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The Orchid House

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 2,734 ratings · 480 reviews

For fans of The House at Riverton and Rebecca—a debut spanning from the 1930s to the present day, from a magnificent estate in war-torn England to Thailand, this sweeping novel tells the tale of a concert pianist, Julia, and the prominent Crawford family whose shocking secrets are revealed, leading to devastating consequences for generations to come.

As a child Julia Forre...more

Paperback, 449 pages

Published February 14th 2012 by Atria Books (first published November 25th 2010)

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Jul 16, 2011 Anica rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: family-sagas

This was so much crap! Bullshit at its best, to be precise. Seriously, I expected so much from this book, like a great family saga, with some romance and some interesting plot. And in the end, I didn't get anything but crap!

I mean the prologue was kinda great and I thought, OMG, this book has to fantastic. I was SO wrong. After the prologue the whole story goes down the drain and only consists of stupid and blunt characters that are all so very annoying and not likeable at all. Plus, they don't...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Oda rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Lucinda Riley's endings are disgustingly cheesy, with everything being more than a little too perfect. Especially her characters. Here with her famous pianist (tormented by recent loss), and recently with her extremely gifted artist (tormented by recent loss) and ballerinas (also tormented by recent loss) of "The Girl on the Cliff". Riley clearly lives in a dream where all the good people get to live off of their art. She's part of a wave of authors that I feel are generally trying to be Kate Mo...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Connie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-fire, challenge, best-sellers-group

I love these lines from the book: We are sharing a moment in time. Like the universe, there is no beginning or end. We just are.
This is what Kit told Julia when they were at Wharton Park looking at the stars and everything seemed to be perfect for them. Of course, Julia was still grieving for her son and husband, but Kit was helping her.
Then she found out that Xavier had done something terrible, and it sent her reeling causing her to wonder if she and Kit could ever make it together. Then a tru...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

What better way to heal from a tragedy than to go back to a time and a place when life was good. Julia had lost her husband and her son in a tragic accident in France and decided to return to England to begin healing and to begin re-acquainting herself with her family.

Julia was having a difficult time with her grief, but luck came her way one day when she was given a diary that belonged to her grandfather.

The diary had been found under the floorboards in one of the cottages on the Crawford esta...more What better way to heal from a tragedy than to go back to a time and a place when life was good. Julia had lost her husband and her son in a tragic accident in France and decided to return to England to begin healing and to begin re-acquainting herself with her family.

Julia was having a difficult time with her grief, but luck came her way one day when she was given a diary that belonged to her grandfather.

The diary had been found under the floorboards in one of the cottages on the Crawford estate, Wharton Park. Along with the diary, Julia also had Elise, her grandmother, to help her remember the good times and to explain firsthand about the past and what actually happened at Wharton Park when Elise worked as a lady's maid for Olivia Crawford. The memories and a few of the characters, one in particular, helped Julia begin to bring herself back.

Wharton Park was where Julia helped her grandfather in the estate's hothouses where he grew orchids....orchids that had come from Thailand where her grandfather had been held captive during WWII. Being with her grandfather was the best part of her childhood. The diary brought back memories, and Julia's grandmother brought forth the truth about the family's history along with all its unspoken secrets.

Remembering the past and finding hidden secrets are a part of THE ORCHID HOUSE that is very appealing. You will follow the lives of the Crawford family where Julia's grandmother and grandfather were part of the staff of Wharton Park. The secrets revealed in the diary and those secrets revealed firsthand by Elise will keep you turning the pages. Knowing that there is a secret between the aristocratic Crawfords of Wharton Park and the household staff which included Julia's grandparents made the book intriguing and one that will keep your attention.

Don't miss this alluring story with its captivating characters who have secrets that span 70 years and a family that makes a full circle with Wharton Park being the beginning and the end.

I truly enjoyed the book because of its historical fiction and the style of going back and forth in time. The secrets that are revealed, the lies that kept the secrets unspoken, the twists and turns, and the surprise ending make this book one I couldn't read quickly enough. ENJOY!!!! 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Dec 27, 2012 Merle Louzensky rated it 3 of 5 stars

There were elements of The Orchid House which I enjoyed; however, I felt that Lucinda Riley's plot and characterization left me wanting more.

What I enjoyed:

The settings, alternating from an aristocratic English estate to exotic Thailand, to France
The time periods of World War II and modern day
The novel's opening chapters established a fairy tale-ish quality with an old Siamese fable followed by haunting chapters on Julia's grief over losing her husband and son.

Had Riley sustained the tone(s)...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Teatree_elle rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. General thought: I don't know what to make of this book.

Lucinda Riley can truly spin a tale and frankly, after reading Kate Morton's novels, which are essentially tragedies, it's refreshing to read a story told in the same vein but with a more uplifting ending.

Julia, the protagonist has just had her world thrown upside down. Devastated and mostly catatonic, she stumbles upon a mystery of the noble house she grew up by. So at this point, the story takes off. We're introduced to a bevy of charac...more General thought: I don't know what to make of this book.

Lucinda Riley can truly spin a tale and frankly, after reading Kate Morton's novels, which are essentially tragedies, it's refreshing to read a story told in the same vein but with a more uplifting ending.

Julia, the protagonist has just had her world thrown upside down. Devastated and mostly catatonic, she stumbles upon a mystery of the noble house she grew up by. So at this point, the story takes off. We're introduced to a bevy of characters, including Harry, Lord Crawford. Oh man, was this guy unlikeable or what? He marries this largely affable girl, Olivia, whom he hurts repeatedly. One second, he's possibly gay and is found kissing one of her male friends. No harm, no foul. It turns out he was confused and professes to Olivia that he loves her and wants to do right by her. She gives him a second chance and the reader is treated to a few paragraphs where the couple are basking in their new love. Then he goes off to war and falls in love with a 17 year old in Thailand, then makes plans to be with her and leave his wife because apparently, he never loved her. I'm sorry. He was an selfish asshole. Anyway, it turns out that Julia, remember our modern-day protagonist, is his granddaughter. Turns out, he unknowingly left the 17 year old pregnant. I think this book would have been better had Harry been more likable.

In any case, as this story unveils, Julia finds love with the modern-day Lord Crawford and heals from her previous tragedy. I liked Kit, but the dialogue was...corny. Moving on, the ending was really cheesy but I did like the happy ending. If I had yet another gripe, it would be that Alicia, Julia's adopted sister, didn't get any acknowledgment from Lidia, her grandmother. After all, even though she was not related by blood, she was Jasmine's first daughter. I felt that this part was written rather poorly, after all, wasn't Jasmine herself also adopted and every bit part of her adopted family? It would seem that her birth mother would have been just as intrigued by her daughter's daughter who had known Jasmine longer.

To conclude, I thoroughly enjoyed Riley's style and while it could have been better, the fact remains that I couldn't put this book down, gripes and all. Her work demonstrated a lot if promise that I immediately downloaded her second novel after having finished this one...and I'm glad I did.
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Aug 19, 2012 Srhbth rated it 1 of 5 stars

Book was displayed in a bookstore as "for fans of Downton Abbey" - I've never watched the show but everyone has told me I'll love it.

In this case, I regret wasting my time. I feel like a fool because I kept slogging on until the end, despite early and plentiful signs that it wasn't going to be what I hoped; I admit I was interested enough in the plot to just read a little further... a little further... But it just could have been so much better.

Characters just never come alive and are hard to c...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Lill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: lifechanging

After reading a book that opened up parts of my emotions I had closed off, I now find myself yearning for more. I couldn´t go back to books were sensible to read. My emotions needed to be heard, the full spectrum of them.
Standing in the bookstore, scanning the shelves for something to inspire me, I finally gave up, and asked the salesperson for something similar that I´d read, when my eyes noticed the cover of "The Orchid House", and the excerpt that they gave away for free. I started reading,...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Eccentrika rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, drama

"Il giardino degli incontri segreti" è un romanzo ad ampio respiro, una saga familiare che partendo dal presente, e focalizzandosi sulla vita di Julia (pianista di grande successo che ha da poco perso marito e figlio in un incidente stradale) si alterna poi con il passato, che sembra far perno attorno a Wharton Park, una tenuta in cui i suoi nonni hanno lavorato per quarant'anni. Questa splendida e sfarzosa residenza, circondata da un immenso giardino, ha una storia lunga e travagliata che sembr...more "Il giardino degli incontri segreti" è un romanzo ad ampio respiro, una saga familiare che partendo dal presente, e focalizzandosi sulla vita di Julia (pianista di grande successo che ha da poco perso marito e figlio in un incidente stradale) si alterna poi con il passato, che sembra far perno attorno a Wharton Park, una tenuta in cui i suoi nonni hanno lavorato per quarant'anni. Questa splendida e sfarzosa residenza, circondata da un immenso giardino, ha una storia lunga e travagliata che sembra legare indissolubilmente Julia ad essa. Grande punto di forza del romanzo è sicuramente la suggestiva ambientazione, che saprà deliziare tutti gli amanti della campagna inglese, delle grandi case nobiliari immerse nel verde. Ma anche chi preferisce i luoghi più esotici non verrà deluso, in quanto le piante protagoniste della storia saranno le orchidee originarie delle zone tropicali dell'Asia, e anche queste terre così lontane avranno la loro parte nella ricostruzione della storia. La trama del romanzo è avvincente e molto ricca di sentimentalismi e sotterfugi; vi saranno storie d'amore struggenti e cuori spezzati, eventi drammatici e altri più lieti, che, nonostante le 600 pagine, non daranno davvero modo di annoiare il lettore. Personalmente, tenendo conto dell'importante componente romance che lo caratterizza, l'ho trovato un romanzo valido, ma in alcuni punti mi ha ricordato troppo le trame esageratamente intrecciate delle telenovelas. Le coincidenze che legano i personaggi del libro, il loro ritrovarsi, la riscoperta delle loro origini, sono alla lunga un po' forzate. Una scena in particolare poi (non dirò quale per non rovinare la sorpresa), oltre ad averla trovata superflua ai fini della storia, è certamente degna di soap opera del calibro di "Beautiful". Inoltre il finale del libro, quello che idealmente chiude il cerchio di tutta la saga familiare, l'ho trovato davvero troppo scontato ed edulcorato per i miei gusti. Di questo libro ho amato soprattutto la prima metà e le parti riguardanti il passato di Wharton Park: in quelle scene sembra proprio di calarsi in un'altra epoca, sembra di vivere dentro a romanzo classico dell'era romantica. Non mi è invece piaciuta la seconda metà e come l'autrice ha deciso di macchinare il destino dei personaggi nel presente. Ciò nonostante è stata una lettura piacevole e scorrevole, che mi rimarrà nel cuore per via della splendida ambientazione.(less)

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Jun 21, 2012 Lara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Una storia che si snoda dagli anni quaranta del secolo scorso sino ai nostri giorni.Tra il grigio inverno dell'Inghilterra e le profumate e colorate terre della Thailandia coccolati dalle note di Chopin.
Una storia tra l'amore profondo, quello vero che incontri una volta nella vita, ed il proprio dovere. Una lotta tra il cuore che ti porta lontano e la ragione che ti costringe a delle scelte difficili e dolorose. Una nobile famiglia inglese, la seconda guerra mondiale, la prigionia in paesi lont...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Claudia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dopo che una tragedia le sconvolge la vita, Julia torna a vivere nei luoghi dove ha trascorso la sua infanzia. Qui rincontra Kit, che aveva già conosciuto in passato. Kit la capisce ed ha vissuto un' esperienza simile alla sua, così i due iniziano ad avvicinarsi. Questa però è solo una piccola parte della bellissima storia raccontata in questo stupefacente romanzo. Infatti attorno a Wharton Park, la tenuta ereditata da Kit, ruotano diverse vicende e segreti di famiglia. In particolare alla stori...more Dopo che una tragedia le sconvolge la vita, Julia torna a vivere nei luoghi dove ha trascorso la sua infanzia. Qui rincontra Kit, che aveva già conosciuto in passato. Kit la capisce ed ha vissuto un' esperienza simile alla sua, così i due iniziano ad avvicinarsi. Questa però è solo una piccola parte della bellissima storia raccontata in questo stupefacente romanzo. Infatti attorno a Wharton Park, la tenuta ereditata da Kit, ruotano diverse vicende e segreti di famiglia. In particolare alla storia di Julia e Kit si intreccia quella di Olivia ed Harry, proprietari di Wharton Park ai tempi della gioventù dei nonni di Julia. Sarà proprio Elsie, la nonna di Julia, a narrare la loro storia e a rivelare i loro segreti.
Mi intrigano sempre le storie di famiglia, dove si seguono più generazioni, in genere con segreti e dove il presente e il passato si legano. È tutto avvolto da un alone di mistero, dato dalla consapevolezza della presenza di questo segreto, che si scoprirà solo più avanti, poco alla volta, mentre si seguono le due vicende. Questo, oltre allo stile semplice e scorrevole e al fatto che tutti i personaggi hanno qualcosa di speciale che li fa amare, mantiene sempre alto l' interesse sia sull' una che sull' altra vicenda.
Il romanzo è estremamente piacevole e nonostante sia piuttosto lungo, non è affatto pesante, non ci sono parti o momenti noiosi o poco interessanti. Non è troppo impegnativo, ma è ben articolato, grazie anche alla non linearità temporale del racconto, all' inserimento delle parti riguardanti il passato e al passaggio da queste al presente.
Io, mentre leggevo, ho fatto mille ipotesi e ho pensato alle cose più assurde riguardo a quale potesse essere il segreto ed ero incredibilmente curiosa. Quando diversi segreti vengono svelati, accadono cose imprevedibili e sorprendenti, quindi non c'è davvero un attimo di staticità.
L' ho trovato sconvolgentemente bello, emozionantissimo, commovente, intenso, con una vastità di emozioni diverse: disperazione, tristezza, gioia, dolore, felicità, rassegnazione, sacrificio, speranza...mi ha tenuto una grandissima compagnia!(less)

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May 13, 2012 Carla Ford rated it 5 of 5 stars

This wonderful novel is an exploration of the many ways in which we are powerless, or allow ourselves to be powerless, to change the course our lives take. Sometime we have to go a certain direction out of family obligation, or we get started on a path where it is just too hard to turn back. Sometime we turn a blind eye to reality, and live in a world of not quite reality because we are afraid to face the truth. Sometimes we really have no choices, and we do the best we can with what life hands...more

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May 06, 2012 Danielle Rossman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lucinda Riley's novel The Orchid House is perhaps the most charming novel I have read in quite a long time. She takes modern and historical fiction and creates a blended tale of how one home...Wharton Park casts a magic spell over generations of people. I am a lover of Historical fiction because not only does this style of writing add deeper overtones to novels, but also because when done correctly, the characters become richer overall. Lucinda Riley's use of language is also quite fascinating a...more Lucinda Riley's novel The Orchid House is perhaps the most charming novel I have read in quite a long time. She takes modern and historical fiction and creates a blended tale of how one home...Wharton Park casts a magic spell over generations of people. I am a lover of Historical fiction because not only does this style of writing add deeper overtones to novels, but also because when done correctly, the characters become richer overall. Lucinda Riley's use of language is also quite fascinating as her book has a cadence that moves from country to country (England, France and the Orient) without a break. The novel opens with a lovely mythological tale of the mystery of the Rare Black Orchid and right away we are drawn into the importance of orchids, gardening and most of all we are cued that this will be a love story....Then we meet Julia who is adrift in an almost suicidal sadness from a great but in the beginning mysterious loss that she has suffered. She is nursing a powerful anger that reminds us nothing at all of love. It is a link that calls back to Wharton Park and the present day heir Kit that will help Julia revive as she lets the past bring her solace. Her Grandmother Elsie will also provide solace as she helps spin the back story of the early history of Wharton Park and the secrets it hides beyond its beautiful but crumbling walls. Whether we are in the English countryside or the lush exoticism of Thailand, I can almost see, touch and smell the places Elsie describes...Including the vivid tale of a lovely Thai woman who will shape out many facets of the novel and help re infuse Julia's life. This is by far Lucinda Riley's best skill as she weaves the past and present into one seamless piece of fabric that is perfectly balanced...there is no fraying or loose ends to either side of the story. This is the hallmark of this well told story because it is often where other novels suffer. Also, while this is most certainly a romantic novel, it is by no means a sappy telling, but rather it is rich in tragedy and pain that only makes the many expressions of love more poignant and valuable to the overall tone of Riley's story. This is truly a slice of well told fiction because it is neither cookie cutter or travels a simple path. Julia will have several horrors ahead on her road to security and love, but I will not spoil your joy in discovering these plot twists...rather I invite you to delve into this wonderful book that will leave you breathless and longing for more of this great beauty.
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Apr 15, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, historical-fiction, europe, asia

On the whole, I really liked this book. I questioned a couple things (I'll get into that) but as a whole, I really liked this historical fiction book.

Julia has just suffered a great loss in her life and has gone back to see her grandmother who begins telling her stories of the people who once lived in a great house where Julia's grandmother worked. As with many of these stories that take place in two time periods, I liked the old one a lot better.

I loved seeing how the mystery of Julia's famil...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Kate Baxter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally published in Europe as "Hothouse Flower" and subsequently distributed in America as "The Orchid House", this book transports one from 1930's England to Bangkok to the present day French Riviera, Paris and back to England. It's a bit of "Upstatirs, Downstairs" with all the characters one might encounter. The book's descriptive language paints a grand story transcending 65 years. It opens with concert pianist, Julia, coping with the loss of her child and husband through a tragic acciden...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

THE ORCHID HOUSE
Lucinda Riley
This is a romantic novel, pure and simple. It is well written, the characters are well-developed and interesting, and the plot is strong and plausible. The Orchid House takes place in a manor house in Yorkshire, England, and moves from the present time to the pre-world war II time.
Julia, grieving for the loss of her husband and young son, has come home to a little cottage close to the manor house of Wharton Park, where her grandparents met and worked as a young marr...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adoption, england, family-life, grief, history, light-reads, marriage, relationships, self-perception, wwii

On the cover this book is touted to be "Gresat escapist reading for lovers of historical fiction". Well I'm not so sure about the 'historical fiction' part. Yes it does happen before, during and after WWII but lots of books do. I wouldn't read this for history since it only touches on the timelines.

This book is much more about the effects of life-decisions made for all the wrong reasons. The story starts with Julia Forrester, a tremendously talented concert pianist, who has recently lost a youn...more On the cover this book is touted to be "Gresat escapist reading for lovers of historical fiction". Well I'm not so sure about the 'historical fiction' part. Yes it does happen before, during and after WWII but lots of books do. I wouldn't read this for history since it only touches on the timelines.

This book is much more about the effects of life-decisions made for all the wrong reasons. The story starts with Julia Forrester, a tremendously talented concert pianist, who has recently lost a young son and much loved husband in a tragic accident. Not wanting to return to the home she shared with her husband and son in the south of France she returns to her roots in England. There she chances upon a man she knew when they were young. Her grandfather tended the hothouses on the estate where this man's family had lived. When they meet the estate is being sold.

The next layer of the story ensues when Julia and this man, Kit, discover an old diary in the floorboards of the cottage Julia's grandfather lived in. Kit gives the diary to Julia believing it belongs to her grandfather and so she goes to see her grandmother to find out the story behind that. It is with her grandmother that past secrets and skeletons come into the broad daylight of the present. This part of the story crosses back and forth between the estate of Wharton Park and Thailand during and after WWII.

There were a lot of things that seemed ludicrous to me but then this is a story. And if it is a fairy-tale then all of it could happen. But I find it hard to believe all of the things that happened could have been kept secret for as long as the book leads us to believe. And I didn't really find any of the characters particularly symphathetic. Just about the the time you felt you might be getting to know someone (other than Julia or Kit)they disappear from the story. There was no real dimension to any of them and I am sorry to say not even Julia and Kit.

Having said this I did read the entire book (I was on a trip)and it wasn't that hard to read. I would not want to mislead anyone into believing there was any kind of depth to this book because there isn't. It is escapist. It is a definite light read. A pool book. But that's not always a bad thing.(less)

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Mar 04, 2012 Dr. rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am unsure how I feel about this book---which doesn't happen often to me.
The writing can be described as a lyrical cliche. I wasn't sure if what I was reading was genuine or a joke because of the words used....I still don't know.
Some will say it is beautifully written and others will say it is comical and "over the top".
The plot itself is unbelievable. people returning from the dead.
The depression felt by the main character was so dark and depressing for me as a reader that I just wanted to s...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Kassandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-first-reads, reviewed-books

As a child Julia Forrester spent many idyllic hours in the hothouse of Wharton Park, the great house where her grandfather tended exotic orchids. Years later, while struggling with overwhelming grief over the death of her husband and young child, she returns to the tranquility of the estate. There she reunites with Kit Crawford, heir to the estate and her possible salvation.
When they discover an old diary, Julia seeks out her grandmother to learn the truth behind a love affair that almost destr...more

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Feb 08, 2012 Jaime Boler rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Baker's Daughter by Sarah McCoy (Random House; 304 pages; $23).
The Orchid House by Lucinda Riley (Simon and Schuster; 464 pages; $15).

Over the past few years, the book world has witnessed a rising trend in which a present-day protagonist, grappling with her own problems, stumbles upon an intriguing past mystery. Only when she solves the puzzle can she then tackle what is wrong in her own life. Curiously, many of said novels have ties to World War II. Recent notable books in this genre are T...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Lena rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 15, 2012 Northwestreader rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Orchid House is set on two continents, covers three generations, and has interesting entanglements between two families who both hail from an English country estate. The author has complicated relationships betwixt the families and draws interesting parallels between generations. While the foreshadowing of events lacked subtlety, I still found it to have an engaging story line. The dialog was definitely not reflective of how anyone I know actually speaks, but, I thought, perhaps this is how...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

What an incredibly beautiful story. The lyrical language caught me from the very beginning. Lucinda Riley's novel is impressive, weaving together a tale that spans decades and continents.

Julia, at first, is not the most likable character; she is too lost in her depression, the cause of which you do not know for a while, to be too understandable, at least to someone lacking such an experience. She is actually rather rude to her well meaning family members, pushing away those that would help. But,...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Anne by: Hugendubel

Shelves: language-german, genre-contemporary, read-2012, age-adult

“Das Orchideenhaus” von Lucinda Riley habe ich bei einem typischen Besuch in der der Bücherhandlung erstanden. Eigentlich ging es dabei nur um ausgleichende Gerechtigkeit. Mein Verlobter hatte sich ein Buch rausgesucht, da erschien mir nur fair, wenn ich auch eins finde. Letztendlich habe ich mich dafür entschieden, weil meinte viele gute Rezensionen darüber gelesen zu haben. Außerdem klang der Inhalt auch ganz spannend. Gut, im Nachhinein habe ich dann gesehen, dass das Buch doch recht kontrove...more “Das Orchideenhaus” von Lucinda Riley habe ich bei einem typischen Besuch in der der Bücherhandlung erstanden. Eigentlich ging es dabei nur um ausgleichende Gerechtigkeit. Mein Verlobter hatte sich ein Buch rausgesucht, da erschien mir nur fair, wenn ich auch eins finde. Letztendlich habe ich mich dafür entschieden, weil meinte viele gute Rezensionen darüber gelesen zu haben. Außerdem klang der Inhalt auch ganz spannend. Gut, im Nachhinein habe ich dann gesehen, dass das Buch doch recht kontrovers ist, den Rezensionen nach zu urteilen. Aber da ist meinen Regal stand, kann ich mir auch meine eigene Meinung darüber bilden.

Ich glaube, in der Buchhandlung bin ich auch stehen geblieben, weil mir das Cover zusagte. Ich liebe Orchideen. Die Farben auf dem Cover sind einladend, und es nicht übertrieben. Ich finde es außerdem sehr ansprechend, dass man den Umschlag so aufklappen kann. Die Bilder dort sind sehr schön, vor allem das Haus hinten. Richtig schön britisch.

Lucinda Riley’s Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm. Dadurch eignet sich das Buch hervorragend zur Entspannung. Allerdings passt der Stil nicht ganz so gut in die Rückblenden. In dem Buch geht es um zwei Familienschicksale, Liebe und Schmerz. Dargestellt wird dies zunächst im jetzt und durch Rückblenden, welche um den zweiten Weltkrieg herum sind. Julia, die dramatische familiäre Rückschläge zu verkraften hatte, trifft auf Kit, den Erben von Wharton Park. Dieser übergibt ihr ein mysteriöses Tagebuch, was angeblich ihren Großvater gehörte. Nun macht sich Julia auf den Weg zu ihrer Großmutter Elsie um ihr Tagebuch zu übergeben. Elsie erzählt dann Stück für Stück die Geschichte von ihrer Familie und der Familie Crawford, den Eigentümern von Wharton Park. Zugegebenermaßen empfand die Geschichte der heutigen Zeit besser und auch glaubhafter. Leider, bedient sich das Buch vieler Klischees, man hofft auf einen Twist in der Geschichte vergeblich. Es ist wirklich so einfach, wie es auf den Blick erscheint. Schade, eigentlich. Von der Grundidee her, steckt eine Menge Potential in dem Roman. Die Dialoge kommen teilweise sehr unnatürlich und stilisiert rüber, sodass man die Emotionen nur bedingt den Charakteren abnehmen kann. Man scheint allen Charakteren etwas positives abnehmen zu können, ob es nun die verbitterte Olivia oder die exotische Lidia ist. Von daher gibt es wenig Spielraum. Jedoch waren Elsie und Bill meine persönlichen Lieblinge, und auch deren Geschichte empfand ich am angenehmsten.

Tja, ich muss zugeben, ich stehe im Zwiespalt zu dem Buch. Die Bedenken zu Beginn des Lesens haben sich also bestätigt. Trotzdem möchte ich jetzt nicht sagen, dass mir das Buch gefallen hat, denn das hat es. Schwierige Angelegenheit. Die Idee und der Schreibstil finde ich gut bis sehr gut, nur an der Umsetzung scheitert es. Es ist einfach zu flach und unausgereift. Allerdings für einen schönen einfachen Lesespaß zwischendurch eignet sich das Buch hervorragend.(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Julia Forrester is recovering from the loss of her husband and young child due to a horrible car accident. She has moved from her home in France back to England where she grew up to be close to her sister. One day she goes to visit the estate that her grandmother and grandfather used to work at, Wharton Park. Julia has many happy memories of being with her grandparents on the estate and watching her grandfather work with exotic orchids. While visiting she encounters the new owner of Wharton Park...more

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Jun 19, 2012 CriCra CriCra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cartaceo

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Il primo impatto che si ha quando si prende tra le mani Il giardino degli incontri segreti di Lucinda Riley è quello di dire:”Però! Che bel librone!” In effetti parliamo di un libro composto dalla bellezza di 614 pagine, con una copertina romantica che attira molto l’attenzione e una trama che contribuisce a stimolare la curiosità di chi si accinge a leggerlo.

Potrà sembrare insolito ma tra i tanti personaggi che si incontreranno nella storia, protagonista indiscusso sarà una splendida e fuori d...more

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May 27, 2012 Sallie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think that Lucinda Riley is following in the footsteps of Kate Morton in THE ORCHID HOUSE. The "story within the story" is a clever and entertaining way to weave a storyline that captivates the reader if done well. THE ORCHID HOUSE is done well and we are taken from today's world back to the 1940's as two stories and two generations are explored. Sitting squarley in the middle of it all is Wharton Park, a stately home located in the English countryside, and it is this home that captures the he...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Amanda Kimball rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'd rate this a 3.5. While the dialogue translations may have left something to be desired, I don't feel it took away from the entirety of the novel. But because of these issues, and some unrealistic reactions from the characters/some unreliable narration, I had to dock a star and a half. Though, I truly did enjoy reading her descriptions and plot. By no means would I say to pass this novel up!

With this novel, Riley has created a heartfelt love story that spanned decades and connected to the pr...more I'd rate this a 3.5. While the dialogue translations may have left something to be desired, I don't feel it took away from the entirety of the novel. But because of these issues, and some unrealistic reactions from the characters/some unreliable narration, I had to dock a star and a half. Though, I truly did enjoy reading her descriptions and plot. By no means would I say to pass this novel up!

With this novel, Riley has created a heartfelt love story that spanned decades and connected to the present in a way that many novels try for but never quite reach. The beginning of the novel was a little confusing because we begin with the pov of the older sister, Alicia, and then abruptly leave her pov to pick up with Julia, where we stay for the entirety of the "present" pieces of the novel. I for one am grateful for this change because the whole tone and beat changed once we started viewing things from Julia's perspective.

The second issue I had was the fact that Elsie was able to give a first-hand account of Olivia's thoughts and private feelings. The author goes into details about the diary at a later point, which makes her second tale of the past more plausible, if not still slightly flawed, but it never feels quite believable when she is trying to tell us Olivia's story. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was lovely to read and the story wouldn't have been complete without it, just Elsie wasn't a reliable narrator throughout that section.

The plot, while heartwarming, was easily figured out. But, that did not detract from my wanting to carry this to the end. I was quite frustrated (even though I see the connections to the past Riley was going for) with the turn of events towards the end of the novel. Once again, this didn't feel genuine, more forced for effect. I think we as US readers may be at a disadvantage because of the translation(I have noticed other reviewers have mentioned this) and I blame some of the catch-ups on this.

The rich story of the past was what really kept me hanging on. I loved that as we were told of
the past, Julia was able to come to terms with what was happening to her in the present, as well as get to know herself as a person, rather than just believe herself to be a victim of chance. The connection made between past and present were exhilarating and freeing to both Julia, and me as a reader.

I really enjoyed her descriptions and ability to evoke emotion from her readers. One of my favorite parts of the novel was when we here Harry's perspective on the war and what it was like for him in Bangkok after his release from prison. I felt this was the most genuine part of the story.

I loved how the flowers/hothouse took on a life of their own, and like in a gothic novel, became a character just as influential as Wharton Park was.

Overall, I was quite happy with where the novel ended up (even though again I think that Kit and Julia behaved a little bit out of character), and would happily recommend this novel to a friend. I loved the ties to the war and the way Riley didn't sugar coat many hot-button issues, but dealt with them bluntly. (less)

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Sep 16, 2011 Barbara rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I saved this book to read on holiday and it began full of promise.

I was soon disappointed. It was very cliched and very predictable, not one surprise to be had!

There were moments in book that were supposed to be tragic, but the way the author transcribes the various dialects in the book were comical and I found myself laughing instead of crying.

When I was close to the end, (and I was reading it on a Kindle, so couldn’t be sure when I was on the very last page), there were two occasions when I t...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Angela rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

We need to talk about how bad this dialogue is.
It's bad. Nobody talks like that unless they're reading a script. A bad script. Like, Showgirls bad.
Expository in dialogue? Worse.
Honestly, it felt like two people writing, each one trying to explain who their specific character is and who they are related to so the other writer is aware. Bad form. BAD form.
Desperately trying to throw in overkill 40s British slang so we remember where and when it's happening? Nightmare.

The dealbreaker:
When what's-...more

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About Lucinda Riley

Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland and during her childhood travelled extensively abroad, particularly to the Far East to visit her father.

Moving to London she became an actress working in film, theatre and television. Five years ago she designed and built a house on the island of Koh Chang in Thailand, where her father had purchased land many years before. Her passion for history combined with her...more

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“Because -' she looked up at Bill and gave him a smile that lit up her face, granting him a sudden flash of her true beauty - 'love never die, Mister Bill. It never die.” — 2 people liked it

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