Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Forgotten Garden
She's slept terribly the night before. The room, the bed, were both comfortable enough, but she'd been plagued with strange dreams, the sort that lingered upon waking but slithered away from memory as she tried to grasp them. Only the tendrils of discomfort remained.
~Chapter 24How often do you have the opportunity to read a novel so rich and beautiful and rewarding that it stays with you even after your mind takes in the last few satisfying words?
The Forgotten Garden is the story of three women, united by the bonds of family, as well as by a century-old secret.
The story begins with a little girl, all alone on a ship bound for a new land. Away from home, away from her parents, and too afraid to even remember her own name, the little girl is found on the other side of the world by a kind harbor master, who takes her home to his wife to raise as their own. The only clues to her mysterious origin lie in the little white suitcase she has brought with her. On her twenty-first birthday, the man she believes is her father confesses that he isn't, and subsequently changes her entire sense of identity and belonging.
Years later, Nell Andrews sets out to try to uncover the truth of her past and to learn where she came from. Who was she? Why was she sent, alone, to a new country? And why did it seem no one had ever looked for her? A book of fairy tales by The Authoress, Eliza Makepeace, leads Nell back to England, where she begins to unravel the mystery.
But Nell is unable to complete the journey and bequeaths to her granddaughter, Cassandra Ryan, an unexpected inheritance: a cottage on the coast of Cornwall. Cassandra picks up the pieces her grandmother left behind and sets out to uncover the truth. And, in doing so, she is able to find resolution in the broken pieces of her own tragic life.
I absolutely LOVED this book. Everything, from the richness of the writing, to the way the story slowly unfolds, winding its way toward a deeply satisfying conclusion. The story goes back and forth, from one character to another, giving the reader the entire picture from the points of view of everyone involved. Normally, when I read books like this, I prefer one storyline to another and can't wait until it jumps back to the other. I didn't feel that way while reading The Forgotten Garden. I was so deeply engrossed in each woman's tale that I almost forgot to be concerned about another.
The story plays out slowly, but it doesn't plod along. The description is beautiful and sufficient, without needlessly disrupting the pace of the novel. The reader follows along with the characters, sometimes knowing more than they do, but never knowing less. I was able to guess the ending. But not in a "this is so predictable" way. It was that the pieces were laid out so perfectly that the novel's conclusion was the only one that made sense.
After I finished reading, I went online and found this video of author Kate Morton talking about her novel. As a writer myself, I'm always fascinated to hear where particular stories come from, and listening to Ms. Morton talk of drawing inspiration from her own family secrets was really interesting.
I don't think it needs to be said, but in case there's any doubt, I can highly recommend The Forgotten Garden. It's available in hard cover, paperback and e-book formats.
(And a funny side note: I was thinking in an English accent the entire time I wrote this post.)
*Federally mandated legal mumbo jumbo: I would like to thank Atria Books for supplying me with a copy of the novel. I received no other compensation and my review was not influenced in any way.
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I read this book a few months ago and I agree, it was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSounds like it could be interesting. These types of books don't generally interest me. I am super uncultured.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to see if our library has this one (yes, I am cheap, and rarely buy books these days.) Although I am busier than...whatever, I keep finding myself wanting something non-work related to read in the evenings. This sounds like it will fit the bill.
ReplyDeleteFunny, because I read your entire review in an English accent all the way through!
ReplyDeletesounds like a good one, I'll add it to my list!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely and I just commented in an English accent too!
ReplyDeleteAh! Blast, my ruddy internet connection is being a pain in my arse! But this book sounds bloody brilliant and I'll have to get my hands on it soon!
ReplyDeletehmmmm...i like it. i have a stack of magazines that i usually read each nite, and i keep tellin' myself to branch out and read an actual book!
ReplyDeletethis may be the one...thx!
Sounds like perfect summer reading. Enjoyed my visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the review of The Forgotten Garden. I found it interesting and will order my copy today.
ReplyDelete