Sunday, December 20, 2015

Favorite Books of 2015: The Lake House



Sharon Long is here to talk about Kate Morton's latest book. It's her favorite book from 2015 from one of her favorite authors.

The Lake House published by Atria Books released in the U.S. in October 2015. I have absolutely loved each of Kate's previous four books and was excited to read this one. Her books are usually set in London even though she herself lives in Australia. They always move from the past to the present, typically starting in the 1930's. All of her books have been #1 Bestsellers, selling over 10 million copies and published in 38 countries and 32 languages. Kate describes her writing as, "the sort of books you can disappear inside" and I wholeheartedly agree.

In 1933, Alice Edevane is burying a box in a bag in the yard of her home in Cornwall. It is Midsummer's Eve and her family is getting ready for their annual party. Alice is 16 and experiencing her first crush on Ben, a 26-year-old worker on the estate. Her mother is the subject of a famous children's fairy tale and her father, who served in the first World War, is now an author. Alice herself has just finished her first manuscript. All seems well, however, this particular Midsummer's Eve party will not be forgotten. In the morning the 11month old son and brother, Theo is missing. He is never found again. After months of searching, the Edevanes leave their beloved Lake House for London; never to return.

Seventy years later, Sadie Sparrow a detective on a forced holiday stumbles across The Lake House estate while running. She looks in the windows. Room after room is filled with furniture and everything in place as if everyone just left except for the thick layer of dust on all the surfaces. Her gut instinct, which is the reason she is on a forced holiday, tells her something horrible happened in this house. The detective in her cannot let it go. She goes to the library to get newspapers and starts to research not only the house but the Edevane family. Sadie discovers Alice is a famous author of a detective series and lives in London. She writes to Alice several times requesting to meet with her to discuss what happened so many years ago. The story moves from 1933 to 2003 while the reader learns about the past and present lives of the Edevanes. 

I like Sadie, found myself drawn to the Lake House and the secrets it holds. While reading The Lake House, I felt as if Kate was in the room with me telling me about the Edevanes. What I enjoyed most about this book was how writing, authors and stories all play just important roles. The writing is picturesque, filled with emotion and extremely vivid. When I am reading one of her books, I found myself wanting to meet the characters because they are so real. What endears me to Kate Morton, is her gift for storytelling and pulling the reader into her world. If you haven't read any of Kate Morton's books, I encourage you to become immersed in her world. You will not be disappointed. 

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