The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Genre: Historical Fiction (WWI)

Ratings:
Ease with which to read/enjoyable author style 4.0
Suitable ending 3.5
Personal favoritism 4.75
Poetic language 3.5
Memorable 4.0
Original, creative plot 4.0
Original, well-developed characters 3.5
Probability of recommendation 4.0
Ability to "move" emotionally 3.5
Literary value and/or educational value 3.0
Total: 37.75

Final Rating: 3 1/2 stars

4-sentence summary:
Grace is sent to Riverton when she is 14 years old to become a housemaid for the prestigious Hartford family. Her life becomes intertwined with the three Hartford children: David, Hannah, and Emmeline, though Grace always remains an outsider. Grace, Hannah, and Emmeline are the only witnesses to a horrible crime, and Grace keeps the secret of that night (as well as a host of other secrets) for the next 80 years.

Critique:
Well, I couldn't resist reading another Kate Morton book, since The Forgotten Garden was so good. This novel is set in London a few years before the first World War and the narrative spans decades. It never feels rushed and the pace of the novel is quite pleasant.

Truly, I looked this up on wikipedia after I finished the book, because I had figured there was already a movie in the works. This seems set in the same style and tone as Atonement and I could all too easily picture lead actresses playing these roles. In fact, I was quite disappointed to see that there is no movie planned (yet!). The grandeur of the setting in the novel, as well as the haunting story, would make an incredible film.

As far as the book is concerned, I have very little to critique about it. Perhaps I'm getting soft and becoming far too lenient in my reviews, but this was truly an enjoyable read. The only downside to the novel was that the main plotline was a tad too predictable (unlike The Forgotten Garden, which constantly offered surprises)... not in an unlikeable way. But the story uses a lot of foreshadowing. It's the sort of novel to say "But little did I know that this event would lead to our deaths" or somesuch. A little disappointing as a narrative tool, but not something that takes away from the storyline; just the surprise. It does, however, give the reader the same feeling that Grace has, as she is 98 and laying in her bed, looking back on her life: it's a feeling of overwhelming regret in hindsight.

I highly recommend Kate Morton; I am excited to read more of her novels as she continues to write them.