tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post8580358014929599463..comments2023-04-28T21:57:55.187+09:30Comments on Kaetrin's Musings: Mariana by Susanna Kearsley, narrated by Carolyn BonnymanKaetrinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-75519816630186495712012-07-03T15:50:38.677+09:302012-07-03T15:50:38.677+09:30Hi Jan and Elspeth. Thank you for visiting! :) I...Hi Jan and Elspeth. Thank you for visiting! :) I've been on holiday so haven't been keeping up with the blog but I'm back now.<br /><br />I have The Winter Sea in my TBR (actually, I have the the UK release which is called Sophia's Secret but I'm assured it is otherwise the same book). I listened to The Rose Garden and found myself wanting more of the romance. In Mariana, I found the relationship between Richard and Mariana quite romantic, particularly towards the end, when I was convinced of his good intentions to her. As I said in my review, I liked the ending - I found the romance between Geoff and Julia very tepid. I'm not sure why there was a lack of recognition or why he kept it quiet for so long (I actually emailed the author about it!) but I found that one conversation at the end to have the same sense of connection and passion so it worked for me. I would like to read the book in print also so that I can see if I can pick up (ie imaginate!) any extra nuance between the two - I find it hard to cherry pick on audio - but I can pick up a book and skim and scan until I get to the bits I want to re-read. <br /><br />I have The Shadowy Horses on my TBL (audio) also and plan on listening to that one soon.<br /><br />As to your query Elspeth, I *think* that Geoffrey's looks and his horse etc were the explanations for why Julia didn't look beyond him. She made assumptions about "who" everybody was and the book encouraged the reader to make the same ones. There was a point in the book where Julia had breakfast with Ian early one morning and because she was wet, she put on his clothes and I remember thinking - oh no, Geoff's going to turn up and think there's something hinky going on or something. I also thought that Ian's lack of questioning of just what Julia had been doing was a bit odd, but looking back it makes more sense now. <br /><br />The ending certainly took me by surprise. I was kind of thinking that Geoff would ring and say that he's remembered he's Richard or soemthing.Kaetrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-91900796930633593092012-06-30T05:57:07.267+09:302012-06-30T05:57:07.267+09:30I agree with what the previous comment (Jan's)...I agree with what the previous comment (Jan's) says about the Hero not trying very hard throughout the story. I went back to re-read and he definitely seems brotherly, if not indifferent, until the end. I don't want to give anything away but the parallels with Geoffrey de Mornay and Richard have confused me. 'Navarre', the physical similarity...how is that all then to be explained? Just coincidence? And family resemblance?<br />Despite the odd twist at the end I enjoyed the story of Mariana and Richard. I also really enjoyed The Winter Sea and will be reading The Rose Garden next.Elspethhttp://wanderingsights.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-36408268554103489352012-06-27T23:43:52.084+09:302012-06-27T23:43:52.084+09:30Hi, Kaetrin! This is the first time I've seen...Hi, Kaetrin! This is the first time I've seen your blog -- I'm on google alerts for SK, and that's what brought me to you. <br /><br />First off, let me say I appreciate your own good writing, and the fact that you don't give away spoilers. I'll try to emulate that, but may give away a little more than you did.<br /><br />This is the third SK book I've read. My favorite by far is The Winter Sea, where she has ironed out what I consider the weaknesses of Mariana. Second favorite is The Rose Garden. I'm afraid I was pretty disappointed with Mariana, which was the most recent book I read. <br /><br />I, too, felt the relationship with the present day boyfriend to be frustrating. But beyond that, the ending just didn't do it for me. The switch was too big, and seemed to happen more to provide a twist at the end, than to be a natural result of the characters' development. <br /><br />Trying *very* hard not to give it away, but the relationship throughout the book with the Hero did not justify the relationship at the end, in my opinion. He just didn't try at all to capture her heart. Brotherly, is what I'd have called him. And she was supposed to see beyond the surfaces, into his heart? He didn't show it to her. I would call the ending awkward and abrupt.<br /><br />But I believe she may have seen the same herself, because she has definitely overcome that problem in her later books. She manages to provide plot twists that are much more believeable, eye-popping, and romantic, IMO.Jannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-69704816512099781132012-06-22T09:27:39.790+09:302012-06-22T09:27:39.790+09:30oh, which books are they? I've listened to Th...oh, which books are they? I've listened to The Rose Garden and this one, I have All the Shadowy Horses (?) on my to listen and Sophia's Secret (which is the UK name for The Winter Sea - I managed to pick up a cheap copy at a local bookshop) on my TBR. What others do I need to get? :)Kaetrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16936055488367251592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2480569708975020177.post-41733514159513422812012-06-21T20:37:59.316+09:302012-06-21T20:37:59.316+09:30I LOVE Susanna Kearsley's books but haven'...I LOVE Susanna Kearsley's books but haven't listened to any of them on audiobook yet. My favourite is still The Winter Sea but there are several that I feel comfortable recommending to people.Marghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13508430635744720721noreply@blogger.com