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sandra_elaine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Classic pincher and a wonderful read
rebroxannape's review against another edition
3.0
This is one of Rosamunde's lesser little novels both in length and content. Virginia, our "heroine", is a bit of a limp rag. she was bullied and controlled by first her mother, then her late husband, then her mother-in-law and her children's Nanny. Somehow she managed to get away for an hour or so and met a local farmer while she was on vacation, and fell head over heels in love. He was 28 and she was 17. Ahem. As far as I can tell, her life long crush is all because he kindly bought her an ice cream cone.
In present times, she is back in Porthkerris again after 10 years, now a widow and a mother of two young children. She meets Eustace(!) again and they pick up where they left off for an hour. She is cowed and intimidated by Nanny and her Mother in law so much that she is afraid to get her children from them in London. Eustace sees how little intestinal fortitude she has and bullies and yells at her for being such a wimp even accusing her of not loving or wanting the little rugrats. This upsets her so much that she is infused with the courage to confront the London meanies and bring the children to Porthkerris, Rosamunde's fictional seaside artist's colony and vacation destination that she sets all of her Cornwall books in.
Virginia's confrontation with her two adversaries is the high point of the book. Rosamunde's characterizations of the two rather menacing figures, her dead mother, her friend Alice, her late husband, and the two kids are priceless. The romance is kind of sweet if you don't think about it too much. Her growth as a mother who has never been alone with or had the care of her own children is engaging. Not sure how successful she is going to be as a hard-working farmer's wife, but the book ends on a happy, hopeful note.
In present times, she is back in Porthkerris again after 10 years, now a widow and a mother of two young children. She meets Eustace(!) again and they pick up where they left off for an hour. She is cowed and intimidated by Nanny and her Mother in law so much that she is afraid to get her children from them in London. Eustace sees how little intestinal fortitude she has and bullies and yells at her for being such a wimp even accusing her of not loving or wanting the little rugrats. This upsets her so much that she is infused with the courage to confront the London meanies and bring the children to Porthkerris, Rosamunde's fictional seaside artist's colony and vacation destination that she sets all of her Cornwall books in.
Virginia's confrontation with her two adversaries is the high point of the book. Rosamunde's characterizations of the two rather menacing figures, her dead mother, her friend Alice, her late husband, and the two kids are priceless. The romance is kind of sweet if you don't think about it too much. Her growth as a mother who has never been alone with or had the care of her own children is engaging. Not sure how successful she is going to be as a hard-working farmer's wife, but the book ends on a happy, hopeful note.
jay_hobday's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
soliteyah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A quick, pleasant read with a vivid setting.
troi_bach's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This short story was a satisfying simple read. The main character is pretty likable, and the love interest is solidly desirable. I could easily imagine myself among the scenery written with care by Pilcher. Short and sweet read!
erica_lynn_huberty's review against another edition
4.0
Another lovely, but this time more mournful, story of love lost and found from Rosamunde Pilcher. It would be impossible not to compare the main character Virginia with the late Princess of Wales... But I think that all the more makes this novel one of Pilcher's most interesting. At the heart of what always seems like a love story set in a "pretty upper-class" world, is once again the destructive and sad reality of trauma and loss. Thankfully, there's compassion and love, too.
pencilnebula's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
mollyfiddler's review against another edition
4.0
Στο οπισθόφυλλο έγραφε "Η Βιτζινια έχει ένα κρυφό όνειρο: να της δοθεί μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία με τον ψηλό, αρρενωπό αγρότη που γνώρισε κι έχασε το καλοκαίρι των δεκαεφτά της χρόνων." Αυτό διάβασα μόνο και πήγα στο ταμείο. Ήθελα να διαβάσω ένα ρομάντζο, παρόλο που τα αποφεύγω γενικά. "Το άδειο σπίτι" ήταν ένα ωραίο, τρυφερό και καθόλου γλυκερό ρομάντζο, με χαρακτήρες που συμπάθησα, αντιπάθησα κι αγανάκτησα μαζί τους, και με ωραίες περιγραφές της Κορνουάλης. Ένα ήσυχο ξεκίνημα για την νέα χρονιά.