I was so saddened to see of Rosamunde Pilcher's death earlier this month. Rosamunde Pilcher's book The Shell Seekers was easily my favorite book throughout my teens and twenties. I read the copy I found on my mother's bookshelf until it fell apart, bought a new copy and read it until it fell apart, and then replaced it one more time. I still have that copy though it's looking worse for wear. She was the first "grown up" author that I read and I loved her books. Every time I read one of them I discover something new, connect to something different, and find a different special moment. Here are a few of my favorites.
The Shell Seekers - Like I said before I read this book time after time. I loved Antonia and Olivia and Doris but most of all always Penelope. This was the book that put Cornwall on my must visit list and really brought alive the homefront during World War II. I've also read the sequel(ish), September which I also very much enjoyed though doesn't have quite the same magic.Coming Home - This was the first audio book I ever listened to and what a saga it was! I stayed up far too late listening to all of Judith's trials and tribulations. I've been wanting to reread this one though the page count does keep scaring me off.
The Blue Bedroom and Flowers in the Rain - These are both short story collections and lean a little to the sweet side but they're so lovely and sweet and heartfelt.
The End of Summer - This is fairly short book about a young woman living in the US who has romanticized her childhood years spent at the family estate in Scotland as well as her daring and handsome cousin. I do have some issues with the whole cousin romantic thing but so far I've been able to get past that.
And as an extra The World of Rosamunde Pilcher. This has photographs of all the settings of the books along with quotes from different books. It's an absolute delight if you've enjoyed any of Pilcher's books
These are some wonderful reads and are especially poignant now that Pilcher is no longer with us. However, I'm so glad that I will always have a shelf full of her books for me to revisit the worlds and the characters she created any time I want.
Awwww. I had not heard of her death. "The Shell Seekers" remains one of my all-time favourite titles. When I saw the cover in my Bloglovin' feed, I just knew I had to reach out to you as a fellow fan of her work.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you shared this post with us, Katherine. I know you've said that she was one of your favorite authors ever. She lived a good long life didn't she? And brought a lot of pleasure to her readers. That's a legacy. I just discovered that one of my favorite books that I read over 30 years ago (and it's long) is finally, finally available as an e-book. I'm going to talk about it next week in a special post. I love remembering old favorites and keeping that pleasure for an author's work alive.
ReplyDeleteI was saddened to hear she had died as well. I haven't read any of her books, although I've long had a couple on my TBR shelf. I hate that I've waited so long to finally read her work.
ReplyDeleteI loved these all too, we sure have lost a wonderful author but she has left behind her some great ongoing gifts in her books.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed her death... how sad! I love her books. The Shell Seekers and Coming Home are wonderful; I've read both of them them several times. and I've enjoyed her earlier novels. But the one that I return to over and over is Winter Solstice. There's something both comforting and hopeful about it. In some ways, it reminds me of books by another of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Goudge; both authors convey a firm belief in hope, in healing, in the potential for growth and change for the better.
ReplyDeleteI think my mother loves this author, too. 📚
ReplyDeleteI didn't know she died! I am 100% in agreement with you about her books. I think I have read most of them but The Shell Seekers, September and Coming Home were amazing. You make me want to read Shell Seekers again.
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