∎ Read The Cottingley Secret A Novel Hazel Gaynor 9780062499844 Books

The Cottingley Secret A Novel Hazel Gaynor 9780062499844 Books

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The Cottingley Secret A Novel Hazel Gaynor 9780062499844 Books

I have to admit I was half way through the book before I realized it was based on true events! I had to stop reading and look up the history of the Cottingly fairies. Imagine my surprise...LOL. That just made the book even better. Very interesting story. I loved the ending and the hope it bought with it. I recommend this book.


Tags : The Cottingley Secret: A Novel [Hazel Gaynor] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <strong><em>“The Cottingley Secret tells the tale of two girls who somehow convince the world that magic exists. An artful weaving of old legends with new realities,Hazel Gaynor,The Cottingley Secret: A Novel,William Morrow Paperbacks,006249984X,Biographical,Family Life,Historical,Biographical fiction,Deception,Deception;Fiction.,Doyle, Arthur Conan,Fairies,Fairies;Fiction.,Griffiths, Frances,Historical fiction,Historical fiction.,Wright, Elsie,Yorkshire (England - Social life and customs - 20th century,ENGLISH HISTORICAL FICTION,England,FICTION Biographical,FICTION Family Life General,FICTION Historical General,Fiction,Fiction-Historical,FictionOccult & Supernatural,FictionVisionary & Metaphysical,GENERAL,General Adult,United States,hazel gaynor; cottingley secret; arthur conan doyle; world war i novels; fairies; hoaxes; photographs; stories about cousins; true stories; historial novels; english settings; yorkshire; girl who came home; fairy stories; true story; historical fiction; history; bookshop; british literature; cottingley fairies; cottingley fairy pictures; faerie; faeries; fae; mythical creatures; folklore; European folklore; independent bookstore; irish countryside; ireland; english countryside; hoax; world war one; world war 1; wwI; ww1; romance; cozy; mythical; mythology; women writers; bookclub

The Cottingley Secret A Novel Hazel Gaynor 9780062499844 Books Reviews

Do you believe in fairies? Do you believe in Tinkerbell? In England, two friends really do believe in fairies! They professed to having seen them, photographed them, and became the "news of the day" So to the point, it actually became bigger than their beliefs and led the people living back then on quite a merry chase. It really got out of hand. So if you clap your hands 2 times, and say "I believe in fairies" Tinkerbell might just come to your rescue!
I read this book on the recommendation of one of my favorite book review blogs, NoMoreGrumpyBookseller - and I was not disappointed

This year, more than any other, I've stretched from my usual diet of historical mysteries or legal thrillers and read more character-driven novels, including Lincoln in the Bardo, Setting Free the Kites, and now, the Cottingley Secret

There's a lot to love in this one - really lovely writing, likeable characters, a great setting, a true story re-imagined in a remarkable way, folklore...and a good dose of faeries, real and otherwise

I actually listened to this book and it's a great production with engaging voices that do real justice to the author's work - lovely Irish lilts and Yorkshire brogue added a lot of authenticity to the story

Definitely recommended reading
I bought this book via Bookbub, so it was super inexpensive. I sure don't mean to be unkind to the author, but after the first paragraph, but the book slows down page by page until you have to force yourself to read another paragraph in hopes it will pick up the pace. It didn't by 30 or so pages in, so I deleted it, but the idea had some merit in principle. It's not well plotted, the dialogue is stilted, the protagonist is pretty flat, and I am fairly certain I can predict the balance of the book from the little I read. She's better than average at scene descriptions, so that's a plus at least.
The attempt to weave two time periods is an advanced technique for writers who have several successful books under their belt, which I doubt this author does. It was hard to follow and the concept slowly began to seem more appropriate for a tween book than something meant to be read by adults. It may be self-published or something, because I think the author should work with some obective, professional, experienced editor before she attempts another book. She may be famous already, and I may be the only one in the world who dislikes this book, but this is my real experience of it. Being a typist-writer is easy. Being an author, not so easy.
I loved everything about this book – from the legacy Olivia has been given to the dusty rare-books shop to Ross and Iris and the way they amiably invade Olivia’s life. The history geek in me fell in love with the story of Frances and Elsie and their fairy photographs from Cottingley, especially Arthur Conan Doyle’s role. And the bookworm in me fell in love with the ‘Something Old’ bookstore and Ireland in general. And Iris ♥ . I can’t forget to mention the adorable little girl who works her way into Olivia’s heart – and mine.

The Cottingley Secret is beautifully written, with history and magical realism weaving a captivating spell between the pages. A hint of sweet romance, and a tender message of legacy and family makes the story all the more compelling. Olivia is an engaging heroine, and the cast of supporting characters (both past and present) will settle in your heart and linger for a while. If you like Sarah Addison Allen, Kate Morton, Kristy Cambron, and/or Melanie Dobson, this needs to be high on your TBR list!

And for those who prefer clean reads, this is very clean! No hesitations in recommending it.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
It is not often enough that a charming, engrossing, and utterly delightful book is written. This is a brilliant piece of historical fiction tied together with a present-day plot and I absolutely adored it. Reading this book, I felt like the main character Olivia, “…losing herself entirely in the story of Frances and Elsie and the childish prank that became a national sensation as two young girls from working-class backgrounds were consumed by the greater influence of men who moved in the right circles of polite society.”

Olivia returns to Ireland upon the death of her beloved grandfather and he not only bequeaths his bookstore (!) to her, but the memoir of Frances, one of the subjects of the fairy photographs. As she reads Frances’s narrative, Olivia must reassess her own life and happiness. Gaynor captures the enchantment of the Cottingley fairy story with such skill and Olivia’s parallel story is equally captivating. The novel conveys that the belief in magic is perfectly acceptable and even inspiring.
I have to admit I was half way through the book before I realized it was based on true events! I had to stop reading and look up the history of the Cottingly fairies. Imagine my surprise...LOL. That just made the book even better. Very interesting story. I loved the ending and the hope it bought with it. I recommend this book.