Happy Friday! This is a special Friday…. It’s my Dad’s birthday! Happy Birthday to the man who has taught me so much about life and DIY; it’s just a shame I don’t always listen. 😉 Happy birthday, Dad! I love you!
Last month I started a little blog book club with my friends, Carmel and Kirby. In the beginning of the year I set a goal to read more books in 2014, and I thought a club would be fun, and also keep me reading. We’ve only had the one book so far, but I can honestly say I am already reading books I may not have otherwise selected and loving it! Each month moving forward, you will get just one post dedicated to this book club, reviewing one book, and sharing the next. I would love to have you read along with us and share your thoughts!
For the month of April we read…
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Kirby had read another book by Kate Morton and enjoyed it, so she selected this one. It sounded great to me and Carmel, so we jumped on board and I immediately downloaded it to my Ipad, and opened it up to start reading. I have to admit that I was at first scared and intimidated by the page count of 560. April was a busy month and I worried I would not finish it with the 10-20 minutes I had to spare each night to read.
However, due to the mystery and enchantment of this novel, I was sucked in and finished a week ahead of schedule. From my perspective, this book had a couple of things immediately working for it…. Much of it takes place in England. That makes reading it more enjoyable, as all the characters speak with British accents in my head as I read. Secondly, much of it is set in the early 1900’s, and historical novels always appeal to me. Especially if they are British! (Wuthering Heights is one of my all time favorite novels, if that tells you anything).
A British historical setting will only get an author so far, of course. But luckily, Morton wrote a beautiful and mysterious tale that spans 4 generations. The characters are intricately woven, each a victim of personal tragedy, and each somehow connected to one another. This novel interestingly shares several versions of the mother/daughter relationship and is a true testament of how far we would go to protect the ones we love.
I am afraid if I start talking plot, I will give too much away, and you really MUST read this book! Here is what Amazon has to say….
A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book — a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-first birthday they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and with very little to go on, “Nell” sets out on a journey to England to try to trace her story, to find her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell’s death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. At Cliff Cottage, on the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, Cassandra discovers the forgotten garden of the book’s title and is able to unlock the secrets of the beautiful book of fairy tales.
Aside from the dark secrets of this book, it was filled with so much love and hope…. The Forgotten Garden had enough mystery and beautiful writing to keep my interest through 560 pages; and I love books that take me, as a reader, through every emotion, but don’t leave me with a broken heart.
And on a side note, I want to mention that my mother in law generously shares her kindle account with all of her kids, myself included. I downloaded this one and a few days later received a group text from her. “Who ordered The Forgotten Garden?” I let her know I had but hadn’t started it yet. She went on to tell me it was incredible and was going to order another Kate Morton book, and also said to let her know of any other Kirby recommendations! So you get two thumbs up from me, and two more from my mother in law, who, like me, was an English major, and is an avid reader. Basically, you need this book.
Now onto our next selection, this time chosen by Carmel.
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I will be back at the end of May/beginning of June to share my thoughts. But so far so good as it takes place in the 1890’s in England. I haven’t read a page yet, but it’s already a winner! 😉
Happy Weekend!
