The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

562 pages
Published November 2010
Atria Books, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
New York, NY

I was very excited when I learned last autumn that Australian author Kate Morton had a new novel that would be released in November. I had plans to read and review it while still hot off the presses so I got my hands on a copy as quickly as possible and started reading... But then life happened. When it came time to review the novel I ran out of time.

So here I am, months later and very excited to finally sit down and put my thoughts here. So for any of you who are fans of Gothic fiction, or for those of you who have heard of Kate Morton and are still curious about her latest offering, The Distant Hours, let me enlighten you.

First, in her own words:

The Plot:


My Thoughts:
As I sat down to write my review of The Distant Hours I once again found myself torn by how I truly felt about the story. As was the case with both of Morton's earlier novels, The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden I both loved and disliked this novel. When I stopped to reflect on what made me feel this way it always came back to the very same reasons I both loved and disliked her earlier books. What reasons? Well, for starters let me explain what I love.

I just love Kate Morton’s writing style. Other readers may consider her writing too descriptive or wordy, but I do not agree. I find the story plots clever and unique and her writing creates vivid scenes that leap off the pages and pull me into the story. There is a richness to each novel that keeps my attention riveted to the very last page. I MUST read to the end to learn the answers to all my questions and to know the outcome for each character within the story. I love a book that can make feel this way while I read.

So what did I dislike? The most obvious objection I had was with the wicked behavior of certain characters. But beyond that I also found that I didn't like the dark and depressing shadow that draped the entire story. At first I thought it was just Kate Morton's modern take that made the book so dark, but the more I think about Gothic novels in general I realize it coincides with the "horror" aspect of the Gothic novel and this is what I truly dislike no matter the era in which the story was written. Not to say there is the same type of "horror" that you would find in a slasher movie, because there isn't. What I mean is that the dark and disturbing aspects of the book and the hopelessness of some characters makes the story a bit of a downer. As I read I wait for the moment when the "wicked" are punished and the "good" finally get to live happily-ever-after in peace, but the more I think about it I realize that such an ending doesn't often exist within the Gothic genre.

For example, consider the following novels: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, or even the more recent Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. All of these novels are tales that weave romance with tragedy and horror and very few of them end on any note of happiness. And yet they all have two things in common: there is the thrill of the read and there is always a lesson or principle to ponder, even after the saddest of endings.

I suppose if I stop to consider The Distant Hours in light of these facts I find it less disappointing. Still, I keep hoping that one day I'll read a novel by Kate Morton that will be just as thrilling, but will have a much happier ending.

Overall, my emotions aside I found The Distant Hours to be well written, well plotted, and an excellent read. ~

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Related links:
Kate Morton (Official website)
Simon & Schuster: Kate Morton's Official Page
Simon & Schuster: The Distant Hours
Kate Morton - Video about The Distant Hours

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

283 pages
Published 1948
Charles Scribner's Sons
New York, NY

"Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much." (Chpt 12, pg 80)

I knew little to nothing of Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country before picking up a copy to read for my book club, but I looked forward to reading it with great anticipation as I wanted to know why it had been an immediate best-seller upon publication in 1948 and why it continued to sell some 70 years later.

Set in South Africa in the late 1940s, Cry, The Beloved Country tells the heart wrenching story of a Zulu pastor, Stephen Kumalo and the people of his country. As the story begins Stephen and his wife sacrifice their life savings so that Stephen may go in search of his lost son, Absalom, who they fear is in great trouble. The backdrop for his journey is a land of beauty and rich history, but also one filled with injustice, racism, poverty, and fear. As Stephen hunts for his son he encounters many different people, some whom he is able to help and a great deal more who are able to help him. This story may seem tragic at first, but if the reader stops to ponder the heart of book as a whole it becomes quite clear that it is more than that. It is a story of redemption, of hope and courage, and of God's love for ALL of his people.

From the first page I was drawn in. Paton's storytelling is simple and his chapters brief, yet his descriptions are vivid. It was if I were watching each scene pass before my eyes rather than words. The characters and places are real to life and the plot is tragically moving yet redemptive and thus beautiful. I was likewise fascinated by the social commentary aspect of the book. Much like Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope did in their day, Alan Paton took a fictional story and wove within it serious issues of the day (i.e. racism, greed, poverty, illiteracy, etc.). It is said that Paton's personal motto was "South Africa must be saved one person at a time." I think perhaps Cry, The Beloved Country was his attempt to share his heart's calling with mankind worldwide one reader at a time.

"It is my own belief that the only power which can resist the power of fear is the power of love. It's a weak thing and a tender thing; men despise and deride it. But I look for the day when in South Africa we should realize that they only lasting and worthwhile solution of our grave and profound problems lies not in the use of power, but in that understanding and compassion without which human life is an intolerable bondage, condemning us all to an existence of violence, misery, and fear." (Alan Paton, Intro. ixi)

In retrospect Cry, The Beloved Country is a book I truly enjoyed reading and highly recommend to other readers. It is a classic that is applicable to any person, any country, and at any time. There is always a lesson to be learned if the reader's heart is open.

Feeling thus I was not surprised to learn that Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton is on the list of 1,000 books you must read before you die. While there are a smattering of books on that list that I really believe aren't worth any reader's time to read, this is not one of those. Cry, The Beloved Country is not only a worthwhile read, it is a true piece of literature.

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For those who would like to learn more about Alan Paton or his book be sure to check out the links I've provided below.

* The Alan Paton Centre & Struggle Archives
* Cry, The Beloved Country (Audio Book)
* Simon & Schuster: Cry, The Beloved Country
* Wikipedia: Cry, The Beloved Country
* Wikipedia: Alan Paton
* Cry, The Beloved Country Timeline
* SparkNotes: Cry, The Beloved Country
* Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country: A Tale of Two Media by Dr. Glenn Statile (Word Doc)

The House At Riverton by Kate Morton

470 pages
Published in 2006 by Atria Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc
New York, NY

The House At Riverton was originally published in Australia in 2006 as The Shifting Fog; it was Kate Morton's debut novel at the age of 30. I've been curious to read this book for quite some time. The cover art and the publisher's plot summary just tickled my mystery-loving readers palette. After reading and enjoying The Forgotten Garden and learning that Dame Agatha Christie makes a cameo (yet fictional) appearance within the story I knew I needed to add this to my TBR list.

Plot Summary Courtesy of the Author:

My Thoughts:
Is it possible to really like and really dislike a book at the same time? Some might call that emotion "lukewarm", but I can't say my feelings about The House at Riverton were that, in fact they were far from it. I really really liked this book and at the same time I really really didn't. And apparently I am not alone in how I feel I've noticed reviews from other readers range from a 1 star "I didn't finish it, too predicable, to cliche." To 5 stars "I loved it! Such a great read, I couldn't put it down."

So what made me feel so strongly mixed in my emotions? Well, on the one hand I did find the story slightly predicable and the characters a little cliche. The plot was unique, but it didn't take me completely by surprise. From nearly the beginning I had figured out a good portion of the mystery. And then there was the characters and settings, they seemed oddly familiar. I finally realized there were two reasons for this. First, Morton tends to make subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) nods toward a handful of 19th and 20th century classics (but more on that later). And second, there are certain characteristics and themes that mirror each other between Morton's first and second novels, something that is obvious to anyone who has read the books close together. I can only hope this will not be repeated too many more times in her novels as it could grow old.

On the other hand, there is something about Morton's storytelling that I just really enjoy. Despite the predictability I still found myself caught up in the story and turning page after page until late at night I reached the end and at last the puzzle pieces all fell into place. It is a compelling story.

Something else that I like about Morton's writing is that she keeps her stories fairly clean. I may not agree with the moral choices that some of the characters make, but there is little to no language and the love scenes are more implied than described and any that are mentioned are void of details. The only exception in The House At Riverton was when two-thirds of the way through I was jolted in my reading when I came upon the single use of the "F" word. I was not expecting it and it felt completely unnecessary and as if the publisher required it to make the book appeal to the masses. Still, if a reader is willing to overlook this, as it only takes up a tiny percentage of the story, I suspect they will find The House At Riverton an engaging read.

At this point I feel I should note to readers that The House At Riverton is not really a love story, though a few characters do get their "happily-ever-after." It is a mystery that revolves around a tragedy and it is a coming-of-age story for both the protagonist and two extremely different social classes during the earliest years of the 20th century. It reminds me a little of Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier, which I suppose is why I was not surprised to learn that Kate Morton claimed her inspiration for the book sprouted from several sources, including novels by Daphne DuMaurier, the Bronte sisters and Ian McEwan. In addition to the obvious (Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Atonement) I also noticed several other literary hints to such novels as Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen, Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

I realize not every reader will like The House At Riverton and honestly I'm a little surprised that I did. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it has to do with Kate Morton's storytelling. She just weaves a story that kept me reading.

If either The Forgotten Garden or The House At Riverton are ever adapted to the screen I would be interested in seeing them. I am already planning to check out Morton's third and latest novel, The Distant Hours, which will be available in November of this year. From what I can find on Morton's website this novel will be a little different, but there are still some of the same themes she used in her first two novels. I'm curious as to the reason behind this. Why is Morton inspired to write about these particular types of people? And will she be able to tell a story equally as compelling as her first two yet without echoing the feeling of deja vue? Guess I'll have to wait and see.

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Related Links:
Kate Morton's Website
The Forgotten Garden Reviewed

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

180 pages
Published 1925 by Charles Scribner's Sons
Reprinted 2004 Scribner
New York, NY

Who hasn't heard of The Great Gastby by F. Scott Fitzgerald? Although it was not initially a bestseller it has since become standard amongst reading curriculum for literature classes. It is considered one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, a modern classic, and is on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. In fact, most readers who've taken standard literature courses have probably read this book at sometime during their educational years.... Excepting me.

Set on Long Island's North Shore and New York City, The Great Gatsby tells a tale of the mysterious and fabulously wealthy Jay Gatsby and the woman he loves, one Daisy Buchanan.

At first glance one might assume this is a story of love, but it isn't. The Great Gatsby is a tragedy. It is also a social commentary or maybe more accurately, a critique of the great "American Dream."

F. Scott Fitzgerald paints within The Great Gatsby a picture of what life was like for many of the rich and famous (and bored) during the "roaring 20s" -- a time when the US economy flourished and the wealthy spent all weekend partying, drinking, flirting, and maybe dabbling a little in organized crime.

I always thought I would hate The Great Gatsby. I think this predisposed opinion was rooted in the fact I'd been told it was a depressing story and I don't like depressing stories. Life is hard enough why read a book that makes you feel worse? And yet, the fact that it seemed everyone else in the world had read this book I was determined to read it and find out what IS so great about Gatsby?

For starters it is a well-written novel. Fitzgerald's writing is clever, imaginative, and humorous (I found myself laughing out loud several times). It is also thought provoking in its sadness. Woven into the story are some very interesting lessons. Particularly is the lesson about what can happen when a person tries to "remake" himself so to define who he is rather than how the world would define him from birth. The sadness comes into the story in more than the tragic-star-crossed-lover aspect, it's everywhere with the characters as they rush around completely self-focused and trying, but failing, to find true happiness. To some this could make for a depressing read, and yet oddly enough I didn't find that to be the case for me. Yes, the ending of the book is sad, but I also found it a satisfactory and acceptable ending. It couldn't have ended anyway else without coming across as far-fetched or cheap storytelling.

As I finished The Great Gatsby I was a little puzzled at my unbiased opinion. I felt objective. It isn't really a book I could say I loved, nor was it one I despised. Maybe my comprehension of literature, particularly that of the "Modernism/Lost Generation" era (i.e. Steinbeck, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, etc.) has changed from when I was a teenager or young adult or maybe my understanding of mankind has changed. At any rate I found The Great Gatsby an interesting read. In the end I was glad I took the time to read it and I can see why it is considered a classic. There is much that can be taken from this book, even though it is a tragedy in its ending.

If you haven't already read The Great Gatsby you should consider adding it to your 20th century reading list. It's short. It's entertaining. It's thought provoking. And in my opinion it's better than Hemingway.

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Movie Adaptations. There have been several film adaptations. Probably the most famous stars Robert Redford as Gatsby and Mia Farrow as Daisy, but since I can't stand Mia Farrow I opted to watch a more recent version done in 2000 by A&E and starring Paul Rudd (Nick), Mira Sorvino (Daisy), and Toby Stephens (Gatsby). This version kept very close to the book and I thought it well made -- good costumes, music, scenery, casting, etc. I have also heard rumors that another adaptation is to be released in 2012, but I was unable to find anything further regarding who would be cast in the lead roles.

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Great Gatsby Quotes:

"Before I could reply that he was my neighbor dinner was announced; wedging his tense arm imperatively under mine, Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were moving a checker to another square." (Chpt. 1, pg. 11)

"There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.(Chpt 3, pg 39)

"On a chance we tried an important-looking door, and walked into a high Gothic library, panelled with carved English oak, and probably transported complete from some ruin overseas. A stout, middle-aged man, with enormous owl-eyed spectacles, was sitting somewhat drunk on the edge of a great table, staring with unsteady concentration at the shelves of books. As we entered he wheeled excitedly around and examined Jordan from head to foot.
'What do you think? 'he demanded impetuously.
'About What?'
'About that. As a matter of fact you needn't bother to ascertain. I ascertained. They're real.'
'The books?'
He nodded. 'Absolutely real -- have pages and everything. I thought they'd be a nice durable cardboard. matte of fact, they're absolutely real. Pages and -- Here! Lemme show you.' Taking our scepticism for granted, he rushed to the bookcases and returned with Volume One of the Stoddard Lectures. 'See!' he cried triumphantly. 'It's a bona-fide piece of printed matter. It fooled me.'" (Chpt. 3, pg 45)

"And I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night. Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter --- to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther... And one fine morning --- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."(Cpt. 9, pg. 180)

Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C. S. Lewis

I'd never heard of Till We Have Faces -- A Myth Retold before it was presented as a possible read for February by a member of my book club.

Truth is, I have read only a few of C. S.Lewis' works even though they are quite extensive (both in quantity and subject). My introduction to Lewis was when my mother read The Chronicles of Narnia to my siblings and I when we were young. I didn't pick up another Lewis book until last spring when I noticed my brother-in-law reading Mere Christianity. Curious I added it to my list of books to read and finished it over the summer (sorry, no review). And that brings us to my most recent Lewis read: Till We Have Faces.

I was a little intimidated by this book, mostly because of its subtitle, "A Myth Retold"... a myth... as in ancient Greek and Latin mythology.... Not my cup of tea. While I have found the occasional story to be entertaining, mostly I find them boring. I was very much afraid I would find this book to be the same. But I was wrong.

I started Till We Have Faces by listening to the audio book. Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the beautiful English accent of the reader, I realized at the rate she read it would take me several weeks to finish the book and I didn't have the patience for that, so I picked up my own copy and began to read it myself. It only took a few pages before I was immersed in the story and soon I had trouble setting the book down. I didn't want to stop reading, I wanted to know what was going to happen next!

For those unfamiliar with the story here is a summary (no spoilers included): Till We Have Faces is the retelling of a Greek myth; the love story between Cupid, the son of Venus and thus a god, and Psyche, a very beautiful woman yet a mortal.

In his retelling C. S. Lewis turned the story on it's side, this time it isn't so much a tale of love between a god and a mortal, but the story of everything that happened before and after this love affair. Till We Have Faces is told in the form of narration and from the point of view of Psyche's older and very ugly sister, Princess Orual.

The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Glome around the last centuries of B.C. (approx. 100-200 years before Christ's birth). As the story is narrated by Princess Orual it characteristically follows her life, from a young girl to an old woman, with everyone else taking the role of supporting characters. Thus along the way the reader learns of Psyche and her story and what part Orual plays in it. Although a story of Orual, Psyche is very much at the heart of it, it is because of Psyche that Orual is even telling her story -- a story that she believes to be an accurate and truthful account of her life and which she will use to plead her case before the gods, whom she believes have treated her unfairly.

As I said, I'm not a fan of mythological literature, but I found Lewis' retelling well-written and thought provoking. The story is rich in so many elements. Throughout the tale romance, tragedy, adventure, and drama are skillfully woven. At times Till We Have Faces reminded me of a few Shakespeare plays I've read (only without the 16th century English to trip me up). There are also deep undercurrents in the story -- analogies can be found in conversations, settings, characters, and events. I'd be very curious to pick Lewis' brain and see what he was thinking as he wrote the story.

Till We Have Faces very different from Lewis' other works, but that should not discount it as a novel. In fact, it deserves a certain level of importance amongst Lewis' works for a few reasons. First, the concept for the book was one that is said to have plagued him for over 30 years before he actually sat down to write it. Second, it is the last work of fiction by Lewis, and third and last, it is the one book he considered his best.

Overall I have to say I liked Till We Have Faces. It is a very different type of book than I normally read, but I am glad to have been stretched as a reader and to have read it. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate Till We Have Faces a 4. I liked it, it was well-written, it is thought provoking. Readers should take time to include it in their literary education, though I would advise readers borrow instead of buy -- at least initially until you are certain of your opinion.

For those curious additional information about this book can be found on several websites including Literary Encylopedia, Book Rags and Wikipeida. Please bewarned some of these sites do contain spoilers.

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Note: it appears there might be a movie coming. Someone mentioned seeing a movie titled Till We Have Faces with a release date of 2010. Not sure if it'll be the same story or if it will even be made... guess we'll have to wait and see. This story would make a fantastic movie... if handled properly.

Absent In The Spring by Mary Westmacott (a.k.a Agatha Christie)

Absent In The Spring is the third of six novels written by Agatha Christie under the nom-de-plume, Mary Westmacott. At some point I read that the novels published under this name were stories of romance, but apparently that is false, they are actually tragedies. A fact I found out too late when reading this book. I expected a romance and found something else instead. (Please note this review contains a spoiler, so read with caution, the spoiler is marked so it can be avoided easily.)

A short novel (161 pages), the story is set in the Middle East and England. The protagonist, Joan Scudamore, is a middle-aged mother of three and wife of a successful county solicitor. As the story opens, Joan is traveling back home from Baghdad, Iraq after visiting her youngest daughter who has been gravely ill. En route to England Joan becomes stranded for several days at a Rest House in the middle of nowhere when heavy rain storms prevent her next mode of transportation (a train) from arriving. At first, Joan views this unexpected delay as a respite, a time to rest and of self-discovery. Unfortunately her reflections soon bring to the surface some uncomfortable truths about herself and her loved ones. This isn't the tragedy, it's how Joan deals with these truths that becomes the tragedy.

Absent In The Spring is a very well written novel. Westmacott/Christie does a wonderful job writing a story that is told mostly in retrospect without losing the interest of the reader, a difficult task. But that is all I can give in praise of this book. I did not like Absent In The Spring. I found Joan to be selfish, shallow, and a complete snob. (If I were to name another fictional character that she closely resembled, I'd have to say Mrs. Bennett in Pride And Prejudice. While she wasn't as silly as Mrs. Bennett, Joan's attention to other people was just as shallow and her ability to deal with difficult situations, just as self-centered and lazy.)

****SPOILER****
Towards the end of the novel Joan comes to grips with some very difficult truths and is resolved to return home and set things right; to start afresh... But I was annoyed to find her returning to the same-ol'-same-old almost as soon as she arrives home.

In a nutshell, Absent In The Spring is a sad, bleak, almost depressing tale of a middle-age woman who faces the ugliness in her true self, resolves to change, but sinks back into the same life without even making a sincere effort.

****END OF SPOILER****

Absent In The Spring was published in 1944. As you may recall if you read my review of The Mystery of the Blue Train, Agatha Christie had undergone a very painful period in her life during the late 1920s when her husband announced he wanted a divorce. I can't help but wonder if some of Christie's personal emotions and observations of people in her life (including herself) played into Joan's story.

On a scale of 1-5 (one being horrible and five being excellent), I would rate Absent In The Spring a 2. I didn't like it; I don't care for tragedies. However, it was well written. Westmacott/Christie's writing captures the characteristics of her protagonist very well. Anyone who loves a good tragedy would find this novel a quick and perhaps enjoyable read. (Can a tragedy ever be enjoyable?)

I am glad I borrowed my copy from the library rather than buying it. In the future if I ever find myself in a mood for a tragedy, I might consider reading another Westmacott novel, but for now... I am quite happy reading one Christie's crime novels. At least the tragedy in those is kept to a "who-dun-it" murder mystery.