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The Flight of Gemma Hardy
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
When her widower father drowns at sea, ten-year-old Gemma Hardy, an only child, is taken from her native Iceland to Scotland, to live with her uncles family. But the death of her doting guardian soon after leaves Gemma under the resentful eye of her aunt. When she receives a scholarship to a private school, Gemma believes shes found the perfect solution, and she eagerly sets out again to a new home. But at Claypoole, she finds herself treated as an unpaid servant. To Gemmas delight, the school finally goes bankrupt in 1959 and she takes a job as an au pair on the Orkney Islands. Remote Blackbird Hall belongs to Mr. Sinclair, a rich, single London businessman; his eight-year-old niece is Gemmas charge. An unlikely pair, Gemma and Sinclair are nonetheless drawn to each another, but their courtship is cut short by Gemmas discovery of a secret that has shadowed her employers life. Set in Iceland and Scotland in the 1950s and 60s, The Flight of Gemma Hardy is a captivating homage to Charlotte Bronts Jane Eyrea sweeping saga that resurrects the timeless themes of the original but is destined to become a classic all its own.
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Jilly6183
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Pickpick

My mother-in-law was born in Iceland but raised in the U.S. by her aunt. My now-husband and I went to Iceland several years ago to meet the family that he never knew for the first time, so the story felt familiar in a second-hand sort of way. It‘s a beautiful and engaging read.

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Foragingfantasy
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Jane Eyre retelling! Yes please!

annahenke I liked this one 4y
Foragingfantasy @annahenke I‘m enjoying it. Also, it‘s read by Davina Porter and she is my favorite narrator. 4y
19 likes2 comments
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Chara-Dreemur
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
Pickpick

Very nice smooth, atmospheric writing. The first half of the book recalling Gemma‘s childhood was probably the best part, although the second half still had good parts. The attention to environments is amazing.

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LeafingThroughLife
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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LeafingThroughLife
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Finally a day off. I plan to finish this twist on Jane Eyre this weekend. It‘ll be the only book I‘ve both started and finished this year...so I‘m clearly off to a speedy start. 😐

bookishnerd I have owned that for a ridiculous amount of time. Need to get to it! 5y
23 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MallenNC
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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I found several #green book covers on my shelves. More than I expected! #ReadingResolutions @Jess7

britt_brooke Pretty! 7y
SilversReviews Nice green. 7y
48 likes2 comments
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alisiakae
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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After a really long day of doctor‘s appointments, hosting a gazillion kids at our house for a pre-trick or treating dinner, and Halloween mayhem, I finally have a spare moment to open my #halloweengoespostal package (I am hiding in my closet to get that spare moment 😂)!

Thanks so much, @SilversReviews for the lovely gifts! I can‘t wait to put on those cozy socks!

@BookishMarginalia

SilversReviews You are welcome. I don't see the tote. I hope you like the magnetic bookmarks. (edited) 7y
alisiakae @SilversReviews Yes, I have the tote, forgot to put it in the pic! The book sounds good, I haven‘t read it before. I like it all! 7y
SilversReviews @4thhouseontheleft I like the material the tote is made of. ENJOY the book. 7y
100 likes3 comments
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LibrarianToujours
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Pickpick

I pick books by pulling them off the shelf, opening to the middle and reading a page. This way I can tell if I'm in the mood for a certain book or not.

By doing this, I'd picked this before I realized it was a re-telling of Jane Eyre. Livesey does a great job making this her own. The same major plot points are there, but I only recalled Jane once I set this down for the day. Gemma is her own person and the 1960s setting gives her more options.👇

LibrarianToujours I preferred Livesey's ending as well. 7y
Suet624 I do almost the same thing. I close my eyes and run my fingers along the spines of the books on the shelf. When I get the inner nudge I stop. That's the book for me. 7y
11 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Mcoun
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Pickpick

Once again, I have to disagree with a number of reviewers on GoodReads. I loved this modern day retelling of Jane Eyre!

tracy.anne8 You had me at Jane Eyre😍 8y
81 likes8 stack adds1 comment
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List_addict
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Ironically the first line of this chapter when I sat down to my lotsa-protein, lotsa-pepper bowl this morning was 'There was no bacon for breakfast this morning.' Getting my #janeeyre any way I can with this retelling.

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Lauren.Hughes
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Bailedbailed

This Jane Eyre retelling didn't compare to the original. The childhood portion was decent, but my biggest complaint was the lack of tension between the Jane/Rochester characters. Just read Bronte instead.

gibblr Love your nails! 8y
4 likes1 comment
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Lauren.Hughes
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Hell yeah!! Mic drop!! 😎👏🏼

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Lauren.Hughes
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Enjoying this retelling of Jane Eyre. Though, got a tad confused regarding setting. The time period is post-WWII and yet at one point she was carrying around a torch?? 🤔🙃😅

Eyelit She may have been referring to a flashlight. I think the British call flashlights torches even today 8y
Lauren.Hughes @Eyelit It takes place in Scotland, so that would make sense! I wasn't sure if it was her way of preparing us for fire scenes later on. Regional diction is more logical! 8y
5 likes2 comments
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Lauren.Hughes
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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📖Reading this weekend📖 A Jane Eyre retelling

5 likes2 stack adds
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JacintaMCarter
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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This became the #LastBookIStacked when my friend discovered she had two copies and gave the extra one to me. #SeasonsReadings16

Lacythebookworm Yay! 📚📚📚🙌 8y
41 likes1 stack add1 comment
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the_alternate_ending_library
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Has anyone read this one? I'm a hardcore collector of anything Jane Eyre and I'm told this is modern version.... #janeeyre #theflightofgemmahardy #gemmahardy #margotlivesey

mllemay I have it but haven't read it yet. Jane Eyre is my favorite classic and I normally hate retellings, but since a friend gave me this one, I will give it a chance. Curious to know what you think of it. 8y
the_alternate_ending_library I may start this one next week... I will definitely give a review. @mllemay 💞 8y
See All 11 Comments
Faibka Cute kitty!! 😻 8y
Luv2readbookz Beautiful kitty cat!😻😻😻 8y
Hobbinol People on Litsy have the most beautiful cats! ❤️❤️❤️ 8y
kspenmoll Sweet kitty! 8y
DebinHawaii Gorgeous, sweet kitty! 🐱❤️ 8y
Bette I love it when cats sit crazy. 😊👍❤️️ 🐱💜 8y
LornaDH My copy arrived today! 💜 8y
the_alternate_ending_library Let me know your thoughts on it please and thank you @LornaDH 💜 8y
89 likes5 stack adds11 comments
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stacybmartin
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
Mehso-so

This book seemed pretty disjointed, like it was two separate books. I really enjoyed the first half but the second half dragged on for what felt like forever.

the_alternate_ending_library I just purchased this online today. We shall see.... 😉 8y
15 likes2 comments
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stacybmartin
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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I know this is really low compared to most people but I'm excited to hit 100 followers and over 1000 Litfluence - nerd alert! 🤓

Josie You go, girl! 8y
Alpha No worries I have less than you :) 8y
Suzze Woo hoo! The numbers excite me too. 😀 8y
Sue From little things big things grow. Congrats, and here's to even bigger numbers!! 8y
21 likes5 comments
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stacybmartin
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Apparently I'm in a mood for Jane Eyre retellings.

16 likes2 stack adds
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rachelm
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Pickpick

Jane Eyre, but not. More modern, just as chilling.

LornaDH I loved her book Criminals. 9y
rachelm @LornaDH and I'm now adding that to my list! Thanks! 9y
LizzyM I have had this on my bookshelf for over a year! I need to dig it out. You reminded me why I bought it in the first place. 9y
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Gulfsidemusing This has been on my shelf for way too long, too! 9y
the_alternate_ending_library I just purchased a copy online today. Would anyone here be up for reading it at the same time? @LornaDH @LizzyM @Lakesidemusing @rachelm 8y
LornaDH @the_alternate_ending_library I'd be up for that. 8y
15 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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Lady.Literary
The Flight of Gemma Hardy | Margot Livesey
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book. The main character was one that interested me with her diligence and strength. A (somewhat) modern tale of Jane Eyre.