Colony

by Anne Rivers Siddons

Hardcover, 2002

Status

Available

Call number

813

Genres

Collection

Your library

Publication

HarperTorch (2002), Edition: Reprint, 640 pages

Description

When Maude Chambliss first arrives at Retreat, the seasonal home of her husband's aristocratic family, she is a nineteen-year-old bride fresh from South Carolina's Low Country. Among the patrician men and women who reside in the summer colony on the coast of Maine, her gypsy-like beauty and impulsive behavior immediately brand her an outsider. She, as well as everyone else, is certain she will never fit in. And of course, she doesn't ... at first. But over the many summers she spends there, Maude comes to cherish life in the colony, as she does the people who share it with her. There is her husband Peter, consumed with a darkness of spirit; her adored but dangerously fragile children; her domineering mother-in-law, who teaches her that it is the women who possess the strength to keep the colony intact; and Maine native Micah Willis, who is ultimately Maude's truest friend. Performed by Judith Ivey… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member moonshineandrosefire

When Maude Chambliss first arrives at Retreat, the seasonal home of her husband's aristocratic family, she is a nineteen year old fresh faced bride direct from South Carolina convinced that she will never fit in with everyone. Everyone believes the same, until she begins to make friends. As time

goes by, Maude falls in love with the colony and the people who live there.

There is Maude's husband, Peter, consumed with a darkness of spirit; her adored but dangerously fragile children; her domineering mother-in-law, who teaches Maude that it is the women of the colony who possess the strength to keep it intact and Micah Willis, a Maine native who turns out to be Maude's truest friend.

I loved this story and give it an A+! I don't usually read long books, but this book just drew me in and flew by for me. I didn't want it to ever end.

Show Less

4 more

LibraryThing member alisonb60

Beautifully written, great characters, wonderful settings, wonderfully described and an engrossing story. I loved it. Now I'm off to get more of Siddons books.

LibraryThing member thornton37814

A woman from Charleston marries into a New England family that spends at least part of each summer at a colony in Maine called the Retreat. The story follows her from the time she first visits the Retreat until it will be up to her granddaughter to keep the colony safe from those who might destroy

what it means to those who have spent time there. While the novel was well-written, I just didn't really care for the characters. Most of them were spoiled rotten and couldn't get along with each other, and I just failed to connect with them. Siddons does a good job depicting the area and portrays that social class well. Book is a bit long to keep most readers interested with the slow pacing of the novel.

Show Less

LibraryThing member LindaRogers

Gorgeous descriptive writing, memorable characters, story with many separate elements that held me captive until the last word on p. 600. Siddons is a superlative storyteller.

LibraryThing member VashonJim

When Maude Chambliss first arrives at Retreat, the seasonal New England home of her husband's aristocratic family, she is a total outsider, a South Carolina beauty who looks like she will never fit in. The book is a stunning look at how she eventually became one of the bedrocks of Retreat. Its

characters are charismatic, and the tale flows with an ease that only a truly gifted writer could accomplish. I absolutely loved it, and plan on reading a lot more Siddons.

Show Less

Fewer