My reading time for the rest of July and the first half of August (until August 20) will decrease because I'm taking a 6-week writing course. "Crafting Scene" is for fiction writers and is offered via Grub Street. (grubstreet.org), a highly acclaimed writing community in Boston. I have loved all the courses I've taken via Grub Street.
I read my 8th book for the 20 Books of Summer over the Fourth of July weekend. Do any of you recall reading The House at Riverton, Kate Morton's first novel? Have you read any of Kate Morton's other novels? I really liked the two I read prior to reading this one, especially The Secret Keeper.
Although I enjoyed The House at Riverton story overall and am glad I finally read it, there were some aspects of it that I didn't care for. I did not like the heavy fore-shadowing Morton used, reminding the reader on a regular basis the impending arrival and outcome of almost every bombshell in the book. And the hinting over and over that something really big and unexpected would occur at the end of the book was annoying. What was most disagreeable was the ending, which is a bit shocking, I suppose, however I found it to be one of the most contrived I have ever encountered in a book. Unlikely, incomprehensible, didn't get why the character who drives the conclusion acted as she did. The funny thing is, I enjoyed the story as it flowed along, all 468 pages of it.
I read The House at Riverton because I had to "retire" Atomic Anna by Rachel Barenbaum. I hadn't realized that it was sci-fi time travel/fantasy. Just not my preference. I knew that it involved what happened at Chernobyl, and jumped to the conclusion that it was historical fiction. Atomic Anna received excellent reviews, so if you enjoy its genre, you may want to try it.
I'm now reading my 9th book, the newly published The House across the Lake by Riley Sager, and so far things are going well.
Enjoy your writing course Judith; it sounds great. I've only read a few Kate Morton books (not the one you referenced. Her's a review link to (2) that I gave 4/5 star rating and a 3.5/5 star rating.-https://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2010/11/155-forgotten-garden-kate-morton.html
ReplyDeletehttp://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-lake-house-kate-morton.html
Diane, I'm glad to know that you really liked The Forgotten Garden. I actually own that one but have never read it. And I'm interested in The Lake House, but I gave that a pass when it was published, for some reason. Will definitely read The Forgotten Garden.
DeleteI have not read anything by Kate Morton but I have read some reviews that interested me. I will check into some of her other books, maybe find one at the book sale.
ReplyDeleteI may try Atomic Anna someday, since I am always interested in time travel books.
I know you will enjoy your writing course.
Tracy, I think you may find Atomic Anna very interesting. It got such good reviews--and I think Barenbaum is a good writer.
DeleteI'll try very hard to enjoy my writing course. As you might imagine, at times the assignments give me fits as I try to write and write and write. Good for the brain, maybe!
The Forgotten Garden is the only Kate Morton book I've read. I gave it 4 stars a decade ago. I bought The House at Riverton as a kindle daily deal shortly afterwards, but have yet to read it. It sounds like a book I'm going to enjoy. Good luck with the writing course, Judith!
ReplyDeleteI've got to read The Forgotten Garden, especially since it is in my house, unread! I'd love to get your impressions of A House at Riverton--that would be fun. It is a discussion-worthy book, for sure.
DeleteHope the writing course is wonderful! Sounds like a great way to spend the summer. I've never read Kate Morton, though occasionally I put one of her books on my tbr list. Maybe I will start with her first since it does sound good.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun ride of a book and will remind you of Downton Abbey, as it did for me. But The House of Riverton was published several years before DA appeared.
DeleteEnjoy your writing course, Judith! I haven't read anything by Kate Morton but feel like I should have. I agree whole-heartedly about the fore-shadowing thing. It drives me insane. You'd think authors would know not to use it by now.
ReplyDeleteI've just finished my 7th. book for the summer reading challenge and feel like I'm doing well when I'm not. LOL I should be at around 9 or 10. Never mind, I never thought I would finish the lot so it hardly matters. I've just started Miss Austen by Gill Hornby. I say, 'Just started', I picked it up at the beginning of the afternoon and am now at page 90. It's delightful. But not on my list for the summer challenge. Oh well, never mind.
Hi Cath, Just substitute this wonderful book in to your list and remove another! Actually, I think you're doing well to have finished 7.
DeleteBy the way, I think you would love Kate Morton's books. My fave is The Secret Keepers. And others have said their fave is The Forgotten Garden, which I own but have not read.
I'll definitely check the library for those Kate Morton books next time I'm there. And I've done as you suggested and substituted Miss Austen into my list, it was so wonderful it deserved to be on my Summer list. And now I've started Mansfield Park which I don't think I've read before but am not sure. I think it's only familiar because I've seen a couple of dramatisations.
DeleteTaking refuge in books at the moment because Peter has pneumonia again. Not quite as badly as 2 years ago so all my efforts are concentrated on keeping him out of hospital, as ours are chock full of Covid patients with the new wave. Life can be challenging at times.
Oh, Cath, I totally understand why you want to keep him out of the hospital. But caring for a loved one is stressful and tiring, so do catch any minutes you can with good books, no matter which book or books it is, it doesn't matter. Books breathe life and sustenance into us.
DeleteI so want to read Mansfield Park. It's on my Classics List. I started reading it a few years ago and was liking it very much, but LIFE got in the way. I am definitely going back to it. And it won't bother me a bit to go back to the very beginning and start all over again. The new Covid variants are very worrying, and I especially understand why it is for you and Peter. Do take care and read on when you can catch some quiet minutes! My best to you both!
I thought I had read The House at Riverton but I just got it down from a shelf and apparently not. I do find she foreshadows too much. Some of her books are extremely good but some have very weak and improbable endings. I like Susanna Kearsley better!
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