Patricia Greene
asked:
The Lake House has the most complicated plot I have ever read. Just when the reader gets hold of the story line, it seems to change Is this just me or do other readers feel the same? Engaging complicated and a bit hard to follow, it a page Turner none the less. Near the end it all came together for me. What do you think?
To answer questions about
The Lake House,
please sign up.
Daniella
Just to offer a different perspective to potential readers, I want to add to this discussion that I personally didn't find the plot very complicated or at all difficult to follow. Though I can see how it might be so for some. I agree about the ending... I suspected a few different scenarios along the way, but when the mystery was revealed, I wasn't very surprised. In my opinion, though, if the book has one major flaw, it's that certain coincidences are a bit too "convenient" to be fully believable. Still an enjoyable read. (I highly recommend the audiobook!)
CD {Boulder Blvd}
I found I like the book better after I finished it but not so much while I was reading it. Between a lot of characters and the constant jumping of past and present it requires a lot of concentration and sifting through details. The plot itself was really good, it was the effort to get to the plot that was hard.
Marilyn
I loved the complexity of this plot, so well done. Please don't give up, all the pieces fit together in the end.
JudiAnne
I'm glad to know that! I'm only 20% into it and am finding it hard to follow.
Katie
I agree completely. Its taking me forever to finish this book!
Susie
I didn't find the book that complicated. What really convinced me it wasn't worth the read was the implausible ending. It was just one coincidence after another to make for a very unbelievable ending. Everything was resolved too conveniently.
Tiffany
Think of it like a puzzle without a picture to show you what the puzzle should look like. The author presents different puzzle pieces, and then starts putting those puzzle pieces together. In the end, you have a finished picture. It might be helpful to mark the book and keep a list of characters so you can keep track of the people, places, and times.
Nancy Eckels
Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book, but found I REALLY had to concentrate on placing both time and characters in the beginning. This was especially true since I was listening to it rather than reading it. I had no page to turn back and re-read, and not seeing the names and places on a page sometimes makes it a bit harder to catalog all of it in your head. I would not let this stop you from reading it, however....it's worth every bit of concentration.
Natalie Scott
I actually love this style of writing, the author writes this way with all her novels. She is known for writing about multiple pieces of time and fitting them together at the end. I find it easy to follow because I can keep the names and dates in my memory, but I can understand how it may be hard to follow. At first, it was confusing. I have since read all her novels and by the time I read this one, I was comfortable with the writing style.
Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺
I'm only a few chapters in and I'm finding the same thing. I've no doubt it all comes together in the end, but it seems a bit much right now.
Jackie
I also listened to the audio book. I had to completely start over after about an hour of listening. The first time through I didn't even catch that the time had switched to 2003, so I was confused when they started talking about smoothies! I almost gave up, but am so glad that I did not!
Beks
This is a a style that I attribute to Kate Morton - the shifting narrators and timelines all tend to weave together - starting out slowly, set up certain expectations only to have the last bit racing along bringing you to a conclusion you really couldn't have imagined. It's her style and I love it.
Lori
I had a hard time getting a handle on it and kept pushing because I was reading for a book club. I kept putting it down and having to make myself get back into it. I'm glad I stayed with it. I loved how everything all made sense at the end. Was worth the struggle!
Arlene
Totally agree!! And the complications in the plot did not really ADD to the book but almost took away the pleasure of reading it!!
Cliff
The plot twists are not that difficult to follow as dates are given in chapter headings. However, some of the twist, particularly the last, are totally preposterous. And there are loads of holes in the narrative which I detail in my review.
Lia
I have always felt a special predilection for Kate Morton, but I must also say that there was a part in the book where I asked myself what was happening to one of my favorite autors, writing unnecessary details to exhaustion?, but I could not stop reading because of my faith in her. And she did not disappoint me. Kate Morton came out again in what way! What a way to rise again, and create such a magnificent ending. The ending left me like those times where you do not want the story to end, where you want to continue reading and be part of that continuous mystery and the characters that come to life.
The story is spun perfectly, there is logic, there is everything for Morton to be considered one of the best authors of our time. The Lake House is an incredible novel, and has undoubtedly become (along with The Forgotten Garden) one of my favorite novels.
The 4 stars have been for those details in about 100 pages that seemed a little too much, although the novel is wonderful. I love her.
The story is spun perfectly, there is logic, there is everything for Morton to be considered one of the best authors of our time. The Lake House is an incredible novel, and has undoubtedly become (along with The Forgotten Garden) one of my favorite novels.
The 4 stars have been for those details in about 100 pages that seemed a little too much, although the novel is wonderful. I love her.
Karen Elliott
This is my first time to read this aurhor. I have struggled with the storyline flipping past and present. I am halfway finished. The choppyness robs my enjoyment of reading. Is this the author's writing style throughout all her books?
Anne
Yes, the tale goes back and forth because of the different characters' conflicts but it does pay off in the end. It reminded me of The Joy Luck Club, with characters coming in and out of different timelines but it does inevitably make sense. The book was thoroughly engaging and I was hooked.
Martha Kline
I've had to restart it due to the back and forth present day and flashbacks. Makes much more sense the second time around.
Karen Gemind
Thanks to the Memorial Day weekend, I finished the book!!. Most difficult read I ever finished. I am a huge Kate Morton fan and have read several of her books more than once - The Lake House will not be added to that list. My favorite character is Bertie and yes I know why. KM's prose is so beautiful and I love the setting of this story. A pleasant, if perhaps abrupt end after such a lengthy beginning - perhaps a sequel from that point based more on relationships than mystery, along with another delightful location? KM you are still on my favorite authors list!!
Saarah Niña
I have only seen the film adaptation and I've always been meaning to come back to it- to read the book. The film was quite difficult to follow with its fast pace, but l thought the book will be able to clear things up.
Try the film, it might help.
Try the film, it might help.
Sage
I'm nearly finished and I've loved this book. The changing storyline kept me wanting to read more. Very well written, I love Kate Morton's books.
aniajames
I loved this book too
Bruce Jones
I agree. Almost gave up, but very glad I stayed with it
John Douglas
Truly felt like I was the only one, it's all over the place and I'm having a hard time getting into it.
Kelly Stokes
I'm just starting to listen to it on audio and have gotten through CD one. I had to go back a few times and re-listen. Yes. I have found I have to really concentrate. It is starting to get really good though.
Susan
At first I was bothered by the now (Sadie and "old Alice") and then (""adult" Alice and "old" Elinore) and the before then ("child Alice" and "adult" Elinore) and the way before then (Constance) but I didn't find it complicated. I liked the many red herrings as to what happened to Theo. The end was telegraphed multiple times but it was too "coincidential" to use the book's own term.
Chloe (Always Booked)
I am about 60% of the way through and I agree! The first half was really hard to follow and now that the mystery is unfolding a little bit its more interesting and easier but the first half was a real struggle! I'm glad to hear the end wraps up and makes sense.
Kathy
Finished this book a few weeks ago. It kept me guessing and always guessing wrong. I liked everything about the story except the length--thought I'd never get to the end:)
Mollie
I didn't really find it hard to follow, I do agree that the plot was complicated. Still, it was one of the best books I have read recently! I highly recommend it.
Karen
In your question, you took the words right out of my mouth! Took me 100 pages to start to bring it together. Extremely well written and the "times" were well researched, but the story was so complicated, I was always stopping to try to figure out "who, what, where and when".
However,I am happy that I stuck with it, it was a 4 star story.
However,I am happy that I stuck with it, it was a 4 star story.
Ulrike
Glad to know I am not the only one!
I know that it all will fit together in the end but find it rather confusing right now...
I know that it all will fit together in the end but find it rather confusing right now...
Aimee
Kate Morton is my favorite author but I am having a hard time getting into this one. I have stopped reading it twice and read two other books. I am going back to The Lake House again. I hope this time I can stick with it.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more