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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comfort and a cup of tea between two covers., April 1, 2001
This review is from: The Carousel (Mass Market Paperback)
That is what a Rosamunde Pilcher book has become to me. Her characters are well developed and likable, mostly they are flawed, with an inane sense of justice. This particular book introduces us to 23 year-old Prue who meets up with a young girl named Charlotte when they both board a train in London bound for Cornwall. Prue will be staying with her aunt Phoebe, while Charlotte will be staying with her far from doting Grandmother who just happens to live next door. Pilcher writes beautifully of the surrounding countryside, which is always a delight when reading her books. In Cornwall, Prue will find fulfillment, and a little girl will find a home. As predictable as Pilcher may be it's how she presents her story that leaves one wanting more. The ending leaves the reader contented with a sense of deliverance for all involved; but why don't I leave that to this superb teller of tales. Kelsana 4/01/01
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sadly not a Rosamunde Pilcher hit, November 17, 2006
This review is from: The Carousel (Mass Market Paperback)
I just finished this book, and when I had read the last line, I wondered what had happened to Rosamunde Pilcher. Further--where is the meat? I checked the copyright date--1982. Her stride with the Shell Seekers hit in 1987, followed by September in 1990, Coming Home in 1995, and Winter Solstice in 2000. Sadly, I think I was reading before she became that marvelous storyteller. Everyone has to start, and this book foreshadows the descriptions and storylines she grows to entertwine so wonderfully. But not in this book. The characters are but briefly drawn, but never drew me in like the others above. I never got a picture of Cornwall or Penmarron as the other books had. I finished it as a task that needed finishing, not with the "I have to see what happens" and then, "oh, no, it's over" that her masterpieces gave me. As a lover of Ms. Pilcher's work, I cannot recommend this one. If I had read this one first, I would never have picked up those other wonderful stories of hers. The reviews written are dismal as well...it is not "satisfying," "captivating," nor "an unforgettable journey." I actually want to forget this one. Sorry, Rosamunde. I do love your other work. I think this is a story that happened on the way to becoming a wonderful writer. Note the copyright dates is my word of advice to Pilcher readers. And if this was your first with her--go to one of the above mentioned!
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18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Predictable and Unremarkable, May 30, 2001
This review is from: The Carousel (Mass Market Paperback)
Having read The Shell Seekers before I read The Carousel, I was expecting a great deal more from this book than was delivered. It is your basic, everyday love story that is so madly predictable that you will find yourself yearning for something original to read. The story lacks depth and warmth; just when one gets to know and enjoy the characters, the story ends. I wished for a great deal more background information about the characters while reading this book; The Shell Seekers told richly layered stories about the personal histories of its characters, in The Carousel, one must be content with a mere skimming of the surface of its characters and their lives. If you are looking for a simple, short and uncomplicated 'Danielle Steel' sort of read, then this book is the one for you. Don't bother with it if you loved The Shell Seekers and are looking to recapture the magic it held. Personally, I was embarrassed for Rosamunde Pilcher; her publishers must have been shocked and disappointed in her. The Carousel is far below the quality one expects of the author, and was a very poor attempt at literature on her part.
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