Moja ocjena: 3 / 5
Goodreads ocjena: 3,75 / 5
Izdavač: Mozaik knjiga
Žanr: povijesna fikcija
Broj stranica: 466
Preplavljuju me pozitivni i istovremeno ne baš toliko pozitivni dojmovi vezani uz djelo Urareva kći, autorice Kate Morton. Smatram kako se radi o odlično zamišljenoj priči, ispunjenoj kvalitetnim likovima i čarobnom lokacijom, ali ipak uvelike izgubljena potencijala.
Od ukupno 466 stranica, moja borba sa čitanjem trajala je preko 300 stranica, dok sam tek na posljednjih 150 uistinu uživala. I nakon svake sam pomislila kako ću odustati, ali nisam mogla. Uporno sam vjerovala kako će priča krenuti u boljem smjeru, kako će mi se konačno svidjeti i kako ću uspjeti recenziju napisati isključivo pozitivnim tonom.
Žalosti me što se toliko borim sa svojim mislima kojima nastojim dokazati kako je priča zapravo dobra, ali izgubljena u previše toga. Zamagljena mi je i preopterećena, a mogla je biti fenomenalna. Nešto što mi dodatno nije jasno jest zašto ju uporno samoj sebi nastojim prikazati boljom nego što sam ju doživjela, a sama sam svjesna kako se moje mišljenje neće i ne može promijeniti.
Čitava se radnja zapravo odvija oko jednog mjesta, dvorca zvanog Birchwood Manor i jedne impozantne žene, Lily Millington, umjetničke muze vlasnika tog neobičnog zdanja. Ona je tu dugo nakon njegove smrti, prati ljude koji dolaze i vežu se uz Birchwood Manor, prenose priče o njemu s koljena na koljeno i neprestano se vraćaju. A ona ih ondje čeka. Upoznaje ih, otkriva njihove najskrovitije misli, sluša priče i sjećanja, prati na svakom koraku, ali im istovremeno želi dati do znanja kako je ondje. Ona je dio kuće i zauvijek će to biti, a svatko s dobrim namjerama, uvijek će biti dobro došao.
Kroz priču upoznajemo razne likove, koji u odvojenim vremenskim razmacima dolaze u doticaj sa Birchwood Manorom. On na njih djeluje gotovo pa hipnotički. Jednom kad se ondje nađu, ne prestaju o njemu razmišljati, pričati ili se čak vraćati. Bilo da se radi o restauratorici Elodie Winslow, vojniku Leonardu, Edwardu i Lucy, Juliet ili Lily Millington, svi su oni povezani. I svi se kad tad vraćaju na isto mjesto - kako bi otkrili tajne prošlosti, razjasnili postupke svojih predaka, koji su se, također, godinama unatrag našli na toj istoj lokaciji, ali i kako bi shvatili koja ih sila uporno vraća natrag...
Elodie Winslow je lik koji mi se jako svidio - karakterno, ali i iz razloga što u njezinoj ličnosti osjećam naznake same sebe. Ona je duša koja obožava lutati svojim mislima. Ona je istraživačica povijesti i povijesnih činjenica, ona priča priču onih koji odavno više ne hodaju Zemljom. Ona je netko tko ne odustaje dok ne otkrije istinu sakrivenu iza nečega što joj zaokuplja misli.
Elodie je povučena mlada žena, koju ne privlače blistavi predmeti, prestiž i wow lokacije. Sretna je kada se nalazi u svom starom stanu, okružena sjećanjima i knjigama, unutar vlastite comfort zone. Može reći kako se nalazi "kod kuće" u trenucima kada se zavali u trošni kauč i prepusti onom što trenutno istražuje ili čita. Jednostavna je, ali ne zna kako drugima reći "ne", niti kako se izboriti za ono što bi željela. I u tomu prepoznajem samu sebe. Ili barem nekadašnji dio svoje ličnosti.
Budući da smo dio priče pratili upravo Elodie, očekivala sam da će joj autorica posvetiti više pozornosti prilikom daljnjeg kretanja radnje. Međutim, skočili smo s njezine svakodnevice, u svakodnevicu drugih nekoliko likova, prošli kroz toliko vremenskih perioda, da mi je Elodie ostala po strani, djelomično zanemarena. I na tomu žalim...
S druge strane, imam veliku potrebu u fokus staviti Lily Millington, koja nam ipak čini veći dio priče. Ona je muza. Inspiracija. Ona je vatrena crvenokosa u bijeloj haljini.
Kradljivica i prevarantica - neki bi ju tako okarakterizirali.
Druga strana kovanice pokazuje kako se radi o predivnoj, dragoj i nadasve realnoj osobi, onoj koja nastoji uvesti mir i sreću u svoj život i živote okoline. Svim silama se nastoji izvući iz mraka, u kojem je nevina i ocrnjena završila.
"Istina ovisi o tome tko pripovijeda priču."
Ukoliko imate živaca posvetiti se ugodnom i opuštenom čitanju 460 stranica, uz cvrkut ptica, cvat cvijeća u ružičnjaku te plovidbu čamčićem po rijeci, samo dajte. Ali ako težite nekoj brzoj priči, nekom grču i žiži napetosti situacije, tada ovo nije naslov za vas.
Kako god bilo, od mene ćete, kao i uvijek, dobiti poticaj da čitate. Količina znanja koja izvire iz svakog naslova jest neograničena, a ako znanju težite, ovo je pravo mjesto gdje ćete ga naći.
Do iduće objave,
Voli vas vaša Goga
My rating: 3 / 5
Goodreads rating: 3.75 / 5
Publisher: Mozaik knjiga
Genre: historical fiction
Number of pages: 466
I am overwhelmed by positive and at the same time not so positive impressions related to the book The Clockmaker's Daughter, by Kate Morton. I think it's a well-conceived story, filled with quality characters and a magical location, but still a lot of wasted potential.
Out of a total of 466 pages, my struggle with reading lasted over 300 pages, while I only really enjoyed the last 150 pages. And after each one I thought I would give up, but I couldn't. I persistently believed that the story would go in a better direction, that I would finally like it and that I would be able to write a review with an exclusively positive tone.
It saddens me that I struggle so much with my thoughts trying to prove that the story is actually good, but lost in too much. It's blurry and overloaded for me, and it could have been phenomenal. Something that is also not clear to me is why I persistently try to present it to myself as better than I experienced it, and I myself am aware that my opinion will not and cannot change.
The whole plot actually takes place around a castle called Birchwood Manor and one imposing woman, Lily Millington, the artistic muse of the owner of that unusual building. She is there long after his death, following people who come and attach themselves to Birchwood Manor, pass down stories about him from generation to generation, and keep coming back. And she is waiting for them there. She gets to know them, reveals their most hidden thoughts, listens to stories and memories, follows them every step of the way, but at the same time wants to let them know how she is there. She is a part of the house and will be forever, and anyone with good intentions will always be welcome.
Through the story, we meet various characters, who come into contact with Birchwood Manor at separate intervals of time. It has an almost hypnotic effect on them. Once they are there, they don't stop thinking about it, talking about it or even coming back. Whether it's restaurateur Elodie Winslow, soldier Leonard, Edward and Lucy, Juliet or Lily Millington, they're all connected. And then everyone returns to the same place - in order to discover the secrets of the past, to clarify the actions of their ancestors, who also found themselves in that same location years ago, but also to understand what force is persistently bringing them back...
Elodie Winslow is a character that I really liked - character-wise, but also because I feel hints of myself in her personality. She is a soul who loves to wander with her thoughts. She is a researcher of history and historical facts, she tells the story of those who no longer walk the Earth. She is someone who does not give up until she discovers the truth hidden behind something that occupies her mind.
Elodie is a reserved young woman, not attracted by flashy objects, prestige and wow locations. She is happy when she is in her old apartment, surrounded by memories and books, within her own comfort zone. She can say that she is "at home" in the moments when she reclines on the old couch and indulges in what she is currently researching or reading. She is simple, but she doesn't know how to say "no" to others, nor how to fight for what she wants. And I recognize myself in that. Or at least a former part of my personality.
Since we followed Elodie for part of the story, I expected the author to pay more attention to her during the further development of the plot. However, we jumped from her everyday life, to the everyday life of several other characters, passed through so many time periods, that Elodie remained on my side, partially neglected. And I regret that...
On the other hand, I have a great need to focus on Lily Millington, who still makes up the majority of the story. She is a muse. Inspiration. She is a fiery redhead in a white dress.
A thief and a fraud - some would say.
The other side of the coin shows that this is a wonderful, dear and above all realistic person, one who strives to bring peace and happiness into her life and the lives of those around her. She tries with all her might to get out of the darkness, in which she ended up innocent and blackened.
"Truth depends on who's telling the story."
If you have the nerve to devote yourself to a pleasant and relaxed reading of 460 pages, with the chirping of birds, the blooming of flowers in the rose garden, and the sailing of a boat on the river, just do it. But if you're looking for a fast-paced story, some cramping, and the heat of situational tension, then this isn't the title for you.
Be that as it may, you will, as always, get encouragement from me to read. The amount of knowledge that springs from each title is limitless, and if knowledge is what you seek, this is the right place to find it.
Until the next post,
Your Goga loves you
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