Customer Reviews

Lake in the Clouds

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of the three books so far in the series, this is my least favorite, and I am sure it is because the focus has shifted from Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner to Hannah, Nathaniel's daughter by his first wife, who was an Indian. Hannah is just entirely too noble for this reader to relate to comfortably, and, indeed, I found that the Bonners & many of their neighbors are starting to become a little too politically correct for their time period. In the first book of the series I felt that because Elizabeth was a follower of Mary Wolstonecraft Shelley her feminist point of view was understandable, and her character is still consistent with those principles. The fact that most of the other "good guys" feel the same way is perhaps stretching the truth of the time period a little thin, although Donati does give a more balanced portrait of a conflicted character in bounty-hunter Liam Kirby.

Hannah's determination to become a doctor couldn't have arrived at a worse time, as even female midwives were being forced out of practice in the more populated areas because the use of obstetrical forceps were reserved for men. However, in this book Hannah being part Indian is more of a barrier to becomming being a doctor than being a women, which is just not realistic. The fact that she is half Indian and cannot decide for much of the book which side of her heritage has the bigger claim is the main plot driver. That also brings in one of the more appealing characters in the book, the Indian Strikes the Sky. The most interested parts of the book in my opinion are the ones that take place in New York City, and involve the Almshouse, manumission of slaves, and the Tammany Society. In other words, the closer Donati stayed to history the better the book.

Still and all, this book is a cut above the run of the mill historical romance -- although Bantam has not, rightly in my opinion, classifed it as a romance novel, but rather as a straight historical. It is full of rich detail, and has an earthy quality that is missing in so many books that deal with this period, when it is dealt with at all. For those who are looking for an enjoyable novel set in post-Revolutionary War America this is a good choice.

Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner are back in their beloved mountain home in New York state.The village is still suffering from the after effects of a typhoid epidemic and Hannah, Nathaniels daughter from his first marriage, is studying to be a doctor under the tutelage of Dr. Richard Todd. He semds her to the city to learn the process of vaccination so that she might return to innoculate all of the villagers and also the local Indians. Elizabeth and Nathaniel smuggle a runaway slave to Canada which results in "blackbirders"-slave bounty hunters, arriving in Paradise, the village near their home to try to implicate the Bonners and their friends in the escape.It's a great third book in the series and I can't wait for book 4.

Loved this one! It was good to have the Bonners back in America and to follow the steps of Hannah as she grows into womanhood. What a strong independent young woman she has turned out to be. Sara Donati is one of today's most brilliant historical fiction novelists.

After having read the first two books in the series I wasn't sure what to expect other than Sara Donati's excellent style of writing. The first book was outstanding, the second one okay but the third one...Hmmmmm On the first reading I was a little disappointed but only because I wanted more Elizabeth and Nathaniel but got a lot of Hannah and some Lily. Hannah has grown into a strikingly beautiful young woman who turns out to be an exceptional "medicine woman". An ironic twist is that she is studying under and working with, Richard Todd, who long ago claimed her as his own daughter. After rereading, the book became a favorite. The initial disappointment came from less of the two main characters and more of their children which tends to happen in a family series. There is a lot of 18C medical practices which proved to be very interesting and as expected, Hannah ended up marrying an Indian and going off with him to his home. When she leaves her uncle Otter, who brought her future husband to Lake in the Clouds, leaves also along with Hawkeye. It leaves one with the fear that we'll never see Hawkeye again but who knows what's in store for the next book. The all time favorite was Into the Wilderness with Lake in the Clouds second and Dawn on a Distant Shore third in interest. I eagerly await the next book in the series though.

This book, the 3rd in the Wilderness series, was an extremely welcome return of both the characters and Donati's style and form showcased in the 1st book, but absent in the 2nd. In my opinion, of course. The characters are now back on US soil which makes for a better read. In Dawn on A Distant Shore, most of the story takes place on the high seas and in Scottland which had the characters out of their element. In, Lake in The Clouds, Donati returns readers to Paradise, NY, and many of the original secondary characters reappear. Much of this tale focuses on Hannah Bonner, her medical education, and her journey into womanhood. Hawkeye, Nathiel and Elizabeth Bonner play a major role in the plot surrounding Curiosity Freeman and her family. The pace is fast, filled with danger, villains, and intrigue. Although I was disappointed in the fate of a particular character, Liam Kirby, I was satisfied with the conclusion. This book is a must read for Donati/Wilderness fans.

I eagerly awaited this book and was disappointed with it.
I had to force myself to read it waiting for something to happen!
I loved the first 2 books, but Lake in the Clouds was dragged out and just didn't keep me riveted.

I like Sarah Donati's willingness to address epic landscapes and plots. I really liked Into the Wilderness a great deal, and I am glad to see her continuing with her interesting characters from that novel in Dawnon a Distant Shore and in this novel.

I think my basic concern here is that she tries to do too much in this novel--we have abolitionists, smallpox, Hannah's search to decide which path to follow in her life, and Elizabeth's mid-life struggle to balance the safety of her family with outside commitments and needs, all rolled up in one book. Some of the most interesting sub-plots here get the least focus--I feel like Elizabeth got lost in this novel, when she clearly has needs and concerns.

I continue to have trouble with the denizens of Paradise (oddly ironic name for a place that appears to be quite devoid of blessings). They are so unappealing that they clash with the beauty of the natural surroundings and the Bonner family's values and sense of personal history and space that I really love.

I ended up liking this book and admiring Hannah, Elizabeth and Nathaniel all over again, but not loving it.

Ms. Donati has yet, agian, written another superb book! Having read "Into The Wilderness" and "Dawn On A Distant Shore," I was somewhat disappointed that the relationship between Nathaniel and his newly discovered eldest son, Luke (Luc) was not further explored as I had expected it would be. No to mention how the knowledge of a son impacted the lives of the rest of the family members. I would imagine that meeting a son you have never kown for the first time can weave a story of its' own as Luke went from being an orphan to having brothers and sisters, a family. Including the relatives in Scotland. With that aside, the book itself was wonderful, and like the others, I could not put it down. I enjoyed the increased story line about Hannah, especially her growing relationship with Richard Todd to becoming a married woman. I just love Curiosty and how her life seems to impact everyone elses. Hawkeye is another character that I love, only, I would like his character to be more pronounced. I just think that Ms. Donati's writing is so enthralling, no matter what the story line, it just draws you in and makes you wish you were there! When can we expect the next one?

Ms. Donati has yet, again, written another superb book! Having read "Into the Wilderness" and "Dawn On A Distant Shore," I was somewhat disappointed that the relationship between Nathaniel and his newly disovered eldest son, Luke(luc) was not further explored as I had expected it would. I would imagine that meeting a son you have never known for the first time can weave a story of its' own as Luke went from being an only child to having a brother and two sisters. Not to mention the relatives in Scotland. With that aside, the book itself was wonderful, and like the others, I could not put it down. Ms. Donati's writing is so enthralling, no matter what the story line, it just draws you in and makes you wish you were there!...When can we expect the next one?

I LOVE SARA DONATI. ok, that's out of the way. i waited for this book from the second we ordered it and the second it arrived i tore open the box and started reading it. it didn't dissapoint me. the only thing i didn't like was that we missed so much of Lily's and Daniel's lives -- there should have been another book, even a very short one, set when they were around 4 years old. oh well. i still loved it!