Customer Reviews

The Shell Seekers

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read this book many years ago and wanted to read it again but could not find a copy at any bookstore. I went on the internet and entered the title of the book and they put me through to amazon.ca and I was delighted to find that I could order the book on line. I also was very pleased at how quickly the book was delivered to me. Since then I have ordered more books because of the service.

I totally agree with Franny!

Penelope's everlasting trouble with her children Nancy and Noel is her own fault - she hasn't got the faintest idea of parenting. For example, she hates her daughter Nancy from the day the girl is born, blames Noel for his father ("I don't", Penelope says - but she does) and has got a favourite child. "Because of Richard, Olivia was special. But she had never loved her more than Nancy and Noel" - all right, but why doesn't Penelope say this to Nancy who blames her for indulging in marked favouritism? She can't expect Nancy and Noel to understand because they don't know anything about Richard.
As for Olivia, she is as unlikeable as her siblings, selfish, smug and materialistic.

This is by far one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. I absolutely loved it. The writing is fantastic. It completely hooked me but so subtly so that after hours had passed, I looked up and thought, "There's little action. Nothing much is happening. So why can't I put this down?"

It was my grandmother that set me on to Rosemunde Pilcher's writing, but my only regret was that The Shell Seekers was the first of her novels that I read. This book is undoubtedly her best, and her others, though very good, do not truly compare.

I can't say enough good things about this book. It is a timeless love story that makes me cry every time I read it. Great writing, wonderful characters, a really engrossing read.

This book had depth, love, history, and decent writing. It's a great vacation book.

Oddly I was always hesitant to read this novel. Pilcher's coming of age saga Coming Home is one of those "desert isle" books that I could read againa and again. I wasn't sure anything else could be as good. This is, just very different.

This is a reflective story of an elderly English lady looking back upon her life, her choices, circumstances in and out of her control, and those around her. Each chapter focuses on a differnt character and their relationship to Penelope, the protagonist. I assumer Penelope would be a typicla little old lady, but she has such depth and opinions of her own. The book wanders around significant events in her life including the turbulent WWII years.

I was incredibly moved by the end of this book. Without spoiling anything- the scene where her daughter finds the red drss in her closet brought me to tears. This book celebrates love and life. I adored it and know it will be one I reread!

Not a bad story -- but there are many extremely long sections that can be skimmed over and which have no bearing on the plot or characters. Also, Pilcher is ungenerous with her characters: we are meant to fervently admire the editor in chief of a fashion magazine, and exult in her "Kingdom" of editing articles about "Your best accessory is you" -- and despise the plump, less intelligent housewife in a stifling marriage. I was unable to admire one nor despise the other, and kept waiting for Pilcher's portraits to shift and become more complex -- but they remained one-dimensional, and readers are simply TOLD what to think about them. To me, there was nothing in this book to inspire the passion that other people have for it.

This has to be one of my all-time favorites. I was introduced to this book several years ago and loved it. As with any yearly tradition, I pull my worn copy from my bookshelf once a year and curl up with this book. Ms. Pilcher spins a marvelous tale that weaves you in and around the characters in this book and no matter how many times I read it, I'm always left wanting more.

The setting of Cornwall in this book is brilliant, but the rest is a bit stilted. The concept of what happens to an inheritance is interesting among siblings, but does drag a bit. Read this if you'll be heading to Cornwall to gain an appreciation of the setting!

To start off, this book is a masterpiece. I loved most of the characters and their trials and tribulations made me smile. But I have to say that it was extremely slow at times and also some of the descriptions were unnecessary. I thought that reading about everything the Keelings did every day for 60 years could be a little tiring. 300 pages must have described their life alone! And considering this books considerable size, I'm sure it could have been much better. Also, the story of the painting the Shell Seekers seemed only secondary, the book seemed to travel only around the Keelings- not that they were not interesting in their own right.

The plot also seemed weak and disorderly at times. it doesn't mean I did not like the book. I just think it could have focused more on the story instead of just the house. I might read September, but I will wait a little while before reading anymore of Rosamunde Pilcher. This book will still come recommended by me to my friends. It's worth enjoying!