You don’t have to give up everything when you share your life with someone
Lovely, enough believable, with well-chosen characters, A nice surprise.
You don’t have to give up everything when you share your life with someone
Lovely, enough believable, with well-chosen characters, a bit of mystery and action to make it more thrilling, and a lot of wit. In other words, a worthy example of the genre (a modern romance for mainly new adults).
Just because you love someone, it doesn’t mean that they’re entitled to know everything about you, or vice versa.
And when there is a reference to Jeeves and Bertie in a book - I get excited like a kid ;-)
But I have a few tiny qualms. The final declarations of love were too long. The thread of Mick's family was not enough explored (of course, in my opinion), I would like to see more interaction between Mick and Sophy. And, although the cover (black and white with silhouettes) is great - the silhouette of Mick totally doesn't fit.
Still, as a light romance, not aiming (as I presume) to be deeper woman fiction, and a debut of the author (after this one she writes as Lucy Parker) - it was a charming reading.
I feel guilty. I honestly believe that this book had solid historical parts. But for some reason, I lost interest in them. Somewhere around two hundreI feel guilty. I honestly believe that this book had solid historical parts. But for some reason, I lost interest in them. Somewhere around two hundred pages, I started skipping and skimming descriptions of events, places, etc. I struggled with it because I love historical fiction. But I couldn't keep my attention. I don't know why. Perhaps, there was something in a way of writing that didn't speak to me. I would like to read about the history of New Zealand (the clash with Europeans), but it would have to be in another book.
The reason that I finished the novel where characters and their story. Elizabeth Goudge created complex and captivating people. I was curious about what would become with them.
We cannot change the sort of person that we are.
I must accept that for some reason I didn't enjoy it as much as most readers seem to, and I must accept the fact that I don't know why it was so....more
During my reading I have met many heroes who I fell in love with. There are those who fight for their love with every obstacle to win her. There are tDuring my reading I have met many heroes who I fell in love with. There are those who fight for their love with every obstacle to win her. There are those who are funny and friendly. But, a special place in my heart I have for very rare heroes. These men love through and through. Their love isn't demanding, it is pure. They want what is the best for their sweethearts. So, when they think that they aren't what their beloveds deserve, they would stay out of the way. It is hard to explain to someone who don't know what I mean. This kind of a man is Joe Harman and every time I have read about him in this book I kept before my eyes Captain Jack Elliot from These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901. The stories of these books take place in different times and places but these men are much similar in the way I have described above. Perhaps, I will forget many heroes who I loved but I will never forget Captain Jack Elliot nor Joe Harman.
Despite of what I have written by now, this book isn't a romance. Yes, there is a love story and it is one of significant parts of the book but there is much more.
It is a great historical fiction. The action takes places in three countries (three continents): UK, Malaya and Australia. You can split the novel into two parts. One which describes events in Malaya during IIWW, the second in Australia after IIWW. The events which take place in UK are through the whole book, mostly because a narrator lives there. I have learned very much on one hand about Japanese invasion of Asian islands during IIWW, on the other hand about history of Australia. I knew very little about both facts.
Furthermore, the story of Jean Paget is the story about courage, survival, destiny. About being a human, the development of the places (towns), people needs. Or you could say it is simple about human life.
It is touching, engaging, powerful, remarkable and memorable....more
I was positively surprised. True to be told, I have suspected, I have expected some kind of a melodramatic romance.
What this book really was it was aI was positively surprised. True to be told, I have suspected, I have expected some kind of a melodramatic romance.
What this book really was it was a good historical fiction which showed how work most dictatorships, revolutions and so on. It was shown in an unusual way. I mean, if you have read, for example, Animal Farm or The Emperor or Lord of the Flies you got mostly a sadness and violence and after such kind of books you feel depressed. Her Own Special Island shows you the dark side of people but it is done different. I would say that it is a great book for teenagers and young adult who don't know about this side of human (civilisations) history.
Secondly, there were varied characters. And during the reading you will have to re-evaluate some your opinions about a few of them. What would you do in their place?
I am glad that I bought this book. It was a accident but it found out a nice surprise. I can't still believe that in one book you can have such subject written in so pleasantly way. I know, I repeat myself.
Plot: Linda Ransom returns to the island where she had been born (a real island, Santa Maria, today known as Gaua). Here she finds out how much island itself (her habitants) has changed and is changing constantly. Additionally, all is going on in the time when old English Victorian world dies. People lived then between the worlds: strict manners and order and the new, XX century world. (There is a little romance, but really a little.)...more
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