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Review: The Girl On The Cliff by Lucinda Riley
Filed in 4 Stars , Blodeuedd , guest review , Lucinda Riley , Review Posted on October 31, 2011 @ 10:00 am
7 comments
Format read: paperback copy provided by publisher
Number of Pages: 576
Release Date: 27 October 2011
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Fiction with a mix of historical fiction
Puchasing Info: Author’s Website, Publisher, Amazon, Goodreads, Book Depository (US), Book Depository (UK)
Book Blurb:
Could a secret from 1914 end a century of heartache?
A tiny figure stands at the cliff edge – hair flying in the breeze. Grania Ryan is hypnotised by the enchanting vision, unaware this young girl, Aurora Lisle, will change her life in countless ways. For Grania is suffering and has returned to Ireland and the arms of her loving family, in the hope her wounds might heal.
As their paths begin to entwine, Grania’s mother becomes deeply troubled … because almost a century of entanglement has brought nothing but terrible tragedy to their two families.
The past is set to repeat its sorrows. A suitcase hidden in the attic of a magnificent house in London during the First World War is where it all began, but could it now hold the key to ending the heartbreak that has beset the Lisles and the Ryans for so long?
My thoughts:
This book is about Grania and the young girl she meets, Aurora Lisle, but it is also about her family’s past and Aurora’s family since they have been intertwined for 100 years. But mostly it is about Grania even if we later learn that it is Aurora who is telling the story.
Grania leaves New York and her fiancé after a miscarriage. She is sad and lonely and it because of this that she takes Aurora under her wings. Because who would not when the poor girl is standing all lost and sad on a cliff. Aurora lost her mother and they think she saw the suicide so the poor kid has issues. But there is just something about Aurora, even I as a reader want to protect her as she seems so lonely when her dad is not home a lot. And Grania needs this, a purpose while she deals with her own grief and the reason why she left New York without talking to Matt. A reason we learn about much later on. But now we have Grania and Aurora, new found friends and Grania’s family and mysterious Alexander, Aurora’s dad. But we also see glimpses of Matt who was left behind and wondered what went wrong. Yes both Grania and Matt makes mistakes and are idiots, and it takes me a while to make my mind up whether I want them together or not. But that you have to find out for yourself.
But the book is also about the past. Why does her mother hate the Lisle family? It all starts 1914 with Mary and the choices she makes and what happens to her. I actually liked this story the best, the pages just flew by as I wanted to know what would happen to poor Mary. It deals with the war and she is of the same protective spirit as Grania is. Then that story is over and we have learnt a bit more. But not why they hate, just why they are close. The last story is learnt when there are big questions that need to be answered, and it is a sad and unfair story taking place in the 70s. The Lisle family does seem cursed and I would not want to have anything to do with them. But after Kathleen, Grania’s mother has told that story I also liked the Ryan’s more because they are such a warm family and if anyone is in need they do not hold grudges for long.
The story is sad too, here and there. People do not always make the right choices; they are cruel, selfish and unkind. But the book also has the other side and shows the goodness in people, their will to protect and to move on. And that is what I liked about this book, these two contrasts as the Lisle family is often on one side and the Ryan’s on the other.
The book never feels jumpy either. No, Grania’s story is told and in two places we hear the story from the 1914s and 70s. There are also the passages from Aurora when a chapter starts where she tells what she thinks of things. Riley really manages to make this story to one good story, and even though I want those answers at once, I am willing to wait because later I understand why they are so hard to talk about.
I can only say that this story gets better and better, I did like Mary’s the best but that was because of the time. Grania’s is the one that is important and I want her to be happy, it looks dark at times, and I swore over things, but what is meant to be will happen. The book is also long but it never feels too long, because at times I just could not put it down. Whether it was because of anger at one character (Charley, oh I do not like her!), or wanting to know what happens. But I want to leave you with something good, so I will say that happiness will be found.
As always I do not know what to give this story, at times it was 3,5 and at times a 4, but the 4 wins as the book ends and the story is told. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.
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Thanks for having me over again 🙂
I just see you everywhere Blodeudd 😉 not sure this is a book for me, sounds a bit convoluted.
Aurian
I tend to pop up here and there 🙂
Oh I think the characters sound so interesting. Even the one you hated makes me curious. I mean it has to be interesting to elicit a response. Hm… I may have to library book this one!
Melissa
She , oh I can't say! 🙂 But yes she got emotions out of me and that is always good 😀
I am conflicted about this one – a library choice, not a purchase then, of course if I can find it. Thanks for the review!
Ana
To be truthful, I seldom buy fiction books for some reason. Even though those are the ones that move me the most