From the Bookshelf of Around the World…

See You In September

Charity Norman

Why we're reading this: New Zealand north island
[close] New Zealand north island

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Nov 24, 2018 Andrea rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-foreign-locale, around-the-world-2018

Something a little bit different for me, but I was tempted to read this on the basis of good reviews from a few trusted GR friends. I found myself totally absorbed in the story, but at the same time acting as a curious bystander, observing my own reactions to the characters and events.

Set in New Zealand, on the shores of remote and ruggedly beautiful Lake Tarawera, this is the story of British backpacker, Cassy, who meets some friendly locals and goes to stay at their sustainable farming collect Something a little bit different for me, but I was tempted to read this on the basis of good reviews from a few trusted GR friends. I found myself totally absorbed in the story, but at the same time acting as a curious bystander, observing my own reactions to the characters and events.

Set in New Zealand, on the shores of remote and ruggedly beautiful Lake Tarawera, this is the story of British backpacker, Cassy, who meets some friendly locals and goes to stay at their sustainable farming collective for a few days. She's a bright, educated, independent, modern girl, so does she realise it's a cult? Well...

At first she understands that this community is a bit different and her guard is up, but she's in a very vulnerable position at the time, and the members actively withhold the details of the true nature of their community. What Cassy sees and experiences at Gethsemane is a safe, happy, nurturing and self-sufficient community where everybody from the very old to the very young is loved and cared for; where everyone has a purpose and can contribute for the benefit of all. She likes it - she decides to stay for a while.

Then she meets Justin, the charismatic founder of Gethsemane, and she falls under his and Gethsemane's spell.

Five years later, her family back in England is still trying to release her from Gethsemane's pull.

Wow, it's easy to see how this sort of thing can happen. What really surprised me about my own reaction was that I was on Cassy's side! 'Leave her alone', I thought, 'she's happy there!' They're not hurting anyone... Perhaps though this was partly because I didn't like her parents - her dad in particular. I thought they got too worried, too quickly. It seemed like a gross overreaction, when she'd only been there a few days. But as time passed, I became more sympathetic to them. It was also interesting at times when the author let us into Cassy's head to see that inwardly she was still rational, even if her outward behaviour belied this.

As you would expect, the ending of this story was very dramatic. Not all happy endings for everyone, but quite realistic I think.

Apart from the insight to a very different world, I also loved the setting. At first I didn't realise that Lake Tarawera was a real place, but one morning I was sitting on the couch reading this book, when I registered that someone on breakfast TV had just mentioned Lake Tarawera, so of course, off to Wikipedia I went to find out more.

I haven't read anything by this author before, but I will be checking out her other offerings. ...more

18 likes · Like · see review

Group Home Bookshelf Discussions

Photos Videos

Send invite Members Polls