Voices in Summer

Rating:
Summary: Cozy and Comforting
Review: I listened to the Book On Tape Company's unabridged version of this story. Ah, nothing like Pilcher on tape! The comforting lilt of a good British reader, the coziness of Pilcher's idealized Cornwall, the everything-always -works-out-in-the-endness of her novels.

Nothing extraordinary, but comforting as an old shoe.

Rating:
Summary: An extraordinary book.
Review: It's the most enjoyable book I have ever read. I think the way the author describes the landscapes is incredible. The content of the book is very very nice. What I liked most of it, was the annonymous one of the characters used to write. If you read it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it a lot.

Rating:
Summary: shallow and unmoving
Review: The book was badly observed and shallow, with predictable and cliched plots. It made me want to throw up mostofthe time, and offered very little insight into the characters feelings. Do not read it unless you have to.

Rating:
Summary: I could have spent my money better
Review: This book did not move me at all. The plot is unrealistic and the characters are shallow; they do not seem like real people at all.

Rating:
Summary: --Lovely vacation read--
Review: VOICES IN SUMMER begins in a suburb of London with Laura Haverstock, a thirty something woman who has just learned that she must have surgery immediately. Laura, married only for six months to Alec, had been in the midst of planning their fishing vacation to Scotland with a group of her husband's oldest friends. She insists that Alec go on his annual fishing trip without her which he reluctantly consents to do; however, he will not leave until after her surgery and then only if she will agree to recuperate at the home of his Uncle Gerald on the coast of Cornwall.

Laura is about fifteen years younger than her new husband and is filled with worries about his earlier marriage and the friends that knew his first wife. She's also concerned about his teenage daughter who she's not yet met. She's very insecure with her new life! Laura and her little dog, Lucy are made very welcome by Gerald and his wife, Eve. Days are spent relaxing on the patio and swimming at the beach. Eve's son, Ivan is also kind to Laura and takes her on several jaunts around the area. Cornwall is beautiful and Laura finds herself comfortable and basking in the life of a loving family and their social world.

As she heals, Laura begins working out her life and how she'll handle all of the situations that have been bothering her. The dreamy vacation starts to change when poison pen letters show up. The writer of the letters makes nasty accusations about Laura and Ivan. In the midst of it all, Laura is also surprised by a visit from her new stepdaughter.

Rosamunde Pilcher has a wonderful way of writing interesting stories about families and all of the complex relationships that are involved. She also makes me want to visit Cornwall where many of her books take place.

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Rating:
Summary: Just as warm as a day with the person an the things you love
Review: When I was about 14, I started to read the books by Danielle Steel. I was bored of books of suspense and terror, so I wanted something different. But after reading twelve books by Mrs. Steel in only one year, I got stuck by the time (nowadays she's still my favorite author on this genre). Couldn't go beyond. So I bought VOICES IN SUMMER, by Rosamunde Pilcher. Here in Brazil she's usually a huge success among women, reason that I can't understand. She's so so, not as excellent as many of her fellow writers. But I liked that book, an a couple of others by this author, because they're simple and sensitive. They touch on a very old and beautiful feeling: the Human heart. Rosamunde Pilcher make up lovely characters. In this book specificaly, I cried because of the death of a dog. The pet was so real to me that I fought against tears not to cry for the death of an imaginary animal, since I didn't cry even when my real one died. But I did. And this book, although simple, is beautiful. If you're into this kind of books, read it. You won't be disappointed.