The Forgotten Garden

By: Kate Morton

Narrated by: Caroline Lee

Length: 20 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

A foundling, an old book of dark fairy tales, a secret garden, a maze, an aristocratic family, a love denied, a mystery - The Forgotten Garden is a captivating, atmospheric, and a compulsive listen about the past, ghosts, family, and memories from best-selling author Kate Morton.

Thirty-eight year old Cassandra is lost, alone, and grieving. Her much loved grandmother, Nell, has just died and Cassandra, her life already shaken by a tragic accident 10 years ago, feels like she has lost everything known and dear to her.

But an unexpected and mysterious bequest from Nell turns Cassandra's life upside down and ends up challenging everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. Inheriting a book of dark and intriguing fairytales written by Eliza Makepeace Rutherford - the Victorian authoress who disappeared mysteriously in the early 20th century - as well as a cliff-top cottage on the other side of the world, Cassandra takes her courage in both hands to follow in the footsteps of Nell, on a quest to find out the truth about their history, their family and their past; little knowing that in the process, she will also discover a new life for herself.

©2008 Kate Morton (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"This debut page-turner...recounts the crumbling of a prominent British family as seen through the eyes of one of its servants....Morton triumphs with a riveting plot, a touching but tense love story and a haunting ending." ( Publishers Weekly)

The Forgotten Garden (unabridged)

Awesome. Hours & hours of listening enjoyment. The author did a fantastic job, plus Caroline Lee is an exceptional reader!

Engrossing story

This story kept me very engaged and I liked all the fanciful aspects of it. It reminded me a lot of the secret Garden and Dickens novels. My only complaint is that some of the storyline did not match up. Otherwise very enjoyable.

Long but worth the effort

The first part of this book was hard to follow with switching back forth to episodes and characters across seven decades. The narration was slow, especially when men were speaking. I almost gave up but decided to keep going for a while.
The story became clearer about halfway through the book and I surrendered to listening to the slow narration. I could not stop listening from that point on, breezing through 10 hours of narration in less than two days.
The story was engrossing and well written. The narrator had a beautiful voice.

Peeling the layers for an interesting story

If you could sum up The Forgotten Garden in three words, what would they be?

compelling, intriguing, memorable

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Forgotten Garden?

There are many. Without giving away too much - Nell's notebook entries.

What about Caroline Lee’s performance did you like?

Her ability to portray the different characters

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Cassandra's restoration of the garden and its discoveries

Any additional comments?

One of the best stories I have read in quite a while. Kate Morton is very skilled in the way she builds her characters and how she gradually unfolds the story that ties them together.

Nicely performed, intriguing and emotional story.

Would you listen to The Forgotten Garden again? Why?

Yes. This was a great example of historical fiction and mystery. It keeps the readers interest the entire time and is very entertaining. The characters are well developed. I prefer The Secret Keeper, as it was more shocking in the end, but this one is very well written and interesting also.

What about Caroline Lee’s performance did you like?

She does a great job with different character voices and accents. She does not sound over the top and uses just the right amount of emotion to really entice the listener.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend all of Kate Morton's books and all of Caroline Lee's recordings.

Wonderful

Wonderful story with so many twists and turns. The time changes added much to the story.

Great Casual Listen!

What did you love best about The Forgotten Garden?

When people keep recommending a book to you, sometimes you should listen. The Forgotten Garden is such a book. Finally I did as suggested and listened, now I'm wondering why in the world I waited so long. Kate Morton provides the intricate layering of different times and places in a masterful manner, gifting the reader with a story that captures the imagination and warms the heart.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how unpredictable this story was. Nell, as the lost child, is the pivotal character around which all mysteries and actions revolve. A tale that begins in England and travels across the many miles to Australia, comes home again to England to undo over a hundred years of secrets. Like the entwining vines of the garden, the story twists and turns, making the path seem impassable, but tenacity is rewarded with clarity.

What about Caroline Lee’s performance did you like?

Caroline Lee has such a pleasant way of telling a tale that I have listened to almost all of the audiobooks she has narrated.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely!

Yes!

Spectacular! So enjoyed this book. Loved the way the story went back and forth through three different time periods as the mystery unfolded. Loved the fairy tales interwoven in the story!!! Narration was great with musical interludes as the chapters changed! Wonderful listen!

LOVED - but a bit challenging to follow

Any additional comments?

The only negative, if there are any, is that most of the main characters are female, but despite the fact that they were supposed to have different accents (I couldn't really notice a difference if the narrator was changing her voice), it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who and where I was at in history. I actually drew out a crude family tree which helped; wish I'd done so earlier on in the story. Other than that, this was a great book. I can't wait to listen to another Kate Morton story!

The Forgotten Garden, earns every star! It's truly an amazing experience, it grabs and don't let go, nor will you want it to!

Kate Morton, the Authorist , storyteller. She spins such a wonderful web, with twists,and turns. She travels time and fascinating places. Her charters are whimsical, yet so real, she shows their darkness and their light. This story feels like a wonderful old classic, like a treasure found. Read by, Caroline Lee, given all the players a voice, like no other could, soothing and also so very exciting, a truly gifted narrator! Kate Morton, outstanding storyteller and read by Caroline Lee, makes Audible a true form of art.