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Penmarric

susan howatch

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Set against the starkly beautiful landscape of Cornwall, PENMARRIC is the totally enthralling saga of a family divided against itself. At the center of the novel is the great mansion called Penmarric. It is to Penmarric that Mark Castallack, a proud, strange, and sensitive man, brings his bride Janna--the first act in a tempestuous drama that was to span three generations...

735 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1971
Places
cornwall england, england, 

This edition

Format
735 pages, Hardcover
Published
May 24, 1971 by Simon \u0026 Schuster
ISBN
9780241020265
ASIN
0241020263
Language
English

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About the author

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susan howatch

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Rating(4 / 5.0, 99 votes)
5 stars
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99 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
bitsypookums24
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The book "Pneumatic", written by Suzanne Hoover, tells the story of three generations of a family.

"Pneumatic" is the only book by this author that has been translated into Persian by Mr. Ebrahim Yoonessi.

This book has five narrators, and in each chapter, we follow the fate of the other characters from their perspective.

First, we get to know Mark Castelak, and then the Pneumatic Estate, which is inherited by him after the death of his uncle.

And in the meantime, Mark falls in love with Mrs. Rosaline Farm, who has recently become a widow and he tries to marry her.

Pneumatic is a large estate and the place where all the events of the story will take place.

Pneumatic is a cold and soulless building.

The book "Pneumatic" really got me hooked. It has multiple and interesting characters. Each of these characters has both good and bad qualities and you can't judge them.

"Pneumatic" is a book full of excitement, emotion and charm. You can't put it aside for a moment.

Despite its length and more focus on daily events, it doesn't make you feel tired at all.

It is a story that ultimately belongs to two families. This historical-fiction story takes place in the early 20th century in the plantations of the South.

In the end, it is a book about love, hate, inheritance, betrayal and revenge, which is told very realistically.

I highly recommend you to read it.
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more0257
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Ambitious is the scope of this work. However, it is overly ambitious. It attempts to do far too many conflicting things, ultimately resulting in a less than satisfactory read.

The most redeeming aspect is the quotes from the histories of King John, which are incorporated through Mark's academic writing and add a touch of fun.

Regrettably, the rest of the book has some serious flaws. The worst of it is the misogynistic nature of the text. Howatch makes excuses for all the male characters, giving them ample room to develop, while keeping the female characters slightly out of focus. They are brought into the story only to be judged for not being beautiful or patient enough and for not cooperating with their own objectification. There are three rape scenes, which are drawn out and linger, and all lead to an ongoing relationship that is oddly labeled as "love," with two of them even portrayed as doing the woman a favor.

Then there are long, self-indulgent passages of philosophizing and theologizing for no apparent good reason. In these passages, all the narrators, most of them male, start to sound the same. Essentially, they seem to be mere vehicles for Howatch's thinly disguised ideology, which is a liberal, "progress" oriented, individualistic hodgepodge of ideas presented as modern, and at times with a hint of what could be satire but fails to fully deliver. There is also a great deal of laborious political discussion, perhaps to set the time period. It's almost as if Howatch wants to showcase her knowledge of the era, but with the book exceeding 700 pages, it veers towards a rather tolerant no-man's-land where everyone appears to be a better person in hindsight (except for Adrian, who remains an idol throughout). Additionally, there is a glamorization of mining, which might have seemed reasonable in the 70s (or perhaps there were other motives at play), but is at best naive and at worst, horrible propaganda.

I recall reading some of the Starbridge series and tolerating them with some reservations, so I had hoped to enjoy Howatch when she strayed from the topic of religion. Sadly, religion keeps creeping back into this book in a heavy-handed manner. The most egregious parts, however, were the glorification of rape and mining.
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Reered
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The length of this work is really too long for me. It seems to go on and on without an end, which makes me feel a bit impatient.

Moreover, I have to admit that I disliked most of the characters in it. Their personalities and behaviors didn't appeal to me at all. Some of them were too annoying, while others were just plain uninteresting.

I found it difficult to engage with the story because I couldn't relate to any of the characters. It was as if they were from a completely different world that I had no connection with.

Overall, this work didn't meet my expectations. The length was a deterrent, and the unlikable characters made it even harder for me to enjoy. I hope that future works will be more concise and have more engaging characters that I can root for.
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soniaball03
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Okay, so I have just completed reading this book.

I must admit that Mark and all the Roslyn's, except for Janna, were truly horrible individuals.

The ending, however, was really satisfying. It was a great way to conclude the book by presenting the point of view of one of the most charming characters in the story.

I witnessed a significant amount of character development in Jan Yves and Janna. These two formed an excellent pair, the best mother and son duo.

The book is a bit on the sad side as you come across numerous characters dying throughout its pages.

The characters in this book are almost three-dimensional, which gives a sense of authenticity.

Although I wouldn't claim that it is the best book ever, it is definitely a very decent novel that is well worth reading.

It has its flaws, but overall, it offers an engaging and thought-provoking reading experience.
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yali12
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Another fabulous book by Susan Howatch! It tells the captivating Castallack family saga spanning from 1890 to 1945. Among all the masters of Penmarric, Jan-Yves' story is my absolute favorite. What's quite interesting is the parallelism that the author makes with the Plantagenet history. It adds an extra layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative. Thanks to Misfit for this wonderful book recommendation. I'm really looking forward to reading "The Wheel of Fortune" soon. It's bound to be another exciting adventure. I can't wait to immerse myself in its pages and discover what new stories and characters it has in store for me.

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MangaEaterMan
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I truly own this reading experience.

I really enjoyed reading this a great deal. The writing is of such excellent quality that it effortlessly draws the reader through the story. The motivations of the characters, the relationships between them, and the voices of the characters are all executed so masterfully.

Her characters, moreover, do not remain static. Instead, they mature, grow, and change, and their voices beautifully reflect this evolution. Sympathies that are initially felt with one character narrator can quickly turn into antipathies with the next. Howatch skillfully teaches us how to consider the perspective of those we love and also those we hate.

I am constantly left in awe of how Howatch is able to seamlessly move story lines between different centuries and various situations, making them all relevant. As a result, the reader gains valuable insights into both the periods and the people and places she so vividly sets her stories in.

It is truly a remarkable feat of storytelling that keeps me coming back for more.
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starflower
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Susan Howatch is an outstanding author.

She has the remarkable ability to pen a book where the characters are rather unlikable, engaging in dreadful deeds, and the events unfold at a sluggish pace.

Yet, astonishingly, she manages to maintain my full attention throughout the entire reading experience.

Admittedly, it doesn't quite measure up to Cashelmara as it lacks certain elements such as mystery, intense hatred, and revenge.

However, I have a deep affection for it because of the way it immerses me in historical settings and the life of a family over the course of many decades.

It offers a unique and captivating perspective that keeps me hooked from start to finish.

Despite its flaws, this book has its own charm and allure that make it a worthwhile read.

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