Rating: 
Summary: Storytelling at its best!
Review: This has become one of my favorite books! I was immediately enraptured by the story of Joe Bristow and Fiona Finnegan, two people of lower class London society. The two are in love as two people could be, but face more obstacles than most people do in their entire lives. When Joe leaves Fiona to go work in a different section of London, deep down Fiona knows that they will never be together. When Fiona has to escape London and head for America she faces the fact that she is on her own. She is determined to make it and be a survivor.
This was one of the best books I have ever read. The setting was extraordinary. I could picture myself in London and in New York in the 1880's. The characters are well developed and memorable. I was hooked after the first few pages and stayed hooked until the last page. I still wanted more and I hated for it to end!
Jennifer Donnelly is am impressive author who weaves a magical story and I cannot wait to read other books by her.
Rating:
Summary: Storytelling at its Best!
Review: Jennifer Donnelly has created a superb novel with her excellent gift of great storytelling. I was captivated by this novel from the very first chapter. It pulled me in so that I could not put it down and had me thinking about the characters and plots all day long.The Tea Rose is the fascinating story of young and courageous Fiona Finnegan and her family who live in the poverty stricken neighborhood of Whitechapel in the East End of London in the 1880s. After horrible circumstances change Fiona's life forever and threaten to ruin her, she flees to America with her 5 y/o brother. The story continues over the next ten years as Fiona pulls her life together and vows revenge on the people who destroyed her family. The Tea Rose evokes many emotions full of love, romance, courage, bravery, heartache and suspense. I was so pleased with Ms. Donnelly's masterpiece of a novel and cannot wait to read more by this very talented author.
Rating:
Summary: Be engrossed...
Review: Are you looking to be truly captivated by a novel? Are you looking to step outisde of your world for a little while? If you are, The Tea Rose is for you. This novel is an amazing work. Jennifer Donnelly has created an enthralling novel that will bring you through the life of an amazing young woman. The journey you will undertake is unbelievable. When you look back from the end, you will be amazed at all of the things you have seen and all of the places you have been.
Donnelly has created a work of epic proportions, her characters are deeply three-dimensional and you never know what is around the next corner. The combination of mystery and straight literature is very succesful. Donnelly is truly a master storyteller. This was the first work I read by this author, but I hope that she writes more.
If you enjoy historical fiction, or a good mystery, I would definitely recommend this work. I was captivated from page one, and now that I am finished, I feel like something is missing.
Enjoy this fantastic novel, I am sure you won't regret it!
Rating: 
Summary: the richness of family and friends ......
Review: The Tea Rose is a fascinating and intriguing tale of love, betrayal, murder, survival and revenge. The story of two people, Fiona and Joe, whose love is betrayed and damaged, yet never dissolves, is the central tale in The Tea Rose. This was a fast paced novel that has wonderfully defined characters, both the good and the evil. The story begins in the depths of poverty in the Whitechapel area in London. Yet even in these most financially impoverished streets, Jennifer Donnelly delights you with the richness of family and friends and their joy in life itself. The story takes you to the promsing streets of New York, from the mean streets of Hell's Kitchen to the dining room of Delmonico's. It extolls the importance of family, wherever family may be found and however family may be defined. The strength of the human spirit and the redeeming quality of friendship are also thoroughly explored. The Tea Rose is a story of what happens as people determinedly try to fill the missing gaps in their lives. It is about how happiness is not something that you can find, but it is something that finds you as you live your life.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best novels in 2003!
Review: When I asked the librarian if there were a lot of requests for this book, I was amazed to hear no. This book is definitely one of the few books I would re-read again. It's an epic ~~ a saga ~~ of star-crossed lovers and everyone in their lives. This is a book that you will find yourself savoring long after you've turned the last page and secretly, you will re-read passages again just so you can keep them around a little longer. Fiona and Joe were residents of Whitechapel area in London ~~ an area where the workingclass lived and worked. It was full of rough labor men and their families. Though the gentry feared that area, people were relatively safe in that area till Jack the Ripper came along. Then everyone started staying home after dark. With that kind of environment, Joe and Fiona were great dreamers. Long in love with one another, they dreamt that someday they would have enough money to save up for their own shop. Only circumstances ~~ intentional and unintentional ~~ interfered with their plans and dreams. Fiona escaped London to New York to realize her dreams whereas Joe soared high then fell mighty before his dreams were realized. Donnelly writes so passionately of the characters, keeping true to the Victorian period and its societal modes. Donnelly manages to weave a spell over the reader and keeps her/him enthralled with the characters, no matter where they are or from whatever station they are in life. These characters come alive ~~ dreamy Fiona raising her baby brother, Seamie. There is Joe struggling to make ends meet. There is Charlie, Fiona's much-adored brother who dreamed of going to America to make it rich there. There is Burton, the protaganist who owned the tea factory that the Flinnigan family were employed with ~~ and his dark eyes that haunts Fiona. There is Nicholas, a rich man's son, forced out of the family and he ended up taking care of Fiona and Seamie. There is Uncle Michael and Paddy ~~ strong stalwart men who struggled to take care of the families. There is Roddy, the policeman who watches out for his people on his beat. And so on. All of these characters come alive in this hefty book. Donnelly is a talented author ~~ one that people should keep an eye on. She is sure to go far with her writing! 2-14-03
Rating:
Summary: Such a fun read
Review: I had a blast reading this story; it actually kept me up until 3 a.m. most nights because I couldn't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Started slow, but picked up quickly
Review: I started this novel and was unsure whether I would continue it. However, I quickly found myself pulled into the story and the experiences of Fiona, the heroine. The author develops rich characters, and twisty, complicated plotlines and lives. The characters do step out of "period appropriate" behavior from time to time, but the story is so engaging, it's easy to forgive. The time period (late 1800's) leaps off the page with descriptions of the desolation & drama of the lives of the working poor. Having tried to read "The Crimson Petal and the White" (and hating it) I was a tad uncertain about this one, but found my fears alleviated the further I read. The story reminds me a bit of the setting and tone of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," one of my favorite classics. But this is a definite read for a cold winter's weekend!
Rating:
Summary: Utterly Entertaining
Review: This is the most entertaining book I have read in 10 years (since The Secret History by Donna Tartt). It is good old fashioned story telling with terrific plot and character development. While parts of the book may feel predictable, there are enough surprises to keep the reader from feeling smug. And while this is not literary-prize winning type writing, it is certainly well written enough to lend credibility to all of the events which take place inside. I read mostly Booker/Pulitizer Prize and NYT notable type books and was reluctant, at first, to buy this book. However, the reviews herein pushed me over the edge. I am so glad I spent the time with it. It was like a friend that greeted me on my bedside during the week or so that I had the fun of reading it. I highly recommend this book to anyone in need of a book to lose oneself in. To add one more layer of endorsement, I sent an email to this author to tell her how much I enjoyed the book. She wrote back so promptly and graciously that I shall forever be a fan.
Rating: 
Summary: Predictable beach novel
Review: The beginning of the book leads off with "take you there" descriptions of the slums of Victorian London. But shortly after, the novel descends to typical soap opera stuff. The book is long, over 500 pages, but by page 200, I had predicted 90% of the remainder of the book. Most of the events just happen to coordinate so perfectly that I was rolling my eyes throughout a large part of the book. And some of the assumptions (such as the identity of the bad guy) had me groaning out load. Nevertheless, the descriptions of the New York and London are good escapist fun. If you want to challenge your brain, read something else. If you'd like to escape and you're a fan of Danielle Steel, you'll enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: A breath-taking story of love, loss, and hope
Review: This book opened my eyes. I couldn't stop reading it; when in the car, I longed to go back intoi my house; when I was sailing, my only desire was to swim back to my little desk and READ! By the way, I would like to tell everyone that attemps to read this: THIS IS NOT A TRASHY BOOK (in the best sense of the word.) Our Story begins with two young and decent lovers, Fiona and Joe. It is so apparent that their love is ever-lasting a pure, giving the reader a heart-wrenching feeling that whatever harms them with be sorrowful. Each live poor--but hopeful--lives in the slums of London as Jack the Ripper trerrorizes the streets. There is another girl (as there always is) but that sad thing is that Millie (the girl) owns no love from him and everyone knows that. Fiona and Joe have a dream that thyey shall open a shop and donate bits of shillings every week to a tin. Such innocent love is beautiful. And Donnelly so vividly explains all. But Millie is set on marrying Joe. So her father hires him to work in his business with him. He does not fall in love with Millie, and in fact, the only thing that results is that Fiona's and Joe's dream of owning a shop becomes closer. And their marriage becomes closer with it after they make-love. Millie is so jealous that she decides to attempt the unfathomable and in doing so, the most horrific thing in this book (HORRIFIC meaning sad). But soon Millie's father gives Joe the company on drunken night--with Millie. And so spirals the lives of a shattered Fiona and Joe. The rest is where I cried and szobbed yet laughed and cheered. Fiona's intelligence and utter kindness sweep away the knife pointiung at her dream. Joe's sorroful mistake lead to his humblness and ever-lasting kindness ease the reader to swiftly forgive. Read this book. I have read many and forgotten some. When I finished this, I almost cried at the knowledge that I was done. Trust me. 5 stars...more like infinity.
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