I wasn’t expecting to but I loved this book! It was a last
minute pick up at the library as I had heard of the author and the picture of a
garden at the front grabbed my interest. I didn’t have a chance to read the inside
cover however the summary does not prepare you for the complexity and emotional
journey this book takes you on.
I will attempt a plot summary here but it is really difficult
as the story is so rich it is difficult to compress to one paragraph. The main
character is Edie a publisher whose relationship with her Mother is not
a warm one (which provides some terrific comic relief throughout the book one I
just have to share with you later). However after her mother receives a
long-lost letter (yes I was not surprised by the 50yrs it took this letter to
arrive let’s put our hands together for Royal Mail, I guess it does arrive so
that is something); as Edie witnesses her Mother’s initial
reaction and how she behaves in the coming weeks (after a hilarious moving back
in with your parents episode for our 30 something main character), the curious
side of Edie is awakened and following an unexpected trip to Kent she too is
drawn into the Mystery of Milderhurst castle and the sisters Blythe. Edie’s
mother was evacuated to this castle during the war from London and while she
enjoyed it and was absorbed into the world of writing and fantasy and develops
while in the care of the Blythe's. However this story covers what secrets are
held in the castle and also the tragedy and sacrifice of both the Blythe family
and the challenges that Edie’s mother Meredith had to overcome when she
returned to her family in London.
Ok fair waring this book moves between the point of view of
many of the main characters in the book and there are timeline changes from present
day into the past. Usually I find this
frustrating and difficult to follow however one of the authors many skills is
absorbing the reader in the story and therefore flows smoothly.
There is a deep sadness in the book that builds throughout
until I was almost in tears at the end when I learnt all that the sisters
Blythe had to endure throughout their lives, while the people of the town always
pegged them as the local rich eccentrics the author richly develops these
characters and had me really caring for them.
The relationship between Edie and her Mother Meredith is a
common thread throughout the book and while initially I was cold towards
Meredith once it was discovered what she had been through I found myself very
sympathetic to her character and thoroughly enjoyed the development and
improvement in her relationship with Edie.
Edie is a great character she is strong and independent and
is not afraid to be sneaky to find out about her mother’s past. Also she is so
funny and sarcastic not just in her thoughts which are enjoyable also the way
she speaks to people just brings out a natural humour and I really enjoyed the
journey with her. My funny quote from above gives you an insight into her
character and I am sure we can all identify with a similar conversation with
our parents (it is one that highlighted the similarities between Edie and my personalities).
“ I’d surprised her: the safe arrival phone call was not a
part of our usual routine…since I convinced her that if the government trusted
me to vote, perhaps it was time she trusted me to take the tube without calling
in my successful journey”. (pg. 338) I laughed out loud at this and many other
occasions thought out this book, who hasn’t had a similar conversation with
their parents about being an adult?
So while there is a sadness and a tone of regret throughout this book it is interspersed with just the right amount of humour (look out for Edie’s Auntie Rita who is fabulous and her time with the librarian is hilarious). This book was a beautiful journey well written entertaining and also with a tenderness that brought me to tears at times. I will definitely reading the back catalogue of Kate Morton’s work.
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