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thedaydreamerdiary's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.25
ukbookworm's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
philippakmoore's review against another edition
1.0
Read this for August book club and really didn’t like it! I kept persevering, hoping it would get better, but it really didn’t! Apparently it’s described as a cosy read - I couldn’t disagree more. Every time it got interesting, the narration would slip back to a time and characters I didn’t give a hoot about. The ending was probably the worst part, when the young farmer slaps his new wife in the face - I know it was published over 60 years ago but WTF?!? Awful.
Everyone raves about this author but as it was the first I’ve read by her, I won’t be tempted to try another any time soon. It helped me fall asleep, but that was about it!
If you want a comfort read about a country house with multiple generations, go with Dorothy Whipple’s The Priory instead.
Everyone raves about this author but as it was the first I’ve read by her, I won’t be tempted to try another any time soon. It helped me fall asleep, but that was about it!
If you want a comfort read about a country house with multiple generations, go with Dorothy Whipple’s The Priory instead.
krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/12/09/review-1766-china-court/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/12/09/review-1766-china-court/
soniapage's review
4.0
The author brilliantly weaves the past and present as she jumps back and forth through a hundred years of the family living at China Court. By the time the book ends, you know each character. The ending wasn't expected (this behavior is unacceptable today).
cimorene1558's review
5.0
Lovely book! You do have to get used to the fact that a lot of stuff is happening simultaneously through the generations, but it didn’t take me long to do so. It’s a very charming and restful book, which is odd, because there is a lot of unhappiness in the life of China Court, but somehow that doesn’t make a difference. Rumer Godden was such a good writer!
bekab20's review
5.0
Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year. Beautifully told story of the history of this old English manor through 150 years and multiple generations of one family. The presentation of the memories are a bit jumbled and hard to follow at first, but it was like getting to know a person over time and I found myself just wanting more of the stories. The jumble soon became the story of the house and all it saw over the years. I fell in love with the house and the family that became such a part of the heart of the house, all the while hoping that Tracy and Peter make the right choice for the future of this house and their family. "... it captures a sense of the house holding all the members of the family at any one time, the echoes of their steps and their voices all layered upon one another." https://madamebibilophilerecommends.wordpress.com/2018/12/10/i-loved-mr-darcy-far-more-than-any-of-my-own-husbands-rumer-godden/
"When one of the…rose bowls or vases is rung it gives off a sound, clear, like a chime, the ring of true porcelain, so China Court gives off the ring of a house, a true home.”
"Memory is the only friend of grief."
"In real life, when one meets a large family, with all its ramifications of uncles, aunts and cousins, as well as grandfathers and grandmothers, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, their friends, servants, and pet animals, it takes some time to distinguish them; one does not expect to remember straightaway that it is Jane who is married to Bertram, Jack who was born with a club foot, Aunt Margaret who had the unfortunate love affair… China Court is a novel about five generations of a family… I believe if the reader is a little patient – and can bear not to skip – they will soon become distinct and he will have no need to look at the family tree on the frontispiece’."
"When one of the…rose bowls or vases is rung it gives off a sound, clear, like a chime, the ring of true porcelain, so China Court gives off the ring of a house, a true home.”
"Memory is the only friend of grief."
"In real life, when one meets a large family, with all its ramifications of uncles, aunts and cousins, as well as grandfathers and grandmothers, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, their friends, servants, and pet animals, it takes some time to distinguish them; one does not expect to remember straightaway that it is Jane who is married to Bertram, Jack who was born with a club foot, Aunt Margaret who had the unfortunate love affair… China Court is a novel about five generations of a family… I believe if the reader is a little patient – and can bear not to skip – they will soon become distinct and he will have no need to look at the family tree on the frontispiece’."
studyinglifewithgigi's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting concept with the Daily Office/Hours. Felt like L.M.Montgomery at times. Not as smooth as In This House of Brede, but still stunning details and descriptions of emotive moments.
agjuba's review against another edition
4.0
I love rambling family sagas, especially those set in England; so this book did not disappoint on that front. Other reviewers have been critical of the rambling, time-shifting narrative, but I enjoyed the novel's structure, and bought into the author's assertion that meeting a large family takes time to distinguish who is who. To me, the entire family was revealed much as one peels the layers of an onion.
I am critical, however, of the ending -- not only was it jarring (and disturbing), it felt abrupt in a manner was was entirely at odds with the meandering pace of the rest of the novel.
I am critical, however, of the ending -- not only was it jarring (and disturbing), it felt abrupt in a manner was was entirely at odds with the meandering pace of the rest of the novel.
el90's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Racism