Rating: 
Summary: Can't say enough good things about this book!
Review: This is one of the greatest books I have ever read! I actually read this book quite some time ago, and it was the first book by R. Pilcher that I read. Since then, I have purchased every book she has written. Her vivid and rich descriptions of the people and places she writes about make me want to hop a plane and go visit. Penelope Keeling is a character that is real and believable, from her memories of her childhood to her thoughts of her grown children and their future. This story brings a realistic view of two of Penelope's grown children whose only thoughts are of the money that could come from the sale of Penelope's father's painting. And of her third child (also grown) who only wants her mother's happiness. Rosamunde Pilcher has a real winner with this story.
Rating:
Summary: Listening to this book is a pure joy!
Review: Many years ago I stumbled upon a book I borrowed from the library for no other reason than it had a most beautiful cover. The book was The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher and the rest is book history. History because this book about Penelope Keeling, her family, her life in the Cotsowlds area of England and her memories of WWII has become a most beloved read throughout the world.Then recently, again while browsing the libraries audiotapes, I came across the tape of The Shell Seekers and thought, why not listen to it. Now there are few audios I would compare to the reading experience. Clearly I enjoy reading more than listening and most often I don't finish the audiotape preferring to experience the reading of a book first. But in the case of The Shell Seekers audiotape, I found the tape provided me once again with a wonderful experience as I was surrounded totally by the characters, sights and sounds of Ms. Pilchers now classic book The Shell Seekers. This is now perfect walking weather and what could be better than strolling along and listening to this pleasurable read. Believe me, before you know it, you'll be walking miles and miles and won't want to stop till you hear the last word.
Rating: 
Summary: wordy and oddly unkind
Review: Not a bad story -- but there are many extremely long sections that can be skimmed over and which have no bearing on the plot or characters. Also, Pilcher is ungenerous with her characters: we are meant to fervently admire the editor in chief of a fashion magazine, and exult in her "Kingdom" of editing articles about "Your best accessory is you" -- and despise the plump, less intelligent housewife in a stifling marriage. I was unable to admire one nor despise the other, and kept waiting for Pilcher's portraits to shift and become more complex -- but they remained one-dimensional, and readers are simply TOLD what to think about them. To me, there was nothing in this book to inspire the passion that other people have for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Another perfect book to read on the beach ~~
Review: Penelope Keeling is a character that you just cannot help but love ~~ hosting dinner parties for friends and family, wearing shabby clothes simply because clothes aren't that important to her and talking about wine, literature and art ~~ sounds perfect to me! I am not fond of Nancy and Noel ~~ two of her children who seems to expect too much from their mother, while Olivia is my favorite child ~~ she's so much like her mother except for being career-driven. She doesn't put many demands on her mother ~~ she's the daughter every mother wishes she has! Pilcher writes convincingly of the human relationships between Penelope and her children as well as the other characters. She writes of ordinary lives transformed by love. Her descriptions of Cornwall are so vivid that you can almost see the breakers on the beach as well as smelling the salt in the air. It must be artists' paradise! What captures my fancy is how Penelope is such a warm-hearted person who uses her inheritance to pay for a trip home. Too many people expect their parents to leave them money after they have gone, whereas Penelope spends her inheritance prudently and wisely. She has never followed the rules and she does it with so much grace and love ~~ it makes one want to be more like her instead of like two of her greedy children. This book covers more emotions and depths of the human lives and these characters become as real as your family. It's a great summer read (or even a winter read ~~ with a pot of hot tea nearby and delicious scones!) and the characters will linger long after the last page is turned.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully poignant!
Review: Oddly I was always hesitant to read this novel. Pilcher's coming of age saga Coming Home is one of those "desert isle" books that I could read againa and again. I wasn't sure anything else could be as good. This is, just very different. This is a reflective story of an elderly English lady looking back upon her life, her choices, circumstances in and out of her control, and those around her. Each chapter focuses on a differnt character and their relationship to Penelope, the protagonist. I assumer Penelope would be a typicla little old lady, but she has such depth and opinions of her own. The book wanders around significant events in her life including the turbulent WWII years. I was incredibly moved by the end of this book. Without spoiling anything- the scene where her daughter finds the red drss in her closet brought me to tears. This book celebrates love and life. I adored it and know it will be one I reread!
Rating:
Summary: WONDEFUL escape!
Review: This book had depth, love, history, and decent writing. It's a great vacation book.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully poignant!
Review: Oddly I was always hesitant to read this novel. Pilcher's coming of age saga Coming Home is one of those "desert isle" books that I could read againa and again. I wasn't sure anything else could be as good. This is, just very different. This is a reflective story of an elderly English lady looking back upon her life, her choices, circumstances in and out of her control, and those around her. Each chapter focuses on a differnt character and their relationship to Penelope, the protagonist. I assumer Penelope would be a typicla little old lady, but she has such depth and opinions of her own. The book wanders around significant events in her life including the turbulent WWII years. I was incredibly moved by the end of this book. Without spoiling anything- the scene where her daughter finds the red drss in her closet brought me to tears. This book celebrates love and life. I adored it and know it will be one I reread!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Seek "Shell Seekers"
Review: There is good and bad in everyone, but Pilcher's characters are boringly one-dimentional. Anyone who does not follow the heroine like a slathering lapdog, agreeing with her every whim (some quite questionable, like adultery), is presented as stupid, ugly, fat, and bordering on evil. (The elder daughter, a grown woman, who was overweight (which apparently to Pilcher also means unintelligent), was presented as childish and not even able to add in her head, her children ugly and undesirable company - and this by grandma!) A GOOD mother loves all her children, and does not easily see (or admit) to their shortcomings. Especially she does not discuss these faults in length with her "favorite" child, whose own qualities of self-service and snobbery are presented quite differently: (If) "...the nicer side of her COMPLEX PERSONALITY would shrivel and die and she would be left with nothing but her INBORN INTELLIGENCE and her RELENTLESS, DRIVING AMBITION." I found myself disliking both women. I'm certain that wasn't the intent.
Rating:
Summary: A must Read
Review: This has to be one of my all-time favorites. I was introduced to this book several years ago and loved it. As with any yearly tradition, I pull my worn copy from my bookshelf once a year and curl up with this book. Ms. Pilcher spins a marvelous tale that weaves you in and around the characters in this book and no matter how many times I read it, I'm always left wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: Great for setting...
Review: The setting of Cornwall in this book is brilliant, but the rest is a bit stilted. The concept of what happens to an inheritance is interesting among siblings, but does drag a bit. Read this if you'll be heading to Cornwall to gain an appreciation of the setting!
| 
