That is an interesting point about appealing to a larger audience. I guess it is also just a different, and maybe unexpected, way of presenting a story. It was a very different plot style than I'm used to.
That is an interesting point. The thought is very chilling, the price that society demanded of her to stay in its good graces. The way I look at the story, there were three characters (Nanny Rose, Mr. Llewellen, and Eleanor herself) who knew of the father's affliction (I can't remember his name), and all three responded with understanding and compassion. Did she not think her own daughters, who are described as adoring their father, would not also be understanding and compassionate? Did she not think they would help to keep Theo safe? She robbed them all of the opportunity to support their father, and instead consigned them to the torture that must come from not knowing what happened to their brother. (When I consider kidnapping in general, the not knowing: are they dead, are they hurting, are they close by and I don't even know, could I do something to help, etc., seems absolutely horrifying. You don't even have the peace of knowing they are dead.) But maybe back then the list of "what ifs" isn't as long as it is today. No one in the story worried about Theo being taken by a pedophile. The point was brought up that Eleanor didn't just protect her husband's pride/reputation. She also protected Theo. But I think there were other ways she could have protected him, without inflicting so much pain on her family.
I am definitely not finished. A little slow to start, but I really cannot wait to get to the end and unravel these mysteries.
It took a while to get through this one even though I really wanted to get to the end. After All the Light, I rather "enjoyed" the wrapped up happy ending in this one, even though it may have seemed a little too perfect. It's definitely something to ponder -- Eleanor's reasons for giving up her son. But she was sending him away with the boy's father. I don't know much about PTSD, and I guess part of the story was that Anthony had it, but back then (after WWI), it wasn't something that much was known about -- I'm sure it could have been a different story had he opened up about the "incident" with Howard, but then there would not have been an 80 year old mystery to solve. I'm not sure I would make the same choice as Eleanor, certainly not today, but who's to say if I was living in the 1930's. I rather enjoyed the description of the old house and grounds, but there was something about the book that seemed to make it drag on in places. I'll try more from this author.
So I got on my cruise ship and this was the book club selection!!! And I finally got a book!!! Haven't read through what people have written but, so far I hat all the back and forth past/present stuff. Maybe its jet lag but I am getting lost, lol
I finally got this as an audiobook and I'm really hoping that will help me get into this one. So what if I'm a month late!
I finally got this one when I came home from vacation - isn't that a nice gift from the library? a new book to devour when you get home? I am pretty used to this back and forth in time which seems to have become a standard type in the past 5 or so years. Those rigid adherence to standards of behavior for the time continues to make me grateful for the times I've lived in. (Think of the behavioral struggles in Downton Abbey!) I'm also thinking of the years when I was a child growing up - the 50s and into the 60s - when so so many things just weren't discussed. My own father came home from WWII a changed man according to my Aunt but was there any talk of help? or even addressing his issues? No...women just coped.And if you were Catholic, the church called the wife 'a saint'. ugh. It was good that there were occasions when Alice came close to knowing the truth over the years but shut those doors out of fear. I even did find the final outcome believable as England really is a small country and the possibilities of the siblings being reconnected is, in my mind, quite believable. I do think though, that many authors often decide to wrap up a bit too quickly at the end. Maybe not. Perhaps they too are finished with the story and want to move on! Thanks for picking this book even though I read in in April. I might have missed it otherwise!
I agree! I could not believe the part about Sadie's grandad! Not trying to give anything away. I think that was too much for me, lol. I think I may have even groaned... Overall I did enjoy the book once I got into it. I had a digital version and there were times when I wanted to go back because I would get confused about which character was narrating at the time.