Rating: 
Summary: Good....but flawed
Review: Initially this book is very intriguing. It exams the lives of of two women who were switched at birth and grew up under very different circumstances. Rachel is raised by a wealthy family and has all the advantages that go with it. Rose, on the other hand, grows up in poverty and experiences endless tragedy. When they reach adulthood their lives begin to merge. Twists of fate gradually bring them to a confrontation. Despite their opposite backgrounds, these two women are uncanningly similiar in personality traits and ambitions. This book does a fine job at examing the nature vs. nuture issue. Miss Goudge's writing style flows nicely and she is able to accurately portray her characters emotions and thoughts with depth. The downfall of this book, however, is that is becomes too predictable. Halfway through the book you know what is going to happen chapter by chapter. Their is no element of surprise. What could have been made into an exciting conclusion, comes to an abrupt and dull end. An otherwise good novel, but by no means perfection.
Rating:
Summary: Good....but flawed
Review: Initially this book is very intriguing. It exams the lives of of two women who were switched at birth and grew up under very different circumstances. Rachel is raised by a wealthy family and has all the advantages that go with it. Rose, on the other hand, grows up in poverty and experiences endless tragedy. When they reach adulthood their lives begin to merge. Twists of fate gradually bring them to a confrontation. Despite their opposite backgrounds, these two women are uncanningly similiar in personality traits and ambitions. This book does a fine job at examing the nature vs. nuture issue. Miss Goudge's writing style flows nicely and she is able to accurately portray her characters emotions and thoughts with depth. The downfall of this book, however, is that is becomes too predictable. Halfway through the book you know what is going to happen chapter by chapter. Their is no element of surprise. What could have been made into an exciting conclusion, comes to an abrupt and dull end. An otherwise good novel, but by no means perfection.
Rating: 
Summary: Update
Review: Thanks to everyone who has written to me over the years to say how much they loved reading "Garden of Lies." It took ten years, and three other novels, until I felt ready to once again pick up the strands of my story of three remarkable women: Rose, Rachel, and Sylvie. "Thorns of Truth"(Viking)due out in April tells the final chapter at last. As the ancient proverb warns: "Where one lie is planted, a thousand more will grow." Now, after nearly half a century, it's time to unearth the startling truth...
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Book with a Good Plot, but too much boring detail
Review: The plot was excellent. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there was too much boring detail in between the good parts. The book should have been written on one-third as many pages. There were parts that were downright boring. But the actual plot was good, rich, and deep. Just didn't like the boring stuff in between.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite interesting
Review: The story is built on a series of events that may not be realistic and one may not expect them to happen in reality. However, it is very interesting and is full of surprises. The best thing about it is that one can really feel the pain and joy the characters go through and can easily identify with them. When put in prespective, it is a very interesting book of its type. In the end, real life can sometimes be full of surprising coincidences that are hard to believe.
Rating:
Summary: one coincidence after another
Review: The story of baby girls switched at birth reads like a soap opera. Not that that is a bad thing! Rose and Rachael are brought up in quite different families and through a series of coincidences fall in love with the same man. One grew up with him and one saves his life. He marries one and breaks the other girl's heart. This book doesn't test any boundaries but rates well as a good escapist read where the fairytale ends with everyone eventually living happily ever after.
Rating:
Summary: A heartwrencher
Review: This book absolutely broke my heart. Goudge is a great soryteller, though her overly descriptive tendency is a bit annoying. This is one of the first books I've ever read that had me so upset....even days after reading. I hate the fact of who gets to keep Brian in the end...and i realize, that that is because Goudge managed to brilliantly capture the power of the chidhood love.It made me ponder my own childhood love for days.i hate the way brian never mentions the coincidences of birth which, considering how close he was to both women, he must have known. Same birthday, year, hospital? hello? and how about the fact that all the baby bracelets were cut off when the fire started? I would have loved Goudge to offer some explanation as to how all the babies were identified....why didn't the santinis'ever wonder if some mistake had been made?
anyway, great story.i really want to read thorns of truth, but i was kinda hoping that brian would featured more in it with he and rose getting together eventually....i grieve for their lost love so.....
Rating:
Summary: Reading a Soap Opera
Review: This book is not a thriller, it is not excellently written, and it is no where near winning a pulitzer prize. Rather it is a book that you cannot put down, one that pulls you into the lives of three women and the consequences of the decisions they make. From the first page you want to know what will happen next and want nothing but the best for these characters. This book is like a soap opera with its overdone plot and numerous coincidences, but nonetheless I was hooked. What can I say, it's a book for a hopless romantic and dreamer.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT STORY
Review: This is a wonderful story about two babies switched at birth. Future circumstances bring these girls toghther as dark secrets and hidden jealousies collide. This novel has amazing characters and a perfect ending
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