In the Land of the Long White Cloud

In the Land of the Long White Cloud Saga, Book 1

De: Sarah Lark, D.W Lovett - translator

Narrado por: Anne Flosnik

Hardworking London governess Helen Davenport longs for a family of her own but knows the prospect of finding a suitable husband grows dimmer each year. Then she spots an advertisement seeking wives for the churchgoing bachelors of colonial New Zealand and begins an affectionate correspondence with a gentleman farmer.

Meanwhile, not far away in Wales, society life bores Gwyneira Silkham, beautiful, daring daughter of a wealthy sheep breeder. She finds an unexpected escape when her father loses a blackjack hand to a mysterious New Zealand baron — and Gwyn’s hand in marriage goes to the baron’s son.The women cross paths on the ship to Christchurch — Helen traveling steerage, Gwyn first class — and form an unlikely friendship, one they’ll rely on when the husbands awaiting them turn out very different than they’d imagined.

This nineteenth-century saga of two unforgettable young women — navigating a new world and finding friendship, romance, and adventure at every turn — is as lush and sweeping as the hills of New Zealand themselves.

Public Domain (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great New Zealand Story! With lots of daring do!

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I didn't like the narrator as her voice seemed rather sibilant and slurry. An English narrator would have been better. Her voice somewhat spoilt the story.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this story especially as it was about my homeland. It was historically correct and that was an added bonus. The story was exciting and I'd gladly read another book if it was serialised.

Good Listen

Love listening to Sarah Lark's audio books! They take you away for awhile.... you will enjoy them

Saga that Doesn't Disappoint

The story was filled with many interesting characters! It was nice to read a novel of historical fictionhat spanned 3 generations. The authors use of literature as landscapes and locations were described enhanced the story.

Stellar Saga!

If you like well written generational stories told with colorful and developed characters of love, friendship, family and history then this book is for you. The audible narration was interfering at first but after the first few minutes you realize how perfect the voice fits the settings. I loved this book and all of the plots and subplots and felt like I was one of the two women starting out in New Zealand myself! At times exciting, passionate, difficult, and joyful, these women and their men and families and neighbors pull you in so that you can't help wanting to find out what happens to them.

A sweeping saga

I would actually give this book 3.5 stars if that was an option. The book had an interesting plot, but I thought it was just too long and cumbersome. I had a hard time sticking with it. It was well researched though, and I enjoyed learning some history of New Zealand.

Love is hard to find

This book was a colorful story of the wealthy and the poor, written around people who loved animals.

Predictable

Predictable story with an exotic setting. Good for a long car ride or other journey.

Excellent Epic - New Zealand

The book titled “In the Land of the Long White Cloud” by Sarah Lark readers follow a few generations of immigrants to New Zealand from Wales and London. One of the characters is Helen Davenport who has been working as governess in London but longs for a husband and a family of her own. Helen ends up on her way to New Zealand to answer an advertisement for a man seeking a wife after the exchange of letters. Helen believes that this man who writes beautiful sentiments is a gentleman farmer but her reality is disappointing.
Gwyn’s character comes into the story when her father loses blackjack to a sheep baron from New Zealand. Gwyn is to go to New Zealand to marry the sheep baron’s son. Gwyn is only 17 years old and loves sheep ranching, border collies, and horses. She is excited for an adventure and life on a sprawling ranch. Her reality is less than ideal.
Sarah Lark introduces the reader to a cast of characters that are wonderfully created. There are the orphan girls shipped to New Zealand to be servants. The heartless decisions made for these little girls really touched my heart and I was so happy that the author carried each of their story lines throughout this epic novel, as well. I call this an epic novel because it sweeps through many years – following the individual characters’ lives.
I purchased this book as an audio presentation through audible.com for my Kindle and it was about 22 hours long. The audible story is brilliantly performed by Anne Flosnik. It was thrilling to have such a long book to listen to that was never was slow or dull. There is rich New Zealand history detailed in the story and descriptions of the beautiful south island in the early days of settlers.
I am looking forward to ready the next book by Sarah Lark that carries on the story lines with the next generations. This book was originally written in German and the English translation was excellent.

Fantastic epic! If you loved The Thorn Birds...

What other book might you compare In the Land of the Long White Cloud to and why?

I'd compare this to The Thorn Birds, in that it spans a couple generations, and is an epic story with characters you come to love and loathe. From mail order brides, to pioneers developing a new country, with all of the loveable and sinister people that entails. I can't wait to read the next two books in the series.

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

Yes!

Any additional comments?

The performer was perfect. At first, I thought I'd prefer a softer female voice, but it soon becomes apparent that would not be appropriate for this book, as the performer has to not only handle a lot of male dialogue, but explicit violent and hunting scenes, including a seal and whale hunt. She was masterful!

WORTH A SECOND LISTEN

I really like this story. It kept me captivated and that a big plus.
I know a lot of controversy about the translation and some pronunciation are out there about this book but having no German or Maori knowledge nor how things were for the new settlers back then in New Zealand... I have to deal with this version.

The narration was pretty good, voices were very recognizable from one male to the other as well as the female ones. As long as it was it was not boring nor was it stretch out.
Will surely get the other books in the series.