How long does it take you to read a book? On average it takes me around a week to finish a book depending on the length. The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton took me 3 weeks. This book had all the right elements, but no matter how hard I tried I never got into it. For once I think the suspense was too drawn out, to the point where I wasn't given enough hints to keep me interested in reading further. This book had so much potential, the delivery just missed the mark.
The story centers around Birchwood Manor, and the people who have lived there over the span of two hundred years. The Manor hosts a group of young artists, a school for young girls, a single mother and her family, and lastly a modern day treasure hunter. A mysterious murder takes place, and the pieces of the puzzle are buried deep within the estate. Each of the characters that live there are experiencing a pivotal moment in their lives, and they all pick up a piece of the puzzle without knowing it. The Clockmakers Daughter takes us across time, to uncover each puzzle piece, and finally solve the mystery and murder that took place at Birchwood Manor.
Morton created such intriguing and complex characters. The problem was that there were too many of them. I found it really challenging to get interested and stay engaged as I read. Just when a character's storyline was getting exciting it would be dropped and start from a completely different perspective. Part of the trouble was that so many stories were explored and then left, so much so that you don't think they will ever be picked up again. It was not until the last few chapters that the connection between characters is revealed, so up until that point, the plot seems scattered and difficult to follow. I appreciate when an author is setting up the reader for a big reveal, but I think this time too much was left for the climax. Would the ending have had the same impact without all the build-up? Maybe not. But, it might have kept me engaged and guessing throughout.
Some of my favourite moments were the perfect turns of phrase Morton used in her writing. There were two in particular that stood out to me. The first was, "Place is a doorway through which one steps across time". Not only does this stop and make one think about how a place can carry stories, but also foreshadows what is to come in this story. The second was, "A story is not a single idea; it is thousands of ideas, all working together in concert." Anybody who writes will likely appreciate this one. Both of those phrases made me stop and re-read them.
I have to confess: I am a serial book finisher. I hate leaving books part way through and not knowing how they end. It eats away at me, catching my glance every time I walk by my bookshelf and giving me a little shot of guilt. For most books, The Clockmaker's Daughter included, the ending is the greatest part. So why not follow through, right? But it raises the question, is reading the 75% of the book that is not great, worth it to get to the 25% that is? If you are one of the people who stop reading, how do you decide to stop and when? Because I can't help but wonder if a lot of the time the ending is worth it. A lot of people might take this opportunity to point out the cliche that life is short don't waste your time reading something you don't enjoy, but I will throw a cliche right back, sometimes you have to put the work in to get the reward. See my dilemma?
To all my fellow book nerds out there, how do you rate a book like this? The kind of book where the ending was fantastic but the rest was underwhelming. Does the ending change the way you rate the book? I settled on 3 stars, with the ending bumping it up a full rating for me. I am a sucker for a good ending. I would love to hear from anyone else who has read The Clockmaker's Daughter. Let me know what your thoughts were in the comments!
Yours Literarily,
Lauren.
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