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Star Gazing
Blind since birth, widowed in her twenties, now lonely in her forties, Marianne Fraser lives in Edinburgh in elegant, angry anonymity with her sister, Louisa, a successful novelist.
Marianne's passionate nature finds expression in music, a love she shares with Keir, a man she encounters on her doorstep one winter's night. Keir makes no concession to her disability. He is abrupt to the point of rudeness, yet oddly kind.
But can Marianne trust her feelings for this reclusive stranger who wants to take a blind woman to his island home on Skye, to "show" her the stars?...
Marianne's passionate nature finds expression in music, a love she shares with Keir, a man she encounters on her doorstep one winter's night. Keir makes no concession to her disability. He is abrupt to the point of rudeness, yet oddly kind.
But can Marianne trust her feelings for this reclusive stranger who wants to take a blind woman to his island home on Skye, to "show" her the stars?...
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2008
47 people are currently reading
522 people want to read
About the author
Linda Gillard
19 books285 followersLinda Gillard lives in North Lanarkshire, Scotland and has been an actress, journalist and teacher. She’s the author of ten novels, including STAR GAZING, shortlisted in 2009 for "Romantic Novel of the Year" and the Robin Jenkins Literary Award, for writing that promotes the Scottish landscape.
HOUSE OF SILENCE and THE MEMORY TREE became Kindle bestsellers.
HOUSE OF SILENCE and THE MEMORY TREE became Kindle bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
July 18, 2018
Decepcionante. Entre 2,5 y 3 *
February 10, 2020
Daha güzel kurgulanabilirdi, özellikle sonu çok aceleye getirilmiş bence.
January 13, 2014
I read a lot of crap. I know I do. And as an English teacher it's doubly bad. But I like it.
Sometimes, however, I like to read something that isn't crap. Found Linda Gillard on a desperate search when I'd run out of Susanna Kearsleys (oh what a sad day that was) and this is the second book of hers that I've read... and really enjoyed.
It took a bit of getting used to. Tense changes and person changes and perspective changes within the person changes. But I understand why Gillard did it, and after a while I got used to it and appreciated the way it added to the story. This book also made me appreciate (I think... maybe a blind person would say it was all balls) a little something about how the world is if you can't see. Marianne wasn't just a character who was blind... the story was really told through her "view". I mean, I can shut my eyes and imagine how hard it would be to be suddenly blind, but I've never really been able to imagine before what it would be like to have no visual reference at all.
Anyway, I almost gave up at one point because one of the themes hit a raw nerve, but that's my fault, not the books, so I'll stick with the five stars.
Sometimes, however, I like to read something that isn't crap. Found Linda Gillard on a desperate search when I'd run out of Susanna Kearsleys (oh what a sad day that was) and this is the second book of hers that I've read... and really enjoyed.
It took a bit of getting used to. Tense changes and person changes and perspective changes within the person changes. But I understand why Gillard did it, and after a while I got used to it and appreciated the way it added to the story. This book also made me appreciate (I think... maybe a blind person would say it was all balls) a little something about how the world is if you can't see. Marianne wasn't just a character who was blind... the story was really told through her "view". I mean, I can shut my eyes and imagine how hard it would be to be suddenly blind, but I've never really been able to imagine before what it would be like to have no visual reference at all.
Anyway, I almost gave up at one point because one of the themes hit a raw nerve, but that's my fault, not the books, so I'll stick with the five stars.
September 14, 2020
No me ha gustado mucho, se me ha hecho muy pesado y largo ...
No es la historia en sí, es como lo cuenta y las vueltas que le da a las cosas ...
No es la historia en sí, es como lo cuenta y las vueltas que le da a las cosas ...
October 15, 2010
The great obstacle of forty-something Edinburghian Marianne Fraser’s life has not been her blindness, nor her being widowed in her twenties. Rather it’s been not allowing the fact that she has been blind since birth define her. Instead of taking offense to the cliché seeing idioms such as “watch it, are you blind? See what I mean? May I see that?” – after all the world is defined by sight – Marianne uses her sharp wit to dodge pity and normalize herself. So when Keir Harvey shows up on her doorstep of the flat she shares with her older sister Louise, she knows she’s met her match. Not because he shares the name Harvey with her late husband or he works as an oil riger, but because Keir in his matter-of-fact, nearly insensitive sensibility feels no obligation to apologize for her blindness. Their immediate repartee reaches beyond sight jokes to the senses that create Marianne’s world: sound and touch. Keir has the uncanny talent for translating visual images into classical musical scores or opera solos so that for the first time, Marianne can envision the grandeur of nature and the masterpieces of mankind like cathedrals and skyscrapers. She’s not sure what to think when after what feels like a relatively brief acquaintance and an undetermined relationship Keir invites her to stay at his home on the secluded island of Skye. However she can’t turn down such a chance for adventure, bring what it may.
After recently reading and loving Linda Gillard’s nearly perfect first novel Emotional Geology, I knew I wanted to read Star Gazing. And I meant definitely sooner rather than later. The refreshingly lyrical and vivid writing combined with the rugged beauty of the Scottish isles just gets under your skin. The characters, too, stand out as one-of-a-kind in their colorful personalities and tough cores. There is also a certain strength in the sparse, pointed, and witty dialogue which is riveting. It certainly doesn’t hurt that her books are so intriguingly titled or that the starry cover art for Star Gazing is striking.
I’m happy to report that Star Gazing meets all of the above. Again, the author’s featured a rather rare type of protagonist, this time someone who’s never had the gift of sight. This may have made me realize my knowledge of music and sound is sorely lacking and my senses are quite dull but it never failed to be an interesting and unique point-of-view. Without literally being in Marianne’s shoes, I connected to her small, isolated existence. Even though she has no comprehension of color, I found her world to be very colorful. I love what she says about water as it relates to color:
Keir also stands out in his uniquely brilliant comprehension of sound and the environment. I love Marianne and him together and found their stay on Skye a real treat. I flew through the end of Marianne’s visit, their navigations of past wounds and future possibilities were so compelling. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was for the first half of the book until I finished the last half. It was if all Marianne and Keir’s time together was already spent. In Keir’s long absences on oil digs, Marianne lets doubt and fear slowly take over and the times they are together felt stilted. To a certain point I understood her deep-rooted feelings of expected loss and heartache, much of which originates from her first marriage. But after awhile I couldn’t help but feel a disconnect between Marianne’s true feelings and her actions. It was frustrating seeing her make choices with which I disagreed or what I saw as unnecessarily grief-inflicting. That said I still flew through and enjoyed the latter half– particularly the subplot with her sister Louise, who is a vampire novelist, and the fling with her much younger Goth assistant Garth. Entertaining, funny stuff. I’m also randomly wondering how Keir’s oft-used expression “Och” sounds and if there’s an American English equivalent. Star Gazing was impossible to put down and I liked it enough to recommend. I’m left seriously interested in getting my hands on A Lifetime Burning and any future novels by Gillard.
After recently reading and loving Linda Gillard’s nearly perfect first novel Emotional Geology, I knew I wanted to read Star Gazing. And I meant definitely sooner rather than later. The refreshingly lyrical and vivid writing combined with the rugged beauty of the Scottish isles just gets under your skin. The characters, too, stand out as one-of-a-kind in their colorful personalities and tough cores. There is also a certain strength in the sparse, pointed, and witty dialogue which is riveting. It certainly doesn’t hurt that her books are so intriguingly titled or that the starry cover art for Star Gazing is striking.
I’m happy to report that Star Gazing meets all of the above. Again, the author’s featured a rather rare type of protagonist, this time someone who’s never had the gift of sight. This may have made me realize my knowledge of music and sound is sorely lacking and my senses are quite dull but it never failed to be an interesting and unique point-of-view. Without literally being in Marianne’s shoes, I connected to her small, isolated existence. Even though she has no comprehension of color, I found her world to be very colorful. I love what she says about water as it relates to color:
It’s a paradox. Things that look colorless to you are my artist’s palette. Rain is the only thing apart from my sense of touch that gives me any sense of three dimensions. Water falling from the sky defines shape, size, and quality by the sounds it makes when it lands.
Water colorless? Not for me.
Keir also stands out in his uniquely brilliant comprehension of sound and the environment. I love Marianne and him together and found their stay on Skye a real treat. I flew through the end of Marianne’s visit, their navigations of past wounds and future possibilities were so compelling. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was for the first half of the book until I finished the last half. It was if all Marianne and Keir’s time together was already spent. In Keir’s long absences on oil digs, Marianne lets doubt and fear slowly take over and the times they are together felt stilted. To a certain point I understood her deep-rooted feelings of expected loss and heartache, much of which originates from her first marriage. But after awhile I couldn’t help but feel a disconnect between Marianne’s true feelings and her actions. It was frustrating seeing her make choices with which I disagreed or what I saw as unnecessarily grief-inflicting. That said I still flew through and enjoyed the latter half– particularly the subplot with her sister Louise, who is a vampire novelist, and the fling with her much younger Goth assistant Garth. Entertaining, funny stuff. I’m also randomly wondering how Keir’s oft-used expression “Och” sounds and if there’s an American English equivalent. Star Gazing was impossible to put down and I liked it enough to recommend. I’m left seriously interested in getting my hands on A Lifetime Burning and any future novels by Gillard.
August 24, 2010
I first heard about STAR GAZING through Valerie's lovely review over at Life is a Patchwork Quilt. And I have to thank her for that review because I don't think I would otherwise have come across Linda Gillard's work. Gillard is a Scottish author who lived for several years on the Isle of Skye, where much of this book takes place. From what I can tell, her books tend to focus on women above the age of 35, who are dealing with the everyday, yet perilous issues of adulthood, aging, love, mental health, family, etc. As such, they sounded sort of awesome to me, and I immediately placed her most recent book on my wishlist. It seemed unique and appealed to me for several reasons, including the fact that the main character is a blind widow. The setting was also a draw. I have only been to Scotland once, but it made a lasting impression on me and I love reading books set there. So that's why I was so excited to receive a copy of STAR GAZING for my birthday. I cracked it open that night, fell in love immediately, and pretty much flew through it.
Marianne Fraser has several valid reasons to be as angry as she is. Blind since birth, she's navigated her way through life without the ability to see what's coming at her. Widowed just a few years into her marriage, her grief was compounded by the fact that she was pregnant at the time and lost the baby shortly after the horrible accident that took her husband Harvey. Living with her sister Louisa in a flat neither of them much like, she goes about her daily routine with almost furious precision. Counting and memorizing the number of steps from here to there, she has a place for everything. Her few outlets include walking through the park, touching the trees, listening to the rain, and going to the occasional opera. One snowy eve she drops her key outside her door and a man comes along and offers to help her find it. Not thinking much of it at the time, she finds herself remembering his voice at odd times. So that when she randomly comes across him again on her next opera outing, Marianne is surprised at how pleased she is to have a chance to talk with him again. Keir Harvey shares more than just his last name with her departed husband, though. He, too, works on an oil rig, predicting where the best places to drill are, how complications will arise, and when storms might interfere with the work. Originally from the Isle of Sky, he returns home as often as he can to the only place he feels truly comfortable. When he offers to take Marianne there and show her the beauty of that wild place, she throws her habitual caution to the winds and jumps at the chance.
I ended this book so conflicted! The first half is literally moving. Simply and carefully written, it is so beautiful and readable. I was almost instantly enamored of Marianne and the dogged way she went about living what was left of her life. Even though I could not perfectly understand the monumental challenges she faced on a constant basis, I felt as though I was there right there with her. Her frustration and longing were palpable to me and I allowed myself to hope just a little bit along with her that Keir would be the unlooked for sweet resolution to her years of struggle and pain. Keir is a wonderful character. Strong and extremely blunt in his speech and mannerisms, he pushes Marianne to move past her carefully constructed inhibitions, even as he carves out a space of peace and gentleness for her in his life. Their interactions are taut and quietly affecting. Marianne's sister Louisa and her hilarious assistant Garth the Goth brought a nice level of humor and warmth to the story and I found myself laughing more than once at this homey woman who writes vampire romance novels by the score, takes care of her sister, and finds herself in the most unexpected of romantic scenarios. Suffice it to say, I was hooked. And then somewhere along the way things got murky. Marianne's anger and fears overwhelmed her and things got out of step between all of them. That in and of itself did not bother me at all. Rather it moved the tale forward in interesting and complex ways. But it never seemed to find its rhythm again after that. The conflict grew and grew and their interactions became stilted to the point that I was crying out for some sort of harkening back to that original connection they formed to relieve the awkwardness that had taken over. Somewhere along the way my involvement was severed and by the time the ending arrived I had become lost and could not find my way back to that breathless place of discovery that so enchanted me for the half of the novel. I guess I wanted a little more time to explore the resolution they came to. That said, I enjoyed it enough that I am definitely going to seek out Ms. Gillard's earlier work. Emotional Geology in particular looks good and I foresee myself ordering it in the very near future as I loved the first part of STAR GAZING.
Marianne Fraser has several valid reasons to be as angry as she is. Blind since birth, she's navigated her way through life without the ability to see what's coming at her. Widowed just a few years into her marriage, her grief was compounded by the fact that she was pregnant at the time and lost the baby shortly after the horrible accident that took her husband Harvey. Living with her sister Louisa in a flat neither of them much like, she goes about her daily routine with almost furious precision. Counting and memorizing the number of steps from here to there, she has a place for everything. Her few outlets include walking through the park, touching the trees, listening to the rain, and going to the occasional opera. One snowy eve she drops her key outside her door and a man comes along and offers to help her find it. Not thinking much of it at the time, she finds herself remembering his voice at odd times. So that when she randomly comes across him again on her next opera outing, Marianne is surprised at how pleased she is to have a chance to talk with him again. Keir Harvey shares more than just his last name with her departed husband, though. He, too, works on an oil rig, predicting where the best places to drill are, how complications will arise, and when storms might interfere with the work. Originally from the Isle of Sky, he returns home as often as he can to the only place he feels truly comfortable. When he offers to take Marianne there and show her the beauty of that wild place, she throws her habitual caution to the winds and jumps at the chance.
I ended this book so conflicted! The first half is literally moving. Simply and carefully written, it is so beautiful and readable. I was almost instantly enamored of Marianne and the dogged way she went about living what was left of her life. Even though I could not perfectly understand the monumental challenges she faced on a constant basis, I felt as though I was there right there with her. Her frustration and longing were palpable to me and I allowed myself to hope just a little bit along with her that Keir would be the unlooked for sweet resolution to her years of struggle and pain. Keir is a wonderful character. Strong and extremely blunt in his speech and mannerisms, he pushes Marianne to move past her carefully constructed inhibitions, even as he carves out a space of peace and gentleness for her in his life. Their interactions are taut and quietly affecting. Marianne's sister Louisa and her hilarious assistant Garth the Goth brought a nice level of humor and warmth to the story and I found myself laughing more than once at this homey woman who writes vampire romance novels by the score, takes care of her sister, and finds herself in the most unexpected of romantic scenarios. Suffice it to say, I was hooked. And then somewhere along the way things got murky. Marianne's anger and fears overwhelmed her and things got out of step between all of them. That in and of itself did not bother me at all. Rather it moved the tale forward in interesting and complex ways. But it never seemed to find its rhythm again after that. The conflict grew and grew and their interactions became stilted to the point that I was crying out for some sort of harkening back to that original connection they formed to relieve the awkwardness that had taken over. Somewhere along the way my involvement was severed and by the time the ending arrived I had become lost and could not find my way back to that breathless place of discovery that so enchanted me for the half of the novel. I guess I wanted a little more time to explore the resolution they came to. That said, I enjoyed it enough that I am definitely going to seek out Ms. Gillard's earlier work. Emotional Geology in particular looks good and I foresee myself ordering it in the very near future as I loved the first part of STAR GAZING.
June 7, 2011
5/5 just does not do this book justice! It deserves far far more!
I adored this book, and yes I adored the hero, and am completely in love with him!
Keir is the hunkiest loveliest man (and has ousted the fabulous Mr Darcy as my favourite romantic hero!!)
Marianne, spiky as she is, is wonderful, I love her!
The story made me laugh, cry, sob, gasp and swoon (on several occasions!)
Read it!!
I adored this book, and yes I adored the hero, and am completely in love with him!
Keir is the hunkiest loveliest man (and has ousted the fabulous Mr Darcy as my favourite romantic hero!!)
Marianne, spiky as she is, is wonderful, I love her!
The story made me laugh, cry, sob, gasp and swoon (on several occasions!)
Read it!!
July 26, 2020
This is the first book I read of Linda Gillard and I did not regret it. I was very disapointed with love stories since I haven't found a book that captivated me in a long time, but this book did it. It tells the story of a blind woman who has gone through a lot of losses in her life, but also shows that everything is possible and that age is just a number.
I'd like to add that Miss Gillard's writting skills are fantastic (and that is a lot to say, since it can be appreciated even reading a translated version, which is my case). In my personal opinion, a book can contain a fantastic story, but if the writer doesn't now how to transmit it in the right way it has no value. Linda Gillard uses words in a perfect way. She has taught me that you don't need eyes for appreciate the little things of life, just go a little further (and I think that "little further" way of living is more pleasing than the visual one).
The only thing that I'm missing to say is: just read it.
I'd like to add that Miss Gillard's writting skills are fantastic (and that is a lot to say, since it can be appreciated even reading a translated version, which is my case). In my personal opinion, a book can contain a fantastic story, but if the writer doesn't now how to transmit it in the right way it has no value. Linda Gillard uses words in a perfect way. She has taught me that you don't need eyes for appreciate the little things of life, just go a little further (and I think that "little further" way of living is more pleasing than the visual one).
The only thing that I'm missing to say is: just read it.
September 9, 2008
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6...
I have for as long as I can remember had a habit of saving new things as the excitement is often in the anticipation. It is no surprise to me then that I have been saving ‘Star Gazing’. This is Linda Gillards third novel and I enjoyed the previous two so much that this new one held a high element of expectation for me. Hence the saving!
I knew from reading an article by the author that this book was somewhat of an experiment for her in that her heroine was blind and that it was written in the first person. Well I was not disappointed Linda has done so with great success and I loved this latest addition to her I think varied repertoire. No sticking to a formulaic outline for this author.
I loved ‘Star Gazing’ and was glad I had saved it for a time when I knew I could relax and enjoy it without interruptions. I did however find it a rather short and quick read. I think for that reason alone I still prefer A Lifetime Burning as it was an altogether much more substantial novel.
Star Gazing is an unconventional romance set in Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye with descriptions that will have you enthralled and characters that you will become emotionally involved with.
All the protagonists are extremely well portrayed, Marianne, Louisa, Keir and Garth. Set in the period of time from the winter of 2006 to the summer of 2007 the story draws you in to the trials and tribulations of the lives of these four.
The fascinating aspect of the story for me was the fact that the main protagonist Marianne was congenitally blind and how well thanks to Linda Gillard’s descriptions I was able to understand her experience of life. There is one particular scene where Marianne gets lost which had me near to tears with frustration for her. Marianne is portrayed as a strong independent woman but this just makes you realise the difficulties she faces to be so. There was also a point in the story where her decisions were making me so angry.
Keir the man with the chocolate voice (love this analogy)that Marianne meets by chance shares her passion for music and has a wonderful ability of describing what he is seeing to her. I felt at times he was almost too good to be true and he was so patient with Marianne. There was at least one occasion I felt I wanted to shout at him not about patience with her physical abilities but when she was making decisions! His way of describing sights via musical comparisons was intriguing and something I will certainly think about in future.
Lousia her sister and Garth who works for Louisa are the minor characters but they make an important contribution to the story and both made me laugh, relieving some of the sadder elements.
To sum up a modern romance with a unique angle and enough twists and turns and heartache to make it a captivating highly recommended read.
As you will realise if you have read all this review this is a story that will stir your emotions!
I have for as long as I can remember had a habit of saving new things as the excitement is often in the anticipation. It is no surprise to me then that I have been saving ‘Star Gazing’. This is Linda Gillards third novel and I enjoyed the previous two so much that this new one held a high element of expectation for me. Hence the saving!
I knew from reading an article by the author that this book was somewhat of an experiment for her in that her heroine was blind and that it was written in the first person. Well I was not disappointed Linda has done so with great success and I loved this latest addition to her I think varied repertoire. No sticking to a formulaic outline for this author.
I loved ‘Star Gazing’ and was glad I had saved it for a time when I knew I could relax and enjoy it without interruptions. I did however find it a rather short and quick read. I think for that reason alone I still prefer A Lifetime Burning as it was an altogether much more substantial novel.
Star Gazing is an unconventional romance set in Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye with descriptions that will have you enthralled and characters that you will become emotionally involved with.
All the protagonists are extremely well portrayed, Marianne, Louisa, Keir and Garth. Set in the period of time from the winter of 2006 to the summer of 2007 the story draws you in to the trials and tribulations of the lives of these four.
The fascinating aspect of the story for me was the fact that the main protagonist Marianne was congenitally blind and how well thanks to Linda Gillard’s descriptions I was able to understand her experience of life. There is one particular scene where Marianne gets lost which had me near to tears with frustration for her. Marianne is portrayed as a strong independent woman but this just makes you realise the difficulties she faces to be so. There was also a point in the story where her decisions were making me so angry.
Keir the man with the chocolate voice (love this analogy)that Marianne meets by chance shares her passion for music and has a wonderful ability of describing what he is seeing to her. I felt at times he was almost too good to be true and he was so patient with Marianne. There was at least one occasion I felt I wanted to shout at him not about patience with her physical abilities but when she was making decisions! His way of describing sights via musical comparisons was intriguing and something I will certainly think about in future.
Lousia her sister and Garth who works for Louisa are the minor characters but they make an important contribution to the story and both made me laugh, relieving some of the sadder elements.
To sum up a modern romance with a unique angle and enough twists and turns and heartache to make it a captivating highly recommended read.
As you will realise if you have read all this review this is a story that will stir your emotions!
January 28, 2013
Müthiş bir yazar müthiş bir anlatım gücü..Önce Aşkın Büyülü Mucizesi sonrada Yüreğimde Aşk Kıvılcımı
iki kitabı birbirinden ayıramadım çok beğendim..Muhakkak takip edeceğim bir yazar olacak.
Orjinal Adı : Star Gazing olan Yüreğimdeki Aşk Kıvılcımı Goodreads Puanı 5/3,71 Benim puanım 5/5 keşke daha fazla puan olabilseydi....
Yazarın kalemi müthiş günümüz aşklarını duygu sağanağı ile hayat veriyor..Historical romanlarda bulabileceğimiz bir romantizm var kaleminde..Özellikle en ümitsiz anınızda karşınıza çıkabilecek aşkları çok iyi işliyor..Okuduğum iki romanında da ikinci şansı işliyordu yazar..Hikayeyi iki kişi gözünden aktarıyordu yazar.Çok akıcıydı sayfalar nasıl aktı anlamadım bile.
Bu romanda ise görme özürlü bir kadının hikayesi vardı. Marianne Fraser genç yaşta kocasını kaybetmiş bir kadındı kocasını kaybedeli on sekiz yıl olmuştu.Sıra dışı yazar olan ablası ile yaşıyordu..İkiside orta yaşlarını sürüyorlardı...Marianne kocasını kaybettikten sonra aşkı beklemiyordu.Ama hayat sürprizlerle doludur,çoğunlukla hiç ummadığınız zamanda beklemediğiniz bir anda aşk kapınızı çalıverir...İşte Keir ile karşılaşmaları böyle bir zamanda oldu...Keir sıra dışı gizemli bir adamdı..Olağan dışı gücü yüzünden karşı cins ile ciddi ilişkileri olamamıştı.Tanışmaları arkadaşlıklarının evreleri çok güzeldi. Özellikle ona yaptığı tasvirler çok özeldi.Kendi yaşadığı adaya onu götürüp adadaki yıldızları tasvir etmesi müthiş olağan üstü idi..Birbirlerine nasıl bağlandıklarını anlamadılar bile...Marianne'nin adada yolunu kaybedip bir görme özürlünün yaşadığı zorlukları sergileyen sahne beni çok etkiledi..
Bir de Marianne'nin sıra dışı ablası vardı vampir romanları yazıyordu.Onun hayatı ve aşkları özellikle yardımcısı ile yaşamaya başladığı aşkı çok çarpıcı idi..Roman baştan sona kadar gerçek hayatın acıları ile birlikte aşkın sihiri ile süslenmişti..Dediğim gibi çok beğendim okumakta çok geç kaldım ama kendime tam anlamı ile Linda Gillard ziyafeti çekmiş oldum..
Günümüzde de böylesine özel aşkların yaşanabileceğini okumak isterseniz tavsiye ederim..İmkansızı başarmak zor değil...
iki kitabı birbirinden ayıramadım çok beğendim..Muhakkak takip edeceğim bir yazar olacak.
Orjinal Adı : Star Gazing olan Yüreğimdeki Aşk Kıvılcımı Goodreads Puanı 5/3,71 Benim puanım 5/5 keşke daha fazla puan olabilseydi....
Yazarın kalemi müthiş günümüz aşklarını duygu sağanağı ile hayat veriyor..Historical romanlarda bulabileceğimiz bir romantizm var kaleminde..Özellikle en ümitsiz anınızda karşınıza çıkabilecek aşkları çok iyi işliyor..Okuduğum iki romanında da ikinci şansı işliyordu yazar..Hikayeyi iki kişi gözünden aktarıyordu yazar.Çok akıcıydı sayfalar nasıl aktı anlamadım bile.
Bu romanda ise görme özürlü bir kadının hikayesi vardı. Marianne Fraser genç yaşta kocasını kaybetmiş bir kadındı kocasını kaybedeli on sekiz yıl olmuştu.Sıra dışı yazar olan ablası ile yaşıyordu..İkiside orta yaşlarını sürüyorlardı...Marianne kocasını kaybettikten sonra aşkı beklemiyordu.Ama hayat sürprizlerle doludur,çoğunlukla hiç ummadığınız zamanda beklemediğiniz bir anda aşk kapınızı çalıverir...İşte Keir ile karşılaşmaları böyle bir zamanda oldu...Keir sıra dışı gizemli bir adamdı..Olağan dışı gücü yüzünden karşı cins ile ciddi ilişkileri olamamıştı.Tanışmaları arkadaşlıklarının evreleri çok güzeldi. Özellikle ona yaptığı tasvirler çok özeldi.Kendi yaşadığı adaya onu götürüp adadaki yıldızları tasvir etmesi müthiş olağan üstü idi..Birbirlerine nasıl bağlandıklarını anlamadılar bile...Marianne'nin adada yolunu kaybedip bir görme özürlünün yaşadığı zorlukları sergileyen sahne beni çok etkiledi..
Bir de Marianne'nin sıra dışı ablası vardı vampir romanları yazıyordu.Onun hayatı ve aşkları özellikle yardımcısı ile yaşamaya başladığı aşkı çok çarpıcı idi..Roman baştan sona kadar gerçek hayatın acıları ile birlikte aşkın sihiri ile süslenmişti..Dediğim gibi çok beğendim okumakta çok geç kaldım ama kendime tam anlamı ile Linda Gillard ziyafeti çekmiş oldum..
Günümüzde de böylesine özel aşkların yaşanabileceğini okumak isterseniz tavsiye ederim..İmkansızı başarmak zor değil...
November 1, 2022
I struggled with this book a little bit. It's a romance novel.
It feels like very little happens for a long time. And then you are plunged into one hundred pages of drama, soul-searching, explosions... and I was so happy at the end! So I guess it did EXACTLY WHAT it should do! A wholesome read and worth the set-building.
Marianne is an adventurous soul who has been through a lot. Marianne is smart and has quick wit, the first to point out an irony. But she is also a genuine character, with flaws. Lou's relationship with Marianne is so touching because it's so tender, raw and genuine. Lou's honesty with Marianne and her innate understanding of her sister is very touching. They're also funny. Any good fictional relationship works on contrasts, and these two are very different from one another.
Overall, not something I would have chosen to read, but I'm so glad I did. It definitely made me think about ways I could apply what Marianne says to my everyday life. The joy of book clubs <3
It feels like very little happens for a long time. And then you are plunged into one hundred pages of drama, soul-searching, explosions... and I was so happy at the end! So I guess it did EXACTLY WHAT it should do! A wholesome read and worth the set-building.
Marianne is an adventurous soul who has been through a lot. Marianne is smart and has quick wit, the first to point out an irony. But she is also a genuine character, with flaws. Lou's relationship with Marianne is so touching because it's so tender, raw and genuine. Lou's honesty with Marianne and her innate understanding of her sister is very touching. They're also funny. Any good fictional relationship works on contrasts, and these two are very different from one another.
Overall, not something I would have chosen to read, but I'm so glad I did. It definitely made me think about ways I could apply what Marianne says to my everyday life. The joy of book clubs <3
September 17, 2020
I first read Star Gazing in 2009 and whilst I enjoyed it I didn't love it like Emotional Geology or A Lifetime Burning. However a few years later I listened to it as an audio book and fell in love with it. Like Emotional Geology it is a love story, but not a typical one and was on my mind constantly when visiting Skye last year.
Reread, well relistened September 2020 - it's still wonderful.
Reread, well relistened September 2020 - it's still wonderful.
May 16, 2021
I loved this book and read it in two sessions totally forgetting the time . The descriptions to someone without the sense of sight were awe inspiring and her heightened sense of smell and touch introduced me to the world in a whole different way .
August 24, 2018
Call me sentimental, but I loved this book. It made me cry- which is OK. It ended the way it should have but a little bit of me was hoping it would go the other way.
Marianne, blind from birth lives with her sister in Edinburgh. One night whilst trying to open her front door she drops her keys and a kind stranger walking by helps her. They have a rapport but it is fleeting.
They bump into each other again and Keir (the kind stranger) starts to pursue her- but as a friend not a lover (yet).
They go on a mini-holiday to his home on Skye and become lovers.
Marianne's backstory is that she was widowed in her 20's and lost a baby when her husband got killed on the oil rigs off shore. As it happens, Keir also works on the rigs, but he has a special job as a forecaster of accidental/weather events. He has a second sight which he can't explain but has predicted several large events in the past. He says he sensed her distress on the night she dropped her keys.
Lovely, sad, romantic story. The narrator was brilliant
Marianne, blind from birth lives with her sister in Edinburgh. One night whilst trying to open her front door she drops her keys and a kind stranger walking by helps her. They have a rapport but it is fleeting.
They bump into each other again and Keir (the kind stranger) starts to pursue her- but as a friend not a lover (yet).
They go on a mini-holiday to his home on Skye and become lovers.
Marianne's backstory is that she was widowed in her 20's and lost a baby when her husband got killed on the oil rigs off shore. As it happens, Keir also works on the rigs, but he has a special job as a forecaster of accidental/weather events. He has a second sight which he can't explain but has predicted several large events in the past. He says he sensed her distress on the night she dropped her keys.
Lovely, sad, romantic story. The narrator was brilliant
March 3, 2021
This was sent to me by the author, as I have been greatly appreciating her books.
I think this is one of my favorites. I loved the dry wit, often chuckling as I read, and I delighted in the analogies Keir came up with to describe his world to Marianne. I relished the descriptions of nature and Marianne's perception of things. At times Marianne's testy stubbornness was a bit annoying, but presumably it is that trait of character which enables her to be as independent as she is. A number of twists and turns (does Keir actually exist?), but a lovely journey. And as Scotland is dear to my heart, the fact that it was set there didn't hurt a bit.
I am grateful for the gift and will endeavor to share this book, probably as a bookcrossing ring.
I think this is one of my favorites. I loved the dry wit, often chuckling as I read, and I delighted in the analogies Keir came up with to describe his world to Marianne. I relished the descriptions of nature and Marianne's perception of things. At times Marianne's testy stubbornness was a bit annoying, but presumably it is that trait of character which enables her to be as independent as she is. A number of twists and turns (does Keir actually exist?), but a lovely journey. And as Scotland is dear to my heart, the fact that it was set there didn't hurt a bit.
I am grateful for the gift and will endeavor to share this book, probably as a bookcrossing ring.
February 26, 2025
Que librazo, en verdad una historia muy hermosa, diferente, de esas que no quieres soltar, la amé.
Al principio encontrarme con un personaje ciego me causo un poco de conflicto, me sentia rara y triste por la situación de la protagonista, sin embargo, conforme leia, me cautivo su personalidad, y eso me llevo a seguir y a seguir leyendo.
Los personajes estan bien estructurados, sus personalidades bien definidas.
Es descriptivo sin llegar a ser tedioso, podía transportarte a cada rincón, sensación de lo que estaba pasando.
Amé al protagonista, Keir, en verdad un hombre que esperas tener a tu lado, me hizo reir, llorar, añorar, creo que la química de Keir y Marianne es encantadora.
Mega recomendado, creo que estará en mi TOP 20 de libros favoritos.
Al principio encontrarme con un personaje ciego me causo un poco de conflicto, me sentia rara y triste por la situación de la protagonista, sin embargo, conforme leia, me cautivo su personalidad, y eso me llevo a seguir y a seguir leyendo.
Los personajes estan bien estructurados, sus personalidades bien definidas.
Es descriptivo sin llegar a ser tedioso, podía transportarte a cada rincón, sensación de lo que estaba pasando.
Amé al protagonista, Keir, en verdad un hombre que esperas tener a tu lado, me hizo reir, llorar, añorar, creo que la química de Keir y Marianne es encantadora.
Mega recomendado, creo que estará en mi TOP 20 de libros favoritos.
November 17, 2020
The story was beautiful! It shows a life of being blind..
I love how Keir is so gentle with Marianne and their relationship is just so realistic for couples in their forties.
The ending was kind of in a rush, I guess. I was hoping for something more romantic and sweet.
I love how Keir is so gentle with Marianne and their relationship is just so realistic for couples in their forties.
The ending was kind of in a rush, I guess. I was hoping for something more romantic and sweet.
October 24, 2022
No Words
I truly do not know how to describe this story. I bonded immediately with the characters and didn't want to put the book down. It is lyrical when describing feelings and places, beautiful words flowing so easily right to your heart. I haven't read another quite like it. The story is touching but perhaps not a subject for all. I have read other books by this author and have yet to be disappointed .
I truly do not know how to describe this story. I bonded immediately with the characters and didn't want to put the book down. It is lyrical when describing feelings and places, beautiful words flowing so easily right to your heart. I haven't read another quite like it. The story is touching but perhaps not a subject for all. I have read other books by this author and have yet to be disappointed .
January 18, 2023
beautiful
I mean, I don’t usually do romantic slop fiction, and resigned myself to pushing through this, and then wow, I was rooting for Marianne, kicking her sister, crying for Keir, kicking Keir, and couldn’t cook tea until I knew what had happened.
I mean, I don’t usually do romantic slop fiction, and resigned myself to pushing through this, and then wow, I was rooting for Marianne, kicking her sister, crying for Keir, kicking Keir, and couldn’t cook tea until I knew what had happened.
January 17, 2020
Love good endings
Wonderful descriptive book and touching and inspiring! Why do you have to be able to see to know beauty? I wonder
Wonderful descriptive book and touching and inspiring! Why do you have to be able to see to know beauty? I wonder
April 17, 2019
This is the second Linda Gillard book I've read. I really enjoy her as an author. In this book you can get a feel of leading a blind life. I couldn't wait to read each chapter and really wanted to know what happened to the characters and their relationships.
I find Linda Gillards books an easy, engaging and enjoyable read.
I find Linda Gillards books an easy, engaging and enjoyable read.
May 1, 2022
El libro es encantador, me encantó leer la perspectiva de como siente la vida una persona ciega algo que en lo personal no había tenido la oportunidad de leer.
Me desbordó de pensamientos acerca de la simpleza y a la vez lo complicada forma que puede tener la vida.
Pero lo que más me llevo del libro es que te plantea con una historia (y no con poco dramatismo además) como la vida puede verse de dos formas, una con un vaso medio lleno y la otra hasta sin vaso.
Me desbordó de pensamientos acerca de la simpleza y a la vez lo complicada forma que puede tener la vida.
Pero lo que más me llevo del libro es que te plantea con una historia (y no con poco dramatismo además) como la vida puede verse de dos formas, una con un vaso medio lleno y la otra hasta sin vaso.
March 26, 2012
Time taken to read - 2 days
Blurb From Goodreads
Blind since birth, widowed in her twenties, now lonely in her forties, Marianne Fraser lives in Edinburgh in elegant, angry anonymity with her sister, Louisa, a successful novelist. Marianne's passionate nature finds solace and expression in music, a love she finds she shares with Keir, a man she encounters on her doorstep one winter's night. While Marianne has had her share of men attracted to her because they want to rescue her, Keir makes no concession to her condition. He is abrupt to the point of rudeness, and yet oddly kind. But can Marianne trust her feelings for this reclusive stranger who wants to take a blind woman to his island home on Skye, to "show" her the stars?
My Review
The book centers around 3 main characters, Marianne being the main one, her sister Louisa and Keir a stranger who happens upon her in a moment on need. Marianne is blind from birth and lives with her author sister. After a chance meeting Marianne and Keir form a relationship were opposites really do attract and their friendship threatens to spill into something much more.
The book is written between Marianne's point of view, then third person and then Louisa's. It works very well and is really easy to follow. The story goes along without any big fireworks or huge events, although there is a handful tottered out throughout the book (mostly in the latter half). What made the book for me was seeing the world through Marianne, how she experiences the world, colours and scenery when she has never had any visual reference, I also loved how Keir taught her how to see things.
I have never read a book like it, it isn't a conventional love story but about two people finding a middle ground when they are both from different worlds. It was lovely to see the friendship form and the relationship build. I found myself getting annoyed and frustrated with both Marianne and Keir and how their inability to be upfront with each other lead to so many "issues". Sorry to be vague but I hate spoiler reviews. Overall I really enjoyed the book, it was nice to read something so different, 4/5 for me.
Blurb From Goodreads
Blind since birth, widowed in her twenties, now lonely in her forties, Marianne Fraser lives in Edinburgh in elegant, angry anonymity with her sister, Louisa, a successful novelist. Marianne's passionate nature finds solace and expression in music, a love she finds she shares with Keir, a man she encounters on her doorstep one winter's night. While Marianne has had her share of men attracted to her because they want to rescue her, Keir makes no concession to her condition. He is abrupt to the point of rudeness, and yet oddly kind. But can Marianne trust her feelings for this reclusive stranger who wants to take a blind woman to his island home on Skye, to "show" her the stars?
My Review
The book centers around 3 main characters, Marianne being the main one, her sister Louisa and Keir a stranger who happens upon her in a moment on need. Marianne is blind from birth and lives with her author sister. After a chance meeting Marianne and Keir form a relationship were opposites really do attract and their friendship threatens to spill into something much more.
The book is written between Marianne's point of view, then third person and then Louisa's. It works very well and is really easy to follow. The story goes along without any big fireworks or huge events, although there is a handful tottered out throughout the book (mostly in the latter half). What made the book for me was seeing the world through Marianne, how she experiences the world, colours and scenery when she has never had any visual reference, I also loved how Keir taught her how to see things.
I have never read a book like it, it isn't a conventional love story but about two people finding a middle ground when they are both from different worlds. It was lovely to see the friendship form and the relationship build. I found myself getting annoyed and frustrated with both Marianne and Keir and how their inability to be upfront with each other lead to so many "issues". Sorry to be vague but I hate spoiler reviews. Overall I really enjoyed the book, it was nice to read something so different, 4/5 for me.
August 18, 2013
Of all the books I have read this summer, this one is my VERY favorite! I'm so glad that I bought it in hard copy so that I can place it on the bookshelf in my office with my favorite authors--Karen White, Marisa de los Santos, Susanna Kearsley, Sarah Jio, and Jojo Moyes. Linda Gillard is in excellent company with them. I've been working my way through her novels this summer, and once I started Star Gazing, I could barely put it down.
I think because I am older now, a wife nearing my 25th wedding anniversary and a mother of two teens, I appreciate the more mature characters that Ms. Gillard writes about. And Marianne Fraser is not your conventional romantic heroine--she has been blind since birth, widowed in her twenties, and she lives with her sister Louisa in Edinburgh. After reading this book, I have a much better idea of what it must be like to be blind, but I like that being blind does not define Marianne. She meets bachelor geologist Keir Harvey and they connect on a very real level almost immediately. He does not coddle her because she is blind, and as their relationship progresses and he asks to take her to the Isle of Skye to show her the stars, Louisa fears for her sister's health and heart.
I'll be adding Marianne and Keir to my list of favorite couples in romance novels--their banter is delightful and their conversations so deep. And the plot twists...Och, as they say in Scotland! Each time, I thought how can Ms. Gillard do this to them? But the tests she puts them through were not contrived--each twist or turn made sense in the larger context of the novel, and it was a joy to see how they dealt with each one. I've learned that the film rights to this novel have been purchased and I truly hope that this makes it to the big screen one day! Keep working on writing your next novel, Ms. Gillard--I've only got a few more of your published books left to read!
I think because I am older now, a wife nearing my 25th wedding anniversary and a mother of two teens, I appreciate the more mature characters that Ms. Gillard writes about. And Marianne Fraser is not your conventional romantic heroine--she has been blind since birth, widowed in her twenties, and she lives with her sister Louisa in Edinburgh. After reading this book, I have a much better idea of what it must be like to be blind, but I like that being blind does not define Marianne. She meets bachelor geologist Keir Harvey and they connect on a very real level almost immediately. He does not coddle her because she is blind, and as their relationship progresses and he asks to take her to the Isle of Skye to show her the stars, Louisa fears for her sister's health and heart.
I'll be adding Marianne and Keir to my list of favorite couples in romance novels--their banter is delightful and their conversations so deep. And the plot twists...Och, as they say in Scotland! Each time, I thought how can Ms. Gillard do this to them? But the tests she puts them through were not contrived--each twist or turn made sense in the larger context of the novel, and it was a joy to see how they dealt with each one. I've learned that the film rights to this novel have been purchased and I truly hope that this makes it to the big screen one day! Keep working on writing your next novel, Ms. Gillard--I've only got a few more of your published books left to read!
October 7, 2016
This book is an excellent example of something you can read to expand your view of characters with some diversity as the main protagonist is a blind woman.
This book is told in a three part narrative. We read from Marianne (the blind character), Louisa (her sister) and then a strange third person voice that does take some getting used to.
Marianne has LCA (Lebers Congential Amourosis) which is a genetic type of blindness. She was made a widow in her 20's and has remained as such for almost 20 years. In passing she meets Keir Harvey and a strange attraction between the two is kindled. The challenge of this romance is that Marianne's dead husband Harvey died horrifically in an oil rig disaster and Keir Harvey is an oil man out and about on oil rigs and in the middle of no-where, for months at a time, searching for oil. They have intense weeks together and then are separated for months at a time. Marianne isn't a needy girl by any stretch of the imagination but is haunted by the accident that killed her husband.
Star Gazing is a comfortable plot; I mean there isn't anything unusual about it. Boy meets girl, boy and girl have an issue or two to work out, boy gets girl forever. Lovely. What really makes this book stand out is the way Keir uses words to woo Marianne. She is constantly asking him to describe things to her in ways she can understand and he uses musical terms and pieces to illustrate explanations. Its stunning to visualise things in such a different way.
Star Gazing is a strong book in that it never allows you to forget that Marianne is blind but it never does it in a cloying manner. The sister Louisa also featured strongly in this novel with a budding romance of her own that looks at the 'rules' of age differences in a romantic relationship. It is a sweetness all of its own.
Its two romances for the price of one and is a thoroughly acceptable book. I recommend it.
This book is told in a three part narrative. We read from Marianne (the blind character), Louisa (her sister) and then a strange third person voice that does take some getting used to.
Marianne has LCA (Lebers Congential Amourosis) which is a genetic type of blindness. She was made a widow in her 20's and has remained as such for almost 20 years. In passing she meets Keir Harvey and a strange attraction between the two is kindled. The challenge of this romance is that Marianne's dead husband Harvey died horrifically in an oil rig disaster and Keir Harvey is an oil man out and about on oil rigs and in the middle of no-where, for months at a time, searching for oil. They have intense weeks together and then are separated for months at a time. Marianne isn't a needy girl by any stretch of the imagination but is haunted by the accident that killed her husband.
Star Gazing is a comfortable plot; I mean there isn't anything unusual about it. Boy meets girl, boy and girl have an issue or two to work out, boy gets girl forever. Lovely. What really makes this book stand out is the way Keir uses words to woo Marianne. She is constantly asking him to describe things to her in ways she can understand and he uses musical terms and pieces to illustrate explanations. Its stunning to visualise things in such a different way.
Star Gazing is a strong book in that it never allows you to forget that Marianne is blind but it never does it in a cloying manner. The sister Louisa also featured strongly in this novel with a budding romance of her own that looks at the 'rules' of age differences in a romantic relationship. It is a sweetness all of its own.
Its two romances for the price of one and is a thoroughly acceptable book. I recommend it.
November 20, 2011
I found this book very uplifting. Marianne, blind since birth, shares an Edinborough flat with her older sister, Louisa the author of a series of vampire fantasy novels. Marianne is fiercely independent and we first meet her as she returns from a shopping trip and loses her key through the railings at the front door to her flat, blind she can't see where they have fallen, but a passing man with a familiar accent picks them up for her. He is Keir Harvey, an oilman. Which for Marianne is particularly poignant, his accent is very similar to her husband Harvey Fraser, who was also an oilman and who died in the tragic explosion on board the Piper Alpha oil platform in July 1988.
Struck at first by his similarity to Harvey, she gradually gets to know him when they meet again at the opera and later when Keir invites her to his home on Skye, on a no-strings attached holiday, he wants to introduce her to his home and show her the stars. Sceptic as to how she can 'see' the stars when she has been blind since birth, Marianne accompanies him and learns that Keir is a complicated character who is able to describe things to her in a way that makes it possible for her to understand what it means to see the stars, mountains and even to understand things like flocks of starlings, cathedrals and the wonders of the environment in which he lives; things she has previously had no concept of.
The story is told in three sections, first person by Marianne, first person by Louisa and a third person omniscient narrator, so we get to see the characters from more than one side. I loved Marianne and Keir's story with its ups and downs, its sadness and joys; I also loved the other romance between Louisa and her 'toy boy' Garth.
This is the 2nd Linda Gillard I have read and it certainly won't be my last.
Struck at first by his similarity to Harvey, she gradually gets to know him when they meet again at the opera and later when Keir invites her to his home on Skye, on a no-strings attached holiday, he wants to introduce her to his home and show her the stars. Sceptic as to how she can 'see' the stars when she has been blind since birth, Marianne accompanies him and learns that Keir is a complicated character who is able to describe things to her in a way that makes it possible for her to understand what it means to see the stars, mountains and even to understand things like flocks of starlings, cathedrals and the wonders of the environment in which he lives; things she has previously had no concept of.
The story is told in three sections, first person by Marianne, first person by Louisa and a third person omniscient narrator, so we get to see the characters from more than one side. I loved Marianne and Keir's story with its ups and downs, its sadness and joys; I also loved the other romance between Louisa and her 'toy boy' Garth.
This is the 2nd Linda Gillard I have read and it certainly won't be my last.
December 14, 2014
I liked the story, well really I liked the love, but I had trouble with Marianne. Her decisions and thought processes in regards to her relationship with Keir (I love that name) and James made me angry and dislike Marianne. OK, I know she is blind and that her past experience with love has made her fearful. I get it, but I don't feel any empathy with it. Each time she acted cold and hateful, that is what I felt, very cold and hateful toward her. So I spent a lot of the book angry with Marianne. Every other character was like magic, so wonderful, especially Keir. He was a character to fall in love with, and as a reader I did. I also was amazed by Louisa's patience, Garth was a total sweetie. When Marianne let herself love she was, herself is what I guess I want to say. When she let herself love. But you will see how cold-heartedly logical she tries to be. That was when I hated her, she had no heart then, well she did but she was hiding it, making it shut up because she thought if she loved she would lose, again.
Written in a less than realistic fashion, more magical, but that suited me very well. I wanted the magic, I wanted the love. It is a bit of a manipulative book, written to tweak emotions; I knew it and accepted that, I was willing to be emotionally tweaked, although I didn't enjoy disliking the main character so much. Did she really have to be such a "crabbit"? Hopefully Keir will give her so much love that she will blossom into someone capable of loving without constant fear. Haha, I am giving these characters a future!
Written in a less than realistic fashion, more magical, but that suited me very well. I wanted the magic, I wanted the love. It is a bit of a manipulative book, written to tweak emotions; I knew it and accepted that, I was willing to be emotionally tweaked, although I didn't enjoy disliking the main character so much. Did she really have to be such a "crabbit"? Hopefully Keir will give her so much love that she will blossom into someone capable of loving without constant fear. Haha, I am giving these characters a future!
August 18, 2014
It is a fascinating Scottish story, told from the perspective of 40 year old woman called Marianne, who has been blind from birth. Marianne describes her world with no visual clues, and gives great insight into the daily life and loves without vision. Dropping ones keys, for example, can be a potentially tragic event.
There is a great theme of music within the novel, and her sighted friends often use orchestral analogies to explain the world to Marianne. One of them takes her star-gazing, and explains the constellation Boötes:
I was unfamiliar with most of the references to opera composers and classical music pieces. Much in the way that Marianne understood the images through her familiarity with music, I felt as if I gained an understanding of the music through my visualisation of the images. It would have been lovely to create a playlist of the main songs from the novel, and play these in the background as I immersed myself into the story.
Hopefully, I will never know what it is like to be blind, but through these small experiences I hope that I have gained a little more understanding of what it would be like to live without vision.
There is a great theme of music within the novel, and her sighted friends often use orchestral analogies to explain the world to Marianne. One of them takes her star-gazing, and explains the constellation Boötes:
‘If you look east one of the brightest starts you’ll see is Arcterus. It has a yellow orange glow… they’d sound like… flutes. No piccolos. Shrill. Arcturus looks warmer. A cello maybe… on second thoughts make that a viola’.
I was unfamiliar with most of the references to opera composers and classical music pieces. Much in the way that Marianne understood the images through her familiarity with music, I felt as if I gained an understanding of the music through my visualisation of the images. It would have been lovely to create a playlist of the main songs from the novel, and play these in the background as I immersed myself into the story.
Hopefully, I will never know what it is like to be blind, but through these small experiences I hope that I have gained a little more understanding of what it would be like to live without vision.
September 15, 2011
What a beautiful story. I was completely taken with the concept of Keir describing things through sound and smell to the blind Marianne - so much so that I caught myself shutting my eyes more than once and imagining the poetic desciptions of stars and sights that Keir gave. The challenges faced by Marianne were written about so thoroughly and yet so matter of factly, with great insight (no pun intended) that it really made you think deeply about life for blind people; things like choosing their clothes and counting steps, remembering how many steps from sofa to door...it really brought home that far from being a disability, being blind is actually a feat in ingenuity and memory and that should not be taken lightly. Most important, Linda Gillard makes it crystal clear that Marianne has the same feelings and thoughts, whims and fancies as any seeing person. Even the secondary love story of Lou and Garth is moving and again emphasises that you are never too old or too mis-matched for love. This love story, beautifully told, heart touchingly tender is both a wonderful read and a lesson in love, life and humility.
January 22, 2012
I went down to see Spike for the weekend and picked this up while he was still dealing with his nephewess on Friday afternoon. I carried on while he watched the rugby and finished it before going to bed, so it never made it as far as Coventry and I read it before he started.
I have no idea how accurate the descriptions of Marianne's sense world are, but they were completely credible and stunning to boot. I too wanted to slap her when she was being stubborn towards the end, but her behaviour was consistent with her history and character and the fact that this is clear to us after such a short acquaintance is one of Linda's strengths as an author.
Since I'm not very good at reviewing books, back to context and story. The day after I read this we went for a walk in the Brecon Beacons and were very disconcerted to see this staring at us when we got out of the car.
Ten out of ten again - thank you Linda, LyzzyBee for sharing, and all who got it this far.
I have no idea how accurate the descriptions of Marianne's sense world are, but they were completely credible and stunning to boot. I too wanted to slap her when she was being stubborn towards the end, but her behaviour was consistent with her history and character and the fact that this is clear to us after such a short acquaintance is one of Linda's strengths as an author.
Since I'm not very good at reviewing books, back to context and story. The day after I read this we went for a walk in the Brecon Beacons and were very disconcerted to see this staring at us when we got out of the car.
Ten out of ten again - thank you Linda, LyzzyBee for sharing, and all who got it this far.
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