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kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
It took a couple hundred pages before I got absorbed in this story. I was counting down to just get to page 215-ish and I would turn off the light to sleep but right about there was when things got interesting and I simply couldn't stop until I knew how it ended.
The blurb on the back makes it sound like finding the orchid was a bad thing. After reading and thinking about it, I think the only way that Alice could have found happiness and for Wheeler to survive the backlash was her taking of the flower.
Swift has done an amazing job of portraying the time period and bringing a sense of individuality to the people on both the Roundhead and Restoration sides from English history. The insight she brings to the Quakers and the problems they faced from within, from each other, and the political climate was also fascinating.
One can't help but become passionate about the wrongs done to others, the ignorance of so many, the murderous, selfish cruelties inflicted onto people. Makes you understand better why we fought the Revolution a hundred years later.
The primary sour note for me was how is it that Alice grew so rich that she could afford to return to England with servants and a coach. Admittedly it was 39 years later, but after so much earlier detail, how did she and Richard accumulate so much...and in New Hampshire of all places??? And the comment Alice makes about having gotten used to a so much warmer New Hampshire when she does return to England...um...no, this doesn't ring through for me. And her reasoning for neither her nor Richard getting in touch with Sam to learn if her husband was still around...oh, please... And wouldn't Sam have figured out that they would want to know. It's not like he doesn't live in the same neck of the woods??!!
The blurb on the back makes it sound like finding the orchid was a bad thing. After reading and thinking about it, I think the only way that Alice could have found happiness and for Wheeler to survive the backlash was her taking of the flower.
Swift has done an amazing job of portraying the time period and bringing a sense of individuality to the people on both the Roundhead and Restoration sides from English history. The insight she brings to the Quakers and the problems they faced from within, from each other, and the political climate was also fascinating.
One can't help but become passionate about the wrongs done to others, the ignorance of so many, the murderous, selfish cruelties inflicted onto people. Makes you understand better why we fought the Revolution a hundred years later.
The primary sour note for me was how is it that Alice grew so rich that she could afford to return to England with servants and a coach. Admittedly it was 39 years later, but after so much earlier detail, how did she and Richard accumulate so much...and in New Hampshire of all places??? And the comment Alice makes about having gotten used to a so much warmer New Hampshire when she does return to England...um...no, this doesn't ring through for me. And her reasoning for neither her nor Richard getting in touch with Sam to learn if her husband was still around...oh, please... And wouldn't Sam have figured out that they would want to know. It's not like he doesn't live in the same neck of the woods??!!
clothespin's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because I'm a botanist and so the plant aspect interested me. However, I had a hard time believing the plant propagation techniques, especially with the frequency of the plants roots being exposed and handled.
Under the guise of the plants was a strange love story... and while interesting, it was perhaps more religious in tone than I normally would read.
I just had a hard time getting into the characters... I'm glad I finished it but I would not read it again.
Under the guise of the plants was a strange love story... and while interesting, it was perhaps more religious in tone than I normally would read.
I just had a hard time getting into the characters... I'm glad I finished it but I would not read it again.
soniapage's review against another edition
4.0
I won this book through goodreads giveaway. It is a good story revolving around an unusual object - a rare flower. Some other reviewers complained about the explicit "love" scenes and I have to agree. I'll never understand why authors choose to write these scenes into their books. Do they think we won't understand what is going on unless they spell it out? Or, do the publishers require it? It's a shame that some readers put the book down at the first sign that the book was going in this direction. They missed out on a well-written, tense story.
That said, I did enjoy the book and recommend it to people interested in history and even herbal medicine.
That said, I did enjoy the book and recommend it to people interested in history and even herbal medicine.
nolegirl's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book a great deal. The attention to details that many writers leave out brought depth to the story and the characters. The relationship between Alice and Richard and how their lives were so intertwined moved the story along. I enjoy historical novels and this is a fantastic example of what makes a good historical novel great.
sunspot's review against another edition
5.0
It's not really my normal fare, but I loved this book. It's beautifully written and incredibly detailed, with well-rounded characters and a wonderful landscape. Before reading it, I admit, I wasn't terribly optimistic about it, and found the premise a bit... unlikely. "An orchid sets off that much chaos?" I thought. As unlikely as it sounds, an orchid really *does* set off that much chaos, when several people have such different designs for it. Alice, for example, wants to "rescue" it; Fisk, who suffers from a rather painful skin malady, wants the orchid for its medicinal properties; Wheeler, a Puritan-turned-Quaker, is rather firm in the belief that where God put the orchid is where it should stay. To say the three fight to see their outcome for the orchid prevail would be putting it mildly.
The premise may seem unlikely, but Swift does a fantastic job with it. If you enjoy historical fiction, or just a really good story about the fate of a beautiful flower, I highly recommend it.
Disclosure: I won a copy of this book via a GoodReads "first reads" giveaway.
The premise may seem unlikely, but Swift does a fantastic job with it. If you enjoy historical fiction, or just a really good story about the fate of a beautiful flower, I highly recommend it.
Disclosure: I won a copy of this book via a GoodReads "first reads" giveaway.
samidhak's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars!
I was meaning to read this book since a long time now. I wanted to finish this and get on with my TBR pile.
I was very reluctant to go into this book as I knew almost next to nothing about the Puritan war as well as the Restoration period.
Thankfully though this book does indulge into much historical framework regarding the war.
One of the most accurate descriptions of the time, society, hierarchy as well as setting has been presented in this book.
Absolutely stunning!
The way she has portrayed the entire backdrop and the setting was something only well researched and talented authors can do.
This follows the lives of many people, amongst them the three most pivotal characters are Alice Ibbetson, Richard Wheeler and Geoffrey Fisk.
As far the story line went it was very catching and intriguing. It kept me reading. The only issue I have is that it could've been curtailed a little. The last parts could've been edited because they were a little dragged.
I liked the twist of the title. Yes, there is a subtle twist, not hard to guess but I liked it none the less.
The characters were not all likable, even though Swift has tried to make each of them at least seem fair in their own endeavors.
I felt like Alice was too preoccupied to be the main character(one of the main character). Wheeler and Fisk still had spots of reality in them.
But, whatever said and done this book turned out to be way better than what I had expected.
There is also a follow up coming for the book, or is already out, which I am planning to getting my hands on.
I am an absolute fan of the setting and world that Swift had built and I want to have more of it.
I was meaning to read this book since a long time now. I wanted to finish this and get on with my TBR pile.
I was very reluctant to go into this book as I knew almost next to nothing about the Puritan war as well as the Restoration period.
Thankfully though this book does indulge into much historical framework regarding the war.
One of the most accurate descriptions of the time, society, hierarchy as well as setting has been presented in this book.
Absolutely stunning!
The way she has portrayed the entire backdrop and the setting was something only well researched and talented authors can do.
This follows the lives of many people, amongst them the three most pivotal characters are Alice Ibbetson, Richard Wheeler and Geoffrey Fisk.
As far the story line went it was very catching and intriguing. It kept me reading. The only issue I have is that it could've been curtailed a little. The last parts could've been edited because they were a little dragged.
I liked the twist of the title. Yes, there is a subtle twist, not hard to guess but I liked it none the less.
The characters were not all likable, even though Swift has tried to make each of them at least seem fair in their own endeavors.
I felt like Alice was too preoccupied to be the main character(one of the main character). Wheeler and Fisk still had spots of reality in them.
But, whatever said and done this book turned out to be way better than what I had expected.
There is also a follow up coming for the book, or is already out, which I am planning to getting my hands on.
I am an absolute fan of the setting and world that Swift had built and I want to have more of it.
myendlessshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I don't typically read historical fiction, it's never really appealed to me in the past but I took a chance on this one and I'm really glad I did.
The writing was immersive, the characters compelling (even the 'bad' ones) and I found myself thoroughly enjoying it even though it's completely different than the books I typically read.
The writing was immersive, the characters compelling (even the 'bad' ones) and I found myself thoroughly enjoying it even though it's completely different than the books I typically read.
darcijo's review
3.0
I was suppose to get this book as a give away, but unfortunately I never received it. I was looking forward to reading it.
mollyringle's review
4.0
I got this through a free-reads giveaway here at Goodreads, and am glad I did, for I might not have heard about it otherwise. I love well-written historical fiction--that is, historical that actually feels like it's happening in the here and now, with passions and senses and complex characters, and this is certainly such a novel. As someone soothed by the practice of gardening, I found it interesting and unique that an act of plant-obsession sets off such a violent chain of events in this novel, but I could certainly relate to the characters' love for flowers. And best of all was Swift's hand for writing characters: she did an excellent job looking through the eyes of each one, and making them all well-rounded humans, so that even the villainous scoundrels produced moments of sympathy or approval from me, and even the heroes had their shameful flaws. Just like, you know, real people! I'll be keeping an eye on Swift's work, and would love to follow her around while she examines gardens and old houses in England too. Who's going to spring for my plane ticket?
tanyarobinson's review
4.0
And yet another first-reads win! I am loving winning books!
2/11/11
I really enjoyed reading this book; because I spend so much time as a genealogist studying documents from the 17th century, I loved reading about the time period. Almost every novel I've read set in Restoration England focuses on the court. This one is out in a Westmoreland village, and had a lot of great period details about common life. I especially liked the segments dealing with the Society of Friends, or Quakers.
BUT I have one major complaint, and this is a *SPOILER* - I found it completely unbelievable that Quaker Richard, who feels guilty that he's not more comfortable with rough clothing, and about destroys himself for using a weapon in self-defense, has no problem with adultery (keep in mind that this was punishable by death under Cromwell, whose side Richard had fought on during the Civil War). Obviously Swift just wanted to have her characters sleep together, and her scenes weren't even steamy. Don't get me wrong, I am not so puritanical that I can't deal with fictional people having sex. It's just that in this case it was completely out of character. It would have been so much more credible to have them stay chaste until they could be married.
2/11/11
I really enjoyed reading this book; because I spend so much time as a genealogist studying documents from the 17th century, I loved reading about the time period. Almost every novel I've read set in Restoration England focuses on the court. This one is out in a Westmoreland village, and had a lot of great period details about common life. I especially liked the segments dealing with the Society of Friends, or Quakers.
BUT I have one major complaint, and this is a *SPOILER* - I found it completely unbelievable that Quaker Richard, who feels guilty that he's not more comfortable with rough clothing, and about destroys himself for using a weapon in self-defense, has no problem with adultery (keep in mind that this was punishable by death under Cromwell, whose side Richard had fought on during the Civil War). Obviously Swift just wanted to have her characters sleep together, and her scenes weren't even steamy. Don't get me wrong, I am not so puritanical that I can't deal with fictional people having sex. It's just that in this case it was completely out of character. It would have been so much more credible to have them stay chaste until they could be married.