Snow in April

-- Reading SNOW IN APRIL after a Pilcher absence is like rain following a drought. Is it refreshing because winter 2011-'12 was nonexistent in Vt.? red & yellow tulip petals cover the book jacket? Compared to Pilcher novels I've read in the past SNOW IN APRIL is a short story. It contains a blizzard, glamorous women, country estates, fireplaces, Scotch, an Aga, & a Land Rover & wraps up beautifully in less than 150 pages. --

Caroline Cliburn is twenty years old and has recently become engaged. She travels from London to Scotland, hoping to finally make contact with her eldest brother Angus. The brother and sister haven't seen each other in several years, but Caroline and her younger brother Jody are both determined to find Angus and try to convince him to come back home. Then, Caroline plans to return home in time for her wedding to the man her strong-willed stepmother Diana thinks is so suitable for Caroline.

Unfortunately, a sudden blinding Scottish snowstorm strands the siblings at the house of a grieving young man named Oliver Cairney. Having recently lost his brother in a car accident, Oliver is still recovering from the tragedy and not really expecting show more visitors to his isolated family home. However, as the heavy blizzard-like conditions continue, Oliver realizes that Caroline and Jody need a place to stay. And, as the snow continues to fall over an extended period of time both Caroline and Oliver find themselves on the brink of making terrible mistakes; but perhaps these two wounded souls can save each other.

First of all, let me say that in my opinion this was just so typically Rosamunde Pilcher - light, sweet and simple reading. I don't mean that as a detrimental statement, as I appreciated that the story was uncomplicated and truly heartwarming. I would give this book an A+! show less

Leichte Lesemomente

Der Roman war sehr kurz, was sich auch in der Erzählweise bemerkbar gemacht hat. Die Geschichte wurde ziemlich schnell erzählt, mit einigen Sprüngen und wenig Tiefe in den Details. Das Buch hätte meiner Meinung nach locker deutlich mehr Seiten vertragen können, um Figuren und Handlung besser zu entfalten.

Besonders ins Herz geschlossen habe ich Jody – ein lebensfrohes Kind, das viel Charme in die Geschichte gebracht hat. Caroline hingegen war mit ihrer bevorstehenden Hochzeit beschäftigt, trifft dann Oliver und zweifelt an ihrem Plan.

Der Schreibstil war einfach und angenehm zu lesen, genau das Richtige für einen entspannten Nachmittag. Trotz der erwähnten Kritikpunkte hatte ich Spaß beim Lesen. Es ist ein show more leichter Roman für Zwischendurch, der keine große Anstrengung verlangt – dafür gibt es von mir 4 Sterne. show less

I love Rosamunde Pilcher's writing. I am reading her books in mostly reverse order.

I really liked Snow in April. The characters were likeable. It was easy for me to envision the settings, since we lived in England.

[a:Rosamunde Pilcher|20849|Rosamunde Pilcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1244293675p2/20849.jpg]'s books are primarily about relationships between people. It is clear that people are fallible and that their fallibility is not fatal. It is clear that people don't think about their lives until they are faced with the reality. The 'good guys' are not great heros. They are just people. Conversely, the 'bad guys' are not terrible, horrifying people. They are people trying to get what they want and making bad decisions. People, in Pilcher's books, are doing the best they can. These qualities make her books seem really real to me.

[b:Snow in April|60469|Snow In April|Rosamunde show more Pilcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170542447s/60469.jpg|1323954] is a 1972 book, so the smoking is still quite prominent, as it was in [b:Another View|60464|Another View|Rosamunde Pilcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170542444s/60464.jpg|2881770]. Another thing I like about Pilcher's books is the people have very civilized seeming lives. [b:Snow in April|60469|Snow In April|Rosamunde Pilcher|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170542447s/60469.jpg|1323954] opens with Caroline in the bath before she dresses to go down to dinner. It would be so lovely to be able to come home from work, have a bath, change and go downstairs for a drink followed by dinner. The delicious description of the bathroom makes me want to go there right now and take a bath.

Pilcher is the writer who made me want to eat cassoulet. I don't even know what it is in reality, but her descriptions of the dish makes my mouth water.

Very entertaining books. show less

Caroline, who is about to get married, drives to Scotland with her younger brother to try and see their estranged older brother. She is stranded in a snowstorm and takes refuge. An enjoyable light read with very believable and sympathetic people.

I read this book in 2000, then lent it to somebody and didn't see it again. So it went on my wishlist a few years later, and I was delighted to receive it for my birthday.

On re-reading, nine years after the first reading, I'd totally forgotten the plot other than that a girl drives to Scotland and is stranded in the snow, and enjoyed it all over again. It's light fiction, and ends perhaps a little too abruptly - but Rosamunde Pilcher always writes moving and believable books with warm people show more who feel alive and real.

Re-reading again, another ten years on, the same vague recollection and enjoyment was true again.

Highly recommended. Full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/04/snow-in-april-by-rosamunde-pilcher.... show less

Review for the abridged Audio CD read by Lyn Redgrave.

This made for a few hours easy listening but it wasn't very exciting. The story-line was pretty predictable without much in the way of surprises. Lyn Redgrave's narration was good but her male voices were rather unconvincing.

Caroline, the heroine, is about to be married to her (nice) step mother's brother. She is not madly in love with him but seems unable to summon the confidence to pull out. Her younger brother, Jodie, is due to leave London for Canada to live with his stepmother, while Caroline will remain in London. There is another, older brother, Angus, who has not been seen for several years, and Jodie is determined to find Angus and ask if he can stay with his brother rather show more than move to Canada.
Caroline agrees to borrow a car and drive up to Scotland, where Angus was last known to live. When the car crashes in a freak snow storm, Caroline and Jodie walk to the nearest house - the home of Oliver Cairney, where they are dried out and fed. Of course the inevitable happens, with repercussions for everyone. No-one seems to be very upset about it though and everyone lives happily ever after.

I would have liked to have had a bit more objection from the step mother and her brother, a bit more solidity to the novel, which felt rather wishy-washy. I am hoping that The Shell Seekers and September will be more satisfying reads, but sadly, I'm not in any hurry to find out. show less