Publication
New York : Washington Square Press, 2010.
Collection
Call number
Fiction M
Physical description
562 p.; 21 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
A long-lost letter arriving at its destination fifty years after it was sent lures Edie Burchill to crumbling Milderhurst Castle, home of the three elderly Blythe sisters, where Edie's mother was sent to stay as a teenager during World War II.
Subjects
Media reviews
"There are a few genuine surprises amid the gothic denouement, but the narrative proceeds at such an excruciatingly slow pace that it is a struggle to stay awake long enough to reach it."
"By the time Edie unravels the sad truth within the castle, it is too late for some - no surprise in a Gothic tale - but not too late for others. The revelations involving these characters' "distant hours" make this a rich treat for fans of historical fiction."
Milderhurst Castle is as enchanting to the reader as it is to Edie and her mother but the cast is rarely quite as absorbing because Meredith, Juniper and Thomas are sketchily drawn.
En romantisk thriller og etterlengtet tredjebok fra forfatteren av Tilbake til Riverton og Den glemte hagen.
Et brev postet i 1941 når endelig sin mottaker i 1992, med store ringvirkninger for forlagsdirektøren Edie Burchill fra London.
I det forfalne Milderhurst Slott bor det aldrende
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tvillingparet Pesephone og Seraphina sammen med deres yngre halvsøster, Juniper. De tre eksentriske ugifte kvinnene er døtre av Raymond Blyte, forfatteren av The True History of the Mud Man, en barnebokklassiker som Edie elsker.
Edie, som senere blir invitert til å skrive et forord i et opptrykk av Raymonds mesterverk, besøker det sjarmerende slottet på jakt etter svar.
Hvorfor ble moren hennes så knust av innholdet i et brev sendt 51 år tidligere? Og hva hendte med soldaten Thomas Cavill, Junipers lenge savnede forlovede og Merediths tidligere lærer? Svaret vil overraske leserne. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member mrstreme
Kate Morton has carved a niche for herself as writer of Gothic fiction. Her first two books, The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden, were mesmerizing and captivating. Her third book, The Distant Hours, employed the Gothic tradition; however, Morton's third effort lacked the charm and power
The Distant Hours is about three sisters who live in Milderhurst Castle in Kent. They are the daughters of a famous British author whose book, The True History of the Mud Man, was a beloved classic. During World War II, the sisters accepted a young London refugee, Meredith, who blossomed under the sisters' care. Fast forward to 1992, and we meet Meredith and her daughter, Edie, who is curious about her mother's past. Edie finds her way to Milderhurst Castle, meets the sisters and gets tangled up in their past lives.
Like Possession, a faux piece of literature is at the center of the story, and like many Gothic books, The Distant Hours has a cast of mysterious characters, including an old house that's a character of its own. The story sways back and forth from World War II to 1992. Admittedly, I found the older installments more interesting than the modern ones. Truthfully, I was bored by most of Edie's narratives. Thankfully, the action picked up when Morton took us to the past, steadily revealing secrets and answers.
The Distant Hours has the right ingredients for a great Gothic read, but I think the story was overdone. Sections of the book plodded on - almost endlessly - and I nearly abandoned the book twice. The ending was gratifying, though, and I am glad I stuck with it. The sisters, especially Percy, were fascinating. Perhaps I would have liked the book better if the story only focused on them.
If you haven't read anything by Kate Morton, I would advise starting with her first two books. The Distant Hours is an above average read and not the best work Morton has to offer. Nonetheless, I look forward to her future works. She's an amazing writer.
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of its predecessors.The Distant Hours is about three sisters who live in Milderhurst Castle in Kent. They are the daughters of a famous British author whose book, The True History of the Mud Man, was a beloved classic. During World War II, the sisters accepted a young London refugee, Meredith, who blossomed under the sisters' care. Fast forward to 1992, and we meet Meredith and her daughter, Edie, who is curious about her mother's past. Edie finds her way to Milderhurst Castle, meets the sisters and gets tangled up in their past lives.
Like Possession, a faux piece of literature is at the center of the story, and like many Gothic books, The Distant Hours has a cast of mysterious characters, including an old house that's a character of its own. The story sways back and forth from World War II to 1992. Admittedly, I found the older installments more interesting than the modern ones. Truthfully, I was bored by most of Edie's narratives. Thankfully, the action picked up when Morton took us to the past, steadily revealing secrets and answers.
The Distant Hours has the right ingredients for a great Gothic read, but I think the story was overdone. Sections of the book plodded on - almost endlessly - and I nearly abandoned the book twice. The ending was gratifying, though, and I am glad I stuck with it. The sisters, especially Percy, were fascinating. Perhaps I would have liked the book better if the story only focused on them.
If you haven't read anything by Kate Morton, I would advise starting with her first two books. The Distant Hours is an above average read and not the best work Morton has to offer. Nonetheless, I look forward to her future works. She's an amazing writer.
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LibraryThing member Sararush
Kate Morton's The Distant Hours, a Gothic tale of buried family secrets, is very reminiscent of Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale. Very reminiscent. Right down to the eccentric twins, spooky castle, and literary plot agents. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as an evocative moody novel, is
Morton's story begins as a long lost letter reveals a family back story that our opening narrator, Edie, could never have imagined. At times hard to follow, the novel travels back and forth in time delivering the points of view of many of the main characters throughout the twentieth century. Highlights are: Morton's use the evacuation of children from London during WWII, a fascinating historical moment; her deft use of an imagined literary mystery, and the kind of family drama that layers and anchors her characters.
The Distant Hours is a rich and thick historically set treasure chest.
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sometimes just the kind of book one craves. Morton's story begins as a long lost letter reveals a family back story that our opening narrator, Edie, could never have imagined. At times hard to follow, the novel travels back and forth in time delivering the points of view of many of the main characters throughout the twentieth century. Highlights are: Morton's use the evacuation of children from London during WWII, a fascinating historical moment; her deft use of an imagined literary mystery, and the kind of family drama that layers and anchors her characters.
The Distant Hours is a rich and thick historically set treasure chest.
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LibraryThing member jmchshannon
In previous novels, Kate Morton flashes back to the Roaring 20s, when big estates were still fairly numerous and the families prestigious. In The Distant Hours, Ms. Morton advances a few decades with the primary flashbacks occurring during World War II and the Blitz. Her heroine this time around is
Edie is an absolutely delightful heroine. Her issues with her mother are heartbreakingly real, and her awkwardness is endearing. Edie is one of the few characters Ms. Morton wrote that feels natural, as if she really is the girl down the street. Her work within the publishing industry as well as her love of books makes her that much more appealing. Meanwhile, her fascination with Milderhurst Castle and learning more about her mother’s past is addicting and completely understandable. All of Ms. Morton’s heroines have been memorable, but there is a special spark within Edie that strengthens the entire story and makes it that much more engrossing.
The Gothic element is something new, or at least more firmly established in The Distant Hours, and is something Ms. Morton should continue to explore. Milderhurst really becomes a character in its own right. Deliciously dilapidated and casting a pall on everyone who encounters it, there is no doubt as to the reasons for the ongoing fascination with the castle itself as well as the family who owns it. Ms. Morton perfectly captures the voyeuristic glee and horror that occurs at the decay of such familial behemoths. Similarly, the mysterious past of the Blythe girls, June’s sudden decline, and Edie’s connection to Milderhurst and the Blythe family is appropriately spooky and tragic. The pacing of the entire novel, a key element of any Gothic novel, is perfect. The plot twists help engage a reader while preventing the ending from being anything but a surprise, and this is one ending where having it as a surprise is half the enjoyment.
The Distant Hours may just be Ms. Morton’s best book to date. Her writing shows a continuing maturity that adds depth to her characters and even greater detail to her settings. The transitions between past and present are absolutely seamless, and both settings are beautifully executed. Her prose, always wonderful, has poetic elements that enhance her descriptions and make them so wonderful to enjoy. In addition, Edie has a vibrancy to her that makes her refreshingly realistic and fun. If someone is looking to finally get around to reading a novel by Ms. Morton, The Distant Hours is the perfect selection, as it brilliantly showcases her talent for historical, Gothic fiction.
Acknowledgments: Thank you to Atria Books for my review copy!
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feisty Edie, a book publisher at a personal crossroads. The arrival of a long-delayed letter, and more specifically, her mother’s reaction to it, sets the stage for a journey she never expects to take, involving people she never knew existed, and resulting in an ending that is better suited for fiction than real life. The Distant Hours takes readers through the English countryside, back to one of the more terrifying decades in English history when the horrors of war were the backdrop for romance and intrigue and the final years of the big family estates, exploring love, loss, and the dangerous nature of secrets.Edie is an absolutely delightful heroine. Her issues with her mother are heartbreakingly real, and her awkwardness is endearing. Edie is one of the few characters Ms. Morton wrote that feels natural, as if she really is the girl down the street. Her work within the publishing industry as well as her love of books makes her that much more appealing. Meanwhile, her fascination with Milderhurst Castle and learning more about her mother’s past is addicting and completely understandable. All of Ms. Morton’s heroines have been memorable, but there is a special spark within Edie that strengthens the entire story and makes it that much more engrossing.
The Gothic element is something new, or at least more firmly established in The Distant Hours, and is something Ms. Morton should continue to explore. Milderhurst really becomes a character in its own right. Deliciously dilapidated and casting a pall on everyone who encounters it, there is no doubt as to the reasons for the ongoing fascination with the castle itself as well as the family who owns it. Ms. Morton perfectly captures the voyeuristic glee and horror that occurs at the decay of such familial behemoths. Similarly, the mysterious past of the Blythe girls, June’s sudden decline, and Edie’s connection to Milderhurst and the Blythe family is appropriately spooky and tragic. The pacing of the entire novel, a key element of any Gothic novel, is perfect. The plot twists help engage a reader while preventing the ending from being anything but a surprise, and this is one ending where having it as a surprise is half the enjoyment.
The Distant Hours may just be Ms. Morton’s best book to date. Her writing shows a continuing maturity that adds depth to her characters and even greater detail to her settings. The transitions between past and present are absolutely seamless, and both settings are beautifully executed. Her prose, always wonderful, has poetic elements that enhance her descriptions and make them so wonderful to enjoy. In addition, Edie has a vibrancy to her that makes her refreshingly realistic and fun. If someone is looking to finally get around to reading a novel by Ms. Morton, The Distant Hours is the perfect selection, as it brilliantly showcases her talent for historical, Gothic fiction.
Acknowledgments: Thank you to Atria Books for my review copy!
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LibraryThing member silenceiseverything
So, I have raved to anyone and everyone about how much I loved Kate Morton's The House at Riverton. Seriously, that was my favorite book for 2009 and one of my favorite books ever. I also loved The Forgotten Garden, though I didn't rave about that one quite as much as I raved about The House at
I loved every single word of The Distant Hours. Yes, the book is long as hell, but every single page was worth it. Book lover that I am, I loved the character of Edie and could completely understand why she would be so enchanted with Milderhurst Castle (as I am also a Gothic Literature Lover or GLL as I like to call it) and her fascination with the written word was something that I could relate to. I was so connected to everything in this book. MILD SPOILER: LIKE VERY MILD: During one part, Edie is talking to Saffy and Saffy is concerned that Percy will catch her doing just that, and I felt just as worried as Edie that Percy would catch the two conversing and Saffy wouldn't be able to tell her story. I just didn't want them to be interrupted. END OF EXTREMELY MILD SPOILER.
I was so enchanted with The Distant Hours. One of my favorite things about it was the whole history of The Mud Man. It came to the point where I really wished that book existed because it just sounded so utterly fascinating and captivating. (And since we're being truthful, if J.K. Rowling had written The Distant Hours, The Mud Man would be a published best-selling novella by now. So, maybe it's foolish, but I want The Mud Man published.) The same thing happened in The Forgotten Garden. I found Eliza's fairytales enchanting and just as enjoyable (if not more) than the overall story.
There were a lot of twists and turns in The Distant Hours. And no I'm not going to mention not even one of them. However, I will say that I discovered one of the twists before it had been revealed, but there were many more were that came from (but not in that annoying "mystery writer" type of way. Each of these twists seemed necessary and weren't necessarily red-herrings). Every time I thought that I had something figured out, Morton would throw a curveball at it and everything would unravel again (again, not in the annoying mystery writer way).
So, I definitely, whole-heartedly, recommend The Distant Hours. It was an amazing, enchanting, captivating read that just flew by since you're desperate to figure what really went on. Read it if you want a read with any of these things. Also, The Distant Hours is best read in the evening in the middle of a storm (rainstorm, snowstorm, sandstorm, it doesn't really matter), just to feel the full effect. I read some of it yesterday in the middle of a snowstorm, at night, and ended up creeping myself out just a little. Anyway, read The Distant Hours. It was amazing and Kate Morton is an amazing writer.
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Riverton. However, The Distant Hours deserves the most praise out of all three books. Why? Well, because it takes what's amazing about The House at Riverton (the moodiness, the atmosphere) and what's tremendous about The Forgotten Garden (the airiness, the enchantment) and puts it together into one fantastic novel. I loved every single word of The Distant Hours. Yes, the book is long as hell, but every single page was worth it. Book lover that I am, I loved the character of Edie and could completely understand why she would be so enchanted with Milderhurst Castle (as I am also a Gothic Literature Lover or GLL as I like to call it) and her fascination with the written word was something that I could relate to. I was so connected to everything in this book. MILD SPOILER: LIKE VERY MILD: During one part, Edie is talking to Saffy and Saffy is concerned that Percy will catch her doing just that, and I felt just as worried as Edie that Percy would catch the two conversing and Saffy wouldn't be able to tell her story. I just didn't want them to be interrupted. END OF EXTREMELY MILD SPOILER.
I was so enchanted with The Distant Hours. One of my favorite things about it was the whole history of The Mud Man. It came to the point where I really wished that book existed because it just sounded so utterly fascinating and captivating. (And since we're being truthful, if J.K. Rowling had written The Distant Hours, The Mud Man would be a published best-selling novella by now. So, maybe it's foolish, but I want The Mud Man published.) The same thing happened in The Forgotten Garden. I found Eliza's fairytales enchanting and just as enjoyable (if not more) than the overall story.
There were a lot of twists and turns in The Distant Hours. And no I'm not going to mention not even one of them. However, I will say that I discovered one of the twists before it had been revealed, but there were many more were that came from (but not in that annoying "mystery writer" type of way. Each of these twists seemed necessary and weren't necessarily red-herrings). Every time I thought that I had something figured out, Morton would throw a curveball at it and everything would unravel again (again, not in the annoying mystery writer way).
So, I definitely, whole-heartedly, recommend The Distant Hours. It was an amazing, enchanting, captivating read that just flew by since you're desperate to figure what really went on. Read it if you want a read with any of these things. Also, The Distant Hours is best read in the evening in the middle of a storm (rainstorm, snowstorm, sandstorm, it doesn't really matter), just to feel the full effect. I read some of it yesterday in the middle of a snowstorm, at night, and ended up creeping myself out just a little. Anyway, read The Distant Hours. It was amazing and Kate Morton is an amazing writer.
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LibraryThing member iubookgirl
"This book was amazing!" Those are the first words I uttered after reading the final sentence of The Distant Hours. I woke up that night and immediately began thinking about it again. I kept trying to work out an alternate ending, an alternate path for the Sisters Blythe, before coming to the
The Distant Hours is narrated by Edie Burchill as she attempts to unravel two related mysteries. The first is the story of her mother's life. Edie is shocked to learn that her mother was evacuated from London to Milderhurst Castle during World War II. This, of course, leads her to the second mystery that revolves around the three Blythe sisters who still live in Milderhurst Castle fifty years later. Interspersed with the present day tale are sections set during the war told from the varying viewpoints of the sisters. The past informs the present and fills the gaps that Edie is unable to fill on her own.
Morton brings together these strands perfectly creating an extremely satisfying sense of completion. Everything is connected. Everything comes full circle. Everything is completely believable. The end is stunning. I highly recommend The Distant Hours to any reader. There are elements of mystery, history, romance, and family. There is something for everyone, and I'm sure you'll be delighted.
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conclusion that there was no alternative. The story is exactly as it had to be.The Distant Hours is narrated by Edie Burchill as she attempts to unravel two related mysteries. The first is the story of her mother's life. Edie is shocked to learn that her mother was evacuated from London to Milderhurst Castle during World War II. This, of course, leads her to the second mystery that revolves around the three Blythe sisters who still live in Milderhurst Castle fifty years later. Interspersed with the present day tale are sections set during the war told from the varying viewpoints of the sisters. The past informs the present and fills the gaps that Edie is unable to fill on her own.
Morton brings together these strands perfectly creating an extremely satisfying sense of completion. Everything is connected. Everything comes full circle. Everything is completely believable. The end is stunning. I highly recommend The Distant Hours to any reader. There are elements of mystery, history, romance, and family. There is something for everyone, and I'm sure you'll be delighted.
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LibraryThing member bhowell
I think this is Ms Morton's best so far, a riveting gothic tale (which takes place in the 20th century but it is the genre that matters).
LibraryThing member writestuff
Edie Burchill lives in London and works for a publisher. One day while visiting her parents a lost letter arrives for her mother – a letter mailed 50 years before, but just now finding its intended reader. Meredith Burchill’s reaction to the letter is surprising, and Edie becomes convinced
The Distant Hours is a magnificent, moody, Gothic novel. Kate Morton structures the novel to take the reader back and forth from 1992 (Edie’s time) to the years of World War II when the Blythe sisters and Meredith were young women. There is a novel, written by Raymond Blythe (the sisters’ reclusive father), that is laced through the story – a creepy, and engaging story of a Mud Man who climbs the walls of the castle to steal a young girl; and there is of course, the castle itself – a mouldering, eerie place that harbors strange voices and sounds within its walls. There is love, betrayal, and a mystery – all the elements that make a Gothic novel’s pages turn almost on their own. And there is Morton’s writing which is flawless and engaging. She carefully constructs her story, unwrapping the layers of her characters like peeling an onion, giving us glimpses of who they might be, and then surprising us with what they are hiding.
The Distant Hours is a thick, delicious book of almost 700 pages. I was engaged in the story from the start and my interest never waned. In fact, the last 200 pages practically turned themselves as I read furiously to discover the secrets of the castle and its inhabitants. I have come to recognize Morton as a talented author who knows how to craft a story of intrigue filled with fascinating characters. I can’t wait to discover her next book.
Readers who love Gothic literature, creepy tales, wonderful characters, and effortless writing will love The Distant Hours.
Highly recommended.
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there is something in her mother’s past that must be uncovered, something that involves a crumbling old castle and the three elderly sisters who still live there. Edie’s search to understand her mother brings her to Milderhurst Castle where she meets the Blythe sisters: the surly and secretive Percy, the sweet Saffy, and the mentally unstable and damaged Juniper. The castle at first holds onto its secrets despite the tortured voices within it walls. But as the novel unfolds the mystery is revealed.The Distant Hours is a magnificent, moody, Gothic novel. Kate Morton structures the novel to take the reader back and forth from 1992 (Edie’s time) to the years of World War II when the Blythe sisters and Meredith were young women. There is a novel, written by Raymond Blythe (the sisters’ reclusive father), that is laced through the story – a creepy, and engaging story of a Mud Man who climbs the walls of the castle to steal a young girl; and there is of course, the castle itself – a mouldering, eerie place that harbors strange voices and sounds within its walls. There is love, betrayal, and a mystery – all the elements that make a Gothic novel’s pages turn almost on their own. And there is Morton’s writing which is flawless and engaging. She carefully constructs her story, unwrapping the layers of her characters like peeling an onion, giving us glimpses of who they might be, and then surprising us with what they are hiding.
The Distant Hours is a thick, delicious book of almost 700 pages. I was engaged in the story from the start and my interest never waned. In fact, the last 200 pages practically turned themselves as I read furiously to discover the secrets of the castle and its inhabitants. I have come to recognize Morton as a talented author who knows how to craft a story of intrigue filled with fascinating characters. I can’t wait to discover her next book.
Readers who love Gothic literature, creepy tales, wonderful characters, and effortless writing will love The Distant Hours.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
First Line: Hush... Can you hear him?
Three elderly sisters live in a crumbling castle in the south of England, closely guarding their secrets, until the chance delivery of a 50-year-old letter to the mother of London book editor, Edie Burchill.
As a teenager, Edie's mother was evacuated to
I loved Morton's first two books, The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden. The author's descriptive, atmospheric writing swept me away into these stories for long periods of time, and when I came up for air, I had to blink a few times to bring the world into focus. Not so with The Distant Hours.
With the exception of The True History of the Mud Man-- a children's book written by one of the characters-- which is truly creepy and stirred the hair on the back of my neck, I was never transported by the story. The book felt too much like the gothic romances by Dorothy Eden and Victoria Holt I read as a teenager.
Although Morton's characterizations are as excellent as they were in her first two books, once the cast of characters was in place, it was relatively easy for me to decipher all the secrets and know what happened at Milderhurst Castle. And... since I wasn't transported by the story, the book felt bloated and very slow-moving.
Has this put me off Kate Morton's writing? No. Besides, I really wouldn't call this a "bad" book, merely an average one. I enjoyed her first two books so much that I'll still be watching for the next.
Three elderly sisters live in a crumbling castle in the south of England, closely guarding their secrets, until the chance delivery of a 50-year-old letter to the mother of London book editor, Edie Burchill.
As a teenager, Edie's mother was evacuated to
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Milderhurst Castle during the Blitz and lived with author Raymond Blythe and his three daughters, twins Persephone and Seraphina, and Juniper. When Edie has an opportunity to read her mother's letter and to learn that her mother actually lived with the author of her favorite children's book, The True History of the Mud Man, she naturally wants to learn all she can about her mother's time there, the castle, and the Blythes. The thick, sticky spiderweb of secrets she blunders into has been in place for decades, and as they are exposed to the light of day, there will be repercussions for them all.I loved Morton's first two books, The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden. The author's descriptive, atmospheric writing swept me away into these stories for long periods of time, and when I came up for air, I had to blink a few times to bring the world into focus. Not so with The Distant Hours.
With the exception of The True History of the Mud Man-- a children's book written by one of the characters-- which is truly creepy and stirred the hair on the back of my neck, I was never transported by the story. The book felt too much like the gothic romances by Dorothy Eden and Victoria Holt I read as a teenager.
Although Morton's characterizations are as excellent as they were in her first two books, once the cast of characters was in place, it was relatively easy for me to decipher all the secrets and know what happened at Milderhurst Castle. And... since I wasn't transported by the story, the book felt bloated and very slow-moving.
Has this put me off Kate Morton's writing? No. Besides, I really wouldn't call this a "bad" book, merely an average one. I enjoyed her first two books so much that I'll still be watching for the next.
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LibraryThing member Quiltinfun06
Reading the Distant Hours by Kate Morton was like building a fire. First you bank the fireplace with dry, unappealing logs; then you add some lit kindling that will be the spark that will engage the logs into fire. Once the fire is going strong; it is warm, inviting, colorful and near impossible to
The first 150 pages for me were the logs. I didn't quite know if the book was going to amount to anything worth spending time with. The book is over 500 pages long and I knew that if I continued it would be a good investment of reading time. At this point, I actually read some reviews of the book and found that mostly it had gotten very good reviews. So I continued. Right now, I am very glad I did.
I was drawn to this book because I really enjoyed reading The Forgotten Garden, an earlier novel by Kate Morton. I believe that The Distant Hours far surpasses that story.
The story is based around a book that was written by one of the characters, The Story of the Mud Man. Raymond Blythe, the father figure in the novel gains attention as a writer himself when he writes The Mud Man story.
The Blythe family lives in a castle, Milderhurst in England. Twin sisters, Percy and Saffy, born from his first marriage live in the Castle long after his death along with a sister, Juniper from another marriage. Juniper seems to have become as demented at Raymond and so must be taken care of by the twins.
A young editor, Edie, is drawn to the castle first by the book itself (her favorite) and then by secrets she uncovers about her mother who during the war was an evacuee who lived at the castle.
The story, like the fire I referred to earlier, builds until it becomes totally engaged. Once engaged it is near impossible to put down.
I recommend The Distant Hours but caution that it must be given time to build, time to be read slowly and time to be digested. I know now that I have become a very huge fan of Kate Morton and intend to read her first book The House on Riverton as soon as I can.
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extinguish. This explains exactly how I feel about my time with The Distant Hours.The first 150 pages for me were the logs. I didn't quite know if the book was going to amount to anything worth spending time with. The book is over 500 pages long and I knew that if I continued it would be a good investment of reading time. At this point, I actually read some reviews of the book and found that mostly it had gotten very good reviews. So I continued. Right now, I am very glad I did.
I was drawn to this book because I really enjoyed reading The Forgotten Garden, an earlier novel by Kate Morton. I believe that The Distant Hours far surpasses that story.
The story is based around a book that was written by one of the characters, The Story of the Mud Man. Raymond Blythe, the father figure in the novel gains attention as a writer himself when he writes The Mud Man story.
The Blythe family lives in a castle, Milderhurst in England. Twin sisters, Percy and Saffy, born from his first marriage live in the Castle long after his death along with a sister, Juniper from another marriage. Juniper seems to have become as demented at Raymond and so must be taken care of by the twins.
A young editor, Edie, is drawn to the castle first by the book itself (her favorite) and then by secrets she uncovers about her mother who during the war was an evacuee who lived at the castle.
The story, like the fire I referred to earlier, builds until it becomes totally engaged. Once engaged it is near impossible to put down.
I recommend The Distant Hours but caution that it must be given time to build, time to be read slowly and time to be digested. I know now that I have become a very huge fan of Kate Morton and intend to read her first book The House on Riverton as soon as I can.
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LibraryThing member Maggie_Rum
While this book starts to drag, just a bit, toward the end, the characters drag you in, and on, to the end. It is a mystery, but that isn't the center of the story. However, when you figure everything out, it helps to tie the wonder of the story with the questions you ask throughout. Delightful.
LibraryThing member DubaiReader
This is how your review will appear:
Review for the unabridged Audible version.
I listened to The Distant Hours, skillfuly narrated by Caroline Lee. The book entranced me and I loved the characters and the scenery, but I felt the ending was a little weak, hence the four stars.
The narrative is split
Personally I found the WWII story line to be the strongest of the two, with the castle as a fourth character amongst the fascinating, intertwined sisters, twins Persephone and Seraphina and their younger sister Juniper. Their father, Raymond Blythe was an authoriatrian man, a writer, author of The True History of the Mud Man, which just happened to be Edie's favourite childhood book. The story of how this book came to be written was fascinating but I was less convinced by some of the other denouements.
I enjoyed The House at Riverton more than The Distant Hours, mainly because the plot seemed stronger. In many ways they are alike; the darkly Gothic buildings forming a backdrop to the narrative. The excess pages that other reviewers commented on, would probably have bothered me too, if I hadn't had the luxury of being narrated to.
Review for the unabridged Audible version.
I listened to The Distant Hours, skillfuly narrated by Caroline Lee. The book entranced me and I loved the characters and the scenery, but I felt the ending was a little weak, hence the four stars.
The narrative is split
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between two time zones; London in the 1990s and Milderhurst Castle, Kent in WWII. The two are linked by Edie Burchill and her mother who was evacuated to the castle during the war. Under rather strange circumstances, a letter from 1941 arrives for Edie's mother over 50 years late, and she is devastated. Edie can't extract much information from her secretive mother and so, when she finds herself at the gates of Milderhurst Castle a few weeks later, she cannot resist the temptation to investigate. By now the castle is a crumbling heap, barely housing its three elderly sisters.Personally I found the WWII story line to be the strongest of the two, with the castle as a fourth character amongst the fascinating, intertwined sisters, twins Persephone and Seraphina and their younger sister Juniper. Their father, Raymond Blythe was an authoriatrian man, a writer, author of The True History of the Mud Man, which just happened to be Edie's favourite childhood book. The story of how this book came to be written was fascinating but I was less convinced by some of the other denouements.
I enjoyed The House at Riverton more than The Distant Hours, mainly because the plot seemed stronger. In many ways they are alike; the darkly Gothic buildings forming a backdrop to the narrative. The excess pages that other reviewers commented on, would probably have bothered me too, if I hadn't had the luxury of being narrated to.
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LibraryThing member Kasthu
Kate Morton is one of the few authors I’ll buy in hardcover. I first heard about her through the Amazon Vine program, when The House at Riverton was offered, and I’ve been hooked ever since; I even bought The Forgotten Garden when it was out in the UK but not in the US. The Distant Hours takes
Like Morton’s previous books, there’s a Gothic undertone to the book, but it’s never overt. The emphasis here is on telling a good story, and that Kate Morton does very well. Each of the characters, minus Edie, has skeletons in the closet, but the skeletons aren’t what you think they’ll be. I love how everything is revealed bit by bit, leaving the reader to guess at what will happen—again, it’s not what you think! I love Kate Morton’s characterizations, too; we’re not supposed to like or sympathize with Percy, but you do anyways. You get a very vivid picture of each of the characters with each of their quirks. This is one of those books that keeps you reading and reading, leaving you wanting to read more. The novel is long, but it never felt that way at all. In many places, it’s kind of a gothic version of I Capture the Castle.
The “present day”, 1992, is a bit dated, but I can understand why the author chose to have the book be set at that date instead of now. Despite the dated “present day,” I never got the feeling that the author was trying to hit her reader over the head with the fact that it’s 1992. This is another really great novel from Kate Morton; I’m only sad that I’ll have to wait until she writes her next!
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place in a crumbling old castle and features three elderly spinsters who harbor a dark secret dating from WWI. Their story is contrasted with that of Edie, a young woman in 1992 who investigates the story.Like Morton’s previous books, there’s a Gothic undertone to the book, but it’s never overt. The emphasis here is on telling a good story, and that Kate Morton does very well. Each of the characters, minus Edie, has skeletons in the closet, but the skeletons aren’t what you think they’ll be. I love how everything is revealed bit by bit, leaving the reader to guess at what will happen—again, it’s not what you think! I love Kate Morton’s characterizations, too; we’re not supposed to like or sympathize with Percy, but you do anyways. You get a very vivid picture of each of the characters with each of their quirks. This is one of those books that keeps you reading and reading, leaving you wanting to read more. The novel is long, but it never felt that way at all. In many places, it’s kind of a gothic version of I Capture the Castle.
The “present day”, 1992, is a bit dated, but I can understand why the author chose to have the book be set at that date instead of now. Despite the dated “present day,” I never got the feeling that the author was trying to hit her reader over the head with the fact that it’s 1992. This is another really great novel from Kate Morton; I’m only sad that I’ll have to wait until she writes her next!
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LibraryThing member lindawwilson
An excellent Gothic tale. The kind of novel that you want to read straight through. Well put together with all the mysterious loose ends tied up at the conclusion. The writing is very good. I recommend all of Kate Morton's novels.
LibraryThing member nicx27
I really loved both of Kate Morton's previous novels and was very keen to read The Distant Hours. Although I found it quite a slow read, by the end I was racing through it and loving all the twists and turns in the plot.
This is a dual time narrative book, set in 1992 and 1941. Kate Morton has done
This book has a slightly menacing castle and three sisters at its core, with a modern day heroine/investigator to help the reader link the past and present together. It would be an excellent book group read as I think there is a lot to discuss with this book - I only wish I knew somebody else who had read it!
It lost half a mark with me for the slowness, particularly early on, but by the end, I was absolutely loving it.
This is a dual time narrative book, set in 1992 and 1941. Kate Morton has done
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an excellent job in weaving together the strands of the story, and not confusing the reader, despite the moves in time in the story in the past. I did flick back through the book on a few occasions, but that was because I was keen to understand the links between all the threads.This book has a slightly menacing castle and three sisters at its core, with a modern day heroine/investigator to help the reader link the past and present together. It would be an excellent book group read as I think there is a lot to discuss with this book - I only wish I knew somebody else who had read it!
It lost half a mark with me for the slowness, particularly early on, but by the end, I was absolutely loving it.
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LibraryThing member Iudita
A very enjoyable story that includes a famous novel, an old castle and a dark family secret. This is an involved mystery with lots of side stories that tie in to the main plot by the end of the book. I really enjoy Kate Morton's stories.If you have read and enjoyed this author's previous two books,
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then you will surely enjoy The Distant Hours. Show Less
LibraryThing member libsue
Well written,but overly long. Figured the mystery out half way through, but kept reading-found myself skimming towards the end.
LibraryThing member bookaholicmom
This was my first read by Kate Morton. I had no idea what to expect except from all the wonderful reviews I have read from other bloggers on her books. I received an advance readers copy which was a whopping 672 pages long! Quite a chunkster for me! However, I was looking forward to reading it. I
I was very curious about Milderhurst and the sister's who lived in the castle. I was very curious about the letter that caused such a reaction for Edith's mother and how everything tied into the castle and the sisters. There are so many questions I had when reading the book. As more of the mystery is revealed, I found myself wondering how in the world it was all going to resolve itself. Ironically, I found the ending when the whole story finally comes together a bit rushed and I ended up reading it three times. I think at that point the suspense was killing me and I was reading it much too fast. Take your time with the ending. It is a very good one and you don't want to miss one bit of it's goodness. I will be reading Kate's other books as I think she is a wonderful storyteller. She is quite descriptive which left me with both beautiful and dark images of Milderhurst. This is a story of family, lost love, mystery and intrigue. I found myself wanting to both hurry through the story to find out the ending and wanting to savor every morsel of the story. I have never had a book do that before. I highly recommend this book.
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dug in with gusto. The story is very detailed and the characters are very complex. The story comes together rather slowly but it does a great job building suspense, at least it did for me. I'm not sure that if the story moved faster you would get the same effect. It is a very layered story.I was very curious about Milderhurst and the sister's who lived in the castle. I was very curious about the letter that caused such a reaction for Edith's mother and how everything tied into the castle and the sisters. There are so many questions I had when reading the book. As more of the mystery is revealed, I found myself wondering how in the world it was all going to resolve itself. Ironically, I found the ending when the whole story finally comes together a bit rushed and I ended up reading it three times. I think at that point the suspense was killing me and I was reading it much too fast. Take your time with the ending. It is a very good one and you don't want to miss one bit of it's goodness. I will be reading Kate's other books as I think she is a wonderful storyteller. She is quite descriptive which left me with both beautiful and dark images of Milderhurst. This is a story of family, lost love, mystery and intrigue. I found myself wanting to both hurry through the story to find out the ending and wanting to savor every morsel of the story. I have never had a book do that before. I highly recommend this book.
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LibraryThing member Twink
A letter, lost for 50 years, finally arrives at the home of Meredith Burchill. Her daughter Edie is there when she opens it. Her Mum's reactions startles her - "... horrid, guttural gasp, followed quickly by a series of rasping sobs". Yet her mother won't discuss the letter any further other than
The three elderly Blythe sister are still in residence and welcome Edie. After all "The castle likes to be visited, it needs it."
Edie becomes fascinated with the moldering castle and it's residents - both past and present. What connection does her mother have to these women and the past? Although one of the Blythe sisters says " My family lives on in the stones of Milderhurst Castle and it's my duty to keep them. It's not a task for outsiders", they specifically ask for Edie when a new edition of their father's classic bestseller 'The Mud Man' is planned. Edie accepts the job and is inextricably drawn in.
The story alternates between Edie's world in 1992 and the past in 1941. Slowly and deliciously we are able to piece together the story of the castle and the tragedy that haunts the Blythe family. The past comes to light, but is told through many voices, each adding their slant and twist on the way to the truth of those distant hours.
Morton has written a richly atmospheric novel with a lovely, gothic feel that just makes you want to curl up late at night reading under a single lamp in the dark. The story builds slowly, with layer upon layer added as the tension builds over the course of 500 plus pages. Morton's descriptions add to the eeriness and the atmosphere.
"In a small cupboard at the very top of the house there lies a secret doorway. Behind the doorway is the entrance to an entire scheme of hidden passages. It's possible to crawl along them, room to room, attic to cellar, just like a little mouse. If one goes quietly enough, it's possible to hear all manner of secret things; to get lost inside if one isn't careful. They're the castle's veins."
I loved this description of the sky.
" Outside, the sky grumbled like a full stomach, the gluttonous belly of a gentleman who'd escaped the frugalities of a rationed pantry."
Morton is an excellent storyteller. Although there is no 'action' in the book, I was completely caught up in the story of the 'Sisters Blythe'. Tragedy, romance, mystery and secrets abound in The Distant Hours - a book to be savoured and enjoyed.
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to stay it was from one of the Blythe sisters at Milderhurst Castle, where she lived as an evacuee during the blitzes of 1941war torn England. When a business trip for her publishing firm takes Edie within a few miles of the castle, she impulsively stops by the gates. And remembers being there as a child. The three elderly Blythe sister are still in residence and welcome Edie. After all "The castle likes to be visited, it needs it."
Edie becomes fascinated with the moldering castle and it's residents - both past and present. What connection does her mother have to these women and the past? Although one of the Blythe sisters says " My family lives on in the stones of Milderhurst Castle and it's my duty to keep them. It's not a task for outsiders", they specifically ask for Edie when a new edition of their father's classic bestseller 'The Mud Man' is planned. Edie accepts the job and is inextricably drawn in.
The story alternates between Edie's world in 1992 and the past in 1941. Slowly and deliciously we are able to piece together the story of the castle and the tragedy that haunts the Blythe family. The past comes to light, but is told through many voices, each adding their slant and twist on the way to the truth of those distant hours.
Morton has written a richly atmospheric novel with a lovely, gothic feel that just makes you want to curl up late at night reading under a single lamp in the dark. The story builds slowly, with layer upon layer added as the tension builds over the course of 500 plus pages. Morton's descriptions add to the eeriness and the atmosphere.
"In a small cupboard at the very top of the house there lies a secret doorway. Behind the doorway is the entrance to an entire scheme of hidden passages. It's possible to crawl along them, room to room, attic to cellar, just like a little mouse. If one goes quietly enough, it's possible to hear all manner of secret things; to get lost inside if one isn't careful. They're the castle's veins."
I loved this description of the sky.
" Outside, the sky grumbled like a full stomach, the gluttonous belly of a gentleman who'd escaped the frugalities of a rationed pantry."
Morton is an excellent storyteller. Although there is no 'action' in the book, I was completely caught up in the story of the 'Sisters Blythe'. Tragedy, romance, mystery and secrets abound in The Distant Hours - a book to be savoured and enjoyed.
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LibraryThing member justabookreader
Kate Morton is a new to me author. I’ve read some mixed things about her books, and about half way through The Distant Hours, I felt I understood some of those reviews. In the end, I did enjoy it with the exception of one odd thing that left me wondering which I’ll explain later.
Edie
A lot goes on in The Distant Hours but it all happens very slowly. Morton takes her time un-wrapping the story which in some ways can be infuriating and at other moments it’s lovely. Her writing style lends itself to long, meandering stories which The Distant Hours definitely is. I liked that Edie was in publishing and had a deep appreciation for words and books. It made her research and reading, which she does a lot of, fit seamlessly in but as you can imagine, it doesn’t offer a lot of action. The story didn’t feel slow so much as weighty though and this book is over 500 pages so it’s a literal and figurative heaviness.
So what left me with an odd feeling? Everything is this book comes to some sort of conclusion. Every mystery, every thought, every wonder that Edie had about her mother’s life, the sisters of Milderhurst Castle, all find a neat ending. I’m not opposed to tidy endings but I wasn’t left wondering at all --- about anything. Honestly, I think I would have liked the book more if some of my questions weren’t answered. Even some of the peripheral sub-plots were tied up. I almost felt a little ripped-off because I didn’t get the chance to wonder how certain things turned out --- Morton told me everything.
But you’ll notice I still gave this book a rather high rating. I did that because I enjoyed Morton’s writing and I did find myself at times unable to put the book down. Parts of the story are wonderfully hypnotic, especially those that take place at the castle. The sisters’ story is sad, almost as decrepit as the castle itself, and yet romantic. The story is about love lost and love found. It’s also about endurance (which is handy when reading a book of this size). For these reasons, I enjoyed it.
Edie
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Burchill’s mother never cries so when a letter arrives that leaves her mother in tears, Edie wonders, almost obsessively, what was in the letter. She finds out, after a lot of questioning, that her mother was a child evacuee during WWII. Her mother, Meredith, was relocated from London to Milderhurst Castle in the deep countryside and found a life there she never imaged possible. Unfortunately, it was also during this time that her greatest heartache occurred. Edie finds herself researching the Castle and its three spinster sisters, Percy, Saffy, and Juniper, with the hope that she’ll be able to understand her mother better. What she finds is a mystery neatly wrapped up in the pages of a children’s book.A lot goes on in The Distant Hours but it all happens very slowly. Morton takes her time un-wrapping the story which in some ways can be infuriating and at other moments it’s lovely. Her writing style lends itself to long, meandering stories which The Distant Hours definitely is. I liked that Edie was in publishing and had a deep appreciation for words and books. It made her research and reading, which she does a lot of, fit seamlessly in but as you can imagine, it doesn’t offer a lot of action. The story didn’t feel slow so much as weighty though and this book is over 500 pages so it’s a literal and figurative heaviness.
So what left me with an odd feeling? Everything is this book comes to some sort of conclusion. Every mystery, every thought, every wonder that Edie had about her mother’s life, the sisters of Milderhurst Castle, all find a neat ending. I’m not opposed to tidy endings but I wasn’t left wondering at all --- about anything. Honestly, I think I would have liked the book more if some of my questions weren’t answered. Even some of the peripheral sub-plots were tied up. I almost felt a little ripped-off because I didn’t get the chance to wonder how certain things turned out --- Morton told me everything.
But you’ll notice I still gave this book a rather high rating. I did that because I enjoyed Morton’s writing and I did find myself at times unable to put the book down. Parts of the story are wonderfully hypnotic, especially those that take place at the castle. The sisters’ story is sad, almost as decrepit as the castle itself, and yet romantic. The story is about love lost and love found. It’s also about endurance (which is handy when reading a book of this size). For these reasons, I enjoyed it.
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LibraryThing member TheCrowdedLeaf
This is the first book by Kate Morton that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, and I wasn’t disappointed. A thick literary mystery with layers of intrigue and clues to be discovered.
Edie Burchill, a present day publisher, stumbles across a decades old mystery surrounding the decrepit and ancient
The Distant Hours is a good mystery, page after page pulls you in, and Morton deftly layers plot on plot, tying all the strings together at the end. There’s more to the scene than just Milderhurst and the women who live there. There’s the mystery of the two wives of their father, and how they each died. What happened to the man who was supposed to visit Juniper? Why won’t Edie’s mother talk about her time at the castle? Morton is a master at the multi-plot book. She leaves no loose ends.
At times the plot lines did become predictable and plodding, however I still found myself pushing onward enjoying the heft and length of the book in hand. A satisfactory read, enjoyable; charmingly odd, like the Blythe sisters and their secrets.
Edie Burchill, a present day publisher, stumbles across a decades old mystery surrounding the decrepit and ancient
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Milderhurst Castle in the English countryside. Little does she know that the aged Blythe sisters who live there, twins Percey and Saffy, and their younger sister Juniper, are each hiding secrets from themselves and the village. When Edie discovers that her own mother spent some time at Milderhurst during the evacuation of children from London in World War II, she’s bound by a sense of duty as well as her own curiosity to visit Milderhurst and learn more about the women who live there, and their father who wrote a famous children’s story which Edie herself once adored.The Distant Hours is a good mystery, page after page pulls you in, and Morton deftly layers plot on plot, tying all the strings together at the end. There’s more to the scene than just Milderhurst and the women who live there. There’s the mystery of the two wives of their father, and how they each died. What happened to the man who was supposed to visit Juniper? Why won’t Edie’s mother talk about her time at the castle? Morton is a master at the multi-plot book. She leaves no loose ends.
At times the plot lines did become predictable and plodding, however I still found myself pushing onward enjoying the heft and length of the book in hand. A satisfactory read, enjoyable; charmingly odd, like the Blythe sisters and their secrets.
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LibraryThing member kathy_h
"She was the breeze on a summer's day, the first drops of rain when the earth was parched, light from the evening star." i absolutely adored The Distant Hours...can't say if it's Morton's best but it's just as fabulous as her previous two, The House at Riverton and The Secret Garden. The Sisters
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Blythe are wonderful characters, as is their castle, Middlehurst. i love the surprises and twists and turns, just when you think you know what happened, you don't. i read an uncorrected proof, and felt some parts earlier in the manuscript seemed to drag. perhaps an editor has or will correct this. at any rate, a must read, a journey back in time, full of love and regret and things lost but not forgotten. Show Less
LibraryThing member suetu
It was a dark and stormy night...
Okay, that infamous line is never used, but it might as well have been. There WERE plenty of dark and stormy nights in this deliciously atmospheric novel of suspense. Like Ms. Morton's previous novels, this is a tale told in two times. The "contemporary" story is
Questioning her mother, Meredith, Edie learns for the first time that her mother was evacuated from London during WWII. For over a year, she lived in the country with the sisters Blythe and their elderly father at gothic Castle Middlehurst. Meredith is inexplicably reticent to discuss her past. This is merely one more example of the distance that Edie has always felt with her mother. Edie finds the incident odd, but it fades quickly into the past--until months later, lost on a road trip, she stumbles upon Castle Middlehurst and her curiosity is fiercely awakened. On a whim, Edie arranges a tour of the castle and discovers, among other things, that all three sisters are alive and in residence. After several introductory chapters setting up the story, the book moves back and forth between Edie's answer-seeking in 1992, and chapters set during the actual events that occurred between 1939 and 1941, seen from the POV of several of the story's participants.
There is SO much more to the story told in this epic novel. The Blythes are a literary family, and patriarch Raymond is the author of the children's classic The True History of the Mud Man that inspired Edie's love of literature and eventual career in publishing. Ms. Morton is a brilliant story-teller and knows exactly how to torture her readers with questions. What was in the letter Meredith received half a century late? What was the true inspiration of the Mud Man? Why is the parlor door kept locked? What was in Raymond's will? What really happened that night in 1941?
So many questions. And Morton teases us along for hundreds of pages, stringing along answers like breadcrumbs for readers to follow. Kate Morton is very, very good at what she does. Though, after three novels, the similarities in the types of stories she tells and the themes therein have become quite evident. She's going to need to shake things up before she starts to recycle too much. But for now, The Distant Hours is hard to beat for good old-fashioned entertainment value. It literally brought chills and goose bumps to my skin time and time again. Savor it on a dark and stormy night!
Okay, that infamous line is never used, but it might as well have been. There WERE plenty of dark and stormy nights in this deliciously atmospheric novel of suspense. Like Ms. Morton's previous novels, this is a tale told in two times. The "contemporary" story is
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set in 1992, and events are set in motion by the delivery of a letter 51 years late. Protagonist Edie Burchill is visiting her parents when the letter arrives, and she witnesses her mother's unexpected and unexplained emotional response to the missive. Questioning her mother, Meredith, Edie learns for the first time that her mother was evacuated from London during WWII. For over a year, she lived in the country with the sisters Blythe and their elderly father at gothic Castle Middlehurst. Meredith is inexplicably reticent to discuss her past. This is merely one more example of the distance that Edie has always felt with her mother. Edie finds the incident odd, but it fades quickly into the past--until months later, lost on a road trip, she stumbles upon Castle Middlehurst and her curiosity is fiercely awakened. On a whim, Edie arranges a tour of the castle and discovers, among other things, that all three sisters are alive and in residence. After several introductory chapters setting up the story, the book moves back and forth between Edie's answer-seeking in 1992, and chapters set during the actual events that occurred between 1939 and 1941, seen from the POV of several of the story's participants.
There is SO much more to the story told in this epic novel. The Blythes are a literary family, and patriarch Raymond is the author of the children's classic The True History of the Mud Man that inspired Edie's love of literature and eventual career in publishing. Ms. Morton is a brilliant story-teller and knows exactly how to torture her readers with questions. What was in the letter Meredith received half a century late? What was the true inspiration of the Mud Man? Why is the parlor door kept locked? What was in Raymond's will? What really happened that night in 1941?
So many questions. And Morton teases us along for hundreds of pages, stringing along answers like breadcrumbs for readers to follow. Kate Morton is very, very good at what she does. Though, after three novels, the similarities in the types of stories she tells and the themes therein have become quite evident. She's going to need to shake things up before she starts to recycle too much. But for now, The Distant Hours is hard to beat for good old-fashioned entertainment value. It literally brought chills and goose bumps to my skin time and time again. Savor it on a dark and stormy night!
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LibraryThing member Audacity
A lengthy, pleasing novel that captured my attention and imagination. This novel is not Morton's best (The Forgotten Garden was amazing!), but still not one to miss!
LibraryThing member birdsam0610
The Distant Hours was a Christmas present I was really looking forward to. I loved both The Shifting Fog (The House at Riverton) and The Forgotten Garden – both were multilayered stories combining present day, history and a touch of the Gothic.
The Distant Hours doesn’t disappoint on that front
Fortunately, Edie works for a publisher and becomes entangled in the lives of the three sisters, trying to work out what happened during the war years. This is told by past recollections of Meredith (Edie’s mother), Percy, Saffy and Juniper. The story unfortunately ends in a cliché.
I didn’t feel this book was Gothic at all – was it because I read it in the middle of summer? Is it because I’m getting used to Morton’s format? (Current day moves to past moves to secret moves to solving in the present day). I felt like there were many unexplored themes (Juniper’s mental illness is poorly portrayed, changes in heartbeat do not cause madness) and many loose ends. The characters didn’t feel fully fleshed nor did the castle – I feel like a have a simple sketch in my mind, rather than a perfect picture. Saying this though, the book needs a damn good edit. There are far too many adjectives to make sense of sometimes and I found myself rereading sentences to work out what they meant until the penny dropped, ‘Oh! She means the sky is grey today!’ I found myself falling asleep over this book, which occurs rarely!
I really wanted to like this, but I feel there’s better examples of the historical/Gothic genre. Look to Morton’s other books, The Shadow of the Wind or Daphne du Maurier (such as Jamaica Inn).
Read it if: you received it as a Christmas present or you haven’t read the other books I’ve mentioned above.
The Distant Hours doesn’t disappoint on that front
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– we have modern day Edie who finds that her mother was sent as an evacuee from London to Milderhurst Castle, where she was looked after by the Blythe sisters – Persephone (Percy), Seraphina (Saffy) and Juniper, who is known to be a bit ‘odd’. The Blythe girls’ claim to fame is that their father wrote the all-time favourite children’s book, The True History of the Mud Man. Like any good castle, Milderhurst comes with a tragic past. Edie can’t work out why her mother is so reluctant to talk about her time there and why she reacted at a long lost letter.Fortunately, Edie works for a publisher and becomes entangled in the lives of the three sisters, trying to work out what happened during the war years. This is told by past recollections of Meredith (Edie’s mother), Percy, Saffy and Juniper. The story unfortunately ends in a cliché.
I didn’t feel this book was Gothic at all – was it because I read it in the middle of summer? Is it because I’m getting used to Morton’s format? (Current day moves to past moves to secret moves to solving in the present day). I felt like there were many unexplored themes (Juniper’s mental illness is poorly portrayed, changes in heartbeat do not cause madness) and many loose ends. The characters didn’t feel fully fleshed nor did the castle – I feel like a have a simple sketch in my mind, rather than a perfect picture. Saying this though, the book needs a damn good edit. There are far too many adjectives to make sense of sometimes and I found myself rereading sentences to work out what they meant until the penny dropped, ‘Oh! She means the sky is grey today!’ I found myself falling asleep over this book, which occurs rarely!
I really wanted to like this, but I feel there’s better examples of the historical/Gothic genre. Look to Morton’s other books, The Shadow of the Wind or Daphne du Maurier (such as Jamaica Inn).
Read it if: you received it as a Christmas present or you haven’t read the other books I’ve mentioned above.
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LibraryThing member BONS
Kate Morton's ability to establish her novel in a castle, in the English country side, while adding ghostly stories, three sisters and then smoothly transitioning this story forward by 5 decades is the material gothic mystery readers lose themselves within.
Edie, who works for a book publisher,
Thus enters the tour of the castle, the Blithe sisters and a ancestorial line of secrets and to the readers reward.. the true origin of The Mudman.
A long read but how artful the tying together of decades and the intricate detail of lives. Do attempt to guess the many mysteries. I hope you fare better than I.
Edie, who works for a book publisher,
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begins this story in 1992 while stumbling upon the great Milderhurst Castle. So familiar she is with it's occupant, the famous novelist Raymond Blithe who penned Edie's most cherished book, The Mudman. Edie has a distant, unexplained memory of being at the castle gates with her crying mother but her distant relationship with her mother offers little more. Thus enters the tour of the castle, the Blithe sisters and a ancestorial line of secrets and to the readers reward.. the true origin of The Mudman.
A long read but how artful the tying together of decades and the intricate detail of lives. Do attempt to guess the many mysteries. I hope you fare better than I.
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Awards
Australian Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — General Fiction — 2011)
Language
Original publication date
2010-10-14 (UK)
ISBN
9781439152799