Helpful Score: 3
A very good story line but it could have used a little bit more spark. It seemed to just fall flat. There wasn't any passion. I wasn't looking for a Harlequin Romance, cheesy mushy lovey dovey romantic story. This is a love story, it just lacked all the excitement of a love story.
I have read almost all of Anya's books and this is one of my favorites. I couldn't put it down. I love it that the history part is true also. I had no idea of what it was like back then until this book made it all real for me.
A really capitvating book. One of the best I have read in a long time.
I enjoyed reading this book. It is a true "gothic" tale which takes place during the 1840's in New York and concerns the old Patroon system of land ownership. It reminded me of "Rebecca" and also of "Jane Eyre" and although I have just read it for the first time, I do remember seeing the movie years ago. I recommend the book highly.
Genny Sikes
Genny Sikes
This copy was printed in 1943, the first year it was printed. The cover is a little worn but the pages are in perfect condition. I think it added to the mystique of the story for me to read the original printing. I love all of Anya's books but this one is one of my favorites. I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed learning early history of our country that I didn't know and having it taught in such an enjoyable way.
This is my favorite book of all time. Read it as a preteen and found it the most romantic historical novel I had read at that time. I always enjoy it. A lovely romance, tragic, beautifully written, makes me want to travel up the Hudson to see the old homesteads.
What was the evil that haunted Dragonwyck? Miranda Wells had lived a simple life on her father's farm for eighteen years. Then an invitation came from a distant relative. He was the dashing Nicholas Van Ryn and his manor house on teh Hudson had thirty rooms and twenty servants. With the discovery of elegance and love, the innocent farm girl became a great lady. But even then then she could not avoid the evil that stalked the halls of Dragonwyck.
This book is the 1971 printing. Page 211 does have a tear, however, it is still readable.