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read in February, 2008
Barb said:
"This book was recommended by two friends, but I didn't think I would really like it. Not the kind of book I usually read - Nora Roberts, Jeffrey Deaver, Dan Brown, etc. I usually don't read English authors, as I've found them a little too slow and ...more
This book was recommended by two friends, but I didn't think I would really like it. Not the kind of book I usually read - Nora Roberts, Jeffrey Deaver, Dan Brown, etc. I usually don't read English authors, as I've found them a little too slow and descriptive. But, I really liked this book. It took a few chapters to get with the style and cadence of the speech, but I was hooked. It was descriptive without being flowery and boring. An elderly, dying author hires a bookshopkeeper's daughter to write her memiors as she dictates it. I was caught up in the story from the beginning.
The one thing that bothered me, though, was the complete lack of dates and time period references. I never new if it was set in present-day time, the '50's, or what. I never knew how to imagine their dress, hair styles, furniture, car, etc. as I read. (Does anyone else have a movie going in their head while reading?) From the writing style, my brain automatically pictured a 1950's setting, until 3/4 of the way through, I read one mention of the word computer, then had to wonder why on earth anyone would write all that out by hand and not use a recorder and computer when their goal was to take notes and write a book! The omission of all birth and death dates was so obvious, but I really wanted to know them and resented it that none were given, hence the lack of time references. I still don't know for sure that it IS present day.
Would have also liked a little more romance than the just the last page. So, if you're looking for some hot sex and romance - this ain't it. But, it you want a good, solid mystery that keeps your interest, a possible ghost, and characters you can care about, this is a good choice for you.
I admit, I didn't have the whole thing figured out correctly until Margaret (or Diane)told us. Congratulations. Not going to spoil it for everybody else. I did have to make a little genealogy chart to keep the names straight, then used it as my bookmark. Probably just my age showing. Didn't think my husband would like it, but I will recommend this book to my female friends. ...less
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