Book review: My Cousin Rachel

This is something you would find different from what you experience with the other books that are read generally.In fact I too came across this by an accident and then ended up reading this.From the first page you are taken with ease away from the hustle and bustle of the urbane life to the village and that too at a time when communication was still not as advanced as now, can't say a Victorian story but gives you a similar feeling

Coming to the story this is about Philip Ashley who although orphaned at an early age is brought up by his older cousin Ambrose who at the time happens to be his only close relative living.Ambrose takes a liking for the boy and starts bringing him up as his own son, his heir in a world that consisted of none but the two and a firm liking of the house they grew up in until; when Ambrose in order to recuperate from his rheumatic problem and also to collect plants for his garden meets a charming lady and ends up marrying her which unfortunately was a fiasco in simple terms.His only communication to his young protege was through letters which in the begin were full of fun an enthusiasm soon start turning sad and also stating the failing of his health.Hearing this young Philip arrives at Florence only to learn of his cousin-guardian's sudden death and that his wife out of grief had left the place for good leaving behind nothing but Ambrose's hat.
Later when Philip's cousin Rachel turns up in England and despite the initial anger and ill feeling Philip cannot help but be attracted to the small, delicate, mysterious, sophisticated lady.... his cousin Rachel.The story from here takes twists and turns with young Philip in a turmoil about how actually did his cousin meet with his untimely death as one mask is exposed there lies beneath another mask of deceit and this is not limited just to his cousin Rachel but also the Ashleys who are the closest to Philip in England after his deceased cousin and also a ghostly beggar figure whom Philip meets during his short visit to Florence and which keeps haunting back through out the book.
In short this is an interesting and griping story worth reading because the style of the writer, the way in which she shows subtle signs to the reader depicting the state of mind in which the character is there by capturing their interest time and again and the way in which she deals with each character so differently and naturally as though the reader gets the feeling that this is something of a record of what had actually happend.

THE FIRST BOOK

You should have seen me that day I came from the library it was as if I had found something that has been amiss for a long while, it was a feeling I never experienced to the effect I had that on that first visit or subsequently when I started reading the book on the way home in my school bus.

The book started with the description of the characters and to my utmost surprise it was the story about a bunch of kids and a dog and one of the kid's family owning an island ['Oh so islands can also be purchased!!! I wonder if they have shops like we have for selling islands abroad...an how much would one cost?'].

The story was interesting through and to me it was you know like finding a pleasure that I had never ever known existed or could be achieved by the mere reading of the book.I was so obsessed with the book that any min spare like the breaks in between classes or a free hour which I would have otherwise indulged in chitchatting with my friends was now entirely devoted to the reading of the book.this even continued when I traveled to or from school the only thing I cared was 'THE BOOK'.Even at home to the utter surprise of my mother I finished my homework in record speed and then ...... back to the book

I was so engrossed in the story so enthralled by the way it twisted this way then that way an the kids running after treasure boxes their feeling when they see that there are people behind 'their treasure', I started imagining myself as the characters.I used to stop reading suddenly and then start dreaming of me doing what 'that character' did.[Something that I say that I still have sometimes when I am really engrossed in a book]

Thinking about it now I was not even sure I understood the whole thing but I did finish the book and that too by Saturday that week and then it started the feeling like you have.... I mean the one you get when you just finished a whole box of sweets and then you see another box[Ohh... sweets and books what a useless comparison but what to do these are the two things I really love :) and they are the first things that came to my mind], I mean forget the sweets, I was simply MISSING READING A BOOK. Strange though it may sound but I really have felt it for the first time and has been there with me ever since I just can't stay long without reading a book.

I started looking longingly at every person who held a book in my class I wanted something to read and guess what I did.... I simply read my whole English textbook so that I could while my time until 'THE TUESDAY

There that was my first experience at reading a novel I started with the thought of summarizing the book but lost track and ended up telling about myself.... will be posting sooner :)