The Lake House
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by dark-draco from Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 12, 2019
One of my Mum's books, passed to me to read and bookcross.
Journal Entry 2 by dark-draco at Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 28, 2023
I absolutely loved everything about this book - except the ending! So its going to be hard to review without mentioning too much and still get a rant in, but on with the good bits first.
There's nothing more poignant than a crime involving a child and here we essentially have two. The big, decades old mystery surrounding the disappearance of Theo, and the more modern case of child abandonment that forces Sadie off the police. Theo's story in the more engrossing and the author cleverly leads you on, hinting about things that force you to believe this happened, only for the characters to jump to the same conclusion a couple of chapters later … and then prove to be completely wrong. But another scenario is already waiting in the wings, groundwork done, and off you go down a completely new wrong route. I really enjoyed that mild frustration of being wrong again and again, even as the characters feel the same thing.
I liked the skipping about between characters and timelines, as each person's story and point of view added another layer to the mix. In fact, I don't think there was a character I didn't like, although Sadie grated on me a bit at the start. I loved the setting, loved the story, loved the people - which makes the ending even more annoying. A bit to pat, lazy, 'nice', unrealistic - pick your own description. I just felt a bit let down and was expecting something more, some other reason to have read through the previous 500 pages.
Still a good read, but would have been excellent if not for those pesky last chapters.
There's nothing more poignant than a crime involving a child and here we essentially have two. The big, decades old mystery surrounding the disappearance of Theo, and the more modern case of child abandonment that forces Sadie off the police. Theo's story in the more engrossing and the author cleverly leads you on, hinting about things that force you to believe this happened, only for the characters to jump to the same conclusion a couple of chapters later … and then prove to be completely wrong. But another scenario is already waiting in the wings, groundwork done, and off you go down a completely new wrong route. I really enjoyed that mild frustration of being wrong again and again, even as the characters feel the same thing.
I liked the skipping about between characters and timelines, as each person's story and point of view added another layer to the mix. In fact, I don't think there was a character I didn't like, although Sadie grated on me a bit at the start. I loved the setting, loved the story, loved the people - which makes the ending even more annoying. A bit to pat, lazy, 'nice', unrealistic - pick your own description. I just felt a bit let down and was expecting something more, some other reason to have read through the previous 500 pages.
Still a good read, but would have been excellent if not for those pesky last chapters.
Journal Entry 3 by dark-draco at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 14, 2023
Released 1 yr ago (3/14/2023 UTC) at -- By Post or by Hand--, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Surprise RABCK for a fellow Bookcrosser.
Journal Entry 4 by Bjorg at Reykjavík, Reykjavík (Höfuðborgar svæðið) Iceland on Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Wow, what a great surprise :) thanks so much!!!