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What Members Thought

Kim Kaso
4.5 rounded down. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, even though I could feel it inevitably picking up speed to a tragic conclusion, I wanted to read it more than any other of the several books I am currently reading, and it read fast. Told from the perspective of a 14-year old girl sent to serve as a maid at a great estate in the Edwardian era, it lovingly detailed her world and her interactions with the family she served. The characters all felt real, flawed but wonderfully engaging, and the sto ...more
Loretta
Aug 07, 2022 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: books-i-own, bees, 2021
This book is an excellent, page-turning story of people broken in the churn of changing times (and of times that are not changing fast enough for them). It is a story of class constraints, constraints that harm both the upper and lower classes in different ways and to different degrees, and how the eradication of some of those constraints came too late for many. It is also the story of how preventing people from being with those they love is a harm that reverberates through generations.

❗️One imp
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Karli
Jul 20, 2010 rated it really liked it
This was a fun gothic style mystery. I liked the characters and the narration. I found it a bit predictable, but loved the surprises it did spring on me. Well done!
Amy
I'm not sure what happened but I just didn't love this one as much as I'd hoped or expected. It was one of those novels that you know, as you finish it, that just won't stick with you. I thought the story was good and I liked the characters. However, there was something about it that just didn't do it for me. I think there are two things that made it less than great for me. For one thing, the book felt under-edited to me - there were entire sections that I felt could have been removed and never ...more
Deb
Aug 11, 2010 rated it liked it
Shelves: bee-shelf, 2010
It was a great depiction of life from a British servant's perspective in the early part of the 20th century. Tragedy befalls the family sher serves, but seems to be more spearated from it then a part of it althoug she professes differently. Not the most exiciting book I have read, but enjoyblae because of the historical depictions. ...more
Carly Svamvour
Jun 18, 2011 marked it as to-read
I ordered this book in from the library some light years ago - it was ready for me today.

Jeff was formatting/reloading my computer - which takes a long, long time - that gave me an opportunity/excuse to stretch out and reeeeeeeead!

I'm halfway through!

...........................

Sept 1st - I'm 3/4 the way through but it is due at the library, so I'll have to put it aside for now.
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Tena Helms
Feb 10, 2013 rated it it was amazing
Loved it!!
KrisT
Jun 26, 2009 rated it really liked it
Shelves: read-2009, bee
Marly
May 15, 2010 marked it as to-read
Shelves: summer-2010-bees
Jenny
May 17, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: books-i-own
Vicki
May 17, 2010 marked it as to-read
Tricia
Jul 05, 2010 rated it really liked it
Tanya
Jul 17, 2010 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: home_library, bees
Ashley FL
Aug 03, 2010 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: summer-2017
Polly Bullard
Dec 30, 2011 marked it as to-read
Rachel Stimson
May 30, 2013 rated it did not like it
Shelves: fiction
Adonica
Mar 04, 2015 marked it as to-read
Vania EM
Aug 08, 2017 rated it it was amazing
bobbie bonte
Feb 13, 2022 marked it as to-read
Barb
May 10, 2025 rated it really liked it