REVIEW: “The Tutor’s Daughter” by Julie Klassen
Description: [courtesy of GoodReads.com] Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?
The baronet’s older sons, Phillip and Henry, wrestle with problems–and secrets–of their own. They both remember Emma Smallwood from their days at her father’s academy. She had been an awkward, studious girl. But now one of them finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her.
When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor’s daughter figure out which brother to blame… and which brother to trust with her heart?
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I really wanted to like this book, as I’ve loved other books by this author. Unfortunately, while the writing style is still appealing, and the plot sounded good, I guessed at the ending before I’d even finished chapter one. And, honestly, right now I just didn’t have the patience to read through to get the rest of the story. So, I set the book aside.
I probably will go back and read the rest of the book, at some point, to enjoy the mystery part of things (if I can). But, at this time, I have too much else on my plate (not just reading-wise, either) to keep going with this when I already know how the main plot point is going to play out.
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I completely understand how you feel. I decided to pick up The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Every one ranted and raved about this book. I couldn’t finish it. Not at all. Perhaps I will pick it up again and try re-reading it.
I tried to start “Paper Towns” by John Green last year, and couldn’t get past chapter one. Just didn’t interest me. Yet, he’s supposed to be such an “amazing” author. My youngest sister raves and raves about his books. Oh well.
Yeah he seems like the author of the moment. I’m sure a Hollywood picture is in the works. I read someone else’s blog about how they were sobbing throughout the whole book. I’m like you were? Again, when I have time, I will try to pick it up again.
I’ve got one like that on my shelf right now — an author I’ve enjoyed before, but I just can’t get involved in this particular story. It’s unfortunate, but I hate to treat my reading like homework.
“When she settled back down onto her towel our eyes lingered for a beat, two, and then we got back to work. I looked up a few minutes later and saw that Jerry had flipped to a fresh page in his notebook, where he’d started a somewhat abstract sketch of a chestnut-haired beauty in a black bathing suit walking forever away, toward the water.”
Pg 180 (ARC) FLIMSY LITTLE PLASTIC MIRACLES by Ron Currie, JR.
oops wrong spot… sorry i went to far down for the TT.
Julie Klassen is by far my favorite author. I love her stories because of the complex characters and unusual plots. This book, though enjoyable, had neither of those qualities. The plot- girl goes to far away castle and strange things happen- is one I have read again and again. I was able to predict many of the plot twists, unlike in her other novels. I hope this doesn’t mean that this author has run out of fresh ideas!