WIJFR: Mariana (spoilers)

j*&p* · August 2013

So good! I literally had my Kindle out at stoplights because I wanted to read this so badly. Plus I only had it on loan for a week from the library so I was trying to be extra speedy. Anyway, I get so entranced with the settings and the characters Susanna Kearsley puts together. She painted such a vivid picture of Exbury and all of the gardens and the grounds around Greywethers that I felt like I could see it in front of me. I was so happy with the ending too. I thought all along that Iain was going to be Richard and I would've been so disappointed if it was just Geoff all along. I was also convinced that Tom and Vivien were secretly dating (but why keep it a secret? That was a bit weird to me, especially since Tom and Julia were so close. I guess it was really just to keep readers under the impression that Vivien and Iain might be seeing each other.). I just wanted a bit more at the end with Julia and Iain, maybe a little epilogue with them at Tom and Vivien's wedding or something. Poor Geoff, though. He pretty much got the shaft in this book. He goes off to France and his best friend steps in and steals away his sort-of-girlfriend. It made sense for the story, of course but I still felt bad for the guy.

So, questions for all of you who have also read this:

Were you surprised at the ending or did you guess that Iain was going to be Richard too?

Who do you think Tom was in Mariana's time? Evan? Johnnie?

Do you think Geoff was one of the people in Mariana's life? If so, who?

I've been mulling these over since I finished earlier today.

RevJen · August 2013

I think this is going to be the next book I buy.

ChristyDM82 · August 2013

j*&p* said:

Poor Geoff, though. He pretty much got the shaft in this book. He goes off to France and his best friend steps in and steals away his sort-of-girlfriend. It made sense for the story, of course but I still felt bad for the guy.

So, questions for all of you who have also read this:

Were you surprised at the ending or did you guess that Iain was going to be Richard too?
Who do you think Tom was in Mariana's time? Evan? Johnnie?
Do you think Geoff was one of the people in Mariana's life? If so, who?

I've been mulling these over since I finished earlier today.

I felt bad for Geoff, too. I kinda wanted a little more to the end of the story- just Geoff's reaction and the dynamic between the three of them afterwards.

I don't think Geoff was in Mariana's life. I'm not sure if Tom was either.

I was surprised at the ending. I thought Iain was Evan.

I'm really liking Susannah Kearsley. Have you read anything else she's written? I've also read Winter Sea, and I really liked that, too. I have Shadowy Horses, but haven't read it yet.

sneetches · August 2013

I just finished this last week. Loved it! I did guess it was Iain because Geoff just seemed too obvious. I have no idea who Tom could have been. I don't think Geoff was anyone in her previous life because he didn't seem to have much impact on her.

sneetches · August 2013

Christy_Daisy's_Mom said:

I'm really liking Susannah Kearsley. Have you read anything else she's written? I've also read Winter Sea, and I really liked that, too. I have Shadowy Horses, but haven't read it yet.

If you've read Winter Sea, now read Shadowy Horses. Then run and get Firebird (the audio was amazing!).

j*&p* · August 2013

Christy_Daisy's_Mom, Shadowy Horses is the only other book of hers I've read and I loved that one too. Probably a little more than Mariana. I've got Winter Sea to read next.

josie402 · August 2013

I just finished this as well! It is the first of her books that I have read and I really liked it. I thought that Iain was Evan and Vivian was her friend (I can't remember her name and already returned the book). I do wish we could have seen Geoff come back and find out what happened with him. I thought there was something going on with Iain and how he always seemed to pop up when she needed him, but I was surprised by the ending.

SnShne322 · August 2013

I totally that Iain was Evan and Vivian was Rachel. I don't think that Geoff or Tom were in her past life. Iain and Richard totally through me. I mean, Geoff was quite likeable so I was waiting for him to have this A HAH! moment and have them ride into the sunset. It would have been predictable, but I still would have enjoyed it. The Iain twist couldn't have been more perfect. I really, really loved him in the book. He was so subtle and charming in a crotchety type way. I can't imagine having to wait for her to figure it out while she's dating your best friend.

I'm rereading (listening) to it now and there's a tiny bit of foreshadowing, I think, but it's very subtle and I might just be picking it up knowing the ending.

I, too, wish we could have had an epilogue. That would have been really awesome.

If I could get everyone to read this book, I would be so happy!

I'm going to request some of her older works from the library. I've read The Shadowy Horses, The Rose Garden, The Winter Sea, Mariana and The Firebird. All were amazing.

WIJFR: Mariana (spoilers)

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