Flambards Divided by K M Peyton Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Flambards Divided
Book Review: Excellent Ending to the Flambards Triology
Summary: 5 Stars
An excellent ending to the three previous books about Flambards inhabitants. Not disappointing at all!!!!!! Wish the author would write another about Mark and Christina's life. Who wouldn't be swayed by the passionate, self assured, handsome Mark Russell??? Great book.Book Review: My Godfather III of Books
Summary: 2 Stars
After seeing Flambards on TV a few years ago, I immediately read the trilogy and found it very enjoyable. When I heard a fourth book to Flambards was out, I made a trip to the library and settled down to what I thought would be a great read. But it wasn't. I was very disappointed in Flambards Divided. Not to give away the plot, but let's say I wasn't at all pleased in whom Peyton decided Christina's choice of who was right for her after all. That's when I decided, that just like Godfather III, Flambards Divided never "happened" and have happily left the characters in my mind where they were at the end of the trilogy.Book Review: Truly horrid
Summary: 1 Stars
I felt betrayed by this book. Throughout the first three books, Ms. Peyton showed us that intelligence and ability were more important than class. She showed us Christina's growth into a firm, strong, independent woman who had experienced love and suffered grief and loss. Suddenly, in this book, Christina regresses to a child again, not knowing her own mind and not willing to do what she knows is right. Dick, portrayed as a gentle, intelligent, decent man whose only fault was that he was born working-class, suddenly changes into an unrecognizable, selfish, inconsiderate, and morally corrupt man whose only gentleness is reserved for horses. He becomes much more like Mark than like the Dick we came to love in book one. Talking of Mark, he is the only character who doesn't change very much, making us scratch our heads in amazement at the thought of Christina's favoring such a brutal and uncaring dolt over her own husband.
It's hard to believe that this book was written by the same author as the original trilogy. It seems to have nothing in common with the original books except for the character-names -- certainly not the characters themselves! This was a disappointment all round.
Book Review: Watch the Mini Series for the Trilogy - then Read This One.
Summary: 4 Stars
If you want to believe that Cinderella lived happily-ever-after(despite having only met her prince once, at a party) perhaps you shouldn't read Flambards Divided. But for me, this is the best read of the four Flambards novels. This is the one book where the narrative is character-driven, rather than the mad gallop through the story of the first three books. Flambards came alive best,though, through the fabulous mini-series of the late 70's. So give yourself a treat and watch that - then read this book, and find out what happened after the ballroom lights were put out.......Book Review: Well, she warned you.
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone who picked up the book Flambards Divided has already read the first three. If you read this without paying attention to the title, then, well, I can't have sympathy if you are disappointed with the events.
I loved this book.
It was very true to the characters and the times. Yes, I was rooting for Christina and Dick, too, and maybe if they'd gotten together--maybe run away together--before her marriage to Will, it would have worked out. As quiet and gentle as he was, though, Dick wanted to be the leader. Think about it. When did they REALLY get along? When Dick had the upper hand and was teaching Christina to ride, or saving her horse from a horrible death.
OK, the book was sad. Well, they were all sad, just this one had sad things happening to the main character, and "on stage." In the previous books, characters get beaten to near death, a woman gets impregnated by her employer thus ruining her life, a man dies of alcoholism, another is crippled in a fall...oh yeah, and have you really paid attention to the story arc? Every book so far has ended with the feeling that it is all solved, phew. And then the next one brings it crashing down. Yay! Christina marries Will!....but has no job. Yay! Will and Christina make a life that works...then he gets killed. Yay! Christina marries Dick!...who is totally unsuited to her apart from being cute.
If there is a next book, I vote that it be called "Flambards Remaining," because--guess what--Mark is still an alcoholic and since Peyton seems to know quite a lot about that disease, Mark is realistically doomed. The only way for Christina and Mark to have made a success of their union would be if Mark stopped drinking, but since with no guts left he drank til he vomited anyway, (which is true to life) he's not going to get any better.
It's OK, though, Christina seems to be able to take care of herself. But in that time period one was expected to find a husband.
She is VERY strong, though. When she finds out about Dick's infidelity, she will not tolerate it and will not keep the woman involved employed. Period. And Peyton makes Dick's betrayal very real, without making him a monster. As hurting as Dick is, he is still compassionate enough to give comfort to shell-shocked Mark, and still asks forgiveness from Christina when all is revealed.
I can't write this review without praising the character of Dorothy, certainly the best woman character, and maybe the best character, I have seen in a long time. Totally true to herself, completely self-aware, she is hardworking, selfish, hedonistic, unfaithful to her husband but honest in her self-assessment, and a loyal friend when it counts. The whole series is worth it just for Dorothy.
Flambards Divided makes me want to re read the whole series.
More Flambards Divided reviews:
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