Helpful Score: 13
Oh my! This book was good. Sorry, my copy is going into my permanent collection, but I loved the book so much I wanted to write a review.
This is the very personal story of two women, sisters who love each other dearly despite the fact that their personalities are opposite of each other. They are separated when one is forced to move to colonial America and marry a man she has never met. 2 years later the younger sister also comes to America only to find her older sister dead of childbed fever - or at least that's what her brother-in-law tells her. But is he telling the truth? And where does she go from there - totally alone now in a new country? The rest of the story and the mystery unfolds from there - and I won't spoil it for you.
Unlike some historical fiction novels, this one isn't bogged down in historical details. To be sure, the author did her research, but the historical setting seems totally natural. The details there are in the story are there to make it real. And, despite the fact that neither sister is a stereotypical "woman of the time", it does seem very real. I loved this book.
This is the very personal story of two women, sisters who love each other dearly despite the fact that their personalities are opposite of each other. They are separated when one is forced to move to colonial America and marry a man she has never met. 2 years later the younger sister also comes to America only to find her older sister dead of childbed fever - or at least that's what her brother-in-law tells her. But is he telling the truth? And where does she go from there - totally alone now in a new country? The rest of the story and the mystery unfolds from there - and I won't spoil it for you.
Unlike some historical fiction novels, this one isn't bogged down in historical details. To be sure, the author did her research, but the historical setting seems totally natural. The details there are in the story are there to make it real. And, despite the fact that neither sister is a stereotypical "woman of the time", it does seem very real. I loved this book.
Helpful Score: 8
When I first started reading this book I thought it was a little too Harlequin Romancy for me. I had nothing else with me though so I continued to read and I'm very glad I did. I love books that transport me to a different time and Mary Sharratt did a very good job with that element. Her characters are engaging and their story will keep you turning the pages well into the night.
Helpful Score: 6
A book that is both lively, captivating, intimate and memorable. It is one of those books you can not seem to put down, nor do you really want to!
Helpful Score: 6
âThe Vanishing Pointâ
By
Mary Sharratt
May Powers is no stranger to a good roll in the hay. In fact, she's a little bit too familiar with it. Her honor gone, and no hope of finding a respectable match in her small English town, her father sends her to America to be wed to a distant cousin's son Gabriel. May's sister Hannah is distraught about this, she doesn't want her sister to leave her all alone with their ailing father. Knowing they will meet again after their father dies, May leaves for America and Hannah is left to cling to her few and far between letters.
Once her father is gone, Hannah departs for America to join her sister but immediately knows that something is wrong. The plantation where May was supposed to be living is all but unreachable and upon arrival she can see that the land has not been worked in a very long time. May is nowhere to be found, only her husband is left behind living like an Indian off the land. Desperate to find her, Hannah looks for answers in Gabriel but ends up with only more questions, questions that threaten to break her sanity and eventually seething guilt and remorse.
âThe Vanishing Pointâ was another one of those books. I started out loving it, couldn't put it down. I could feel in my bones that this was going to be one of those great historical fictions that leaves you wanting more and more. Unfortunately Sharratt let me down in the end.
âThe Vanishing Pointâ started out gripping, I was engaged with the characters and wanted to know more about them. I was in love with Hannah, found her to be very deep and wanted her to be happy with her new life in the colonies. But as the book went on I liked her less and less. May's âdisappearanceâ was given a very direct answer to in the very beginning of the book, but then it kept coming into question, then again, and again, and again. I was sick of hearing about May from Hannah's perspective. It just seemed like the girl couldn't let her sister go and let herself be happy.
In addition, just when I was really starting to like Hannah and wanted more to happen with her and Gabriel, the book switched tones and direction and changed to May's perspective. This I found annoying as opposed to being helpful to the plot. It just seemed like Sharratt couldn't decide who to write about or who her main character was supposed to be. âThe Vanishing Pointâ took a cruel twist from historical fiction to mystery in one fell swoop. Totally not expecting it, the story was soured for me at that point.
I also felt like at the end Sharratt was grasping at straws. The ending consisted of an elongated letter that served as an epilogue and I found it to be the âeasy way outâ if you will. It was almost like she didn't know how to finish the story but her editors were demanding an end. I was sincerely upset at the end of âThe Vanishing Point.â
I admit I was entertained, but books that leave me annoyed at the end really get under my skin. I give it 3 stars for entertainment value, but can't go over that and would prefer to really give it 2 ½ stars. After the disappointing genre twist the book just went south. All and all I was left with a bad taste in my mouth after reading âThe Vanishing Pointâ and for that reason alone I cannot review it in high regard.
By
Mary Sharratt
May Powers is no stranger to a good roll in the hay. In fact, she's a little bit too familiar with it. Her honor gone, and no hope of finding a respectable match in her small English town, her father sends her to America to be wed to a distant cousin's son Gabriel. May's sister Hannah is distraught about this, she doesn't want her sister to leave her all alone with their ailing father. Knowing they will meet again after their father dies, May leaves for America and Hannah is left to cling to her few and far between letters.
Once her father is gone, Hannah departs for America to join her sister but immediately knows that something is wrong. The plantation where May was supposed to be living is all but unreachable and upon arrival she can see that the land has not been worked in a very long time. May is nowhere to be found, only her husband is left behind living like an Indian off the land. Desperate to find her, Hannah looks for answers in Gabriel but ends up with only more questions, questions that threaten to break her sanity and eventually seething guilt and remorse.
âThe Vanishing Pointâ was another one of those books. I started out loving it, couldn't put it down. I could feel in my bones that this was going to be one of those great historical fictions that leaves you wanting more and more. Unfortunately Sharratt let me down in the end.
âThe Vanishing Pointâ started out gripping, I was engaged with the characters and wanted to know more about them. I was in love with Hannah, found her to be very deep and wanted her to be happy with her new life in the colonies. But as the book went on I liked her less and less. May's âdisappearanceâ was given a very direct answer to in the very beginning of the book, but then it kept coming into question, then again, and again, and again. I was sick of hearing about May from Hannah's perspective. It just seemed like the girl couldn't let her sister go and let herself be happy.
In addition, just when I was really starting to like Hannah and wanted more to happen with her and Gabriel, the book switched tones and direction and changed to May's perspective. This I found annoying as opposed to being helpful to the plot. It just seemed like Sharratt couldn't decide who to write about or who her main character was supposed to be. âThe Vanishing Pointâ took a cruel twist from historical fiction to mystery in one fell swoop. Totally not expecting it, the story was soured for me at that point.
I also felt like at the end Sharratt was grasping at straws. The ending consisted of an elongated letter that served as an epilogue and I found it to be the âeasy way outâ if you will. It was almost like she didn't know how to finish the story but her editors were demanding an end. I was sincerely upset at the end of âThe Vanishing Point.â
I admit I was entertained, but books that leave me annoyed at the end really get under my skin. I give it 3 stars for entertainment value, but can't go over that and would prefer to really give it 2 ½ stars. After the disappointing genre twist the book just went south. All and all I was left with a bad taste in my mouth after reading âThe Vanishing Pointâ and for that reason alone I cannot review it in high regard.
Helpful Score: 6
Very interesting book of May and her sister Hannah and how their lives are living in New America in the late 1600's. If you like historical novels, you will like this one also. There are twists to the end of the novel and it goes back and forth telling Hannah's story and then May's story. I can't wait to read more of her books
Helpful Score: 3
This is an awesome book. The story is very gripping and I found myself not wanting to do anything but read, read, read. If you like historical novels, I would recommend this one.
Helpful Score: 2
I absolutely loved this book!!! I couldn't put this book down once I had started it, there were a couple of nights of staying up well into the early morning just because I HAD to know what happened to Hannah and May. I love how the story is written in pieces, revealing multiple layers of perspective in a way that was effortless to follow. There were so many twists and turns; just when I thought I had piece of the story figured out, another layer would appear to add more complexity to the characters which kept the whole narrative captivatingly interesting. About mid-way through the story I felt I knew the feelings of Gabriel, May, Hannah, and Adele very well. I found myself going from detesting Gabriel for misleading Hannah to feeling sorry him, and feeling sad at the hand he was dealt before he and May met. I was so glad when Hannah finally got to use the arts her father taught her.
The ending was the BEST, I totally did not see that coming at all. I did cry a bit, I couldn't think of a more beautiful way to finally give Hannah the closure she needed. I find myself still thinking about it even though I finished reading it about a week ago.
This book is very much worth buying a copy, because I could see myself reading it again!
The ending was the BEST, I totally did not see that coming at all. I did cry a bit, I couldn't think of a more beautiful way to finally give Hannah the closure she needed. I find myself still thinking about it even though I finished reading it about a week ago.
This book is very much worth buying a copy, because I could see myself reading it again!
Helpful Score: 2
This book is not what I expected it to be, but it was very good non-the-less. The detail was exceptional without bogging down the story. I felt that the author portrayed what it was like to live during the time period and the struggles that were endured. However, that is not what the story is about. It is about the bond between two sisters and what happens when they are separated. There is a very good mystery, to this story, that will keep you guessing. In the authors afterword, she says that she had a difficult time getting this book published. What a shame it would have been if she did not. I would definitely recommend this book.
Helpful Score: 2
One of the Best Books I have read this year.A Wonderful Book.It will keep you up late into the night reading.You will not get anything done until you finish this book.
Helpful Score: 1
The story takes place mostly in colonial America (Chesapeake area) during the late 1600s. It's historical fiction, romance, and "dark" mystery all rolled into one. It follows two sisters, devoted but very different. The elder travels to primitive Maryland first for the arranged marriage to "unseen, unknown" cousin. Her younger sister follows after their physician father dies, learns on arrival of the untimely death of said sister, falls in love with the young widower and then the story jumps from present to past and back again. The author changes voice and time with each chapter flawlessly. I found it well written, well researched historically, and a real page turner.
Helpful Score: 1
I really liked the book at the beginning, but the further I got into it the less I liked it. Although I liked Hannah a lot at first, all of her inner turmoil and continuous second-guessing started to grate on my nerves. I also had a hard time buying some of the mystical aspects of the book--especially the part where Hannah gazes into a crystal ball to see her first love. The ending was heartbreaking and a bit disappointing.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a fine read,a little simplistic plot-wise, but an engaging story.
Helpful Score: 1
I quickly read this almost 400 page book. Full of intrigue, twists and a story that can't be guessed. I loved it! It kept my attention and I have little patience for reading long novels (due to my work) but this book was a pleasure. I usually keep my favorite books but may let some lucky person get it since passing it along is nice too. Great Character development and plot, double winner.
Helpful Score: 1
This one was so intriguing that I read long into the night. Don't miss this enthralling historical romance.
Helpful Score: 1
fantastic!! didn't want to put it down
Helpful Score: 1
I found it very difficult to put this one down. I had this one on my wishlist since not long after it came out. I had even suggested it as a purchase to my local library. It only just now came available from my local library. I'm still pretty high up on the wishlist here. It was sooooo worth the wait!
I shorted this book one star on account of the ending. I thought the twists in it where interesting and surprising! The story is gripping and full of historical detail! In short, I really enjoyed it and would recomend it, except the ending is dissapointing.... but hey, sometime so is life!
Not a genre a usually read, but I really liked this book.
An enjoyable read, with lots of interesting historical information. A somewhat dark tale with interesting twists and turns. Good wilderness information too.
I couldn't put this book down. Great novel I wish it did not have to come to an end.
I found this book to be interesting and entertaining to a point, then it started getting repetitive and the ending I thought was contrived. I agree with an earlier reviewer who stated that she thought the author didn't know how to end it and so didn't supply it with a good ending.
didn't like it.
