Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #373355 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Synopsis
After college Clare moves with her mother from London to a rural home where her psychic ability helps unravel the past and where she searches for something called the Benison.

Customer Reviews

Looks like I'm in the minority
Oh dear. Looking at the other reviews on this book, it seems as though I am in the minority here. In fact, it was because of the reviews that I decided to buy THE CHINA GARDEN in the first place.
Although I am in my twenties, I often read novels which are meant for young adults, and this one inparticular seemed to be so popular, I felt I could not go wrong. However, I have to admit that I was disappointed with it.

The story is about Clare Meredith; after completing her A-Levels, her mother declares that she is moving from their home in London to live in Somerset. Her job will be to look after an elderly man who lives on a large estate, Ravensmere. Desperately wanting to be with her mum, Clare decides that she will go with her. Although Clare is unsure of how she will adapt to her time at Ravensmere, the house and the small village affect her in ways she could not have imagined. And she cannot get the idea out of her head that she remembers the place - even though she has never been there before. As the secrets of Ravensmere slowly begin to reveal themselves, it becomes clear to Clare that her own past is linked to that of the estate. But now that the estate is in danger, Clare is shocked to discover that she may be the only one to save it.

That is the basic plot. There are a few twists and turns. Berry adds depth to the story by intricately explaining the family histories of the two main families in Ravensmere, and how their destinies have links to the present. But I felt that this examination of the two families was to detailed and complicated - there was often a barrage of information about people from the past and it just became confusing. The result of this is that half way into the book, you feel as though little has really happened - there are hints to what is going to be revealed (pretty obvious ones actually), but the pacing of the story felt too slow for me. Perhaps if I had read this when I was younger I would have loved it, but unfortunately it did not strike the same cord with me as it did for the other reviewers here.

Superb Couldn't put it down!
I read this book once then just had to read it again and again. I just couldn't put it down! I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who has an interst in things slightly out of the ordinary. It is spooky, romantic and mysterious

A Fantasy story with love, romance, suspence.. EVERYTHING!
Overall, I thought this was a great book. At first I was assigned to read it by my English teacher because we have to write a book report about a fiction novel. But after a couple days of reading this, I found I was enjoying it!!!THis story is clever and creative. I couldn't put it down!!! It has romance, adventure, suspence and horror.. and a mystery. Check it out!