A beautiful and mesmerizing debut, Coldwater is the tale of three sisters, the dangers of isolation, and the explosive repercussions when se...
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Dec 13, 2011
Elizabeth
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I loved the idea of this book! Mardi McConnochie deserves much praise for turning her curiosity about the elusive Bronte sisters into a work of fiction. She plunks the literary trio onto the island of Coldwater, a penal colony off the coast of Australia. The sisters live there with Captain Wolf, their unyielding father. Theirs is a life of isolation, with time spent on household chores, cooking, and sewing. Their fates are soon changed as each of the sisters grow weary of their stagnant existenc
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Jun 23, 2011
Lily
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Another book I really wanted to like, but came away from disenchanted. It's a gothic tale of three young girls trapped on an island that's literally a prison - a convict prison in early white settlement Australia. Told in the vein of the Bronte sisters (of whom the author is apparently a great fan), the novel read unfortunately almost as fan fiction. The names of the key protagonists are all from history, there are nods to Jane Eyre and Pride & Prejudice, as well as the hystrionics of Wuthering
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May 12, 2011
Judy
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Mardi McConnochie has had a life-long fascination with the lives of the Bronte sisters and their repressed lives with their father on the Yorkshire moors. Using their story as a starting point, Coldwater is the story of three sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, and the dangers of isolating and dominating adult children. The novel is set in a penal colony off the coast of Australia where the sister's father, Captain Edward Wolf, is the Governor of the prison and attempts to run his household w
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Sep 30, 2011
Phyllis
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A diary of sorts, leaving hints about the famous Bronte sisters as the author spends quite another tale. I especially loved the way Emily wrote--lots of dashes. Emily's description of the dream state (pages 95-97) was one piece of perfect literature--well done.
Nov 25, 2008
Darla
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A very interesting, well written twist on the lives of the Bronte sisters. Be sure to read the author's interview at the end.
Aug 04, 2011
Jill
rated it:
This story never quite gets off the ground. It's supposed to be based upon the Bronte sisters, but I never quite got the feeling of a decent plot. It has interesting points, and the setting is unique, but overall, the story wasn't strong.
Jun 18, 2008
Louise
rated it:
Three sisters and their father the Governor of a convict island off the coast of Australia which is part of a penal colony. Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Captain Wolf. Interesting reconstruction of the Bronte family. Wonderfully written and becomes a psychological thriller when Emily falls in love with one of the convicts, Anne falls in love with "the Diver", Charlotte tries to save them all, and the Captain tries to control them all.
Jun 03, 2009
Jane
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This is an historical novel about a widower, the Commandant of a remote Australian penal colony, and his three daughters, Emily, Charlotte, and Anne. The three young women are writers, in a tale suggestive somewhat of the Bronte sisters, the famous English authors. Written in the style of a Victorian novel it details the dangers of isolation and the explosive repercussions when the seemingly absolute power of the Commandant is challenged. As with all Victorian novels, there is a fair share of
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