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Low Country
Caroline Venable has everything her Southern heritage promised: money, prestige, a powerful husband --- and a predictable routine of country-club luncheons, cocktail parties, and dinners hosting her husband's wealthy friends, clients, and associates in his successful land-developing conglomerate.
To escape her stifling routine, Caro drinks a little too much. But her true s...more
To escape her stifling routine, Caro drinks a little too much. But her true s...more
Paperback, 480 pages
Published
May 5th 1999
by HarperTorch
(first published January 1st 1998)
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Nov 29, 2012
Mary
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who likes contemporary fiction
Recommended to Mary by:
Bookmooch
Caroline Venable is the quintessential Southern Belle. Her southern heritage has also afforded her money, prestige, a powerful husband - and a predictable routine of country club luncheons, cocktail parties and dinners hosting her husband's wealthy friends, clients and associates in his successful land-developing conglomerate.
To escape her stifling routine, Caro drinks a little too much. But her true solace is found in Peacock's Island - the Lowcountry island her beloved Grandaddy left her - an...more
To escape her stifling routine, Caro drinks a little too much. But her true solace is found in Peacock's Island - the Lowcountry island her beloved Grandaddy left her - an...more
A good summer read, particularly if you are visiting the low country of South Carolina. However, I have to admit that I would not have even looked twice at this book had I not enjoyed "Peachtree Road" so much. "Peachtree Road" is by far a deeper, more complex book, and overall, better literature. For me, "Low Country" does not sound like it was written by the same author; rather, it sounds more like it was written by an aspiring writer, someone who has not yet completely honed the art of descrip...more
I read this after reading "Up Island" by Anne Rivers Siddons and I wanted to read another story by the same author.
ARS writes very expansively about an area's environmental setting: this one is a fictional "low country" island, Peacock Island, near the Charleston shores. Her "southern writer's voice" means a keen sense of dialogue and timing and setting in a South Carolina indigenous locale. Through the eyes of Caroline Venable, a young woman with blood and heart ties to the area, the author des...more
ARS writes very expansively about an area's environmental setting: this one is a fictional "low country" island, Peacock Island, near the Charleston shores. Her "southern writer's voice" means a keen sense of dialogue and timing and setting in a South Carolina indigenous locale. Through the eyes of Caroline Venable, a young woman with blood and heart ties to the area, the author des...more
Caroline Venable has everything her Southern heritage promised: money, prestige, a powerful husband--and a predictable routine of country-club luncheons, cocktail parties, and dinners hosting her husband's wealthy friends, clients, and associates in his successful land-developing conglomerate.
To escape her stifling routine, Caro drinks a little too much. But her true solace is the Lowcountry island her beloved Granddaddy left her--an oasis of breathtaking beauty that is home to a band of wild po...more
To escape her stifling routine, Caro drinks a little too much. But her true solace is the Lowcountry island her beloved Granddaddy left her--an oasis of breathtaking beauty that is home to a band of wild po...more
Caro and Clay Venable mostly have it all...a successful property development corporation with holdings all over the country, several homes in the beautiful Lowcountry area of South Carolina, a long and relatively happy marriage, and ownership of an entire island which has been in Caro's family for decades. Unfortunately they are still dealing with the grief and loss of their young daughter who died in a tragic accident five years ago.
While the majority of their island has been developed to inclu...more
While the majority of their island has been developed to inclu...more
My first read by this popular author – not sure I would go out of my way to read something else by her. While the storyline outlined inside the book jacket sounded interested, I felt the story dragged on with descriptive language that really didn’t add to the narrative. Sometimes characters and situations just seemed to pop up without any prelude – like her and Luis being best friends after one encounter (I realize there was some interest there, but a woman of her standing normally would have be...more
From the back of the book: Caroline Venable has everything her Southern heritage promised: money, prestige, a powerful husband - and a predictable round of country club luncheons, cocktail parties and dinners. To escape her stifling routine, Caro drinks a little too much. But her true solace is the Lowcountry island her beloved granddaddy left her. When Caro learns that her husband must develop the island or lose the business, she is devastated. Saving the island could cost Caro more than she ev...more
I loved this book - and I cheated. I didn't actually read it, I listened to it on tape. I listen to this every spring, when the sun is warmer and I start dreaming of the future. ARS does a wonderful job describing the south with an amazing vocabulary that engages the reader. Her characters are people you want to grab and hold close to you and invite to dinners you don't have to throw but want to because the company is so wonderful. You can almost smell the salty marshes and the ponies and the na...more
Jun 07, 2012
Patti from Charlotte
added it
What began as just a simple 'beach read' (What better place to read about South Carolina's Low Country than while vacationing on the Coast?) turned into much more than just that. Anne Rivers Siddons' tale of the opulence of resort-life contrasted magnificently with the historically-based Gullah life on the fictitious Peacock Island over the span of these quick-paced 460 pages. More than just relying on colorful descriptions of the land and the culture of the South, Siddons drew her reader in wit...more
Ok, having now read two of Siddons books, I am beginning to think she is just not my new favorite author. Having read a half dozen books that are set in Charleston, I have become accustomed to some of the southern expressions found in many books. But some of her dialog was just cliche and repetitive.
Again, Siddons characters are deep and well developed, but just a bit dark for my taste. Her descriptions of the wildlife and scenery are wonderfully crafted, but just not enough to make me fall in...more
Again, Siddons characters are deep and well developed, but just a bit dark for my taste. Her descriptions of the wildlife and scenery are wonderfully crafted, but just not enough to make me fall in...more
What a wonderfully written and interesting novel about the islands off the South Carolina coast, not far from Charleston. We have travelled there often and love that part of the country. The characters are so believable and the storyline so relevant with the constant attacks on unspoiled land. The heroine is a woman who has had hard knocks in life and the assault on her island and the native gullahs who occupy part of island and have for a hundred years by someone she loves is just too much. We...more
A little slow at beginning, but it paid off with wonderful characters. The ending was not what I was thinking, and may have been a bit of a cop out, but all in all a great read.
I needed to come back to this review after visiting Hilton Head. When I read the book I focused on the characters, but after visiting Hilton Head, I now can understand better the author's take on land development. It now is obvious to me that she was influenced by the development on Hilton Head (and I verified this with...more
I needed to come back to this review after visiting Hilton Head. When I read the book I focused on the characters, but after visiting Hilton Head, I now can understand better the author's take on land development. It now is obvious to me that she was influenced by the development on Hilton Head (and I verified this with...more
I loved this book. I didn't want it to end. I haven't read anything else for a couple of days so I can still think about this one. The couple in the story has a very strong bond despite the very real possibility of splitting up. She is trying to help an indigenous group of people on their island, he wants to develop it. There are some very wonderful friendships that develop throughout the story. And even some interesting literary references like part of an Emily Dickenson poem. (I knew the whole...more
Reading this while on Kiawah Island which is off the coast of SC made the descriptions so right on about this island resort area and nearby Charleston. The main character, Caro, describes living in these surroundings in such a way that I felt like she could have been someone here. Unfortunately the way she dealt with the death of her daughter and her husband's attitude toward her love of her island became more unrealistic as the story progressed.
This is a bit of a soap opera, however I loved the prose and the descriptions of the low country itself.
I found myself annoyed with the lead character quite often, a rather spoiled, sheltered, self absorbed woman. Her being drawn out as much as she is to change and becoming a more caring, outwardly involved person is pretty believable, and there's a cast of colorful characters. I listened to this as a book on cd, and really enjoyed the readers voice.
I found myself annoyed with the lead character quite often, a rather spoiled, sheltered, self absorbed woman. Her being drawn out as much as she is to change and becoming a more caring, outwardly involved person is pretty believable, and there's a cast of colorful characters. I listened to this as a book on cd, and really enjoyed the readers voice.
I picked up this book because it is about a woman named Caroline, called Caro, and my name is Carolyn and sometimes my friends call me Caro. Also, it is set on an island off the southeastern coastline, and much of the description reminds me of St. Simons Island, off the coast of GA, where my grandmother lives and where I have visited since I was little. At first I thought the descriptions were a bit much, but the more I read the more I really got into the book and liked it.
This is a perfect summer read...especially when vacationing in the South Carolina low country. It gives you a true feel. Excellent story. I love Siddons take on the landscape and the way of life there. It is a story of sadness, change, and loss fortified by the strength of character and a spirit of perseverance. Life. Well written.
Jul 23, 2011
Judith
added it
This was a reading assignment for my book club, otherwise, it would never have considered it. We had a lively discussion about it. The author sometimes takes the reader in a direction that was difficult to follow based on the main theme, but it's basically just an easy-to-read and satisfying story.
Really,Really liked it! Ann Rivers Siddons keeps me grounded. I prefer thrillers and or who done it mystery novels...Siddons writes with such engaging prose and heart wrenching truths one just has to read one more page...Siddons writes about the South and the people of the Low Country...where I feel this Yankee would be right at home....
I am pretty sure I read this book previously. It was written in 1998 and it was so familiar all through the book. It was OK, not great and not bad. An easy book to skip long paragraphs of nothing more than descriptions of island marshes, plantations and wild ponies. Too many other very good books out there to recommend it.
Incredibly lush with descriptions...a hard slog till about the 4th chapter and then it gets a bit easier to read. Lots of regional words that I had to stop and look up. Not a book I would recommend. Not sure I'd want to read any others by this author cause it went so slow.
I'd like to give this a 3.5, but 4 just doesn't seem right. The writing is not particularly impressive, but it makes for a comfortable, pleasant read. If you love the low country, I think this book is worth your time. If not, I'm not so sure.
This is a wonderful story spun around the issue of development encroaching on natural areas and peoples. The main character deals with this on top of her personal struggles with love, loss, betrayal and artistic drive. (BOT)
Nice story with southern focus. Descriptions of island, water, weather were perfect and the story was Ok but not sure I'm overly crazy about her novels any longer. Have read many of them and they are all about the same.
"Enjoyable light read, a woman struggles to keep her SC island pure and untainted by progress and development, even though that is difficult for her husband. Really takes you into the low country."
I love the way Siddons can describe things - she can make them come to life. Caro, the heroine, was too mystical for me to identify with her. It made me not love the book, despite the good descriptions.
I like her writing style, and found the main character compelling, but the last third of the book seemed implausible and a bit over the top. I didn't buy the whole "Luis" character.
Going to S. Carolina for spring break so decided to re-read this one....Siddons is one of my favorite authors for her stunning descriptions of the world around her. Enjoyed it just as much as the first time!
Beautiful, descriptive prose and a moving story about family, roots, and the long-term impact of grief and loss. I loved it and plan to read more books by this author.
This is the first ARS book I've quit reading. I found the characters.....wealthy white people just too boring and out of it. Sorry Anne, I loved all your other books.
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