Cedar Green

by Rose Boucheron

A gentle story of English village life - As the domestic mainstay of Cedar Green, Edie Fisher has an insight into the lives of many of the villages inhabitants, from the beautiful but petulant Lady Ledsham to widowed solicitor John Paynter. But when an old school friend of Edies appears on the scene now a doctor, whose son has aspirations to develop luxury flats in the village, the calm surface of life in Cedar Green is definitely ruffled . . .

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story felt very fragmented. Writing is not the best.

[Mullgirl · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish it. It had such potential–lovely little out of the way country town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Unfortunately, everyone’s business was a tidge more convoluted than I usually have the patience for–from the outsider who moved there because she wanted to (great) and somehow successfully supports herself as a maid for several houses (not likely) and her live in daughter (also a maid) and grandson (who turns out to be the lovechild of a well-respected man in the community) to the girl who is part italian and his more or less patrician mother couldn’t deal with his choice of mate (notice that I didn’t say wife). And on and on.

I think the problem was too much jumping around from chapter to chapter. I didn’t get enough to learn to care about the characters and so couldn’t remember several chapters later what their story was when we got back to it. And Boucheron’s style was almost descriptively there. I think she wanted to achieve (at least it felt that way), a sort of Edith Warton-light–heavy on the description without describing each tine on the fork. But it got confused or cut off.

I almost didn’t do the review because hey–can you really review a book you get 1/3 through and not finish? The answer, yes, I can tell you to save yourself some time. Skip it. Move on.

[Tamra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this book was trying to be something it wasn't. It introduced a lot of characters right off the bat but didn't flesh out any of them enough to have the reader care about any of them. I also found it very unbelievable that the vast majority of the main characters were either widowed or divorced. None of the various stories going on came to a very satisfying conclusion or answered the questions the reader may have about them. It tried to be a quaint English village story, but failed miserably.

[LInda L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book -- some intrigue, but mostly just everyday village folk getting on with their lives. I would love to read more by this author, but unfortunately the local library does not have any others. She is, however, a prolific writer, and someone somewhere must appreciate her talent. I may see if my library can find other books of hers -- I know I would love them.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't even bother to finish this one.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to the jacket this is "a gentle story of English life." It kind of was that. Too bad they couldn't have worked in a mystery!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An allright book, but the ending just seemed rushed- like she'd got bored of writing. Enjoyed it up to that point though!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Already have no idea what this was about. Not very memorable!