Friday, September 18, 2009

Review: The Diary by Eileen Goudge


Good romance reads will never go out of style. Books that feature star-crossed lovers battling the world that doesn't understand them will always strike a chord with the audience - both with those who have experienced unparalleled stings of love and/or lust, or those who wish they could go through all this. Either way, The Diary is a book to recommend to those around you who need a little romance in their life.

The Diary tells the story of two women who find their dying mother's diary and uncover a big secret. It turns out that the love of their mother's life was not their father, but instead a footloose, charismatic young man. By reading the diary, the sisters slowly bond and realize that although every child keeps some secrets from their parents, it is usually the other way around as well.
The diary is essentially a beach read. It doesn't take long to finish it, and since it is always emotional, always in medias res, it does not take long to get into it. The lady and the tramp story is reminiscent of some other popular ones (namely, The Notebook), but Goudge also flirts with themes of maternity, small-town mentality and the passing of time, although she never diverts the reader's full attention away from the central romance. All in all, The Diary is everything it should be - a light, entertaining book that will strike a chord with all you hopeless romantics. It is a great novel in its niche.

RATING: 4/5

Big thanks to Eileen Goudge for sending me an inscribed copy of The Diary.

7 comments:

Tiina said...

Hi! I just found your blog. I've heard nice things about The diary, and isn't that a beautiful cover?

Greetings,
Tiina

Jake Kirk@Teens Read and Write said...

I wish I could say that I'd check it out, but I'll just leave this one to the ladies! And before I'm sucked back through time to fight Magic Johnson and his evil dinosaur army here's an award!

Bingo said...

And not only is it a wonderful book as are all of her books, but SHE is such a king and nice lady...will bend over backward to help even a stranger as she did with me when I asked to review one of her earlier books and she sent it in good faith!

Sheila (bookjourney) said...

I do like the occasional good beach read. :)

Nikola said...

@Tiina: Yes, it's a gorgeous cover!

@Jake: Thanks so much, will be picking it up shortly! :)

@Bingo: So true! You would not believe how nice she was in her emails, and the inscription she wrote in my review copy was just wonderful!

@Sheila: Of course! So do I, and these books should of course exist! :)

Anonymous said...

I've enjoyed many Eileen Goudge books and I'm looking forward to this one as well. Great review!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an enjoyable book! Great review!