The Carousel

Ah Cornwall! I couldn't remember if I'd read this one before, so tossed it in the bag of books I took with me on my last roadtrip. As I got further into it, I'm 80% sure I've read it before... but not completely convinced. Diving back into a Pilcher book is like wrapping up in a favorite blanket while sitting in front of a fire on a cool rainy day with a cup of hot tea on the table nearby. Bliss! This one didn't disappoint. Cornwall setting, eccentric characters, artists, romance, and lots of tea. I may now have to unearth my much read copy of the Shell Seekers...

Another older novel off my tbr list! Ms. Pilcher is best known for "The Shell Seekers" and "September". However, there are a treasure trove of her lesser-known novels that are just as amazing. Anyone can learn the mechanics of writing. It takes a special talent to make the words, characters, plot, and setting jump off the page, and hold the readers' attention. Ms. Pilcher is such an author.
"The Carousel" was written as a short story, with only 122 pages total. The characters, plot and setting were well defined. I did feel that the ending felt a bit rushed. I would recommend.

Another older novel off my tbr list! Ms. Pilcher is best known for "The Shell Seekers" and "September". However, there are a treasure trove of her lesser-known novels that are just as amazing. Anyone can learn the mechanics of writing. It takes a special talent to make the words, characters, plot, and setting jump off the page, and hold the readers' attention. Ms. Pilcher is such an author.
"The Carousel" was written as a short story, with only 122 pages total. The characters, plot and setting were well defined. I did feel that the ending felt a bit rushed. I would recommend.

This is a lovely book! Prue goes to stay with her eccentric aunt, and on the way meets a delightful ten-year-old girl. There are one or two coincidences early in the book, but they are quite acceptable in light of the wonderful characterisation and wonderful plot. It's quite moving in places, too.

On re-reading seven years after the last time, and again nine years later, I found myself totally engrossed once more, having forgotten many of the details. The carousel of the title is only a small part of the story; the relationships are what matter. Somehow, Rosamunde Pilcher's people are so real that I feel a sense of loss when I come to the end of one of her books. And this one isn't very long.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes show more women's fiction.

Latest full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-carousel-by-rosamunde-pilcher.h... show less

Rossamunde Pilcher wrote 26 books under her own name and also under a pen name of Jane Fraser. I began my reading with her final book. Since that was the way I was introduced to her work, I began making an effort to read them in reverse order of publication date. I just finished my sixth book of hers.

I very much enjoyed this story. It misses some marks that she reached in her later works in that there is a noticeable lack of reason for one of the major plotlines, and the ending felt really rushed. It did however give a "happily ever after" ending, which is something I really long for in books. With the great amount of reading, and given my age, I understand that difficulties really do create interest, giving the subject many show more opportunities to find out who they are and what they can do or become. Her later books show that she must have realized the same thing.

This book finds a young woman ready to help her aunt, but also willingly helping a young girl. show less

Prue is intelligent, artistic, independent - and bored. Pressurized by her mother to make a conventional and dull marriage, she escapes London and goes to her aunt's house in Cornwall. Surrounded by the peacefulness of nature, Prue begins to de-stress and find herself again.

Walking along the beach one day, she meets a young, attractive artist. She determines not to rest until she discovers what is troubling him. I truly enjoy Rosamunde Pilcher as an author and I did enjoy this book, however, if I had one complaint about The Carousel, it would be that all the ends were tied up a little too neatly for my liking. I ended up giving this book a B+!

Having read several books written by Ms Pilcher, I am starting to see a theme and the stories are becoming predictable. They are always nice stories though and a quick comfortable, cosy read. I did enjoy it.