Thornyhold (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: Cousin Geillis, Mary Stewart, Christopher John (more...)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 188 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (January 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000NUJL5C
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,182,265 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loneliness Finds Love, June 6, 2002

By	Diana F. Von Behren "reneofc" (Kenner, LA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Thornyhold (Hardcover)

My first response to this novel, when it was originally published, was to compare it negatively to Mary Stewart's earlier thrillers. I thought the plot trivial, the heroine insipid and overall wondered if the author, always one of my favorites,was losing her magical touch that had inspired me for over 20 years. Now, upon listening to the audio book version read by the talented Jane Asher, I believe my first impressions was wrong.

Granted Geillis Ramsey is not Mary Stewart's typical heroine: the career girl on vacation or on the new job who through a set of odd happenstances literally must fend for her life. Geillis is reflective. While Ms Stewart's other heroines, report and record the vivid locales through the sense-provoking medium of the author's glorious prose, Geillis Ramsey revels in it. She is an older contemplative Ms Stewart telling of her love of home, relating small yet monumentally beautiful occurrences of her own life, set in the green splendour of the UK. At the same time, she weaves these "little things" into a feasible fictional story of a lonely girl who with the help of an older unorthodox cousin finds her special niche in terms of self, community and finally love. The elan of witchcraft interjects a minor touch of the old Stewart suspense, but, on the whole, I believe this is Ms Stewart's tribute to life, love, and nature.

Lyrically beautiful and highly recommended.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Place To Go, January 23, 2000

By	lou greulich (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thornyhold (Mass Market Paperback)

I've been reading Mary Stewart since high school, which was a long time ago. I've always been taken with her ability to evoke a sense of place and atmosphere. In THORNYHOLD she does this superbly. In STORMY PETRAL and ROSE COTTAGE I, very sadly, felt her advanced age was affecting her writing. I was afraid I'd read my last really good Mary Stewart book. However, THORNYHOLD is wonderful; a lovely place to escape to when you need a break from this hectic modern world, and feel the need to spend some time in a romantic cottage full of magic. I recommend you visit soon and often.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Being a witch has never been so lovely!, October 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Thornyhold (Mass Market Paperback)

I thought this book was the one of the best I have read in a long time. You could curl up by a fire and read for hours. It's like a fantasy world. I'm sure everyone has dreamed of being a witch one or twice in there life,But, fore Gellis it has come true. If you like Gothic and you like a romantic witch story this is the book for you!