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The Forgotten Garden
- Narrated by: Caroline Lee
- Length: 20 hrs and 39 mins
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Summary
Thirty-eight year old Cassandra is lost, alone, and grieving. Her much loved grandmother, Nell, has just died and Cassandra, her life already shaken by a tragic accident 10 years ago, feels like she has lost everything known and dear to her.
But an unexpected and mysterious bequest from Nell turns Cassandra's life upside down and ends up challenging everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. Inheriting a book of dark and intriguing fairytales written by Eliza Makepeace Rutherford - the Victorian authoress who disappeared mysteriously in the early twentieth century - as well as a cliff-top cottage on the other side of the world, Cassandra takes her courage in both hands to follow in the footsteps of Nell, on a quest to find out the truth about their history, their family and their past; little knowing that in the process, she will also discover a new life for herself.
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What listeners say about The Forgotten Garden
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Overall
- Penny
- 06-08-08
Worth a Listen
Although this was an odd book, I enjoyed listening to it. Padded out somewhat, with a slow and sometimes ponderous delivery, the main drawback was the reader's inability to 'do' a Cornish accent, substituting instead something akin to an Irish one - and the 'Dick Van Dyke' style of cockney accent was laughable!
In recounting this unlikely, but intriguing, tale the author spans three time periods without difficulty and the tale hangs together well. If the author intended a cliff-hanger, I doubt she has achieved it, as it was easy to guess the plot from the outset.
Overall though, a good 'read'.
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40 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Mirium
- 02-08-09
Great story marred by sloppy editing
This had all the ingredients for the sort of story I really enjoy: a creepy old house in Cornwall; an abducted child; a secret garden; a century-old mystery.....yes, it was a great plot, with lots of twists and turns (and contrary to some reviewers, I didn't guess the ending near the beginning!). However, it was v-e-r-y- l-o-n-g w-i-n-d-e-d and could have done with some serious editing. There was far too much inconsequential dialogue that didn't move the story on at all, and rather too many descriptions of people making and drinking cups of tea. Dramatic incidents, such as the accident that befell Sammy, were flagged up at least five minutes in advance, so when whatever it was actually happened, I felt a sense of anticlimax.
I lost count of the number of times characters inhaled, exhaled, and pressed their lips together. This sort of lazy repetition really annoys me. Could Kate Morton not be bothered to think up other ways to let characters express emotions? What are editors for? Did they not notice?
The other thing that really got on my nerves was the reader's appalling attempts at a Cornish accent - as another reviewer has commented, it sounded more like Oirish. If only the producer had had the courage to say: 'look, love, your English regional accents are rubbish - just read it straight, OK?' - it would have been so much better.
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24 people found this helpful
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Overall
- lynn
- 14-08-08
Escapism
I loved this book. Although I agree with previous reviewer re-accents (diabolical cornish accent), and it became quite obvious early on how events would probably turn out.That said however, the author draws you in slowly but surely and suddenly 2 hrs have passed by! All in all a really enjoyable way to escape for a while.
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17 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Susanna
- 03-01-11
Lovely listen
I have enjoyed greatly listening to this book. It is an intriguing plot(not at all boring)and very moving at the same time. The characters are very well developed. The book was very clearly read, in an engaging style (despite other comments I have read regarding the different accents of the narrator) and easy to understand. I would strongly recommended to anyone. I will miss it now that I have finished...
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Lorna
- 08-09-08
Lorna
Fantastic - was lost for hours listening to this. Loved the twisting and turning in different directions with delightful discriptions and stories.
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13 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Iris
- 09-12-08
The Forgotten Garden
I loved this book this made the washing up a pleasure I really felt asif i was listening to friends ,please,if you are looking for a good book listen to this one you will be entertained for hours and will feel sorry when it is finished.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Carol
- 17-02-14
Great story beautifully told
Where does The Forgotten Garden rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
This would rate as one of the best audiobooks I have listened to so far. It's the longest but totally engrossing.
What did you like best about this story?
I love the way Kate Moreton writes. She delivers the story in delicate little bits so that you can't tear yourself away. Her characters are rich and her descriptions vivid.
What about Caroline Lee’s performance did you like?
I've listened to other books read by Caroline Lee that were quite a different style. Caroline adapts so well to the mood of the book and does a brilliant job capturing the characters' personality in their voices.
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10 people found this helpful
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Overall
- S. O'NEILL
- 12-10-09
A good tale
I enjoyed listening to this story. The clever way the plot revolves around three stories keeps you wanting to listen, especially when you get left with a cliffhanger and then move backward or forward in time. The only downside was the accents - the English ones rather moved back and forth across the country and got a bit Irish at times - but the story was enough to compensate
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Cat
- 01-12-14
Brilliant story, shame about the narrator
As many others have commented on the work of Caroline Lee, I cannot understand why someone who gives such a sub-standard performance continues to be chosen for some excellent books. A real let down when Kate Morton's work is excellent, gripping and so well written.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Sarah
- 12-03-11
Kept coming back for more!
Really loved this book - admittedly it took a while to get into, as the beginning seemed to labour for a while, but it was certainly worth sticking with. It does take a little concentration, as the drama leaps from the early 1900s to the 1970s and the present day and back and forth repeatedly, but it's something that is surprisingly easy to get used to.
Once I had got into the story and as the threads of the three main characters started to knit together, I was absolutely gripped. I found myself taking my iPod everywhere with me, in the car...while doing housework...to bed, just to find out the next instalment.
Kate Morton is a skillfull storyteller who weaves a complicated, but logical story together accross the centuries. Would certainly recommend this title and will be trying a few more of the author's works now.
The Aussie narrator took a little getting used to and as others have mentioned her rather Dick Van Dyke English accents were very grating, but don't let that put you off. The story is well worth it.
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6 people found this helpful