Είναι εξαιρετικά σπάνιο στις μέρες μας να πέσει στα χέρια σου κάποιο βιβλίο, τόσο καλογραμμένο που να σου φέρνει στο νου βιβλία και συγγραφείς κάποιας άλλης εποχής. Kαι όμως, με χαρά και έκπληξη θα διαπιστώσει κανείς πως η κυρία Donnelly και τα βιβλία της, έχουν αυτή τη μαγική ικανότητα. Να σου μεταφέρουν με την καλοδουλεμένη, λεπτομερή, γλαφυρή, μα σε καποία περίπτωση κουραστική περιγραφή προσώπων και καταστάσεων, όχι μόνο εικόνες, σκέψεις και συναισθήματα αλλά ταυτόχρονα, χρώματα, μουσικές, γεύσεις και αρώματα.Η Donnelly τοποθετεί την ιστορία της σε μια άλλη εποχή, σε μια εποχή που απέχει πολύ από το σύχρονο, βιομηχανοποιημένο και τεχνολογικά εξελιγμένο παρόν. Ξεκινάει να μας παρουσιάσει τους ήρωές της σε μια Αγγλία ενός άλλου αιώνα. Σε μια Αγγλία χωρισμένη στα δύο με την μισή να ανθίζει και να πλουτίζει και με την άλλη μισή να σαπίζει στον βούρκο της διαφθοράς, της εγκληματικότητας και της φτώχιας. Στη συνέχεια μας μεταφέρει στην Αμερική και στη Νέα Υόρκη, που αν και δεν φαντάζει ιδιαίτερα διαφορετική είναι καθώς, εκεί μπορείς πιο εύκολα να ξεκολλήσεις από τον βούρκο. Είναι μια πόλη γεμάτη ευκαιρίες και φως, αρκεί να θες να τις δεις και να τις αρπάξεις.Μέσα από το πέρασμα μιας δεκαετίας βλέπουμε την εξέλιξη των αγορών, την ανάπτυξη του εμπορίου, την άνθιση και την καταστροφή εταιριών κολοσσών αλλά και την άνοδο της χρηματιστηριακής αγοράς. Όμως, πέρα από τις γενικότητες, η συγγραφέας με ιεροτελεστικό τρόπο μας εισάγει στην φιλοσοφία του τσαγιού, στην κουλτούρα, τις ποικιλίες, τα διαφορετικά είδη, την προέλευση, την παραγωγή αλλά και την εξέλιξή του μέσα στον χώρο και τον χρόνο. Νιώθεις καθώς γυρίζεις τις σελίδες ότι μπορείς να το μυρίσεις, ότι μπορείς να το γευτείς, ότι μπορείς να παρασυρθείς κι εσύ στην μαγεία που παρασύρεται η Φιόνα.Πατώντας όμως σε πραγματικά στοιχεία και δεδομένα, εισάγει στην ιστορία της κι ένα αιματοβαμμένο κεφάλαιο της τότε Αγγλίας. Ένα κεφάλαιο που μέχρι και σήμερα παραμένει άλυτο, κάτι που την βοήθησε στο να το εκμεταλλευτεί και να δώσει την δικιά της άποψη στη λύση του μυστηρίου. Το κεφάλαιο του Τζακ του Αντεροβγάλτη, του τρόμου και της βίας που έσπειρε στις πόρνες, και όχι μόνο, στις φτωχογειτονιές του Τάμεση. Παράλληλα, παρακολουθούμε και την εξέγερση αλλά και τις απεργιακές κινητοποιήσεις και όχι μόνο, των εργαζόμενων τις εποχής σε μια προσπάθεια να ιδρύσουν σωματεία που να προασπίζονται τα δικαιώματά τους, δικαιώματα που θα τους έβγαζαν από τις μέχρι τότε άθλιες και εκμεταλλευτικές συνθήκες.Στον πυρήνα αυτών των εξελίξεων, η Φιόνα και ο Τζο, ένα κλασσικό δείγμα εκπροσώπησης μιας κατώτερης τάξης που όμως, δε φοβάται, δεν διστάζει να κάνει όνειρα για ένα καλύτερο μέλλον. Δύο νέοι άνθρωποι με φιλοδοξίες, με μια φλόγα να καίει δυνατή μέσα τους. Μια φλόγα, έτοιμη ν’ αντέξει τις δυσκολίες και τις κακουχίες που βρίσκει στον δρόμο της. Τα πράγματα δεν έρχονται εύκολα όμως, οι δύο ερωτευμένοι νέοι, μέσα από έναν σκληρό, παθιασμένο αγώνα επιβίωσης, στιγματισμένο πάντα από τα λάθη και τον πόνο που προκάλεσε το παρλεθόν, καταφέρνουν να επιβιώσουν και τελικά να είναι μαζί αποδεικνύοντας πως η αγάπη και ο πόθος δεν σβήνουν ποτέ.Η ιστορία της Donnelly είναι ένα υπέροχο, μαγευτικό παραμμύθι στηριγμένο πάνω σε γερές, αληθινές ιστορικές βάσεις. Μια ιστορία γεμάτη βία και συναίσθημα, μια ιστορία που σε καθηλώνει. Μια ιστορία που διατηρεί την αγωνία σου σε υψηλά επίπεδα σε όλη την διάσταση, μια ιστορία γεμάτη ένταση, πάθος και νεύρο που δε παρασέρνει στην δύνη της, σε κάνει τμήμα της και δεν σε αφήνει εύκολα να την αποχωριστείς. Μια παρουσίαση γεγονότων και ανθρώπων, μέσα από ένα ιστορικό πρίσμα που σε κάνει να δεθείς, να αγαπήσεις και να κατανοήσεις τον καθέναν από αυτούς, παίρνοντας μαζί σου ένα κομμάτι τους. Διαβάστε το και σίγουρα θα μπει και θα μείνει στην καρδιά σας.
3.5 stars. This book is not at all what I expected! I thought it was historical fiction, but there's too much crazy melodrama for it to be that. Then I thought it was a historical romance, but it's far too detailed and well done for that, too. So the book is either extremely campy historical fiction or really, really excellent historical romance. But either way, it's loads and loads of fun.A few things you should know about me that factor into why I enjoyed this book so much:* I am picky about my tea. I have a lot of tea accessories and I love the ritual of going to tea and eating elegant little sandwiches.* I have a weakness for gorgeous gowns and ladies in big hats. I read lots of catalogues and fashion magazines.* I own vintage gloves and handkerchiefs. I dart around flea markets looking for pretty brooches. I get Victorian Papers catalogue. * I am somewhat obsessed with food. I read food blogs and tweets and magazines and cookbooks. I have a whole cupboard devoted to baking materials.That part of me, the girly romantic part who loves pretty fans and peonies and nesting, is the one who loves this book. The author writes wonderful descriptions that bring up the exotic scent of tea wafting up from a tin, the heartiness and comfort of a good hot meat pie, and the bustling activity on the teeming streets of London.The sensible part of me, the one who files her taxes in January and grits her teeth at the misuse of the term "literally," notes the following:* This book is wildly melodramatic and unrealistic and predictable.* Every character is one-dimensional; they are either perfect or evil.* There are too many POVs.* The Jack the Ripper subplot is superfluous, as are some of the secondary characters and details.* Far too many people die.* There is too much name-dropping. (Yep, you can do that in a Victorian novel, as long as you include Gauguin and the Prince of Wales various other luminaries in your anecdotes.)* There is an unfortunate tendency to jump forward in the story and then backtrack with a flashback.* The author gives her characters a little too much credit in coming up with innovations in their fields.* There are too many instances of telling us things about a character rather than showing them.* Fiona is the ultimate Mary Sue with her beautiful face and figure, brilliant blue eyes, and tendency to strike awe and admiration in everyone she meets.Having said all that, however, I really started to like Fiona after she leaves London. In the beginning, she's just a willful, reckless teenager, but she gradually develops into a pretty strong and admirable woman. I also liked how she gradually builds her wealth through her ingenuity and enthusiasm (and lots of luck), as well as the master scheme she undertakes to take revenge on those who have done her wrong. I really liked the descriptiveness of the author's writing, particularly in regards to London and the day to day life of the working class. The author has a good ear for language and I enjoyed reading about the tea factory and the development of Fiona's tea trade, Joe's vegetable stand, and Fiona's little merchant shop. I am surprised that an author who writes so well in that regard, however, settles for such sketchy characterizations and overly dramatic plots. Fiona and Joe and Nicholas and so on are all likable, but none of them are very deep, and they all behave in ways that approach hysteria at times. I would also have liked to have seen Fiona achieve some measure of (view spoiler)[personal fulfillment outside of her relationship with Joe. You shouldn't have to wait 10 years and cross an ocean to get to happiness. (hide spoiler)]
What do You think about The Tea Rose (2006)?
Countess of Monte-Christo…Revenge is sweet. And the good girl does not finish last!The magic of the story is in the telling. This long long long book finishes too soon, that's a good test; and it stays with you for a while, another good test; and characters you know like you met them, some you love to love, and some you love to hate, another good test; and the setting, Dickens!I read this book right after Rita died, and, well, it made me love, and miss, her even more: I wanted to give it to her, she would have loved it so much.It is so well written, you gloss over the bits that fit less well, details really, which you don't see while you're on the roller-coaster; Ms Donelly plays your emotions like a harp (keep a box of Kleenex handy) and you stop resisting her after a few chapters (and you learn so many things, like who invented the teabag…?).Enjoy the ride!
—Michel
I was just saying to my reading buddy, Rhonda, that I was tiring of the typical.. 'Privelaged girl meets Privelaged boy, having to endure the constant snear of society, all the while trying to (and always failing) to maintain ones virtue' stories. Don't get me wrong, I love those books as much as the next guy..er.. uhm girl. It's just that lately I have been craving something 'more'. More angst, More struggle, (beyond what color of dress to wear to the society ball), more 'REAL'. I definatly found that in 'The Tea Rose'. A magnificent story, of love and loss, struggle and survival, and the determination to be more than what life has handed you. A beautiful 'life and love' story, that felt very real for me. Nothing fairy tale-ish about it, just a handful of people willing to work there butts of to make it in a cruel world.. and the people along the way, some who hindered, many who loved unconditionally and helped ease the way.I adored this book.. Can't wait for
—Mishelle LaBrash
If we had half stars I think it would be a 3.5 star book.It is hard to rate this book because I really did enjoy it a lot and I really want to read the sequel, The Winter Rose.I loved the characters and I love how Donnelly sucks you into the past, into her world and despite being so long, it never lets up in pace or story. The Tea Rose is 100% a thoroughly enjoyable book.However, it is no where near as good as A Northern Light/A Gathering Light which is why for me, I can't rate it higher. I also keep hearing that The Winter Rose is a lot better and it certainly sounds really good - more appealing then The Tea Rose.Everything was a little overdone, a little over the top - over the top absolute miserable - Donnelly didn't seem to know really when to stop. At some points it just felt jarring and stopped the emotional flow. I ended up thinking 'hmm, really?'The characters are all too perfect, a little (okay a lot) clichéd and she does really lay the 'oh woe is me' kinda thing, constantly reminding you of what a hard life they have had and how horrible it has been for these characters. She just packs it all in - there isn't one character I think that doesn't have a 'woe is me' storyline. They're all subject to some tragedy or injustice. There isn't anything very original or unique about these characters - a little to Betty Sue/Sam Sue - I've met them before. The characters are usually wallowing in pity - sometimes self-pity but often it is almost as if Donnelly is trying to push it in your face and make you pity them. Okay, some truly horrible things have happened to them - I already sympathise, I already like these characters please move on! Making you pity or feel sorry for a character doesn't add flesh to the bones. I've read a few books where instead of creating three dimensional characters the author just packs in the misery so you can't help but just feel sorry for them. Fortunately Donnelly is much better then this but I think in this aspect she could have done without all that whinging. There are too many coincidences, too many near misses and convenient twists that either work to get in the way to cause problems or even work to solve them. I don't like it when the author writes in too many questions. Sometimes it was just paragraphs of "But what should she do? Did that not happen? Is it going to work?" Most of it simply echoing what I, the reader am already asking myself, almost as if the author is trying to think for me.I think had I not really loved A Northern Light/A Gathering Light I may not have got that far into this book. However, I let myself become immersed in the story, in her ability to fold your into this world and lose yourself. And once you're in, you're in - you can't just turn back or not feel for these characters.Despite these rather hefty criticisms I still really enjoyed it. It's a rip-roaring tale and one that leaves you feeling very warm and satisfied by the end. The characters may not be the most original people, but they are very real - they just stand off from the page and certainly do not feel papery. Donnelly has written this book passionately, direct from the heart and so it is quite raw and a bit ragged around the edges. Despite my criticisms it is still a good book, truly very enjoyable and I think you can look beyond the problems. Obviously I did and I really enjoyed myself. It's a fast read.Now I just need to get my hands on The Winter Rose.
—Fiona
