Synopsis:
The saga of a Welsh family haunted by submerged passions and unfulfilled desire.
Review:
I was hooked on The Wheel of Fortune from the first pages. It’s juicy, lush, psychologically complex, and keenly observed.
The story opens with Robert, scion of the Godwin family, heir to Oxmoon, lusting after his second cousin Ginevra, on the night that she elopes with an Irish rake, Connor Kinsella. When, in pure tragic form, Robert is able to consummate his desire, a chain of events unfolds that scars the family for generations.
Like I said, I was really, really enjoying this book, until I hit Tragedy Fatigue. Now, I adore long books–the longer the better, I often say–but I just couldn’t find it in me to move on to point of view #4 of 6. The story structure started to feel tediously cyclical, and I gave up on page 313. I will give Howatch another try because she’s been so highly recommended, but this is the second of her books that hasn’t really done it for me.
Started to sound repetitive? Well, that’s the wheel goin’ round–fortune (we would probably say “fate” today) takes one up and down and then up again.
Having read this one twice, it took twice to catch all the nuances. Howatch is not necessarily an easy read or a quick read–but a fulfilling read for those who stick with it.