The House at Riverton
3 journalers for this copy...
Synopsis:Amazon.co.uk.
Summer 1924: On the eve of a glittering Society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again. Winter 1999: Grace Bradley, 98, one-time housemaid of Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet's suicide. Ghosts awaken and memories, long-consigned to the dark reaches of Grace's mind, begin to sneak back through the cracks. A shocking secret threatens to emerge; something history has forgotten but Grace never could. A thrilling mystery and a compelling love story, "The House at Riverton" will appeal to readers of Ian McEwan's "Atonement", L.P. Hartley's "The Go-Between", and lovers of the film "Gosford Park".
Summer 1924: On the eve of a glittering Society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again. Winter 1999: Grace Bradley, 98, one-time housemaid of Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet's suicide. Ghosts awaken and memories, long-consigned to the dark reaches of Grace's mind, begin to sneak back through the cracks. A shocking secret threatens to emerge; something history has forgotten but Grace never could. A thrilling mystery and a compelling love story, "The House at Riverton" will appeal to readers of Ian McEwan's "Atonement", L.P. Hartley's "The Go-Between", and lovers of the film "Gosford Park".
An excellent debut from Australian author Kate Morton. I will certainly look out for any more of her work published in the UK.
Certainly one of my favourite reads out of the twenty or so books I have already read this year.
The protagonist Grace is an old lady of 98 and with flashbacks recalls the story of her life from age 14 as a servant for the Hartford family. The family home is Riverton Manor and within its four walls was a secret that Grace as a loyal servant to Hannah and Emmeline kept until she died.
Grace is such a realistic character that she draws you in to the story that she is narrating. She is certainly the sort of old lady that I would love to meet, if she was real and not just a character in a novel!
Having transported you to the early 20C and the world of grand houses and below stairs staff it is an
undemanding but captivating read which for me was very reminiscent of ‘Atonement’, ‘The Go-Between’ and ‘The Mitford Girls’.
Some of the plot is maybe a little predictable, but for me did not spoil the story at all.
The House at Riverton would make a wonderful film or TV drama.
This title is now marked as available so I will therefore place it on the bookshelf at our holiday home. If it is not taken it will be wild released somewhere suitable in due course.
Update: I have discovered this title is on a Bookcrossing friends Wishlist so I am planning to send it to her as a surprise soon!
Certainly one of my favourite reads out of the twenty or so books I have already read this year.
The protagonist Grace is an old lady of 98 and with flashbacks recalls the story of her life from age 14 as a servant for the Hartford family. The family home is Riverton Manor and within its four walls was a secret that Grace as a loyal servant to Hannah and Emmeline kept until she died.
Grace is such a realistic character that she draws you in to the story that she is narrating. She is certainly the sort of old lady that I would love to meet, if she was real and not just a character in a novel!
Having transported you to the early 20C and the world of grand houses and below stairs staff it is an
undemanding but captivating read which for me was very reminiscent of ‘Atonement’, ‘The Go-Between’ and ‘The Mitford Girls’.
Some of the plot is maybe a little predictable, but for me did not spoil the story at all.
The House at Riverton would make a wonderful film or TV drama.
This title is now marked as available so I will therefore place it on the bookshelf at our holiday home. If it is not taken it will be wild released somewhere suitable in due course.
Update: I have discovered this title is on a Bookcrossing friends Wishlist so I am planning to send it to her as a surprise soon!
Journal Entry 3 by LindyLouMac at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 3, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (11/7/2008 UTC) at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
En route to Bookcrossing friend Mallary as a Welcome to your New Home RABCK
Happy reading
LindyLouMac
En route to Bookcrossing friend Mallary as a Welcome to your New Home RABCK
Happy reading
LindyLouMac
Thank you thank you thank you!
It was a lovely surprise to receive this in the post - I've wanted to read it for ages! (Plus all my book boxes are coming on the lorry so I don't have much to read at the mo, just starting on Atonement.)
Off the subject slightly... my daughter just saw your return address on the parcel and commented on how we've just reserved our copy of Death at La Fenice for someone and that's where you live! Weird coincidence.
It was a lovely surprise to receive this in the post - I've wanted to read it for ages! (Plus all my book boxes are coming on the lorry so I don't have much to read at the mo, just starting on Atonement.)
Off the subject slightly... my daughter just saw your return address on the parcel and commented on how we've just reserved our copy of Death at La Fenice for someone and that's where you live! Weird coincidence.
Just starting this and then I am reserving it for HerbertLooby - a new bookcrosser from Abergavenny (where my Welsh ancestors hail from!)
Released 15 yrs ago (1/30/2009 UTC) at Ginestas, Languedoc-Roussillon France
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I absolutely LOVED this book! I was glued from page one.
There were some really good twists to the story and a fab ending!
I am really pleased to send this on it's way to HerbertLooby because I know she'll enjoy it!
Thanks for entering my birthday RABCK and thanks for sending me The Time Traveller's Wife.
Enjoy!
I absolutely LOVED this book! I was glued from page one.
There were some really good twists to the story and a fab ending!
I am really pleased to send this on it's way to HerbertLooby because I know she'll enjoy it!
Thanks for entering my birthday RABCK and thanks for sending me The Time Traveller's Wife.
Enjoy!
Thank you Mallary - a lovely surprise and the chocolate is fab too!
