Kathy Hamilton It’s time for what I’ve been reading lately: October. This blog post comes hot on the heels of my last favourites round up but this time we’re just talking about books. I have an interesting month of reading to share with you, so let’s get started, shall we?
The Clockmakers Daughter by Kate Morton
In the summer of 1862, a group of young artists led by the passionate and talented Edward Radcliffe descends upon Birchwood Manor. But by the time their stay is over, one woman has been shot dead while another has disappeared; a priceless heirloom is missing, and Edward Radcliffe’s life is in ruins. Over one hundred and fifty years later, Elodie Winslow, a young archivist in London, uncovers a leather satchel containing two seemingly unrelated items: a sepia photograph of an arresting-looking woman in Victorian clothing, and an artist’s sketchbook containing the drawing of a twin-gabled house on the bend of a river. Told by multiple voices across time, The Clockmaker’s Daughter is a story of murder, mystery and thievery, of art, love and loss.
What I thought:
This is the first book by Kate Morton that I’ve read. Honestly, this was a complete cover-buy. As in, I fell in love with the book cover and then the concept of the story…in that order! However, I’m glad the dust-jacket fairies worked their magic here, The Clockmakers Daughter was a tremendous read. It’s a hefty tome. It’s 586 pages in total, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck into a long book, what an indulgence!
As I’ve come to realise, the narrative is typical of Kate Morton’s style. In that, the narrative splits into multiple voices spanning different times. Great for fans of historical fiction as you get mini stories set in six decades. I enjoyed this, and unusually, found that I didn’t have a preference when it came to different points of view. Each character from the elusive Birdie, Ada, Juliet, Edmund and Tig brought a depth and connection that befitted a novel which centres around a house. Although I would have maybe enjoyed a little more of Elodie’s since it was her who began trying to solve the mystery and she got a little forgotten in the middle.
The Reader on The 6.27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent
Guylain Vignolles lives on the edge of existence. Working at a book pulping factory in a job he hates, he has but one pleasure in life…Sitting on the 6.27 train each day, Guylain recites aloud from pages he has saved from the jaws of his monstrous pulping machine. But it is when he discovers the diary of a lonely young woman, Julie – a woman who feels as lost in the world as he does – that his journey will truly begin.
What I thought:
Next on what I’ve Been Reading Lately: October is The Reader on The 6:27 by Jean-Paul Didierlaurent. This was a pleasant book that centred around Guylain, a rather lonely man who finds solace and joy in reading. This was a complete impulse buy for me, I loved the concept and thought the book sounded delightful. It was…okay. I always hesitate to share negative reviews here. And this isn’t really one. But in the interest of honesty, I have to say…something didn’t quite click for me.
I feel like it was a novel with massive potential. Guylain was a lovely man, dedicated to friends, happy to help strangers. But beyond this, I didn’t feel like I ever got to know or understand his motives. Additionally, the romance that developed was nice but lacked something for me. It would have benefited from either being the sole focus of the novel or not being included at all. Perhaps, after the depth and scope of The Clockmaker’s Daughter, it was inevitable that I would miss the lack of detail here. All told though, this was a nice light read, perfect for reading on the plane. And, in terms of enjoying the actual presentation of the book – the paper quality, the styling, the font etc. was all top marks.
That Rounds Up What I’ve Been Reading Lately: October
A good book and an average book. That’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes isn’t it? What are your thoughts on sharing negative book reviews sometimes? I tend to lean on the side of honesty being the best policy, but when it comes to books they’re such personal choices it can be hard to say why you didn’t love them. Do you know what I mean?
