The sea gate / Jane Johnson.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781982140878 (paperback)
- Physical Description: 410 pages ; 23 cm
- Edition: Simon & Schuster Canada edition.
- Publisher: Toronto : Simon & Schuster Canada, 2020.
- Copyright: ©2020.
Search for related items by subject
Genre: | Historical fiction. Domestic fiction. |
Available copies
- 16 of 17 copies available at BC Interlibrary Connect. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at Terrace Public Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 17 total copies.
Other Formats and Editions
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Holdable? | Status | Due Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Terrace Public Library | JOH (Text) | 35151001113273 | Adult Fiction | Volume hold | Available | - |
- Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2021 January #1
A sweeping tale that takes the reader to the lovely seaside hills of Cornwall, to Chynalls, the property of Olivia Kitto. Becky Young begins the novel at a crossroads of her life: her mother has just passed away, she has endured a round of chemo, and she is realizing the man of her dreams is not exactly all he appears. When she discovers a plea for help from her elderly cousin Olivia, Becky decides to journey to Cornwall to offer her assistance. Olivia's quarrelsome nature and outspoken pet parrot throw Becky into the midst of family secrets going back to the horrors of WWII as the point of view shifts to Olivia's upbringing at Chynalls. Young Olivia was also at a crossroads, but with very different stakes. The heart does not often forgetâor forgiveâbut both Olive and Becky learn to carry on, even as their pasts come back to haunt them. The slow pace builds into a suspenseful mystery with a satisfying ending, full of surprising revelations and several skeletons in the closet. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews. - Library Journal Reviews : LJ Reviews 2020 October
Johnson's time-shifting narrative transports readers between the present and 1940s while anchoring them to a place, engrossing us in both periods. Rebecca's mother, Geneviève, has died unexpectedly. Helping her brother clear their mother's flat, Rebecca unearths a pale blue envelope out of place amid bills and junk mail. The undated letter from an elderly cousin beseeches "Jenny" to come to Cornwall to help her. Bereft, disparaged by her family, and disregarded by a self-absorbed boyfriend, Rebecca resolves to help Cousin Olivia in Geneviève's stead. Bolstered by Olivia's trust, Rebecca assumes responsibility for refurbishing Olivia's ancestral home to permit her discharge from the hospital. From attic to sea gate, Rebecca restores more to Olivia than merely a house while reclaiming her own sense of worth and purpose in the process.
Copyright 2020 Library Journal.VERDICT Johnson (Court of Lions ) conveys a strong sense of place in her historical fiction. The author describes this as a book about family secrets. Although secrets abound, this is also a novel of sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption. Recommended for readers who value the journey, however harrowing, as much as the destination.âLaura Cifelli, Lee Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Myers, FL - Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 2020 October #1
Johnson (
Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly.The Tenth Gift ) spins an irresistible epic history of one family in Cornwall, England. After Becky discovers a letter sent to her recently deceased mother by a 90-year-old cousin, Olivia, asking for help, Becky heeds the call and travels to Cornwall, where the authorities want to send Olivia to an assisted-living facility. At Olivia's decrepit old house, Becky is greeted by a foul-mouthed parrot ("?âFuck off,' he says, so quietly it is almost an endearment"). As the days unfold through visits with Olivia at a nearby hospital, Becky discovers a kindred spirit in her elderly cousin, a painter whose work was renowned, but whose identity has been cloaked by the initials OK for decades. Seamlessly toggling back and forth between Becky's point of view and Olivia's, the story shifts from WWII Cornwall to the present day and takes an intriguing turn when Becky discovers a human bone in Olivia's basement. Parts of the story are tough to takeâan intellectually disabled child's rape by a Nazi during WWII is particularly stomach-churningâthough the villains are dispatched in suitable fashion. Johnson keeps the narrative speeding along, underpinning her tale with a large supporting cast, among them a housecleaner who secretly doses Olivia's tea with rat poison and a builder who ties up the last of Olivia's mysteries. Johnson's powers of description evoke the setting's living history and brings it to brilliant life. This sweeping saga is a must-read.(Jan.)