Review of Forgiven
Posted: 02 Mar 2023, 06:14
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Forgiven" by Geoff Lawson.]
Forgiven by Geoff Lawson is a historical romance novel set in late Victorian New Zealand. It follows the life of two young lovers, an ordinary young man from a humble background, Richard Wilson, and a daughter of a wealthy businessman, Rachel Purdue. While strolling the city one fine afternoon in 1883, Richard met Rachel and was utterly mesmerized by her beauty. They parted ways, and Richard never got the chance to get to know her long enough. But as fate would have it, they met again, and the two fell in love. But is it possible for love to survive in a society with strict moral codes and war looming just around the corner?
The novel possesses an appeal no different than most historical romance novels. The romance aspect amidst a strict culture makes the book beguiling and addictive. It is especially manifested in the way Richard and Rachel try to keep their mutual attraction discreet lest people gossip about it. I feel like this is what makes historical romance stories captivating for me. The clandestine meetings, the secretive glances from across the room, and the subtle touching of fingertips all make for an endearing romance. It's also interesting to see the stark difference between the dating culture in the past compared to modern times. However, although it is undeniable that times are more restrictive in the past, certain aspects of social expectations still remain. For instance, men are expected to have a good financial background to be worthy of a woman, and women are slut shamed if they fall short of some gender expectations they were burdened with. I like how the book provokes these ideas from the reader.
The narrative alternates between two timelines. One focuses on the love story, and the other explores harrowing tales of war. The contrast between these two settings is a balance between a light, romantic atmosphere and a darker, gritter one. However, I have to share one criticism I have concerning Rachel's characterization. As we mainly follow the story from Richard's perspective, a reader is kept at a certain distance from Rachel's character. Richard mainly describes Rachel's physical assets. There were moments when she exhibited the capability of exercising agency. I wish it was explored and developed better. This is only a minor issue, though, and I don't think it's worthy of a deduction of a star. It did not affect my overall appreciation of the book, just an aspect that would've made this book a whole lot better.
The book is free of any errors, so I'd say it has excellent editing quality. Apart from the aforementioned issue, there are no more dislikes to mention. I appreciate the author's attempt to make the narrative as historically accurate as possible. The amount of research that went through this book must be commendable.
I'm awarding this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, owing to the execution of two timelines and the exploration of romance amidst strict social norms. Fans of the genre should not miss out on this book. If you're into stories of love and war, this book is definitely for you.
******
Forgiven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Forgiven by Geoff Lawson is a historical romance novel set in late Victorian New Zealand. It follows the life of two young lovers, an ordinary young man from a humble background, Richard Wilson, and a daughter of a wealthy businessman, Rachel Purdue. While strolling the city one fine afternoon in 1883, Richard met Rachel and was utterly mesmerized by her beauty. They parted ways, and Richard never got the chance to get to know her long enough. But as fate would have it, they met again, and the two fell in love. But is it possible for love to survive in a society with strict moral codes and war looming just around the corner?
The novel possesses an appeal no different than most historical romance novels. The romance aspect amidst a strict culture makes the book beguiling and addictive. It is especially manifested in the way Richard and Rachel try to keep their mutual attraction discreet lest people gossip about it. I feel like this is what makes historical romance stories captivating for me. The clandestine meetings, the secretive glances from across the room, and the subtle touching of fingertips all make for an endearing romance. It's also interesting to see the stark difference between the dating culture in the past compared to modern times. However, although it is undeniable that times are more restrictive in the past, certain aspects of social expectations still remain. For instance, men are expected to have a good financial background to be worthy of a woman, and women are slut shamed if they fall short of some gender expectations they were burdened with. I like how the book provokes these ideas from the reader.
The narrative alternates between two timelines. One focuses on the love story, and the other explores harrowing tales of war. The contrast between these two settings is a balance between a light, romantic atmosphere and a darker, gritter one. However, I have to share one criticism I have concerning Rachel's characterization. As we mainly follow the story from Richard's perspective, a reader is kept at a certain distance from Rachel's character. Richard mainly describes Rachel's physical assets. There were moments when she exhibited the capability of exercising agency. I wish it was explored and developed better. This is only a minor issue, though, and I don't think it's worthy of a deduction of a star. It did not affect my overall appreciation of the book, just an aspect that would've made this book a whole lot better.
The book is free of any errors, so I'd say it has excellent editing quality. Apart from the aforementioned issue, there are no more dislikes to mention. I appreciate the author's attempt to make the narrative as historically accurate as possible. The amount of research that went through this book must be commendable.
I'm awarding this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, owing to the execution of two timelines and the exploration of romance amidst strict social norms. Fans of the genre should not miss out on this book. If you're into stories of love and war, this book is definitely for you.
******
Forgiven
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon