Status
Available
Call number
Collections
Publication
München Goldmann 2012
Description
"To escape a recent heartbreak in New York, Grania Ryan returns to her family home on the rugged, wind-swept coast of Ireland. Here, on the cliff edge in the middle of a storm, she meets a young girl, Aurora Lisle, who will profoundly change her life. Despite the warnings Grania receives from her mother to be wary of the Lisle family, Aurora and Grania forge a close friendship. Through a trove of old family letters dating from 1914, Grania begins to learn just how deeply their families' histories are entwined. The horrors of World War I, the fate of a beautiful foundling child, and the irresistible lure of the ballet give rise to a legacy of heartache that leaves its imprint on each new generation. Ultimately, it will be Aurora whose intuition and spirit may be able to unlock the chains of the past. Sweeping from Edwardian England to present-day New York, from the majestic Irish coast to the crumbling splendor of a legendary London town house, The Girl on the Cliff introduces two remarkable women whose quest to understand their past sends them toward a future where love can triumph over loss."--P. [4] of cover.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member lovelytreez
The Girl on the Cliff has all the elements which usually enchant me in a novel – dual time frame, a variety of interesting locations and characters and a hint of romance. Indeed, the author has packed a lot into this novel – World War I and II, contemporary Ireland and New York, a large cast of
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characters from a variety of social backgrounds.In our contemporary story, Grania Ryan has fled her bohemian life (and partner, Matt) in New York following the traumatic experience of a miscarriage. She has returned to the wilds of West Cork to seek solace amid her family, ordinary folk trying to eke out a living on their farm. Her return raises issues which her mother had hoped would remain buried in the past as Grania forges links with their neighbours, the aristocratic Lisle family who have been the cause of much grief to the Ryans. What follows is a rollercoaster ride of a story as we see how the deeds of Grania’s ancestors still have a strong influence on the present.This is an easy, entertaining read and the narrative covers almost a century of family history as well as physically moving from one continent to another, from the sophistication of contemporary New York to the bleakly beautiful coast of West Cork to the grim streets of a London in wartime. There is no doubt that Lucinda Riley is an engaging storyteller.Unfortunately some aspects made this a good but not great novel for me – I found the dialogue rather stilted at times and the plot predictable. Perhaps there was just too much going on for me to feel connected to the narrative and I didn’t feel there was time to get inside the head of any of the characters which is a shame as they could have been so intriguing. A little bit of editing and fine-tuning of the dialogue could have moved it into unputdownable territory rather than an enjoyable enough read. Still a good read for those who enjoy sweeping family sagas, to be sure…. Show Less
LibraryThing member BooksCooksLooks
Grania, a sculptress comes home to Ireland after suffering a miscarriage. She leaves her love, Matt without saying a word and he doesn't understand why. While out walking one day Grania meets a young girl, Aurora. Aurora is the daughter of the local "gentry" and Grania's mother warns her away from
While there she uncovers the secrets that entwine the two families. They are some pretty compelling secrets at that. I'm certainly not going to tell you! You'll have to read the book.
This is my second book by Ms. Riley, the first being The Orchid House.
Like that book, this one develops its tale slowly and carefully to keep the reader involved and engaged. The story is about perceptions and how they can change how we view people on one level and how not letting go of the past can cause hurt and pain well into the future.
The characters are all pretty well developed and interesting and it was a book that kept drawing you back in despite some issues with American slang. Any time one of the US based characters entered the scene there was almost a break in the story and mood. It was a bit disconcerting but when the tale was in Ireland and England the book flowed beautifully. I found myself floating along and entranced in this tale of a young girl and her new friend. The ending totally caught me by surprise.
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the family without giving her any real reason. Grania persists in her relationship with the lively young girl and soon finds herself caring for Aurora when her father needs to go away.While there she uncovers the secrets that entwine the two families. They are some pretty compelling secrets at that. I'm certainly not going to tell you! You'll have to read the book.
This is my second book by Ms. Riley, the first being The Orchid House.
Like that book, this one develops its tale slowly and carefully to keep the reader involved and engaged. The story is about perceptions and how they can change how we view people on one level and how not letting go of the past can cause hurt and pain well into the future.
The characters are all pretty well developed and interesting and it was a book that kept drawing you back in despite some issues with American slang. Any time one of the US based characters entered the scene there was almost a break in the story and mood. It was a bit disconcerting but when the tale was in Ireland and England the book flowed beautifully. I found myself floating along and entranced in this tale of a young girl and her new friend. The ending totally caught me by surprise.
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LibraryThing member macygma
Girl running from disaster meets girl standing on the edge of a cliff. A match made in heaven! Their families have been linked one way or the other for centuries and all it take is one look at Aurora Lisle for Grania Ryan to decide she’s met the child she was meant to have.
The coast of Ireland
The characters in this book are so well written that you could be sitting in the drawing room watching it all happen. Aurora’s father could well be a vampire or a ghost and her dead mother calls to her at night. The fact that Aurora watched her mother jump from the cliff may have something to do with that!
The plot evolves in ways I could not have imagined and this novel from the author of The Orchid House does nothing wrong. As a suspense novel it’s great and, as a love story – greater.
The coast of Ireland
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has many tales and this is one of the better ones. Families intertwined. Centuries of history to discover and a young man back in New York whose soul mate has left him to return home to Ireland.The characters in this book are so well written that you could be sitting in the drawing room watching it all happen. Aurora’s father could well be a vampire or a ghost and her dead mother calls to her at night. The fact that Aurora watched her mother jump from the cliff may have something to do with that!
The plot evolves in ways I could not have imagined and this novel from the author of The Orchid House does nothing wrong. As a suspense novel it’s great and, as a love story – greater.
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LibraryThing member SilversReviews
Dunworley Bay, West Cork, Ireland, London, parlor maids, orphans, a character with a sixth sense, castles, crashing waves, a family legacy, letters, and secrets....what else could you ask for?
All this and more is wrapped up in THE GIRL ON THE CLIFF. This book takes you away to the magic of life in
The book begins with and continues at the beginning of different sections with thoughts and comments directed to "Dear Reader" from Aurora, the youngest member of the family, giving reflective insights into what will be coming up and her opinions on situations....very nice touch. You will find yourself in New York, Ireland, and London reliving the life of Aurora and Grania who are the basis of the current-day story and the story that is made up of their ancestry of Mary who was a parlor maid and Anna an orphan in a house where Mary is the only mother she really knew because her mother gave her away. As the book and secrets unfold you are taken back and forth learning the life of the characters in London, 1914, and beyond.
The characters are very well developed, and you will put yourself into their lives and into each emotion they are experiencing as each character makes decisions or manipulates someone. You will feel their passion and relate to each character as the author describes in detail their connection to each other and their part in the family heritage.
You will fall in love with Mary and Anna as they tell their story and feel the pain of Kathleen who doesn't want her daughter Grania to know the family's history but must tell her. You will enjoy the descriptions of the everyday life in Ireland, the landscapes, the views, and the houses.
You will want to know what secret the family has that has affected all its descendants. Will the suitcase owned by Anna's mother tell all? Who will find it? Does anyone remember it is in the attic of Mary and Anna's home where Mary was a parlor maid? Or will Kathleen, Grania's mother and descendant of the Ryan family, know enough for everyone? Aurora is the tie to it all and the final key to the family's secrets.
The theme of the book is my favorite and was difficult to put down. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
All this and more is wrapped up in THE GIRL ON THE CLIFF. This book takes you away to the magic of life in
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1914 in castles, normal households, and into the life of a family that leaves a legacy and many secrets for current-day folks to discover and secrets that reveal the family's history and who Anna really was.The book begins with and continues at the beginning of different sections with thoughts and comments directed to "Dear Reader" from Aurora, the youngest member of the family, giving reflective insights into what will be coming up and her opinions on situations....very nice touch. You will find yourself in New York, Ireland, and London reliving the life of Aurora and Grania who are the basis of the current-day story and the story that is made up of their ancestry of Mary who was a parlor maid and Anna an orphan in a house where Mary is the only mother she really knew because her mother gave her away. As the book and secrets unfold you are taken back and forth learning the life of the characters in London, 1914, and beyond.
The characters are very well developed, and you will put yourself into their lives and into each emotion they are experiencing as each character makes decisions or manipulates someone. You will feel their passion and relate to each character as the author describes in detail their connection to each other and their part in the family heritage.
You will fall in love with Mary and Anna as they tell their story and feel the pain of Kathleen who doesn't want her daughter Grania to know the family's history but must tell her. You will enjoy the descriptions of the everyday life in Ireland, the landscapes, the views, and the houses.
You will want to know what secret the family has that has affected all its descendants. Will the suitcase owned by Anna's mother tell all? Who will find it? Does anyone remember it is in the attic of Mary and Anna's home where Mary was a parlor maid? Or will Kathleen, Grania's mother and descendant of the Ryan family, know enough for everyone? Aurora is the tie to it all and the final key to the family's secrets.
The theme of the book is my favorite and was difficult to put down. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member cmeilink
Stir in a little mystery, the histories of two families, ballet, the Irish countryside, the effects of two wars, and what do you have? ...The Girl on the Cliff.
Although my introductory remark might seem as if I'm poking fun...I'm not. I enjoyed the story and the stories within the story, but there
Grania, a sculptor in New York, returns home to Ireland after her miscarriage. Spurred to return home not only by the loss of her baby, but reasons unknown to her boyfriend, Matt, she seeks refuge with her family.
While there she encounters a young girl, Aurora. When Grania agrees to act as Aurora's companion/governess during her father's absence, it opens the door to discovering the history of the two families and how they've been entwined for almost a hundred years.
I enjoyed the writing style of Ms. Riley and the development of her characters. I felt that I knew them all.
This was a quick read and a book that I would recommend.
Although my introductory remark might seem as if I'm poking fun...I'm not. I enjoyed the story and the stories within the story, but there
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was a lot to take in. Grania, a sculptor in New York, returns home to Ireland after her miscarriage. Spurred to return home not only by the loss of her baby, but reasons unknown to her boyfriend, Matt, she seeks refuge with her family.
While there she encounters a young girl, Aurora. When Grania agrees to act as Aurora's companion/governess during her father's absence, it opens the door to discovering the history of the two families and how they've been entwined for almost a hundred years.
I enjoyed the writing style of Ms. Riley and the development of her characters. I felt that I knew them all.
This was a quick read and a book that I would recommend.
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LibraryThing member nicx27
I really expected to like this book more than I did. It's primarily the story of Grania Ryan, a woman who flees her life and her man in New York to return to her childhood home in Ireland. One day, up on the cliffs she meets Aurora, a young girl. Grania finds her life tied up with that of Aurora,
This is a very readable book. It doesn't require much effort from the reader and is an easy read. But it has such cliched dialogue, in particular the two young girls who feature throughout. I don't believe any child speaks in the way they do. There is also a stereotypical American and the Irish families seem very stereotyped too. And somehow the story manages to jump about five years in the space of one paragraph.
There's a lot crammed into this book in terms of the years it covers, but none of it is particularly well done if I'm honest. It reads a bit like a Mills and Boon sometimes, light romance with a sense of predictability. A bit disappointing.
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and also realises how entwined their two families have always been.This is a very readable book. It doesn't require much effort from the reader and is an easy read. But it has such cliched dialogue, in particular the two young girls who feature throughout. I don't believe any child speaks in the way they do. There is also a stereotypical American and the Irish families seem very stereotyped too. And somehow the story manages to jump about five years in the space of one paragraph.
There's a lot crammed into this book in terms of the years it covers, but none of it is particularly well done if I'm honest. It reads a bit like a Mills and Boon sometimes, light romance with a sense of predictability. A bit disappointing.
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LibraryThing member picardyrose
Lots of dread, nothing to worry about.
LibraryThing member CandyH
The Girl on the Cliff is an absolutely wonderful story of Grania and Aurora and how their families have become intertwined over the years. The history of the families is well told by this excellent author. I look forward to more stories from Lucinda Riley. I highly recommend this book.
LibraryThing member pattysp
Original, easy to read.
LibraryThing member Gingersnap000
The Girl on the Cliff is a historical fiction set in the home land of my Irish ancestors, West Cork. Having read Hothouse Flower by the author, Lucinda Riley, I chose to read another of her novels. I found this book to be rather confusing at times and outlandish at other.
The story jumps from one
The story jumps from one
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generation to another in a very predictable pattern. The poor Irish girl falls in love with a wealthy Englishman but does not live happily-ever-after. It is a fantasy tale but I found it to be an overused story line. Although, it is a lovely tale; wait until it is in the bargain nook books before buying. Show Less
LibraryThing member alceinwdld
Poorly edited, with story lines and characterizations that didn't ring true.
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
When Grania suffers from a miscarriage, she runs away from her boyfriend Matt and life in New York. Finding herself back on the family farm in Ireland, she meets a young girl, Aurora. Warned by her mother to stay away from the family, Grania finds herself drawn to Aurora and her father. Switching
Overall, I thought this was an interesting and well crafted book. I enjoyed the present and past passages and found myself drawn to the characters. I did think Grania was extremely stupid in refusing to speak to her boyfriend, and utterly shocked that Matt waited months and months for her without any word. I think their relationship was poorly handled and unrealistic. I also hated how the book ended, I thought it was just unnecessary. Perhaps the fact that the book elicited strong emotions from me, is a testament to the authors talent.
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to World War I, the story shifts to tell the story of Grania and Aurora's relatives.Overall, I thought this was an interesting and well crafted book. I enjoyed the present and past passages and found myself drawn to the characters. I did think Grania was extremely stupid in refusing to speak to her boyfriend, and utterly shocked that Matt waited months and months for her without any word. I think their relationship was poorly handled and unrealistic. I also hated how the book ended, I thought it was just unnecessary. Perhaps the fact that the book elicited strong emotions from me, is a testament to the authors talent.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
Grania, a native of Ireland, suffers a miscarriage and leaves her life in New York to return home to Ireland until she can sort out her thoughts and decide where she wants to go. She sees a young girl at the edge of a cliff and meets her. Her mother warns Grania of the hurt that connections to this
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family have caused in their family in the past without telling her any specifics. Soon Grania is situated in Aurora's home to tend to the girl. Aurora views Grania as a second mother. How does Aurora's father Alexander feel? Is Grania still pining for Matt in New York? What really went wrong there? What is the past story between the Ryan and Lisle families? Is history repeating itself? All these questions are answered. I found this book to be interesting. It reminded me of Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt novels of the past, but it gave the genre a somewhat modern-day feel. It's not perfect. Like most novels of this type, there are some elements that stretch one's imagination that they can really happen. If you can get past those unbelievable elements, you have some wonderful hours of escape in store for you. The book alternates between present and past to an extent in the telling of the story, but it is told through the modern-day voice. I found the ending a bit sad, but somewhat fitting. Show Less
LibraryThing member LizHD
Meh. A psychological thriller in a cliched setting, it just didn't grab me.
LibraryThing member Andrew-theQM
I am yet to read a book by Lucinda Riley that I haven't enjoyed enormously (this was my third by her but my first standalone). This book I think is the best of them that I have read so far and it really moved me in a number of places. Such sadness at places in the book that brought tears to the
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eyes! This book is a mixture of the current story of Aurora and Grania in Ireland, and the back story of their descendants. I thought this was a great book and was just expecting it to wrap up, when wham! the epilogue took the book into a whole new dimension. If you like emotive books with a cracking story that can move you to tears this is the book for you. I thoroughly recommend it and cannot wait to read another book by this impressive author! Show Less
LibraryThing member whybehave2002
This book took me a while to work my way in. As always Lucinda Riley creates in-depth characters that you fall in love with. My problem was bouncing back in time and then jumping to the current time, and thus different narrators.
LibraryThing member Belana
As is usual with Lucinda Riley's novels, it's great story telling. We have strong female characters, a family history that reaches back about 100 years, and somehow, history seems to repeat itself. Or does it?
Grania has some decisions to make, but emotionally, she isn't really in a fit state to
Grania will find out, even to the point of no return.
Gerri Halligan as narrator was excellent. I had all the various characters right before my inner eye, and having their voices in my head made the story even more compelling.
Grania has some decisions to make, but emotionally, she isn't really in a fit state to
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make the right ones. It doesn't help that her mum keeps warning her, but takes much too long to tell her why she shouldn't do what she does. What about Aurora and her dad -- do they have sinister motives?Grania will find out, even to the point of no return.
Gerri Halligan as narrator was excellent. I had all the various characters right before my inner eye, and having their voices in my head made the story even more compelling.
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011
2012 (Nederlands)
ISBN
9783442477890