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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'A huge warm saga . . . A deeply satisfying story written with love and confidence' (Maeve Binchy in The New York Times Book Review )
'A beautiful, haunting story . . . that will tug at your heart strings' (Prima )
'Her genius is to create characters you really care about' (Daily Express )
'A long, beguiling saga, typically English . . . Splendid' (Mail on Sunday )
'A beautiful, haunting story . . . that will tug at your heart strings' (Prima )
'Her genius is to create characters you really care about' (Daily Express )
'A long, beguiling saga, typically English . . . Splendid' (Mail on Sunday )
Product Description
Artist's daughter Penelope Keeling can look back on a full and varied life: a Bohemian childhood in London and Cornwall, an unhappy wartime marriage, and the one man she truly loved. She has brought up three children - and learned to accept them as they are.
Yet she is far too energetic and independent to settle sweetly into pensioned-off old-age. And when she discovers that her most treasured possession, her father's painting, The Shell Seekers, is now worth a small fortune, it is Penelope who must make the decisions that will determine whether her family can continue to survive as a family, or be split apart.
Yet she is far too energetic and independent to settle sweetly into pensioned-off old-age. And when she discovers that her most treasured possession, her father's painting, The Shell Seekers, is now worth a small fortune, it is Penelope who must make the decisions that will determine whether her family can continue to survive as a family, or be split apart.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read this book way back in 1987 when it first came out and have just now re-read it - 21 years later and it still is an amazing read. Rosamunde Pilcher really makes you care about the characters and what happens to them and I really didn't want it to finish!
The book hops back and forward through time with chapters detailed by different characters' names but this only adds to the book as you discover things about the characters that happened previously and everything is explained in the fullness of time. The only characters I found somewhat unconvincing were Nancy and her family - they didn't seem to have any redeeming features at all and I found that a bit hard to believe.
The description in the book is very good and you feel that you are there feeling the wind or smelling the roses - Rosamunde Pilcher is presumably a keen gardner!
I can definitely recommend this book and will probably read it again in another 20 years time!
The book hops back and forward through time with chapters detailed by different characters' names but this only adds to the book as you discover things about the characters that happened previously and everything is explained in the fullness of time. The only characters I found somewhat unconvincing were Nancy and her family - they didn't seem to have any redeeming features at all and I found that a bit hard to believe.
The description in the book is very good and you feel that you are there feeling the wind or smelling the roses - Rosamunde Pilcher is presumably a keen gardner!
I can definitely recommend this book and will probably read it again in another 20 years time!
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I absolutely LOVED this book. It's so beautifully written with such vivid and true to life detail and imagery that I don't understand why this novel is not more widely read. The author is clearly immensely talented, and employs an astoundingly clever style in her writing and depiction of family life. The book reads so easily that the 600 pages fly by and before you know it you've reached the end and long for more. Pilcher's characterization is superb and her attention to detail makes the novel seem really authentic and real, making you feel as though you are watching the story being played out in your head rather than reading words on pages (a rare thing that all truly brilliant novels should have). The story is also excellent and surprisingly entertaining with it's simple premise. I especially appreciated the saga aspect of the novel, going back into Penelope's early life during the war, as it seems so nostalgic. Another positive aspect is the fact that the book is consistent throughout in terms of focusing on the emotional relationships between all the characters in the book, rather than simply creating a dramatic story. The ending was also unexpected and heart-warmingly bittersweet, I struggle to find fault with this beautiful book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a really lovely book about human relationships and how they can change over the course of a lifetime, and how they can be affected by major historical events. Through flashbacks and through her 3 adult children, you learn about Penelope Keeling from when she was a teenager to a 64 year old woman, and ultimately you become emotionally attached to her. The characters are fantastically strong and are either likeable or disagreeable depending on the person and their situation. Places are described beautifully and you can picture Penelope's garden so clearly in your mind. Although this book was written in the 80s, it doesn't feel too dated, other than some odd references to clothes and the language some of the younger characters use (not many teenagers today would call their boyfriends 'Darling'), so I am convinced that readers today who are new to Rosamunde Pilcher would find it very easy to lose themselves in this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Shell Seekers
I always enjoy Rosamond Pilchers books but this one has to be the best ever, I did not want it to end. Its a good light enjoyable read.
Published 1 month ago by Moonraker
Still a good read, just not as good as 'Coming Home'
It's difficult to write about this author without using the words 'warm family saga' - that's her speciality, and that's what this is. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bookwoman
A REAL family saga!
I LOVE this book. I have owned it for years, and it is one that I come back to and re-read regularly! Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Baxter
Brilliant
The Shell Seekers is brilliant, as are all of Roasamund's books. She writes in such an easy way to read, and you can 'feel' the personalities of the characters, the story was... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Toni
None
Anni Parr Plymouth
I hadn't read this book for years and think I enjoyed it more the second time. This is easily one of my all-time favourite books. Read more
I hadn't read this book for years and think I enjoyed it more the second time. This is easily one of my all-time favourite books. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Anniparr
Preferred 'Coming Home'
This is a good story but told in too many words! I found myself skipping chunks as I did not need to know every minute detail of daily life!
Published 3 months ago by A. P. Langmead
A warm saga
This was my first Rosamunde Pilcher read and it won't be my last. Well created characters that were bought to life by the author. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Fairy Mary
Still a heartwarming read
I first read this about fifteen years ago and loved it. I was having a clearout recently and came across my old copy. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mulberry
My first ever Rosamund Pilcher book
I was given this many years ago as a birthday present-that copy has now fallen apart and I'm on my second,now well read copy! Read more
Published 19 months ago by LynJo
satisfied
what a great story and a wonderful writer,great value
Published 20 months ago by A. P. Logan
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