When Samuel Godwin, a young and naive art tutor, accepts a job with the Farrow family at their majestic home, little does he expect to come across ...
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Sep 01, 2010
Melanie
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Nov 04, 2011
Sorcha
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This book started well, to the point I didnt realise that it was a Young Adult book. It is a story much in the vein of Jane Eyre, Northhanger Abbey and Wilkie Collins - young peniless artist joins a family as a teacher, only to find mysteries abound and it is the governess and art teacher (neither family or housefold staff) that end up investigating. [return][return]However, I got bored halfway through (any sense fo the dramatic is too laboured) and I skipped ahead, only to find topics never to
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Jan 05, 2010
Claire
rated it: 
What an enchanting, beguiling read. From the start to the finish!
Artist Samuel Godwin has recently acquired a job as a tutor with the prestigious Ernest Farrow at a house named Fourwinds, due to the stone sculptures on the walls. Farrow's daughters are polar opposites, one, Juliana, is inwardly drawn, sad and mysterious, while the other, Marianne, flings into odd mood swings and runs off frequently.
After the death of the girls' mother, Ernest Farrow hired a governess na More...
Artist Samuel Godwin has recently acquired a job as a tutor with the prestigious Ernest Farrow at a house named Fourwinds, due to the stone sculptures on the walls. Farrow's daughters are polar opposites, one, Juliana, is inwardly drawn, sad and mysterious, while the other, Marianne, flings into odd mood swings and runs off frequently.
After the death of the girls' mother, Ernest Farrow hired a governess na More...
Jan 02, 2010
♣ Jacinta ♠
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Set In Stone takes place in the late nineteenth century, mainly at the story's household Fourwinds, in Sussex. Young artist Samuel Godwin comes across a job as the tutor to the two daughters of Ernest Farrow, the owner of the house, not even having a hint of what deception is going on. He meets the three young women in the house, Charlotte Agnew, the governess; Marianne, the younger daughter; and Julianna, the older daughter.
Set In Stone defenetly had a amazing, creative plot. Someti More...
Set In Stone defenetly had a amazing, creative plot. Someti More...
Oct 06, 2008
Marian
rated it:
I thought this was a fantasy, but just a pretty predictable book with no fantasy elements.
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Feb 22, 2009
Dawn
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Make yourself a mug of hot chocolate. Build a roaring fire and pull up a comfy chair. Grab your cat, settle her in your lap, and read this book (by candlelight, if possible). Anne Radcliffe meets Charlotte Brontë. This was a really fun read. It borrows a bit too heavily, at times, from "Jane Eyre," but that can be forgiven. This would be a great book to suggest for teens who are interested in Gothic historical fiction, but who aren't ready or willing to tackle the Brontës.
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Nov 06, 2011
Kelly
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I really enjoyed this book, but I found it in my library's MG section, which it is not. Neither is it YA. The themes and structure make this book very adult -- the main characters are both in their 20s, and the book has a framework with middle-aged perspectives. That is not to say this book is explicit -- the sexual content and gothic elements have Victorian obliqueness-- but I think grownups would enjoy the language and introspection more than teens.
Sep 01, 2009
Jan
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This is an old fashioned gothic novel with a rather horrifying plot development that involves an incestuous relationship between a father and daughter. It has the atmosphere of one of Victoria Holt's gothic novels. Set in Victorian England, the story is told in alternating points of view by the daughter's governess and by her tutor. There is a most satisfying and horrifying retribution in store for the incestuous father.
May 30, 2011
Hannah
rated it:
Oh, Set In Stone you are one shocking read aren't you?
So don't be fooled by the boring start because once you read a good third of the book it traps you in a web of lies, deceit and material that will leave you cringing in amazement.
For some people (e.g. Me) you might start reading this book because a pushy friend insists it’s great (you know who you are) but in reality you find the book to be a complete bore and you’re already a hundred pages through. At this point you MUST perseve More...
So don't be fooled by the boring start because once you read a good third of the book it traps you in a web of lies, deceit and material that will leave you cringing in amazement.
For some people (e.g. Me) you might start reading this book because a pushy friend insists it’s great (you know who you are) but in reality you find the book to be a complete bore and you’re already a hundred pages through. At this point you MUST perseve More...
Jan 11, 2010
Sunshie
rated it: 
I LOVED this. It was extremely well written from two different points of view. The characters were well developed and Sam was a very lovable MC as was Charlotte. And the winds were spectacular. Newbery manages to describe everything so well it jumps out of the page at the reader. And the setting is catching too. It is really worth reading. <3
Feb 02, 2011
Helen
rated it:
Very good pageturner. I read it in three sessions. The writer creates an excellent atmosphere and sense of place. It's set in a secluded country house called 'FourWinds' at the turn of the century. Samuel Godwin, a young painting tutor, newly arrived at the house, finds himself embroiled in dark family secrets. It all feels quite 'Jane Eyre' and 'Turn of the Screw'ish.
Aug 16, 2011
this book kept me intrigued from the very beginning as i found out the mystery i was shocked to what i found out and it also made me angry with the artist because he didn't marry the woman i thought he would but a very interesting story indeed and intriguing
Apr 14, 2011
Lori
rated it: 
I the the gothic era and this had the bones to be a really good book. The ending was just very generic and I'm not a fan of when authors put all the good stuff at the end. I wish the rest of the book was not as boring. it was also pretty predictable.
Feb 01, 2011
Courtney
rated it:
Very competent baby-Gothic. While I'm quite sure no nice governess would use the word 'conceived' in a conversation with a young man, the tell-don't-show is probably needed.
The book does beg the question however - just why is incest such a popular theme in YA novels?
The book does beg the question however - just why is incest such a popular theme in YA novels?
Apr 30, 2011
Steph
rated it:
I liked the story. I hadn't realized it was a historical fiction until after I had it home. It was strange reading historical fiction from a male's point of view since a lot are of queens, princesses, maids, etc.
The only thing was that I found it a bit predictable. I had never heard of the ,an so I didn't know the history. It was written a bit like a mystery. Still enjoyable though.
The only thing was that I found it a bit predictable. I had never heard of the ,an so I didn't know the history. It was written a bit like a mystery. Still enjoyable though.
Jul 03, 2010
Sassy_latham
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Aug 03, 2011
Un bel hommage aux auteurs victoriens et au peintre Samuel Godwin, un bon suspens et une réflexion sur la condition féminine dans l'Angleterre de la fin du XIXe.
Sep 29, 2010
Jane
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This was a lovely cosy Charlotte Bronte style book until the last few chapters where it became really sickening. A good read but didn't like the ending........
May 04, 2009
Mallory
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I was shocked by how quickly this sucked me in and how surprised I was by some (but not all) of the twists and turns. Romance, mystery, suspense=lots of fun!
Feb 21, 2010
Connie
rated it:
Easy reading, not too challenging. A good book, though some unresolved points and lack of continuity.
Apr 04, 2010
Kristin
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This book was decant i guess but i didn't really like it. It was a sort of a mystery and interesting at points, but I wouldn't recommend people to read it unless they are truly bored.
Feb 23, 2011
Christine
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Lots of twists and secrets in a story that seems set in a quiet, tame, and sane household. I really enjoyed it.
Jan 12, 2011
Erica
rated it:
UGH. This book is TERRIBLE. I could hardly bring myself to finish it. It's so boring! And the font hurt my eyes, which shouldn't matter but this this book is just so monstrously ridiculously awful that the font drove me over the edge. I should have just returned the damn book to the library but I have this thing where if I start a book I just have to finish it. DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID! DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! It would be more fun to grate a cheese grater against your forehead.
Jan 29, 2012
Interesting, mysterious, shocking, modern – these are all the things this book is trying to be and it’s not.
Plain, easy, boring – all that it is without even trying.
If you want to read a shocking book about incest try The Color Purple by Alice Walker, if you want a story that combines different points of view go to Llosa’s La Ciudad y Los Perros. If after reading you want to feel like you have wasted precious time in your life, then ok, read Set in Stone.
Plain, easy, boring – all that it is without even trying.
If you want to read a shocking book about incest try The Color Purple by Alice Walker, if you want a story that combines different points of view go to Llosa’s La Ciudad y Los Perros. If after reading you want to feel like you have wasted precious time in your life, then ok, read Set in Stone.
Nov 09, 2008
Luby
rated it:
First time a book set in the olden times has intrigued me enough to keep reading. It was never boring, never predictable. Made a few shocking turns that made me want to gasp out loud. Loved it tho! The feelings and surroundings were expressed very artistically. Has a little bit of everything, from passion and art to suspense and thrill. I would recommend it to readers who, like me, wanted something new and away from the usual genre to read.
Jan 14, 2012
Tina
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Feb 23, 2008
Rose
rated it:
A passionate tale full of lies, deception, desire, and unrequited love. This year's Costa Book Award winner introduces young adults to a period in history when a scandal in the family could result in its ruin... and great measures would be taken to cover up anything unpleasant. I've invited Linda Newbery to speak at my workplace in May this year... I'm really looking forward to meeting her... and to reading some more of her books.
Aug 04, 2010
Maureen
rated it:
I did not like this book. I finished it because I have this almost constitutional inability to not finish books when I start them, but I felt like it was a watered-down version of The Thirteenth Tale, though actually I’ve no idea which came first. (March 2008)
