Friday, July 26, 2013

                               June 2013 Host:  Jaci and Stephanie
                                                     
                             The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton        

Summary

This novel begins in the year 1913 when a dock master discovers a four-year-old child left alone on a dock in Queensland, Australia after all passengers had disembarked from a boat that had sailed from England.  The dock master and his wife decide to keep the child, as efforts to trace her family have failed, and they name her Nell.  In the present day (this novel switches perspectives between the years 1913, 1975, and 2005) Cassandra is grieving for her grandmother Nell’s passing and discovers, while going through Nell’s things, that Nell had continued searching for her true parents.   Cassandra takes over this search which leads her to England and a small Cornish village, and finally to a small and very aged cottage with a walled garden, that may contain answers to some of the many secrets of the past.  This novel was a real page turner, although rather lengthy at 550 pages, and some may have difficulty keeping track of what is happening with the frequent going back and forth between generations.  Also, the male characters in the novel are weak and at times, insipid.  These flaws, however, are easily overlooked with the author’s pacing and attention to character detail.  Everyone in our book club thoroughly enjoyed this great read and would highly recommend it. 

Menu

                                      Appetizers

                                                  Coleslaw
                                                  Salsa

                                                  Fish Tacos

                                                  Shrimp Salad

                                                  Pasta Salad

                                                  Key Lime Pie

                                                  Cupcakes

                                                  The Van

                                                  Karen

                                          Late Night Entertainment




                                                          

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