Απογοητεύτηκα. Έργο της Πίλτσερ είναι αυτό; Καταρχάς είναι σύντομο. Κατά δεύτερον είναι επιφανειακό, ρηχό και σχεδόν βιαστικό. Η Πρου, εν όψει γάμου με έναν επιφανή δανδή της καλής κοινωνίας, για τον οποίο έχει αμφιβολίες ως προς τι νιώθει γι' αυτόν, πάει στην Κορνουάλη σε μια εκκεντρική θεία της για να τη φροντίσει τώρα που έσπασε το χέρι της. Εκεί γνωρίζει έναν γοητευτικό καλλιτέχνη (που τον ερωτεύετεαι) και ένα αθώο, κλειστό και σιωπηλό κοριτσάκι. Το κοριτσάκι το ξαπέστειλε βιαστικά ο πατέρας του στη γιαγιά της για όσο θα κρατούσαν κάτι επισκευές στο σχολείο της ενώ η μάνα της ήταν κάπου στη Μαγιόρκα. Τελικά η μάνα παρατά το κοριτσάκι για έναν γκόμενο στην Αφρική κι ο πατέρας, έντρομος, απαιτεί από την πεθερά του να κρατήσει εκείνη το παιδί κοντά της!Τη λύση δίνει ο καλλιτέχνης, που αποδεικνύεται και βιολογικός πατέρας του κοριτσιού. Η Πρου παρατά τον επιφανειακό δανδή κι ακολουθεί τον νέο της έρωτα. Πολλοί διάλογοι, λίγες σελίδες, δεν με άγγιξε σχεδόν καθόλου. Πιστεύω ότι αν μιλούσε το κοριτσάκι και μας αφηγούνταν την ιστορία της θα ήταν πιο τρυφερό και πιο όμορφο. Μα είναι δυνατόν να είναι τόσο ελαφρόμυαλοι κάποιοι γονείς; Και τόσο άσπλαχνοι; Και ένα κλειστό χωριό να μη βουίξει τόσο πολύ από μια τέτοια περιπέτεια; Και το καρουζέλ πού κολλάει; Αγαπημένο παιχνίδι της Πρου και του κοριτσιού που δεν είχε άλλα παιχνίδια να παίξει και το αγάπησε αλλά πέραν τούτου ουδέν.Κρίμα, κρίμα. Αν ήταν γραμμένο αλλιώς και με περισσότερες σελίδες θα το αγαπούσα κι αυτό όπως τον Σεπτέμβρη και το Ψάχνοντας για κοχύλια. Αν είναι το πρώτο σας βιβλίο της συγγραφέως μην την αγνοήσετε, διαβάστε και κάποιιο άλλο της έργο.
This book does not get the title of the worst book out there, but it is certainly up there with the rest of them. Not that this book was entirely terrible, but there were some things that annoyed me so much that I could not get over them.For instance, the main character Prue fell for Daniel too hard, and then instantly went back to him even though he had been a total jerk to everyone. I mean, it only took Prue two days to think that Daniel had been the one for her, and there was no reason for why. There was no chemistry, nothing that they had in common other than art, and the only thing that they had ever done was kiss. It was... so unrealistic that it was kinda pathetic.Next, in general, everything in the story went too fast, and everything was too coincidental. I mean, one day Daniel is telling her everything about him being a father and shit, and then the next Charlotte's world falls apart. Prue talks to Daniel for the first time, they kiss just once, and then they become all clingy to each other. It just... I guess I didn't like that part of the story too much.What I did like about the story, was the descriptions of the places in there. I could literally imagine it like it was a movie, and I thought that it was amazing. I also liked was the character Charlotte and the other character Phoebe, those were the only characters that made any logical sense to me. I am a lot like Charlotta and Phoebe was a lot like my Grandma, caring and a little bit eccentric.
What do You think about The Carousel (1991)?
I am a huge fan of Rosamunde Pilcher, and my eventual plan is to read every book she has ever written. That said, however, I must admit that this book was a disappointment. I almost made a new shelf for this book labeled "So what?". There was nothing wrong with the book, and to its credit it had lots of the wonderful descriptions of both scenery and climate that Rosamunde does as well or better than anyone. The trouble was, this time Rosamunde just didn't get me to particularly care about any of the characters, and that is usually the thing she does best of all. Usually I think about her most memorable characters periodically and wonder how they are getting on. I doubt I will remember these beyond next weekend.The best way that I can think of to describe my disappointment with this book is too say that there was no one in it that I wanted to be able to share a cup of tea with.
—Jina Howell-Forbes
This is a lovely book! Prue goes to stay with her eccentric aunt, and on the way meets a delightful ten-year-old girl. One or two coincidences early in the book, but quite acceptable in light of the wonderful characterisation and wonderful plot. Very moving in places. On re-reading seven years after the last time, I found myself totally engrossed once more, having forgotten many of the details. The carousel of the title is only a small part of the story; the relationships are what matter. Somehow, Rosamunde Pilcher's people are so real that I feel a sense of loss when I come to the end of one of her books. And this one isn't very long. Highly recommended to anyone who likes women's fiction.
—Sue
Prue lives in London working at an art gallery, but takes a leave of absence to head down to Cornwall to stay with her aunt Phoebe who is recovering from a fall and cannot drive. On the train, Phoebe meets little Charlotte, who is travelling alone to visit her grandma. As it turns out, Charlotte knows Phoebe and Prue knows Charlotte's grandma. When Daniel (a young popular artist)comes to visit Phoebe, Prue becomes smitten. Daniel will end up playing an important part in Charlotte's life when her mother leaves the country for another man, and it comes out that the man she thought was her father really isn't. The book has a very happy ending.
—Kristine
