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A review by obsidian_blue
A Place Like Home: Short Stories by Rosamunde Pilcher
5.0
Re-read this again and still in love with the majority of these stories. I really have to re-read September again.
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
I thought this was absolutely wonderful. This is a collection of short stories by Pilcher and I have to say that this book was just what I needed. I curled up in a blanket with cups of tea.
There is an introduction by someone named Lucinda Riley that I don't know anything about, I skipped this though because most introductions spoil the stories within and it drives me up the wall.
Per usual, here are my ratings of all the stories.
"Someone to Trust"-5 stars-I thought this was a great start to the collection. We follow a woman named Rachael who realizes that after many years, the man she is in love with, is never going to love her the right way. She goes to visit her cousin and tries to put her lover behind her. But things change for her when she starts to realize that not all men are like her ex. I did like that Rachael comes to a better realization about her relationship and the man that seems to not care at all about hurting her.
"Anniversary"-5 stars-A woman named Janey realizes that she needs more from her long-time lover, David. She's scared though to ask for more since he seems very anti-marriage. When Janey travels to celebrate her parent's wedding anniversary, she meets a couple that has her thinking things may have to change for her to move forward. What I liked about this one though is there a hint of darkness in the ending. I think Pilcher did a good job with showing that not all marriages are the same.
"Skelmerton"-3 stars-this one was the only story that really dragged for me. The title of this story is the name of the village where the story takes place. I think this one didn't work for me because it follows a single woman (considered a spinster) who really put her life on hold for a young man she met and fell in love with years ago. He of course met and married someone else, but has now returned to Skelmerton. I don't know. I don't think the story was meant to seem like hey good for you for being second best. But it read that way. I don't know if that was on purpose or not.
"A Place Like Home"-5 stars-I really enjoyed this one. A young woman named Joanna is in the hospital and realizing that she is truly almost alone in the world. She is an orphan and her remaining relatives are nowhere nearby. Her boss comes to visit her though and suggests a place that he knows in Scotland as a place to recover. I loved the description of Scotland and the people that Joanna meets, especially one of them. It really was a great story and I can see why the collection was named after this story.
"Ghosts of the Past"-3.5 stars-This one was definitely dark. I liked it though, but it didn't really fit with the general mood of the book I thought. Pilcher loves playing with stories about the end of affairs. I thought this one had a kind of ridiculous ending, but I loved the set-up of it before that.
"Jonathan"-3.5 stars-Not bad, it just felt a bit samey to the story told in Skelmerton.
"The Key"-3.5/4 stars-This was a weird story. As I reflect on it, I think I liked it. A young girl named Ruth goes and sees a house. She's not what she seems. It's a weird story.
"A Fork in the Road"-5 stars-A young man has a choice between a woman or moving to Edinburgh. After a visit there, he starts to think of the possibilities before him.
"The Stone Boy"-4 stars-This story follows a woman who has a chance encounter with a man that she has tried to forget.
"A Touch of Magic"-5 stars-This story was hilarious. An older aunt and another woman want the woman's brother in law to grow up and finally stay in one place. An accident ends up allowing the brother in law to see someone in a new light.
"A Smile for the Bride"-4 stars-Not a bad short story, but I knew how this one would end. I felt like I have read this before.
"Magic Might Happen"-4 stars-I thought this was okay, but honestly thought the ending was a bit...eh. It just didn't work for me due to the fact I thought Pilcher was telling a different story for readers. About how to go on after your heart is broken.
"Through the Eyes of Love"-5 stars-A young woman realizes that she needs to move on from a lover who has caused her nothing but pain. She goes home to her family for Christmas, and sees someone she has known for a long time in a new light. This felt very similar to Winter Solstice in themes or just the feeling of coziness it inspired. Loved it.
"Our Holiday"-5 stars-Yikes. I mean this is good, but this is probably a story that maybe should have ended up in a different collection. I loved it though it left me feeling melancholy.
"Harbour of Love"-4.5 stars-Not a bad story to end on, I just thought it was going in a totally different way though.
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
I thought this was absolutely wonderful. This is a collection of short stories by Pilcher and I have to say that this book was just what I needed. I curled up in a blanket with cups of tea.
There is an introduction by someone named Lucinda Riley that I don't know anything about, I skipped this though because most introductions spoil the stories within and it drives me up the wall.
Per usual, here are my ratings of all the stories.
"Someone to Trust"-5 stars-I thought this was a great start to the collection. We follow a woman named Rachael who realizes that after many years, the man she is in love with, is never going to love her the right way. She goes to visit her cousin and tries to put her lover behind her. But things change for her when she starts to realize that not all men are like her ex. I did like that Rachael comes to a better realization about her relationship and the man that seems to not care at all about hurting her.
"Anniversary"-5 stars-A woman named Janey realizes that she needs more from her long-time lover, David. She's scared though to ask for more since he seems very anti-marriage. When Janey travels to celebrate her parent's wedding anniversary, she meets a couple that has her thinking things may have to change for her to move forward. What I liked about this one though is there a hint of darkness in the ending. I think Pilcher did a good job with showing that not all marriages are the same.
"Skelmerton"-3 stars-this one was the only story that really dragged for me. The title of this story is the name of the village where the story takes place. I think this one didn't work for me because it follows a single woman (considered a spinster) who really put her life on hold for a young man she met and fell in love with years ago. He of course met and married someone else, but has now returned to Skelmerton. I don't know. I don't think the story was meant to seem like hey good for you for being second best. But it read that way. I don't know if that was on purpose or not.
"A Place Like Home"-5 stars-I really enjoyed this one. A young woman named Joanna is in the hospital and realizing that she is truly almost alone in the world. She is an orphan and her remaining relatives are nowhere nearby. Her boss comes to visit her though and suggests a place that he knows in Scotland as a place to recover. I loved the description of Scotland and the people that Joanna meets, especially one of them. It really was a great story and I can see why the collection was named after this story.
"Ghosts of the Past"-3.5 stars-This one was definitely dark. I liked it though, but it didn't really fit with the general mood of the book I thought. Pilcher loves playing with stories about the end of affairs. I thought this one had a kind of ridiculous ending, but I loved the set-up of it before that.
"Jonathan"-3.5 stars-Not bad, it just felt a bit samey to the story told in Skelmerton.
"The Key"-3.5/4 stars-This was a weird story. As I reflect on it, I think I liked it. A young girl named Ruth goes and sees a house. She's not what she seems. It's a weird story.
"A Fork in the Road"-5 stars-A young man has a choice between a woman or moving to Edinburgh. After a visit there, he starts to think of the possibilities before him.
"The Stone Boy"-4 stars-This story follows a woman who has a chance encounter with a man that she has tried to forget.
"A Touch of Magic"-5 stars-This story was hilarious. An older aunt and another woman want the woman's brother in law to grow up and finally stay in one place. An accident ends up allowing the brother in law to see someone in a new light.
"A Smile for the Bride"-4 stars-Not a bad short story, but I knew how this one would end. I felt like I have read this before.
"Magic Might Happen"-4 stars-I thought this was okay, but honestly thought the ending was a bit...eh. It just didn't work for me due to the fact I thought Pilcher was telling a different story for readers. About how to go on after your heart is broken.
"Through the Eyes of Love"-5 stars-A young woman realizes that she needs to move on from a lover who has caused her nothing but pain. She goes home to her family for Christmas, and sees someone she has known for a long time in a new light. This felt very similar to Winter Solstice in themes or just the feeling of coziness it inspired. Loved it.
"Our Holiday"-5 stars-Yikes. I mean this is good, but this is probably a story that maybe should have ended up in a different collection. I loved it though it left me feeling melancholy.
"Harbour of Love"-4.5 stars-Not a bad story to end on, I just thought it was going in a totally different way though.