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The Aviary Gate
 
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The Aviary Gate (Hardcover)

by Katie Hickman (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £9.09 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Customers buy this book with The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale

The Aviary Gate + The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House
Price For Both: £12.95

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (7 April 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0747580383
  • ISBN-13: 978-0747580386
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.8 x 3.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 147,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Review
'A hugely enjoyable novel, multi-layered, vividly depicted and a fascinating story, filled with the colours, sights and scents of Constantinople in the 16th century. This story is at the same time fast moving, complex and deeply satisfying!' Joanne Harris 'The Aviary Gate reminds us of the fact that Katie Hickman is first and foremost a vibrant story-teller who writes mainly because of the pure joy of weaving stories, be they historical or as in this case fictional accounts. And for that, I am very grateful to her.' Azar Nafisi, author of Reading Lolita in Tehran Praise for DAUGHTERS OF BRITANNIA: 'This is a lovely book: affectionate, celebratory, and as conscious of the glory as the hardship.' Libby Purves 'This is a delightful and exceptionally well-written book, funny, lively and warm-hearted.' Daily Telegraph

In Style UK, May 1st 2008
'Forbidden love, sailors and secrets - fasten your seat belts for Hickman's period tome'

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent fiction, 23 May 2008
By E. Jager "lilifae" (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I loved this and will recommend it highly to any of my friends who enjoy historical fiction. It is lush, sexy, shocking and a thrilling read. Set during two time-frames, present day and 1599, it follows the story of Celia Lamprey a slave to the Sultan of the Ottoman empire. Hot on her heels, to discover if she was a genuine person, is the academic Elizabeth. We follow both women on their searches and find out much more than dry historic books would have you believe.

The style of writing is languorous and beautifully descriptive - it matches the setting perfectly. It gives a fascinating insight in how the west perceives harems and what goes on behind the scenes.

All I can say is: find a copy, read it and then see what you think about it. Some people, like the previous reviewer, would not like it, but others, like me, will love it, purely because the style is so very different.

Katie Hickman is a fantastic researcher and has written some excellent books, notably her Daughters of Britannia book which excels at giving a voice to women who are seen in so many instances, but hardly ever heard.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Gorgeous Book, 5 Jun 2008
By Cazzie (London, England) - See all my reviews
As previous reviews have covered the plot, I'll just say that The Aviary Gate was one of the most visceral reads I've ever had the pleasure of getting lost in. I could feel the silks of the harem's garments, see the sun striking the rooftops of Constantinople, smell the pungent roses in the garden at the Sultan's palace and taste the seawater of the Bosphorus. I used to come down with a thump when I'd close the book and realize that I was actually in England and not ensconced in the Sultan's palace.

The story brilliantly weaves historical fact with romantic fiction. It was an insight into Eastern culture and harems that few of us would ever have otherwise had. I couldn't put the book down but at the same time I didn't want it to finish so I'd carefully meter my daily reading.

Honestly, if you're looking for a sensory book that will play up to your senses, intellect and romantic nature, then The Aviary Gate has to top your list.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars meta novel, 20 Jun 2008
I thought this was a very interesting read - because it's essentially two separate tales. Ever the consummate writer, Hickman has been careful to write a brightly-colored, fast-moving, sexy pageturner - the ostensible novel - braincandy for the beach - if with the use of the highfalutin dual time-stream device to narrate us through the twin lives of Celia and Elizabeth. All great.

But what you're left with at the end is the feeling that Elizabeth and Celia never found emotional fulfilment in their lives - not Celia, from her absentee and rather vapid beau - and definitely not cheated-on Elizabeth. Instead, viewed from a few weeks away, the book looks more like a love-story *between* Celia and Elizabeth, and not necessarily a platonic one either, as hinted at by the novel's steamy harem settings. I find it interesting that the story I remember is different to the one I read... that Katie Hickman has managed to conjure all this in the shimmering air above the book is really something special.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars (3.5*) Lush writing, mostly clichéd plot but lifted by the ending
At the end of this book, Hickman mentions all the research she did: but sadly while it definitely pays off in terms of atmosphere - rustling silks, perfumed gardens, glittering... Read more
Published 29 days ago by Roman Clodia

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! An engaging and heart-wrenching tale.
The start of the novel is incredibly uncomfortable to read - cue crossing legs and squirming. Squeamishness aside, the characters are instantly enjoyable - even the cruel and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Z. Nichols

1.0 out of 5 stars Tedious

I usually love 'timeslip' novels, but this was a complete waste of time. I'd like to offer the author a few little tips. Read more
Published 2 months ago by J. Cook

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful, excellent, gripping - loved it!
When I begun reading this book I expected it to be a difficult read - perhaps too historical, boring, long winded etc But I was wrong! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jala sufian

4.0 out of 5 stars Evocative but slightly disappointing harem/library mystery
I did enjoy this novel set both in present day Oxford/Istanbul and in Constantinople at the end of the 16th century. Read more
Published 3 months ago by joc66

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing all round
This novel was weak and cheesy. The poor characterisation and feeble plot was a vehicle for some vaguely erotic writing. Boring, boring! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Merlot

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I was intrigued by the premise, the story is set in the Ottoman harem in the 16th century, and involves an English girl enslaved there...it could have been so good. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Meg76

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