When this first came out, I read it with great interest. The content was so engaging that it immediately captured my attention. It presented unique ideas and perspectives that made me think deeply.

Now, I have a plan to enjoy it again. I believe that upon a second reading, I will be able to discover even more nuances and details that I might have missed the first time around. I'm looking forward to delving back into this piece and experiencing it all over again.

Each time I read it, I expect to gain new insights and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. It's like uncovering a hidden treasure chest with new surprises every time. I can't wait to embark on this rereading journey and see what else this wonderful article has in store for me.

Wow, what a roller coaster ride it has been!

I initially started out feeling intrigued by this story. However, as I delved deeper, I found myself beginning to hate everything about it. The plot seemed convoluted, the characters unlikable, and I was on the verge of giving up.

But then, something magical happened. As I reached the last "book" of this work, I suddenly found myself loving every single minute of it. The story took an unexpected turn, the characters redeemed themselves, and I was completely hooked.

Apparently, this was a novel that I had wanted to dislike from the start. But despite my initial reservations, I just couldn't help myself. The author had done a truly remarkable job of weaving a tale that kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly changing my emotions and perceptions. Nicely done indeed.

Penmarric commences with Mark Castallack and his mother Maud, having been cheated out of their inheritance by a devious relative. They engage in a protracted court battle that lasts for years, striving to regain possession of the lands of Penmar and the magnificent house, Penmarric, that stands upon it. After twelve long years and nearly losing all hope, fate intervenes. The wastrel son of the current owner passes away, and a very young Mark is named the heir to it all. Mark marries Janna, who is ten years his senior, and she has a surprise in store for him from a past relationship. However, Mark also has one or two surprises for Janna. As the new owners of Penmarric, they build their family dynasty, but Janna and Mark gradually drift apart. Then, an accidental meeting forever alters their lives, and a new one begins as a result of that violent night.

Told in five "books", each from the first-person point of view of Mark, Janna, and three of Mark's sons, the family's story transports the reader from late 19th-century Cornwall into the 20th century and through World War II. The next generation of Castallacks battles for ownership of the Penmar estate and the power that accompanies it. The middle of the book was somewhat slow at times, yet I absolutely loved the last two books that讲述了Phillip和Jan的故事以及这两兄弟之间总是动荡不安的关系和他们为被指定为继承人而不断进行的斗争。

If you have a penchant for those large, sprawling family sagas set in the past, with feuding and backbiting siblings, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try. Moreover, this book has a rather unexpected twist that is not commonly seen in such novels. The Castallack family and their story parallel that of Henry II, Eleanor, Richard I (the Lionheart), and the always delightfully evil King John. Ultimately, for those reasonably familiar with Henry and his devilish brood, half the fun of this book lies in trying to figure out which of Mark's sons are young Hal, Geoffrey, Richard, and John. What was Henry's fate after the ultimate betrayal by his sons? Can you spot Rosamund Clifford, the illegitimate sons Geoffrey and William Longspee? And best of all is how the author resolves the mystery that still haunts us to this day - the ultimate fate of young Arthur, John's rival claimant to the throne of England.

All in all, it is a really excellent read, and I plan to explore a few more works by this author. Apparently, she continues her “Plantagenet” saga with two more books, Cashelmara and Wheel of Fortune, dealing with the three Edwards. I understand that John of Gaunt is in the latter, and I very much hope she includes Katherine Swynford as well. I am extremely torn between awarding four and five stars, so I'll settle on 4.5, rounded up to 5.

Pretty tedious;

I skimmed the last third. I know they're based on the real-life Plantagenets but everyone was so unlikeable.

The story seemed to drag on and on, lacking the excitement and engagement that I had hoped for. The characters, although inspired by historical figures, were presented in a way that made it difficult for me to feel any connection or sympathy towards them. Their actions and behaviors were often unappealing and made it hard to root for any of them.

Perhaps if the author had taken a different approach or added more depth and complexity to the characters, it would have been a more enjoyable read. As it was, I found myself simply going through the motions, eager to reach the end and be done with it. Overall, it was a rather disappointing experience.

Melodrama follows melodrama in Howatch's more modern retelling of the lives of the 12th century's Henry II of England, Eleanor of Aquitaine and their devil's brood.

The setting is Cornwall's tin coast, and the family is the Castallacks of Penmarric. The time period, from 1890 to 1945, provides insights into various historical events. These include the impact of two world wars, women's suffrage in Britain, the life and death of tin mining in Cornwall, the rise of the Labour Party and unemployment between the wars, and the 1926 General Strike.

I liked this history and would have paid more attention to it if I hadn't been slogging through the book so rapidly, eager to get it behind me. Yes, it's an epic tale. The plotting concept was indeed interesting. But what about the characters? Did I really care what happened to any of them? Maybe Janna a little. Lizzie, the dowdy and intelligent one in her very minor role, also had some appeal. Jan-Ives, the survivor, showed the most convincing character development. However, none of this was enough to offset the 700+ page slog.

It felt like a chore to get through the book, despite its interesting historical backdrop and the potential of the story. The excessive length made it a bit of a struggle, and perhaps a more concise version could have been more engaging. Nevertheless, it does offer a detailed look at a particular time and place, along with a complex web of characters and their dramas.

One of my very favorite books is a wonderful piece of literature that I have read not just once or twice, but many times.

This book has a special charm that keeps drawing me back. It takes me on a journey through different worlds and emotions.

The characters are so vividly described that they seem to come alive in my imagination.

The plot is filled with excitement, twists, and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat.

Every time I read it, I discover something new and gain a deeper understanding of the story and its themes.

It has become a constant companion in my life, bringing me joy and inspiration whenever I pick it up.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read and explore the magic of words.

DNF, for now, it's just too depressing and infuriating.

Every time I log into the game, I seem to encounter one problem after another. The server lag is so severe that it makes the gameplay extremely choppy. Skills don't respond as they should, and I often find myself getting killed unexpectedly due to the lag.

Moreover, the randomness in the game can be quite frustrating. The drop rates of good items are so low that it feels like I'm constantly wasting my time. I've spent countless hours grinding, hoping to get that one rare item that will make my character stronger, but to no avail.

Another issue is the balance of the classes. Some classes seem to be overpowered, while others are severely underpowered. This makes it difficult for players of certain classes to compete in the game, especially in PVP.

Overall, DNF is in a really bad state right now, and it's really ruining the gaming experience for me. I hope the developers can address these issues soon and make the game more enjoyable to play.

**Penmarric, Susan Howatch**

Susan Howatch, a renowned British author, has made a name for herself with her captivating family saga-type novels. One of her notable works is "Penmarric." Set against the breathtakingly beautiful backdrop of Cornwall, this novel weaves a completely enthralling tale of a family torn apart by internal strife.

At the heart of the story lies the magnificent mansion called Penmarric. It is to this grand estate that Mark Castallack, a proud, enigmatic, and sensitive man, brings his bride Janna. This marks the beginning of a tumultuous drama that will span three generations. The characters in "Penmarric" are richly drawn, each with their own flaws and desires, making them relatable and engaging.
The novel explores themes such as love, loyalty, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions. Howatch's vivid descriptions of the Cornish landscape add an extra layer of depth and atmosphere to the story. Originally published in 1971, "Penmarric" has since become a classic in the genre of family sagas.

Translation:
"Penmarric" is the name of an old mansion and castle, and the story is a recount of the past of an aristocratic family, whose members are all at odds with each other. The center of the events in the story is this very "Penmarric," where most of the happenings take place. The novel actually reveals the lives of three generations of the members of one family.

The feeling for the Cornish countryside described in the novel is indeed quite good.

However, when it comes to the characters, there was not a single one that I truly liked. The males, for the most part, were rather unlikeable. Some of them seemed weak and immature, and above all, they were sexist. (Yes, I am aware that this is an historic novel, but it still managed to annoy me.) They were like tomcats on heat, constantly driven by their baser instincts. It's a very male-centric book, which is quite off-putting.

The females, on the other hand, I found mostly bland and boring. Female characters who had some spirit often came to bad ends. From this, I can only conclude that the author has a preference for her females to be blander (and perhaps blonder). Generally speaking, if they were good looking, they were blond, and if they were bad and/or plain, they were brunette.

I wavered between giving this novel a rating of 2 and 3, depending on my mood at the time. Fortunately, the characters did become a bit more likable towards the end. However, despite not liking the characters, the book did manage to suck me in with its vivid descriptions of the Cornish countryside and its engaging storyline.

I have a great passion for family sagas.

Many years ago, when I first delved into this genre, I was completely captivated from the very beginning to the end.

For me, that seamless enjoyment throughout is the ultimate criterion for awarding a 5-star rating.

Susan Howatch is indeed a talented author. Her early works in the family saga genre were truly remarkable.

However, after penning two outstanding family sagas, she chose to venture in a different direction.

Regrettably, this new path was not one that I was inclined to follow.

Nonetheless, her contributions to the family saga genre will always be remembered and cherished by many readers like me.

Whew! What an amazing family epic it is!

I have come across other reviewers who hold the opinion that this book doesn't reach the same level as her other works. While I can somewhat understand their perspective, we must bear in mind that this was her very first major historical epic, accomplished at a relatively young age. Therefore, her effort was truly remarkable.

This is the second Susan Howatch book that I have had the pleasure of reading, with the other being Glittering Images. I am completely astounded by the intricate detail in her work and the masterful way she weaves the family tale. Indeed, she uses the Plantagenet family as a guide, but she does an outstanding job with the Castallack family of Cornwall.

Each section of the book is narrated and seen through the eyes of a different family member, and it is extremely difficult for me to determine which narrator I like the least or the most. It might be the part narrated by the mother that eventually became a bit wearing on me towards the end, as she had a continuous cycle of rags to riches and then back to rags stories, and sometimes she seemed very self-centered. However, my perception of her even changed when seen through the eyes of other narrators.

In the end, it is a great family saga, one that展现了saints and sinners, with every flaw and imperfection exposed. I absolutely loved it and will surely start another one of her books in the near future.

I simply couldn't bring myself to read this book any further.

The plot, from what I managed to get through, which was already longer than I should have endured, was extremely feeble.

It seemed to be mostly centered around illicit affairs, which just didn't hold my interest.

I have no inclination to invest any more of my precious time into this.

Thankfully, I only shelled out $1.99 for this book.

If I had paid more, I would have been even more disappointed.

It's a good thing I didn't waste a significant amount of money on something that failed to engage me.

I'll be looking for a more captivating read in the future.