Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.
The Forgotten Garden is a modern Victorian saga that relates three stories in an interwoven narrative that has, at its core, a genealogical mystery. The novel begins in modern-day Australia when Cassandra's grandmother Nell dies and leaves her a cottage in England. Two other tales then run concurrently against Cassandra's account of her efforts to uncover the mystery of her grandmother's parentage and her ownership of the cottage. The second story recounts how Nell's mother, Georgianna, came to live at Blackhurst Manor. The third story reveals Nell's astonishing journey as a 4-year-old alone on a ship bound for Australia and her subsequent adoption after being abandoned by a mysterious woman known to Nell only as the "Authoress." Interspersed among these three narratives are the fairy tales contained in a book handed down to Cassandra from her grandmother.
Everyone in the book group thoroughly enjoyed this unusual saga which contains multiple themes, symbolism, and slightly gothic overtones. When asked what theme or event caught their attention most, members had a variety of answers: the intensity of Eliza & Sammy's games, the mystery of Nell's parentage, Eliza's life at Blackhurst Manor, Eliza's imagination and the fairy tales she wrote, Cassandra's story, the mystery of why Nell was alone on the boat, and the story of the cottage Nell leaves to Cassandra. There were many points of discussion, especially about the unusual structure of the book and how the various settings, such as the intricate maze that bordered the garden at Blackhurst, provides continuity and underpins the stories as readers move back and forth in time through the various characters. All the members said they heartily recommend this book to others.
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