character, Hannah, put all of her loyalty on her faithless dead sister. It made no sense. I just finished the book and am so disappointed at the ending.
April 27, 2024
OMG, my heart is shattered 😭😭 What a beautifully written story about sisters and the bond between them. I don't have sisters( 5 ugly brothers 😏) but my mom and her sisters were VERY close and have been through a lot so I can definitely speak on the accuracy of the relationship between May and Hannah.
June 21, 2008
I couldn't put this one down. It interesting in that it's about sister's who move to Maryland to wed after their father dies in England in the 1600's. There is a twist and the plot keeps you guessing.
May 18, 2020
3 stars bc of the unjust way Gabriel was treated. he lost his family & the chickenhead that caused it all (May) was canonized. aside from that, it was a compelling read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2016
Enthralling. Loved it.
Read
July 5, 2024Físico
May é impetuosa e cede aos desejos que tem por homens, desonrando sua família. Há um casamento arranjado com o filho de um parente distante para que ela tente salvar o pouco que lhe resta. Se afasta da irmã Hannah e do pai e vai para uma terra distante casar-se com o jovem e inexperiente Gabriel. Tenta ser uma boa esposa, mas acaba se rendendo a um empregado da família (com autorização do sogro que queria netos). Há rumores entre empregados, despertando a humilhação e raiva de Gabriel. O pai de Hannah falece e ela vai ao encontro da irmã, não encontrando-a, na verdade, porque já faleceu. A jovem fica arrasada e não tem aonde ir, pede para ficar com o genro e no dia de ir embora DO NADA se declara pra ele. Ficam juntos, isolados, frugais, sabem que as pessoas vão comentar que ainda não são casados e ela está grávida. Até que chega o vizinho e coloca dúvidas na cabeça dela: Gabriel matou May. Ele tenta convencer a esposa, implora, chora e, na real, parece ser bem sincero, e a gente fica curioso pra saber o que realmente aconteceu: May flertava com todos descaradamente depois que seu amante recebeu chibatadas por brigar, Gabriel começa a ser indiferente e não aceita uma parteira; a bebê nasce morta e ela fica irada com o marido; ele pede que ela vá embora, senão vai denunciá-la por adultério; May pega moedas e foge com Adele, a emprega fiel; encontra um corpo de uma mulher em decomposição em uma armadilha na floresta, e deixa a aliança para que Gabriel pense que foi ela quem morreu; viaja e escreve para a irmã contando o que houve, só que Hannah já havia partido. A desconfiança que Hannah tem de Gabriel acaba com o casamento e ele planeja a fuga para que ela e o bebê fiquem bem e desaparece. Hannah ainda espera alguns dias, com remorso, querendo Gabriel, mas parte para uma nova vida. Casa-se de novo e ainda pensa em Gabriel. Quando uma neta morre, encontra o túmulo de sua irmã e fica arrasada, conhece Adele e a verdade é contada. Que raiva da Hannah, sabia que a irmã era uma vadia e ficou com raiva quando Gabriel disse que a odiava pelas humilhações que o fez passar. Ah para ne?! Personagem toda burra, uma besteira atrás da outra.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2018
“En tierra salvaje” nos cuenta la historia de dos corazones solitarios, a finales del siglo XVII, en una América aún salvaje. La novela deja ver en sus descripciones ese paisaje salvaje, que le da el nombre al libro, y nos muestra ya no solo una historia de amor trágico sino que nos deja entre ver parte de la sociedad de esa época y sus costumbres así como la vida cotidiana en la salvaje América. Además, tanto la historia de amor de los personajes como el misterio que destila toda la novela entorno a la hermana de la protagonista y su relación con su marido nos van llegando gota a gota haciéndonos querer saber más sobre la vida de esos dos personajes.
Aún así, es una historia en la que el florecimiento del amor, la pasión, los secretos, la desconfianza y los malos entendidos hacen de sus personajes unos seres tan conmovedores como despiadados que se ven atrapados en esta vorágine.
He de decir que con un sabor bastante amargo y algo reacia a terminarlo por como suponía que iba a ser el final, ya que venía buscando un libro de todos felices, me ha gustado bastante y me ha roto un poquito el corazón.
Si le pongo alguna pega a este libro es que el principio es bastante extenso y quizá pesado si vienes buscando una novela estilo Chic-light, pero es necesario para poner en situación a los personajes. Eso y que no os esperéis un final de cuento de hadas.
Aún así, es una historia en la que el florecimiento del amor, la pasión, los secretos, la desconfianza y los malos entendidos hacen de sus personajes unos seres tan conmovedores como despiadados que se ven atrapados en esta vorágine.
He de decir que con un sabor bastante amargo y algo reacia a terminarlo por como suponía que iba a ser el final, ya que venía buscando un libro de todos felices, me ha gustado bastante y me ha roto un poquito el corazón.
Si le pongo alguna pega a este libro es que el principio es bastante extenso y quizá pesado si vienes buscando una novela estilo Chic-light, pero es necesario para poner en situación a los personajes. Eso y que no os esperéis un final de cuento de hadas.
September 25, 2018
Got about 2/3rds of the way through and then skipped to the end so that I could find out where everyone ended up. I suppose that speaks to a certain level of investment in the characters, since I didn't just drop it.
This book was such a chore. The blurb on the back is completely misleading, especially since you're supposed to think older sister May is dead until more than halfway through, and it's intended by the narrative to be a shock to learn she actually might not be. Instead, that's spoiled by the book's description. I also didn't enjoy that big chunks of the book are from May's perspective, since I didn't find her a very sympathetic character.
Hannah was a little better, but I didn't understand the point of making her so educated when it didn't appear to have much bearing on most of the story. Instead she gets dumped in the wilderness where her skills are of no use, and she is woefully naive and ignorant of anything practical. I got annoyed with her way too often to enjoy the story. Both sisters seemed incapable of making a single decision that wasn't entirely based on their emotion in the moment.
The story dragged and dragged, until I finally got impatient with the slow pace and gave up.
This book was such a chore. The blurb on the back is completely misleading, especially since you're supposed to think older sister May is dead until more than halfway through, and it's intended by the narrative to be a shock to learn she actually might not be. Instead, that's spoiled by the book's description. I also didn't enjoy that big chunks of the book are from May's perspective, since I didn't find her a very sympathetic character.
Hannah was a little better, but I didn't understand the point of making her so educated when it didn't appear to have much bearing on most of the story. Instead she gets dumped in the wilderness where her skills are of no use, and she is woefully naive and ignorant of anything practical. I got annoyed with her way too often to enjoy the story. Both sisters seemed incapable of making a single decision that wasn't entirely based on their emotion in the moment.
The story dragged and dragged, until I finally got impatient with the slow pace and gave up.
November 19, 2021
If I could give half stars I would rate this book a 3.5 because I’m utterly at a loss for how I felt about it. I went from enjoying it, to disliking it, and back and forth until an ending I could accept. The novel felt very abrupt in its storytelling and at times challenging to relate with the characters. I don’t think the moments always flowed well together. But there was also something haunting and enchanting that kept me reading. Overall, I found it enjoyable but could have perhaps lived without reading it. I think if I were to truly understand how I felt about the book, I’d need to read it again, but I don’t think I enjoyed it enough to do that. I’d recommend if you are looking for a story about sisters and familial love. If you’re looking for a historical piece with mystery, darkness, and intrigue.
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