Book Review
Sep. 19th, 2023 07:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe House at Old Vine
by Norah Lofts
This sequel to The Townhouse picks up the story of the house and its inhabitants in the late 15th century, a couple generations after the close of the first book, and ends in the last half of the 17th century. The house itself does not change overmuch, but the town and world around it does, necessitating shifts in how its owners use it. The house thus first becomes a fine inn and then a boys school. The story focuses on the women, first Josiana and her cursed love, then manipulative and domineering Elizabeth, strong and loving Barbara, and finally long-suffering Ethelreda. Each of them makes a home in the Old Vine and must live with both the joyful and the sorrowful consequences of their choices and their relationships.
This books was pretty good. Lofts focuses on the ordinary lives of ordinary people and their small dramas rather than on the major events and people. It makes for a more intimate narrative. Lofts is also very good at maintaining continuity and connection even with the jumps in time and changes in the cast of characters.
by Norah Lofts
This sequel to The Townhouse picks up the story of the house and its inhabitants in the late 15th century, a couple generations after the close of the first book, and ends in the last half of the 17th century. The house itself does not change overmuch, but the town and world around it does, necessitating shifts in how its owners use it. The house thus first becomes a fine inn and then a boys school. The story focuses on the women, first Josiana and her cursed love, then manipulative and domineering Elizabeth, strong and loving Barbara, and finally long-suffering Ethelreda. Each of them makes a home in the Old Vine and must live with both the joyful and the sorrowful consequences of their choices and their relationships.
This books was pretty good. Lofts focuses on the ordinary lives of ordinary people and their small dramas rather than on the major events and people. It makes for a more intimate narrative. Lofts is also very good at maintaining continuity and connection even with the jumps in time and changes in the cast of characters.
