A Great Act of Love by Heather Rose
The last book to review for the moment is A Great Act of Love by Heather Rose and this one was a difficult one for me to review.
This book is a difficult one to review. Let's start with the summary from the publisher "Caroline examines a stolen map. And there she finds it, at the edge of the Western Hemisphere, a black mark at the 30th latitude smaller than a flea: Norfolk Island. Her Aunt thinks she's a fool for wanting to follow her father to the other side of the world. He is no longer the man who taught Caroline about philosophy, apothecary and dreamt of returning to the France of his childhood. He is a convicted murderer, mad, deported, condemned. But, when she understands that Caroline is determined, her Aunt has one piece of advice: she must leave her past behind and invent a new story.
In 1839, Caroline lands in Van Dieman's Land, a young widow of means with a boy in her care. In this insular colony of exiles and opportunists, no-one talks too much about their past. Caroline leases a run-down cottage and abandoned vineyard and, on this island of extreme seasons and wild beauty, she embarks on a fearless enterprise to reclaim her father, create champagne, and rewrite her family's legacy.
Travelling from Paris to Edinburgh, London, New York and to Tasmania, The Great Act of Love is an epic story of hope and self-invention".
The book is set primarily in 1839 Van Diemen’s Land now modern day Tasmania, Caroline is a fascinating protagonist, smart, well-educated in the sciences by her father, and willing to engage in "nefarious schemes" to survive. It is a multi-generational saga, a sweeping story of identity and family. It's historical fiction based on a true story and at times I found it difficult to read as its very detailed and graphic at times. Its not the sort of thing I usually read but I did enjoy it, but be aware it is a book that one has to pay attention to. Thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley as always for this ARC.
This book is a difficult one to review. Let's start with the summary from the publisher "Caroline examines a stolen map. And there she finds it, at the edge of the Western Hemisphere, a black mark at the 30th latitude smaller than a flea: Norfolk Island. Her Aunt thinks she's a fool for wanting to follow her father to the other side of the world. He is no longer the man who taught Caroline about philosophy, apothecary and dreamt of returning to the France of his childhood. He is a convicted murderer, mad, deported, condemned. But, when she understands that Caroline is determined, her Aunt has one piece of advice: she must leave her past behind and invent a new story.
In 1839, Caroline lands in Van Dieman's Land, a young widow of means with a boy in her care. In this insular colony of exiles and opportunists, no-one talks too much about their past. Caroline leases a run-down cottage and abandoned vineyard and, on this island of extreme seasons and wild beauty, she embarks on a fearless enterprise to reclaim her father, create champagne, and rewrite her family's legacy.
Travelling from Paris to Edinburgh, London, New York and to Tasmania, The Great Act of Love is an epic story of hope and self-invention".
The book is set primarily in 1839 Van Diemen’s Land now modern day Tasmania, Caroline is a fascinating protagonist, smart, well-educated in the sciences by her father, and willing to engage in "nefarious schemes" to survive. It is a multi-generational saga, a sweeping story of identity and family. It's historical fiction based on a true story and at times I found it difficult to read as its very detailed and graphic at times. Its not the sort of thing I usually read but I did enjoy it, but be aware it is a book that one has to pay attention to. Thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley as always for this ARC.
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