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By: WINT 001
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2025-04-24 16:26:28 |
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Everyone enjoyed the novel, in part because we had all visited Larnach Castle, so we were familiar with this setting. It was interesting to read about aspects of late Victorian life from clothing and daily activities, to social mores. We enjoyed information about the leaders of New Zealand at the time, as well as familiar Dunedin identities such as Hocken and Cargill. A very worthwhile N.Z. historic novel. |
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By: GORE 006
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2024-10-21 10:39:17 |
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Very interesting take! |
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By: CROMW 004
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2024-04-29 11:27:34 |
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Generally we found the pace of the book was slow but we all enjoyed reading about 'local' history, and we were all familiar with Larnach's Castle. An interesting commentary of the times. |
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By: MAST 010
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2024-01-11 14:56:03 |
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Most enjoyed the read and all the history. |
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By: BLENH 027
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2023-10-18 12:48:51 |
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Intriguing tale around non-fictional events in 19th century New Zealand. Interesting character development, easy narrative and clever format with the tale told as two different perspectives from the main characters (Dougie and Conny). |
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By: DUNED 072
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2023-06-07 10:28:54 |
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Writing style much appreciated. |
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By: NAP 032
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2022-04-10 09:49:10 |
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Our consensus of opinion was a 2.7/5. We thought the author quite successfully transported us back to that time and found the role of women and "a woman's lot" back then somewhat unenviable. Considering the characters were, at times, rather unpleasant people with some questionable traits, the author managed to keep it engaging enough to keep the pages turning. Some thought it could have been shorter as it was a bit repetitive and lost momentum at times. We enjoyed the occasional thought-provoking passages scattered throughout the book. |
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By: FEILD 005
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2022-02-28 14:22:15 |
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A good insight into early N.Z. Everyone read it or attempted to. A few just didn't enjoy the style and found it very repetitive. Others loved it. |
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By: FEILD 005
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2022-02-16 09:41:12 |
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A good insight into early New Zealand. Everyone read it or attempted to read it. A few just didnt enjoy the style and found it very repetitive. Others loved it. Some members had visited Larnach Castle and now others hoping to. Great night. |
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By: ASHB 005
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2021-10-18 14:11:53 |
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As we were all familiar with Larnach's Castle, we enjoyed this book. We decided the format of telling the story by two of the characters was good, but it made for some repetition. |
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By: CHCH 202
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2021-07-22 13:17:57 |
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This was thoroughly enjoyed by the group - the language, the era evoked, the history, the whole thing. One gent even said he never thought he'd read a love story, let alone enjoy reading it! |
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By: CHCH 355
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2021-07-22 13:14:19 |
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Authentic in terms of historical facts and the mores of the time. Didn't excite sympathy for the characters. |
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By: WELL 104
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2021-07-22 13:12:33 |
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Group sharply divided in opinions. Three gave it a 2 star and found it slow, boring, and a "bodice ripper"! The rest of us thought it was skilfully crafted, characters well developed and believable, with clever touches setting the scene of Dunedin and Wellington in the era. We gave it a 4 star! |
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By: DUNED 097
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2021-07-22 13:09:35 |
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Enjoyed it, and the style it was written in. Especially good as we could visit some of the historical sites. |
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By: MAST 013
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2021-07-21 14:58:43 |
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Mixed reaction to this book. Some enjoyed it, some thought it long winded and boring! A good insight into NZ in the Victorian era - how times have changed. |
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By: MATAM 004
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2021-07-21 14:57:03 |
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We felt the author captured the essence of the thinking of that period in history. Conny's actions in regard to her husband upset the morality of the Victorian era. Whilst she began to be shunned by Dunedin society, she showed her loyalties to her husband by supporting him in his endeavours, while her love for Dougie never waived. It was a tragic story sensitively recorded. |
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By: MTMA 001
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2021-07-21 14:53:03 |
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Inspired lively discussion of N.Z. history. |
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By: WHAKA 017
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2021-07-21 14:52:24 |
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This fictional, historic novel was enjoyed by most of the group. The story was slowly presented with alternating voices in an appropriate writing style for the time. |
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By: WAIHEK 001
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2021-07-21 14:51:01 |
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General consensus was that it was well-written and enjoyed by all. A great insight into a part of history. |
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By: TEMUK 001
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2021-07-21 14:50:03 |
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A great read - N.Z. history, social history, compelling characters, well-written. Enjoyed by all group members. |
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By: CHCH 078
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2021-07-21 14:48:52 |
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History was interesting, but somewhat tedious prose. |
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By: TIMAR 011
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2021-07-21 14:47:11 |
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I was unable to attend the meeting, but the group reported a great discussion and overall hearty endorsement of the book. Apparently there was a move to arrange a trip to Dunedin to visit 'the lamp'. Second time reading this book for me - enjoyed as much as the first read. |
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By: CHCH 240
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2019-07-26 11:41:19 |
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A beautiful tender love story. Many of us knew the story of the relationship, and the familiar places. As one reader said "Fact can be stranger than fiction". An easy read, well-written, but didn't rivet some. Cleverly written in the language of the era, with picturesque descriptions of the castle and the characters. |
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By: OWAKA 001
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2018-04-29 16:25:57 |
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We were a little disappointed in this book, some of us by the characters, some of us by the writing. We were looking forward to this, as we live quite close to Dunedin and most of us know it well, and have visited Larnach Castle. We did enjoy the historical bits and the setting and learning about the lives in more detail of the Larnachs particularly and the other politicians and important Dunedin people that we knew of. But we expected more stylish writing from Owen Marshall whose short stories some of us had read and admired. Characters were a little flat and the narrators undifferentiated. |
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