Rosamund Pilcher, in my less than humble opinion, is one of the very best writers of gentle fiction. Of course, I have read The Shell Seekers and loved it, but haven't read anything of hers for a few years. I came across this short novel - not a novella - in a hospital bookstall and of course pounced on it. I read it in around 3 hours while waiting around and travelling home on the train.Written in 1973 and first published in 1990, Pilcher's style of writing will no doubt not be fast-paced enough for the modern younger reader, but those of us who are rather longer in the tooth will be able to appreciate the delicate development of the quite traditional story. True to it's time, "House" is rich in imagery, more so than modern books,but fortunately not so much that one would skip pages!Virginia, widowed only three months, has been pressured to marry at eighteen by her intimidating mother, then to "turn a blind eye" by her husband. His nanny and her mother-in-law, Lady Keile, are continuing the trend in successfully intimidating her into doing exactly what they want. But of course, the worm turns - gently but implacably, after a showdown with an old friend, engendering this reader's admiration for Virginia. I am not sure I would be as brave in the face of those formidable women!What I particularly liked about this book, was the gradual unfolding - without fanfare, but easily understood-of the background and future of Virginia. Rosamund Pilcher’s genius creates characters with mundane lives, into people in whose future the reader cannot help but invest concern. Highly recommended for those who appreciate the fine writing of past years and a traditional, but gentle story.
Virginia Keile's secret dream had always been to have a second chance at loving the tall, handsome Cornish farmer she had met - and foolishly lost - the summer she was a debutante. Now, ten years later, Virginia is twenty-seven years old and life has taught her a great many lessons. She had married a titled bachelor chosen by her mother, lived in a lonely marriage until her husband's accidental death, and had nearly lost her two children to her former mother-in-law and a bossy Nanny.All Virginia wants now is to to take her daughter and son, return to picturesque Cornwall and rent a seaside cottage to help them recover. But her true love was also there, waiting, hoping and praying that this time Virginia would be strong enough to seize happiness and fill an empty house with love.I did enjoy reading this book, however, I am beginning to find that Rosamunde Pilcher is just reworking the same plots. It may just be because I've read two books by the same author back to back, but in my opinion, Rosamunde Pilcher's plots tend to run along this similar theme: 'girl meets boy, they fall hopelessly in love, girl cruelly loses boy, girl marries the 'proper gentleman', girl somehow moves to Scotland, lives in an unhappy marriage for a certain amount of time, husband propitiously passes away and girl returns to live happily ever after with her one true love.'I give this book an A! I think I will certainly read more by Rosamunde Pilcher in the future, but maybe not for a while yet.
What do You think about The Empty House (1996)?
Comecei ontem, logo após as 12 badaladas, mas só consegui ultrapassar o primeiro capítulo. O sono venceu-me!Hoje de manhã aproveitei para retomar a leitura e acabei-o.Gostei bastante da escrita desta autora de quem já ouvi maravilhas.Virginia é uma mulher perdida no mundo. Com dois filhos pequenos para criar, uma família manipuladora e uma tragédia recente, Virginia recolhe-se em Porthkerris, Cornualha.Mas ao contrário de descanso e paz, Virginia terá de enfrentar os fantasmas do seu passado, o que inclui Eustace, um amor de adolescente mal resolvido.Um romance cândido e quase inocente, em que a autora deixou alguns espaços em branco para a imaginação do leitor.Muito bonito.
—Sandra
I know I know, I swore off Pilcher books after the last one, but once again I was drawn in by the promise of a sweet and cozy little romance. Amongst Pilcher women, Virginia is a gem. Timid at first, she nonetheless finds the courage to stand up to Mother-in-law, AND the formidable Nanny, and take her children away with her for the summer. She even manages to rent a beach house all by herself and with only a few false starts, figures out the shopping, cooking, and so forth. The romantic interest, Eustace, is much more than the name might imply. He makes friends with the children, goads Virginia into action (see above) and apparently has waited for her return to this lonely stretch of road for almost 10 years. Sweet, cozy, and even a little better than I expected.
—Linnae
Virginia is recovering from an illness. She is staying with friends in Cornwall. Her husband has recently passed away. Her children are with Nanny and her mother-in-law in London.Virginia was in this house in Cornwall ten years ago, just before her 18th birthday. She met a man named Eustace and fell in love with him and his home. But her mother felt he was beneath her because he was a farmer. They left the area a few days later. Then Virginia met the man who would become her husband a couple of weeks later.Virginia decides to stay in the area and have her children with her. She knows it may be a fight because her mother in law might not let her. Virginia had always felt controlled by her husband and his mother.Virginia meets Eustace again by chance and hopes he feels for her what she felt for him. She tells him that she has rented a house for the month. Will they get together?I liked this book but was disappointed that there was not more romance in the story. The reader does not find out until the end that Eustace had the same feelings for Virginia.
—JoAnne
