Melanie

This classic novel is full of imagery and themes for discussion. I think one reason it continues to endure as a school literature staple is that for students just entering the analytical world of literature the connections and themes painted within this novel are rich and easily identified. The author is a master of painting a visual picture. I was a sucker for the Robert Redford Film and it is one of the few novels I read as a student that came to life on the screen in a way that was much as I had imagined.
I lowered my rating to 3 stars because at the same time I felt like I wanted more. It felt like the characters were almost caricatures of the era, or perhaps props used as vessels to tell the store of the themes of class and privilege and money and power and appearance upon the glitzy backdrop of a by gone era. Lessons to learn within this novel I understand but I would rather have been taught them by more deeply developed characters.

Sorry, I cannot help but love this novel. My opinion is biased however due to my love of the movie since childhood. I took my children to see the movie in the big screen this summer, it launched interesting conversations in this world of 2015. Things about the history of that time that I as a child didn't even think to question or notice horrified my children. It was interesting to visit an “old favourite”

This was much better than I expected. I have listened to a few of these audible originals and not been impressed. I am actually interested in listening to future “winter” stories if they are written. Give this one a chance.

A fun quick read that I truly enjoyed. I have been looking for something like the Oh so popular “One for the Money” Series by Janet Evanovich. This is not exactly that but does remind me a bit of that style of writing. Something that needs to be solved along with quirky family dynamics and maybe a touch of light romcom. Enjoyable from page to page. Good book for fun while learning a bit about a culture you may know very little about too.

I find this series to always be a page turner late into the night!