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319th out of 424 books
—
46 voters
Grange House
by
Sarah Blake (Goodreads Author)
By the author of the New York Times bestseller The Postmistress
Maisie Thomas spends every summer at Grange House, a hotel on the coast of Maine ruled by the elegant Miss Grange. In 1896, when Maisie turns 17, her visit marks a turning point. On the morning after her arrival, local fishermen make a gruesome discovery: drowned lovers, found clasped in each other’s arms. It’s...more
Maisie Thomas spends every summer at Grange House, a hotel on the coast of Maine ruled by the elegant Miss Grange. In 1896, when Maisie turns 17, her visit marks a turning point. On the morning after her arrival, local fishermen make a gruesome discovery: drowned lovers, found clasped in each other’s arms. It’s...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
June 1st 2001
by Picador
(first published 2000)
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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When Maisie Thomas and her family return to Grange House in 1896 for their annual summer visit, she has no clue how this particular year will change her life. The almost-spectral figure of Miss Grange invites Maisie to be part of the house's story - one fulls of ghosts, lost children, and disasters visited upon generation after generation - and Maisie runs in fear. However, fate will not let her stray far. Calamity falls upon her family, and Maisie is drawn into Miss Grange's mystery, even as tw...more
Dec 04, 2012
Brooke
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
No one.
Recommended to Brooke by:
Goodreads.
My list of major issues with this book:
Issue #1: It reminded me (too much) of my least favorite book ever, A Northern Light. Which brings me to
Issue #2: The only major difference between the two was that A Northern Light actually had an ending, while Grange House...You call that an ending? Get back to work! We don't even know who she chose! (Although my money's on Bart.) Or what Henry and Halcy were doing out on that damn lake in the first place! I'm only good with non-endings in books if the au...more
Issue #1: It reminded me (too much) of my least favorite book ever, A Northern Light. Which brings me to
Issue #2: The only major difference between the two was that A Northern Light actually had an ending, while Grange House...You call that an ending? Get back to work! We don't even know who she chose! (Although my money's on Bart.) Or what Henry and Halcy were doing out on that damn lake in the first place! I'm only good with non-endings in books if the au...more
I've been binging on "old-fashioned" ghost stories lately, and this was pleasent (if not very gripping), especially when read directly after the melodramatic bog of Picnic at Hanging Rock. The supernatural elements are few and far between, though, and the ~dark secrets~ hinted at endlessly are pretty standard.
The novel is bumped up to four stars, however, for two characters who are written as progressive women for their time without falling into the cliche of being third-wave feminists in perio...more
The novel is bumped up to four stars, however, for two characters who are written as progressive women for their time without falling into the cliche of being third-wave feminists in perio...more
I could not wait to pick up this book, a story of love and ghosts. Grange House sat forever on my shelf until the right moment... Wow. Not sure why I waited so long.
My expectations were high. I was mildly disappointed.
Grange House was a little slow to get into. The beginning seemed to drag, in both content and writing. I will admit that I am not a huge fan of victorian writing; Grange House was written in the victorian writing style.
The parts of the book that I absolutely loved was the relati...more
My expectations were high. I was mildly disappointed.
Grange House was a little slow to get into. The beginning seemed to drag, in both content and writing. I will admit that I am not a huge fan of victorian writing; Grange House was written in the victorian writing style.
The parts of the book that I absolutely loved was the relati...more
Grange House is the story of Maise Thomas, a young woman at the turn of the century whose coming-of-age story begins on a seemingly normal trip to a summer vacationing house in Maine. There she is faced with anguishing hearbreak, haunting revelations, and her own female awakening. Maise's journey leads her to unearth the sins of the dead, and reclaim startling truths that will change her future.
I was glued to Grange house, both by its beautiful prose and ryhtmic storytelling which lulls the rea...more
I was glued to Grange house, both by its beautiful prose and ryhtmic storytelling which lulls the rea...more
Finally, finally, FINALLY DONE!!! So glad to be finished with this book. No disrespect to the author, but this book was horrible. It was so long and drawn out. It was super dull, it couldn't hold my attention at all. The peculiar thing is, is that it has potential. Like, it could be good, it actually HAS potential. The way it was executed is what I blame for it not being good at all. First of all, the author tried to write the book as if it were actually written during The Victorian Era. It wasn...more
This novel is set in the late 1800's. The main character, Maisie, is a 17 year old girl from a society family. The family visits Maine each summer and stays at a manor that formely belonged to the local quarry owner. The sole remainder of the family, Nell, lives in the attic of the home and the home is managed by a housekeeper and a cook. Maisie has a special connection with Miss Grange, who was an "authoress". Nell likes to tell Maisie stories, some of which seem to be incredible tales of her o...more
2.5 Very well written, really, really liked it up until the end. What I thought was kind of a gothic feminist novel, turned out to have a bunch of fragile minded, hysterical women and the reasonable ones were all men. Ultimately very disappointing!
Fascinating book! Written in a Victorian style prose so you would know the time period of the story without being told (late 1800's)as opposed to someone writing about this period using a more modern style. It worked... I'll just say I couldn't put this one down even though it was a little slow in the middle. The plot kept thickening over and over. Just when I have the answer to one thing, she throws something else into the mix, and you think you have that figured out, and then...BAM! I could ne...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I so admire Sarah Blake's narrative style (The Postmistress) that I was eager to read her earlier novel, Grange House, first published in 2000. I was not disappointed at all in this generational story, set in the late 1800s, about a New England summer house perched on the coast of Maine. Sarah Blake weaves a story of suspense, vivid characters, and visual beauty that captured me from the start. I found I read each word so very carefully, for each word is important to the story, and I often rerea...more
To be able to get through this book, I would advise the reader to imagine that they are living in 1880s New England with Maisie Thomas. Blake seems to be trying to write a book that is not historical fiction; she is trying to actually become an author in that period. The language can be so stilted and formal, and as a reader, you can fight against it, or just give in and pretend that you are sitting in a Victorian parlor reading by the fading light through the lace curtains while the maid lights...more
I read this book for English class. I thought it was a good book even though it took a while for the story to begin. Some parts were more interesting than others so I was skimming at some point.
Overall, I think the story is really good and I like the message that the author is trying to pass. Some parts of it are intriguing and the end is quite surprising, in a good way.
I may have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been homework... Now I have to do a Research Paper about the time period and relate to...more
Overall, I think the story is really good and I like the message that the author is trying to pass. Some parts of it are intriguing and the end is quite surprising, in a good way.
I may have enjoyed it more if it hadn't been homework... Now I have to do a Research Paper about the time period and relate to...more
Have mixed feelings about this book. It has been written well, almost poetically. There are passages that allow us to mull over the wistful beauty of the words. However, the pace is really very slow. The atmosphere becomes too dense or heavy at times. The plot is not very suspenseful and hence, the story seems to drag often.
Also, the overall tone is a little too gray and hopeless. It could have been countered with a bright and happy ending. But instead we are given one that is bleak and dubious....more
Also, the overall tone is a little too gray and hopeless. It could have been countered with a bright and happy ending. But instead we are given one that is bleak and dubious....more
Blake has a masters’ degree in Victorian literature, and she wrote Grange House, her first novel, as a Victorian novel. Maisie Thomas has been spending summers at Grange House, on the coast of Maine, for years and as she returns at the beginning of this novel, she is eighteen years old and searching for who she really is. An elderly woman, Miss Grange, lives in semi-seclusion in an attic room of the boarding house, and she has taken a liking to Maisie over the years. This summer she begins to t...more
very very good book. Recommended for those with lots and lots of patience who don't want just to cut to the chase.
The author of Grange House, Sarah Blake, has a degree in Victorian literature. This book is her attempt at a Victorian-period piece of writing, set in America -- both ghost story and gothic. It takes a while to get into the book, but once you're there, it is highly reminiscent of something that one of the Brontes might have written.
Grange House, a hotel, formerly the homes of the G...more
The author of Grange House, Sarah Blake, has a degree in Victorian literature. This book is her attempt at a Victorian-period piece of writing, set in America -- both ghost story and gothic. It takes a while to get into the book, but once you're there, it is highly reminiscent of something that one of the Brontes might have written.
Grange House, a hotel, formerly the homes of the G...more
I would like to give this a 3-1/2 stars. I always think anything under a 4 star review means the book was unsatisfactory, and that's not the case. It's main fault is that the beginning starts out so very slow, and the endless parade of half-hints that had me thinking I had missed something. A very twisty-twiney plot with good characterization (almost too good, I often wanted to reach through the pages and strangle the crap out of them). I don't feel the paranormal events were satisfactorily conc...more
I recently read The Postmistress and liked it so much that I also read Blake's earlier novel, Grange House. Grange is a coming of age story set in 1898 Maine. It was terrific! Great atmosphere. Aside from the heroine choosing between suitors there was ghosts, mysteries, friendships tested and some unexpected suspense. I recommend it.
It would also be a very good choice for a 'bridge book'. An adult novel that is acceptable content-wise for a strong 14+ year old reader.
It would also be a very good choice for a 'bridge book'. An adult novel that is acceptable content-wise for a strong 14+ year old reader.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Set in a seaside inn in Maine in the late 1800s, this is part ghost story, murder mystery and love story. Maine at the turn of the century and the summer life is very well depicted and the plot draws you into the mystery very well and you'll find you can't put it down. You'll also continue trying to figure out the solution and think you have it...but you don't! Very well-written story.
I loved this book. It's hard to describe what it's about, a young girl in search of her self, only that it's a wonderfully atmospheric, complex Victorian Gothic novel, full of mysteries and ghosts and family secrets. It reads in places like a ghost story, although it isn't, despite the fact that there are ghosts and hauntings. It's...oh, so hard to describe, but wonderfully written.
I made it 100 pages and had to put it down. It is well written but as soon as the ghost stuff started, I found myself rolling my eyes. I don't give up on books very often but I couldn't bear it. I don't know if is just a matter of taste or if it was poorly done. I lean towards the latter since I found the Miss Grange character laughable in her faux mysteriousness.
I tried to like this book. I previously read The Postmistress and loved it so I expected Grange House to be equally good. But I never could truly care about the characters because I never could truly understand them.
Too much obscure meaning in things left unsaid. Too many vague statements that put too many questions in my mind.
I wanted to abandon the book many times but doggedly kept reading. The ending helped things come together but still didn't completely satisfy.
Too much obscure meaning in things left unsaid. Too many vague statements that put too many questions in my mind.
I wanted to abandon the book many times but doggedly kept reading. The ending helped things come together but still didn't completely satisfy.
I really think of this as a coming of age story about a young woman named Maisie that revolves around her summers spent at Grange House with her family. Maisie is freinds with an older woman, Miss Grange, who resides at Grange house. Maisie's life takes a deicded turn based on a tragedy and Miss Grange's request for Maisie to finish her story.
Longing... that seems to be the key word of this story. A young New York girl travels regularly to Maine every summer with her parents. The Grange House is full of interesting characters and mystery. The young woman, Maisie, also discovers links her her own past. A tragic death of lovers at the onset puts in motion an odd series of events told from the past as well as the present. I really enjoyed the Victorian style of the author, even the 'ghost story' aspect of the novel, but some of the desc...more
A wonderfully written novel set in turn-of-the-century Maine, featuring a "haunted" house--and haunted women--who will stay with you long after you finish reading. Blake's love of language is eminently apparent throughout, and if you also love language the way she and I do, you will love this book.
I read this one because her latest book is getting good reviews. I guess I just don't like gothic literature, and can't really make through an entire novel written in Victorian-era language. Halfway through I tired of the constant question of whether or not what people said was true or a story, and the whole thing was just too gloomy, creepy, and depressing.
The truth is I did not finish it. It just seemed so over wrought and the story seemed to be going back and fourth. I always know when I am not into a book when I find other reasons not to pick it up. I read over half and do not need to see it to the end.
Some have called the writing style "victorian" or "poetic". While I enjoyed that aspect of it,by the end it was getting a little laborious for me. But for that, it was a good story.
On the "couldn't put it down" list. :)
On the "couldn't put it down" list. :)
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Sarah taught high school and college English for many years in Colorado and New York. She has taught fiction workshops at the Fine Arts Works Center in Provincetown, MA, The Writer’s Center, in Bethesda MD, The University of Maryland, and The George Washington University. She lives in Washington DC with her husband, the poet Joshua Weiner, and their two sons.
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“A woman will be loved...in proportion as she makes those around her happy...”
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“All love stories beget ghost stories.”
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Feb 03, 2013 11:36am