The Forgotten House in Aussie Readers

Mar 07, 2017 Kathryn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, fiction, australian-authors, reading-list-2017

An easy read, although rather heart-breaking at times. Set on the eve of WWII and throughout, and then in the present day as well. I liked the characters of James and Lexie, although I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the young Carrie.

I thought at first that there was going to be a paranormal element in this, but it was really just a historical romance. A lot of it was told through letters - Lexie’s letters to James, and vice versa, and between Lexie or James and other people.

Having r ...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Mish rated it really liked it

Shelves: australian-authors

Autumn Manor was once an elegant, grand old place in its days, but after years of neglect and abandonment, it’s in a very poor state. When Rachael Price was young, there was a rumour amongst her friends of a hanging that took place many years ago, and the ghost that still haunts the manor today. One day, Rachael was on an outing with her Grandmother, Carrie Howell. Carrie asked Rachael to stop the car directly in front of the manor. Rachael was beginning to feel nervous when Carrie got out of th Autumn Manor was once an elegant, grand old place in its days, but after years of neglect and abandonment, it’s in a very poor state. When Rachael Price was young, there was a rumour amongst her friends of a hanging that took place many years ago, and the ghost that still haunts the manor today. One day, Rachael was on an outing with her Grandmother, Carrie Howell. Carrie asked Rachael to stop the car directly in front of the manor. Rachael was beginning to feel nervous when Carrie got out of the car, but then she could tell that her grandmother knows something of the place by far off look on her Carrie’s face. With a little probing from Rachael, Carrie would tell the real tragic story of the death that took place and the connection her family had to the manor, which inturn would alter Rachael’s future.

When I accepted the ARC I didn’t not imagine the plot would follow along these lines. I expected a ghostly, horror story (don’t ask me why) but what I got out of this was far more pleasant then I anticipated. It’s a story of two very wealthy families and choices they have made when faced with war.

It’s also a beautiful love story between Carrie’s sister, Lexie and James, the heir of Autumn Manor. A courageous couple whom should be starting a new life together, yet due to the war they find themselves in separate countries fighting their own battles and the horrors of wartime, and their only connection to each other was by letter. I felt immensely proud to have known these two. Even though situation was really tough, they never lost any hope; they gave each other strength, courage and humour through these letters. I really enjoyed what the Helen did with these letters. With a subject matter like war, it can feel a sometimes dreary and gloomy, but the letter writing gave off a positive and uplifting vibe to the book and found myself hanging out for the next one to arrive.

It was a fascinating insight as we follow the individual troops and the medical staff, being in heart of the battle scene in the warzone countries. I was saddened but surprise to discover how they misjudged their enemy into believing they were safe; protected because they were in the safe compounds of a hospital, or would be treated fairly as a prisoner of war. They naïve, and didn’t imagine the extent of the enemies cruelty.

But I soon realise that cruelty doesn’t only happen the battle fields, but it in the family home, as I discovered earlier on with the father of Carrie & Lexie’s. He is a man extreme wealth and power, but also a greedy and selfish man who had plans to use his daughter to prosper his finances. With the onset of war, he felt the urgency to set his plan in motion; bully and blackmail people into doing his dirty work. Their father destroyed many lives, some were obvious and some not so, but did he foresee the outcome of his actions? Were they intentional, or was he remorseful? All these questions were running through my mind but I can only guess; as I never got to see the emotional state of the father. I would’ve loved for Helen to have elaborated on this further. I believed it was an important factor as much as everything else in the plot; it was all part of what bought Rachael and Carrie to where they are in now.

Beside this I thought it was a wonderful and beautifully written novel. Very quick and easy to read but with a lot of heart and emotion.

Thankyou Helen Goltz
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Sep 27, 2012 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-authors, reviewing-by-request, 2012-release, own-read, gift-from-author

What an absolutely brilliant novel! I received Autumn Manor from the author for review, and I’m thrilled Helen picked me!!

Rachael Price and her 89 year old Grandma, Carrie Howell, drove past the rundown and ramshackle manor every Sunday when they went for tea to the nearby café. Rachael remembered it from her childhood, how she and all her friends were scared as it was ‘haunted’, how a man had hanged himself inside, how they used to dare each other to go up the front steps and touch the wall…the What an absolutely brilliant novel! I received Autumn Manor from the author for review, and I’m thrilled Helen picked me!!

Rachael Price and her 89 year old Grandma, Carrie Howell, drove past the rundown and ramshackle manor every Sunday when they went for tea to the nearby café. Rachael remembered it from her childhood, how she and all her friends were scared as it was ‘haunted’, how a man had hanged himself inside, how they used to dare each other to go up the front steps and touch the wall…the house had been abandoned for a long time, Rachael could see it used to be a beautiful residence in its heyday. So when Carrie asked Rachael to stop in front of the house one Sunday, and then entered the yard through a hole in the fence, Rachael was intrigued. And so began the story of Autumn Manor, its occupants, the terrible happenings and the devastating losses throughout the war years, and the slow decline of the beautiful Manor.

James Theroux and his father, Frank, lived in Autumn Manor alone since James’ mother had died six years previously. They had wonderful staff who were like family, a lot of friends and many acquaintances. James loved Lexie (Alexandra) but her father, Samuel Taylor, refused him permission to marry his eldest daughter, as her marriage had been arranged from birth with Anson Howell, and when Anson turned 21, he would propose to Lexie. But Lexie also loved James, and refused to obey her father…..

With James proposing, Lexie accepting, and wearing a beautiful engagement ring, Samuel Taylor had to act fast. Then with war being declared, suddenly James was shipped overseas, and lives were never the same again.

The horrors of war, the incredible sacrifices made by everyone, whether they were on home shores, or in the midst of battle were passed backward and forward between Lexie and James as they wrote letters to each other.

The research done by Helen Goltz for this historical fiction novel has been very thorough. I'm not often brought to tears or anger by a book, but I was with this one…

After I finished the book, I contacted Helen, and she told me, and I quote:
The manor was loosely based on two homes in Toowoomba, where I grew up. A rambling old home in Smithfield which later became the Smithfield Restaurant. When I was a kid it was ramshackled and abandoned and we would frighten each other with stories as we rode past on our bikes. The other was mum's childhood home in Raft Street. She used to talk of being made to practice piano in the front room where a great Uncle had once hanged himself.

Highly recommended.
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Oct 19, 2012 Kate Moffatt marked it as to-read

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Nov 10, 2012 Kim Marie marked it as to-read · review of another edition

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