I really like Rosamunde Pilcher's books. In a way, they are comfort reading. I love her descriptions. Her descriptions are not just a description of the way a landscape or house looks. She writes "..a cheeky young man wearing a red checked shirt," which tells so much more about the background of the story than 'a man with a red shirt'. What she creates with her descriptions are fabulous images in my head.The way she writes her stories is wonderful. There is a story, some drama and a resolution, but reading the book seems to make the actual story secondary.This is one of her older stories - copyright 1968. Still, it does not seem overtly dated; the story is a classic. However, they smoke like chimneys and the offering of cigarettes at social events are as normal as offering someone a drink to be hospitable.One thing I like is the continuity in her books. Artists often show up in Pilcher's stories. Ben spends a lot of time in the Sliding Tackle, a very wonky pub in Porthkerris in Cornwall. This pub also shows up in her other books, such as The Shell Seekers (I think!). Ben's studio is very similar to the studios of other artists in other books. Her continuity does not seem repetitive, as it does with other authors. I think it makes the books seem like a variety of characters reside in the same location. The continuity is like meeting old and well liked friends.Many of her characters have money. The money isn't flaunted, but it allows them flexibility in their lives. This is an easy, comforting book to read.
My wife bought this book because of the author, but set it aside when she saw the 1968 copyright. She had read Winter Soltice and is now reading Shell Seekers, and loves them both. This is my first Rosamunde Pilcher. We're in Germany on an extended visit, and I finished reading (my more manly) Grisham's The Broker, and had nothing else to read. For some reason I expected Another View to be a romance novel, but it was much more. And, the fact that it was written so long ago didn't lessen it at all. The only time-sensitive part was the excessive (in my view) amount of smoking. Everyone smokes in the book. But, of course, many did back in 1968. As a father of two grown girls, I especially enjoyed the father-daughter struggles. Of course I'm not a famous artist like Ben is in the story, but still, fathers are often taken away from their children by their work. And, often, we have regrets for that lost time. I thought the plot was well structured for the most part and I wondered if this might have been her first novel. If so, what an exceptional job for a first book.
What do You think about Another View (1997)?
Eine Familiengeschichte, eine Lebensgeschichte und die liebe Liebe. Der Leser begleitet Emma, eine junge Dame, die ihre Leben gern oder oft auf den Kopf stellt. Ein durchaus symphatischer charakter. Außerdem gibt es die Sicht Roberts, die uns sein Leben vorstellt. Diese beiden Persononen seind anfänglich über die berufliche Ebene verbunden. Diese Verbindung führt zu dieser gemeinsamen Geschichte.Dieses Buch sollte gelesen werden,wenn man solide vorraussehbare Geschichten mag mit klassischen Charaktärenrelatitätsnahe Geschichten magman Kunst magEigene GedankenMeine Deutschlehrerin hat mir damals dieses Buch in der 10 oder 9 Klasse geschenkt, heute frage ich mich warum? Mochte sie das Buch selbst, wollte sie mir eine Lehre erteilen? Ich weiß es nicht. Vielleicht hat sie einfach meine Liebe zu Büchern erkannt. Ich dachte jedenfalls immer Rosamunde Pilcher wäre etwas für ältere Damen. Diese Meinung hat sie wohl revidiert. Ich kann so ein Buch gut und gerne auch lesen. Ich mag besonders ihren abgerundeten Schreibstil.
—Zara KillingRomance1112
Ben is a famous artist who lives simply in Porthkerris, England. He is divorced with a young adult daughter whom he has spent very little time with over the years. Ben has a close association with two art dealers from London who have to drive hours to Porthkerris when they need to talk with Ben, since he refuses to hook up a telephone. When Ben's daughter shows up in London en route to Porthkerris in need of a little money, the one art dealer helps her out and takes a real liking to her. The story continues as Ben's daughter and the art dealer cross paths over and over again and come to finally realize their true feelings for each other.
—Kristine
It is amazing that this book was written in 1968! It's also amazing how quickly we become acquainted with the characters. That's one of the reasons I love Rosamunde Pilcher's books. The other is her locations, especially her novels set in Cornwall. In Another View we meet the first invocation of the distant artist father who features so prominently in The Shellseekers. At the age of 19 Emma has decided to finally settle down in Cornwall and spend some time with her artist father Ben in his studio in Porthkerris, Cornwall. But of course all doesn't go as planned. To confuse her plans is her childhood step brother Christopher and her father's manager Robert Morrow. A delightful read!
—Debbie Robson
