Customer Reviews

Past Remembering

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a big fan of Lyn Denison, I've read almost everything she has written. But this work has become my favorite of hers, it knocked out "Dreams Found" as my favorite Denison book.

This book spans three generations of love between women. The protagonist is Asha West a young woman who loves the past. She is a genealogist and is hired by Vivienne Chaseley to compose a family history book for her step-son's 60th birthday. Asha comes to live at the Chaseley Estate and meets Peri Moyland (who is also staying with Vivienne). The two young women clash at first, Asha is attracted to Peri but can't figure out why Peri is so against her as a person.

Through her investigating for the book, Asha stumbles upon secret journals from Georgie Chaseley. Georgie and Richard Chaseley came to Austraila from England to find a new life in the late 1800's. The journals are written by Georgie and document the hardships and trials the young country had to go through. Asha is so excited and wants to share her discovery with Vivienne and Peri. At first Peri is not interested but eventually is intrigued by the writings. Peri also finds Asha interesting and with a chance encounter late one evening, the two women find a passion together.

As I was reading this book, I had to draw a flowchart to keep the families organized but it was fun because I too am a genealogist and enjoy the past. This book really catches your interest and stays riviting through to the end.

I hope you find it as entertaining as I did.

I've enjoyed Lyn Denison's novels for some time and usually did not mind her brief references to past experiences but in this one I think she spent far too much time on Georgie (mystery from the distant past) and sacrificed developing the stories of the present and recent past lovers. The sub-plot took over the entire novel.I would have liked to see Rosemary at least make the call to Asha's step-mother.

There were too many loose ends.....

Asha West, geneoalogist, takes a break between jobs to research the family history of one of Brisbane's well known families,the Chaseleys. She is really escaping a bad break up with a girlfriend.

This story has several stories. One is the research of a past relative of the Chaseley's. The ancestor is hiding a secret and the research reveals this.

The other story is Asha's stepmother. She has a connection with the family that was never fully developed and we're left hanging as to what the outcome is. I would like to have seen this story developed.

The third is Asha's involvement with a Chaseley relative, Peri Moyland. This part was too rushed. It was but a few days after these two meet that they are falling in bed. Then there was Peri's jealously. I couldn't buy that Peri was thinking Asha was straight when Asha told Peri she was a lesbian. This happens when Asha is escorted to an event by Peri's brother. Talk about jumping to conclusions. This story could have been so much more. Still a good story to read one night when you don't have anything better to do.

I really enjoyed this story. Set in Brisbane Australia. Loved the back story dating back over 150 years. I Loved how the stories of four families interwove through the years to the surprised relatives today. I didn't feel I got to know Peri as well as I would like but I really enjoyed the broad cast of characters ranging over several generations. Famous Cricket players, matrons, lawyers, homemakers, teachers, ex-lovers, men, women and children. And LOTS of family secrets! This was a quick read that I didn't want to put down until done.

Don't miss the author's other novels:

Gold Fever
The Feel of Forever
Always and Forever
Dream Lover
Dreams Found
Silver Threads
Wild One

From the first sentence of this book ("Asha pulled her Holden Astra into the last parking niche in the riverside lay-by.") to the last, this Texan was enchanted. Genealogist Asha West takes up temporary residence in the posh Chaseley estate in order to document the family's history. As she meticulously peels away the layers of a fascinating historical romance, she encounters the formidable emotional fortress of Peri Moyland, another house guest with a rather mysterious background.

The author uses the familiar technique of finding old documents in a trunk (seen most recently in Marianne K. Martin's "Under the Witness Tree") as a launch pad for a special telling of history. I think the wild frontier days of Australia easily rival those of the American West, and I love to read about them in the context of "our" stories.

The developing relationship between Asha and Peri moves in parallel with the unfolding story of Chaseley family ancestors. The conclusion neatly ties the two together, making this a very satisfying read. Even if you're not a history buff, I think you'll enjoy this book.

Lyn Denison is a hidden treasure. If you have not read her books, I so do challenge you to. This book is very compelling to me on many levels. I like the part where the brother needs to protect the sister on their journey. This is most intriguing to me and I find the story line fascinating.

The other story line is good. I love the characters mother. She brings an extra splash to the story line that keeps you glued to the pages.

I cannot say more than this, I do not want to give the book and all its "greatness" away.

I have re-purchased it, I am sure I loan my first copy out and it was passed on to others. I do plan to re-read it and if someone asks I most likely pass it on and re-purchase it again and again.

Thanks

START OF BACK COVER TEXT - Feeling she needs a change of scenery, librarian and genealogist, Asha West leaves her job and a failed relationship behind to return to her home in Brisbane. With her new library position not due to start for a couple of months Asha plans to take a well-earned break and spend some time with her family.

Her plans go awry almost immediately when she is contacted by Vivienne Chaseley, the matriarch of one of the city's pioneering families. The elderly woman has seen a book Asha prepared for a friend's family reunion and she wants Asha to do something similar about her own family. Unable to resist the project, Asha soon finds herself moving into the Chaseley's historic home.

Soon research isn't the only thing on Asha's mind when she meets another visitor at the house - the cool and attractive Peri Moyland. What would it take to melt Peri's cool exterior? Any involvement on Asha's part would be simply asking for trouble and heartache...wouldn't it?
- END OF BACK COVER TEXT

Lyn Denison is one of those always-dependable authors who consistently deliver a solid story. Some of her books are a little light on dimensionality, but others are deep and complex. `Past Remembering' is definitely one of the latter.

Asha returns to her hometown after a bad breakup and hopes to start a new life close to her fractured family. The few months' break she originally planned becomes a memory when a local matriarch - Vivienne Chaseley - asks Asha to prepare a book of family history for her son's upcoming birthday. Asha reluctantly agrees and finds herself wrapped up in a web of history and intrigue. She also finds herself undeniably attracted to the enigmatic and emotionally unavailable Peri Moyland, Vivienne's grandaughter

While researching the book, Asha happens across a series of confusing family secrets - secrets Peri helps her decipher as the two women become closer. In the meantime, Asha learns more about her own family and their previously-undisclosed ties to the Chaseleys.

This book is full of stories - Asha and Peri, Asha's stepmother's past, Vivienne's ancestors - but they're tied together so artfully the transition is fluid and the distinction between the tales is obvious. In my opinion, this is Denison's best book yet and should be enjoyed by everyone.