What courage to create such a book

[Robert]

In a day of so many formula-lised books aimed at "markets", this author had the courage to create something unique. I found the history involved engrossing, and the characters hypnotic as I was gradually pulled into their world. Who would have dreamed that a reader could be drawn to plain looking spinster defined by her passion for botany and unrequited love for an unattainable man?

And yet, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey ...

[Avargo]

I totally agree with your assessment!

[Linda]

I was mired in moss and didn't finish.

[Adri]

I loved the book!

[Rachel]

I'm a fan of the Aubrey/Maturin novels of Patrick O'Brian, and loved the entire back-history of Henry's youth with the influence of Sir Joseph Banks--it made an interesting concurrence with characters/events from those novels. I often found myself thinking that Henry Whittaker and Stephen Maturin might have known one another, or at least been aware of one another's careers, moving in the same naturalist-sailor circles.

[Juni]

Linda wrote: "I was mired in moss and didn't finish."

You missed a good read ~~ the moss was a background character and explained her true nature ~~ I too felt mired in it but just skipped over those sections where it was all about moss. Not every word in a novel has to be read, just skip over the boring parts and get back to the plot. I would give this book another go.

[Amber]

I really enjoyed the story and the characters, that said I felt the descriptive text was to much. Some parts were quite boring

[Trudy]

At 40%, I am really enjoying this book. The writing is amazing to me. I love the "words" and the descriptions.

[Dena]

I loved it. I did find some of the botanical stuff boring, but I too, just skimmed those parts. I was too into it to stop reading because of a few boring pages. What I thought was so interesting, was how late in life the exciting stuff started to happen for Alma. Love, heartbreak, adventure, grace. I could go on and on. And then, just when I thought her life couldn't get any more exciting, after age 60 she moves to a new place and starts a new life for a second time, where things get even better. I loved it!

[Marie]

At 39% when Alma met Ambrose I stopped. I might get back into it again, I just felt lost in all the discussion of plants and mosses.

[Dena]

That's when it gets exciting - when Alma meets Ambrose!