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The Forget-Me-Not Sonata
The Forget-Me-Not Sonata Montefiore, Santa
608 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
155 people are currently reading
1636 people want to read
About the author
Santa Montefiore
90 books2,745 followersSanta Montefiore is the number one bestselling author of over thirty novels and has sold over eight million copies worldwide. Her books have been translated into twenty-five languages and she won an RNA Award for The Temptation of Gracie in 2019, which is currently in development for film. Born in England in 1970, she grew up in Hampshire and now lives in London with her husband, writer Simon Sebag-Montefiore, their daughter, son, and dog Simba.
Shadows in the Moonlight is the first novel of a trilogy following the character Pixie Tate, with Secrets of the Starlit Sea following in summer 2025. Santa loves to hear from readers and you can find her at www.santamontefiore.co.uk.
Shadows in the Moonlight is the first novel of a trilogy following the character Pixie Tate, with Secrets of the Starlit Sea following in summer 2025. Santa loves to hear from readers and you can find her at www.santamontefiore.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
January 5, 2020
"La vida es como una obra de teatro. La muerte sólo es como salir del escenario, despojarte de tu disfraz y regresar al lugar al que pertenecemos. No supone olvido. Confía en mí. Lo sé".
La historia de un amor que vive a través de los años, se mantiene, pero te termina consumiendo. La historia de una familia y sus diferentes personajes, cada uno particular, pero especial.
Con una prosa hermosa y delicada, la autora nos lleva por los diferentes años de la protagonista, sus sentimientos y emociones; todo ello en diferentes escenarios delicadamente delineados. Aunque fue difícil sentir empatía con Audrey, terminas comprendiéndola. Con Louis el enamoramiento fue inmediato.
El final no es lo que esperas, pero, y aunque con dolor y lágrimas, hay que decirlo, creo que es lo suficientemente justo.
100% recomendado
La historia de un amor que vive a través de los años, se mantiene, pero te termina consumiendo. La historia de una familia y sus diferentes personajes, cada uno particular, pero especial.
Con una prosa hermosa y delicada, la autora nos lleva por los diferentes años de la protagonista, sus sentimientos y emociones; todo ello en diferentes escenarios delicadamente delineados. Aunque fue difícil sentir empatía con Audrey, terminas comprendiéndola. Con Louis el enamoramiento fue inmediato.
El final no es lo que esperas, pero, y aunque con dolor y lágrimas, hay que decirlo, creo que es lo suficientemente justo.
100% recomendado
October 10, 2018
***spoiler alert****
im not sure why people have given this novel suchgood reviews, it was extremely depressing and the characters were extremely selfish
Audrey- She was potrayed as a very giving and sweet person but she used cecil as a disguise, married him, had an affair and got pregnant with his brothers child. she was a pathetic wife and a bad mother, she refused to see her daughters flaws and forgot leonora when she had Grace
Cecil-Another selfish character, he was aware that Audrey was in love with Louis but he still wanted her, he was also spineless as he never confronted them.
Louis- He lost Audrey due to his own stupidity, he could have waited for her to come to terms with the loss of her sister, but he left without a word ruining everyones life.
the other characters arent even worth mentioning, It was so upsetting when Florien betrayed Leonora, i mean he didnt deserve her at all, she should have ended up with somone who truly loved her. Grace was the only one i liked
After all the drama, they got old, cecil dies and its only now that audrey realises that he really loved her. well guess what he freakn dead and you lived your life being sad and depressed. i was hoping she and Louis would end up together in the end but was disappointed.
I feel like I read a 484 page novel that just went on and on
im not sure why people have given this novel suchgood reviews, it was extremely depressing and the characters were extremely selfish
Audrey- She was potrayed as a very giving and sweet person but she used cecil as a disguise, married him, had an affair and got pregnant with his brothers child. she was a pathetic wife and a bad mother, she refused to see her daughters flaws and forgot leonora when she had Grace
Cecil-Another selfish character, he was aware that Audrey was in love with Louis but he still wanted her, he was also spineless as he never confronted them.
Louis- He lost Audrey due to his own stupidity, he could have waited for her to come to terms with the loss of her sister, but he left without a word ruining everyones life.
the other characters arent even worth mentioning, It was so upsetting when Florien betrayed Leonora, i mean he didnt deserve her at all, she should have ended up with somone who truly loved her. Grace was the only one i liked
After all the drama, they got old, cecil dies and its only now that audrey realises that he really loved her. well guess what he freakn dead and you lived your life being sad and depressed. i was hoping she and Louis would end up together in the end but was disappointed.
I feel like I read a 484 page novel that just went on and on
January 8, 2022
Unsure whether to rate this a four or five stars. In the end, I plumped for a five because I was just swept away by this book. I wasn't in a hurry to finish it, instead I savoured each page.
It wasn't action packed and maybe even a little predictable in places but this love/family saga had me liking each character and visualising each scene.
If you're up for a relaxing read, give it a go.
It wasn't action packed and maybe even a little predictable in places but this love/family saga had me liking each character and visualising each scene.
If you're up for a relaxing read, give it a go.
January 21, 2022
Długo miotałam się jak ocenić tę książkę, bo były momenty, że wszystko się we mnie gotowało i miałam ochotę rzucić nią o ścianę. Część bohaterów, a przede wszystkim Alicia, są po prostu okropne i ma się ochotę nimi potrząsnąc dla porządku albo zdzielić w twarz na opamiętanie. Mój głęboki sprzeciw budziły momenty, które były czystym gloryfikowaniem męczęństwa i poświęcania się dla dobra innych, BO TAK TRZEBA. Z drugiej strony nie mogłam się od niej oderwać, byłam w jakiś sposób zaczarowana zawiłością relacji i emocji, które kierowały bohaterami. "Sonata o niezapominajce" to zdecydowanie nie jest lekka książka o miłości, oj nie, ale prawda jest taka, że dawno żaden tytuł nie wzbudził we mnie tyle emocji i niechęci do bohaterów, a jednocześnie jakiejś dziwnej empatii i współczucia. Na pewno zapadnie mi w pamięć na długo!
November 24, 2018
Two colourless people meet in Argentina. Immediately declare how much they love one another & get off on keeping it a secret. Repeat this endlessly. Then they part, so they can yearn for one another, & regret, repetitively at a distance.
Unbelievable dialogue, with all the characters talking in the same humourless, explanatory way.
With decent writing, even limp characters, who give themselves unnecessary dramas can be made interesting and sympathetic, but no sign of that here.
Unbelievable dialogue, with all the characters talking in the same humourless, explanatory way.
With decent writing, even limp characters, who give themselves unnecessary dramas can be made interesting and sympathetic, but no sign of that here.
April 28, 2021
“ ... los seres humanos tiene que sufrir para saber lo que es la felicidad.”
De verdad que está autora escribe hermoso.La descubrí este año con el libro Los secretos del faro y quede impresionada con su pluma.
Cuenta la historia de amor de Audrey, una joven hermosa de gran carisma y virtudes quien se enamora de Louis.
El amor entre ambos es imposible ante la sociedad, por lo que viven separados y amándose uno al otro a pesar de la distancia.
Además de Audrey se cuenta la historia de sus hijas mellizas Alicia y Leonora y de su hija más pequeña Grace. Las diferencias de caracteres y sentimientos hacen una lectura muy especial.
El libro me gustó bastante lo único que me disgustó fue ese final. Muy inesperado y triste.
“Tus dedos no tardarán en ser una prolongación de tu corazón y entonces no pensarás en términos de notas sino de sentimientos. “
De verdad que está autora escribe hermoso.La descubrí este año con el libro Los secretos del faro y quede impresionada con su pluma.
Cuenta la historia de amor de Audrey, una joven hermosa de gran carisma y virtudes quien se enamora de Louis.
El amor entre ambos es imposible ante la sociedad, por lo que viven separados y amándose uno al otro a pesar de la distancia.
Además de Audrey se cuenta la historia de sus hijas mellizas Alicia y Leonora y de su hija más pequeña Grace. Las diferencias de caracteres y sentimientos hacen una lectura muy especial.
El libro me gustó bastante lo único que me disgustó fue ese final. Muy inesperado y triste.
“Tus dedos no tardarán en ser una prolongación de tu corazón y entonces no pensarás en términos de notas sino de sentimientos. “
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2017
It took me half the book to start liking this. In the end, I am glad I didnt give it up, beautiful end with no threads left untied.
May 28, 2015
Mais um livro sublime, um romance arrebatador escrito por Santa Montefiore.
Um romance cheio de ternura , porque é um livro sobre a ternura do amor que Audrey sente por Louis, e do amor terno que Cecil o irmão de Louis sente por Audrey.
Louis é um homem frágil e vulnerável, que tanto pode estar efusivo como melancólico. Audrey vai apaixonar-se pela sua personalidade, e pela sua música.Cecil é um homem discreto e forte, Audrey vai sentir um amor mais calmo e até conflituoso com ele.Dois amores, uma mulher, um livro que descreve o amor na sua essência, para o bem e para o mal.Um amor de uma vida vivida entre dois homens tão diferentes, e duas formas de amar intensas e inesqueciveís.
Um livro magnifico.
Um romance cheio de ternura , porque é um livro sobre a ternura do amor que Audrey sente por Louis, e do amor terno que Cecil o irmão de Louis sente por Audrey.
Louis é um homem frágil e vulnerável, que tanto pode estar efusivo como melancólico. Audrey vai apaixonar-se pela sua personalidade, e pela sua música.Cecil é um homem discreto e forte, Audrey vai sentir um amor mais calmo e até conflituoso com ele.Dois amores, uma mulher, um livro que descreve o amor na sua essência, para o bem e para o mal.Um amor de uma vida vivida entre dois homens tão diferentes, e duas formas de amar intensas e inesqueciveís.
Um livro magnifico.
August 16, 2021
5⭐️
My adoration for this book is inexplicable, it wasn’t tear wrenching but it tasked the gut and your soul for empathy and relative relation to the shackles of society through time, place and our relationships.
“Nothing brings people together like death.” If a quote was ever to outline a book, it would be this.
It is notable that to enjoy this book, you must connect with Audrey’s character or else you will be unable to sympathise or adhere with the notions of the book and how realistic her actions and relations are in her situation.
I think that if you liked ‘Malibu Rising’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid, then you will like this book too!!!
My adoration for this book is inexplicable, it wasn’t tear wrenching but it tasked the gut and your soul for empathy and relative relation to the shackles of society through time, place and our relationships.
“Nothing brings people together like death.” If a quote was ever to outline a book, it would be this.
It is notable that to enjoy this book, you must connect with Audrey’s character or else you will be unable to sympathise or adhere with the notions of the book and how realistic her actions and relations are in her situation.
I think that if you liked ‘Malibu Rising’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid, then you will like this book too!!!
December 19, 2017
O que devo dizer quando um livro me arrebata de uma forma especial? Não sei bem. Mas posso começar por dizer que: este foi, talvez, um dos melhores romances que li este ano e deveria vir equipado com pacotes de lenços de papel (para bem dos leitores mais chorosos, como é o meu caso), pois chorei “baba e ranho” nos capítulos finais.
https://momentosdemagia.wordpress.com...
https://momentosdemagia.wordpress.com...
July 5, 2021
The Forget-Me-Not Sonata is quite an incredible but inconspicuous book about love, loss, forgiveness and mercy, all of which are inevitable virtues of daily life. from a gripping love affair, the book reveals itself into a timeless riveting family drama that takes one on a journey through generations and time; one cannot help but compare it to the greatest works of Alcott, Bronte or Austen. not only does Montefiore create such a curious cast of characters whom one can either detest or adore (“I read a lot. I read everything. Novels, hundreds of novels. You learn a lot about human nature through literature.” ) but also what astonishes is her writing which truly mesmerising, pure and honest, one can really feel her heart from which she speaks many marvellous words (“When a heart breaks it makes no noise. There are no outward signs, no rash, no bruising. Only a strange calmness that takes over when there are no more tears to shed and no more voice left to howl one's greed into the silence and the resignation that numbs one's senses like a drug, for how else would one be able to go on? People survive in spite of themselves.”).
Read
September 24, 2012De Vergeet Mij Niet-Sonate
Audrey Garnet, haar zusje Isla en hun drie jongere broers groeien op in de Engelse wijk Hurlingham in Buenos Aires. Ze hebben een beschermde, zonnige jeugd en brengen vele dagen door op de countryclub. Als de twee vrijgezelle Engelse broers Cecil en Louis Forrester naar Argentinië komen met de bedoeling carrière te maken, raakt de kleine gemeenschap in rep en roer. Vooral de charmante Cecil is een gewilde partij. Hij voelt zich meteen aangetrokken tot de lieve Audrey. Terwijl het voor de buitenwereld lijkt alsof zij zijn liefde beantwoordt, heeft zij in werkelijkheid haar hart verloren aan Louis. Net als Audrey besluit dat ze haar liefde niet meer wil verbergen en met Louis verder wil, slaat het noodlot toe. De Vergeet mij niet-sonate die Louis voor haar componeerde, zal voor haar een eeuwige herinnering zijn aan alles wat zij heeft moeten opgegeven.
Audrey Garnet, haar zusje Isla en hun drie jongere broers groeien op in de Engelse wijk Hurlingham in Buenos Aires. Ze hebben een beschermde, zonnige jeugd en brengen vele dagen door op de countryclub. Als de twee vrijgezelle Engelse broers Cecil en Louis Forrester naar Argentinië komen met de bedoeling carrière te maken, raakt de kleine gemeenschap in rep en roer. Vooral de charmante Cecil is een gewilde partij. Hij voelt zich meteen aangetrokken tot de lieve Audrey. Terwijl het voor de buitenwereld lijkt alsof zij zijn liefde beantwoordt, heeft zij in werkelijkheid haar hart verloren aan Louis. Net als Audrey besluit dat ze haar liefde niet meer wil verbergen en met Louis verder wil, slaat het noodlot toe. De Vergeet mij niet-sonate die Louis voor haar componeerde, zal voor haar een eeuwige herinnering zijn aan alles wat zij heeft moeten opgegeven.
August 17, 2014
Dit is voor mij weer één van de betere van Santa Montefiore, ze zijn tot nu toe echt allemaal mooi hoor, maar deze zal ik niet snel vergeten.De verboden liefde en het paranormale in het boek spraken mijn erg aan. Het begin begon voor mij wat traag maar dat lag aan mij omdat ik volop in de vakantie modus zat. Toen ik eenmaal weer de rust in het lezen vond vloog ik door het boek. Zouden ze dan toch nog……? Heerlijk gewoon even helemaal weg zwijmelen.
October 6, 2019
The ingredients are all there: Argentine, forbidden love, England, great characters. But I thought it just all turned stupid and dramatic for no reason. All I could think was "this makes no sense, if you just talked to each other, you could solve this stupid situation for everybody". The author was not able to convince me why the characters made the stupid decisions they made and then continued to live with the consequences!?
April 19, 2020
Not enjoyable
I have loved all the Santa Montefiore books, especially the Deverille series. However this was my least favorite of her books. Audrey and Louis were weak and rather pathetic, Louis was clearly a narcissist with borderline personality disorder. This was no great love story. I just didn’t enjoy it.
I have loved all the Santa Montefiore books, especially the Deverille series. However this was my least favorite of her books. Audrey and Louis were weak and rather pathetic, Louis was clearly a narcissist with borderline personality disorder. This was no great love story. I just didn’t enjoy it.
January 10, 2013
this was a wonderful love story. It showed the different kind off the different ways to love, be loved. I adore books that cover a span of a lifetime and this one did just that. This was my first book by this author but definitely not the last!
August 2, 2011
I couldn't bear to read more than the first 100 pages. Sappy, sappy, sappy.
February 25, 2016
Me hizo llorar tanto. El final fue inesperado, siempre sere #TeamLouis
May 15, 2021
I started this last year and quickly put it to one side again but it wasn't condemned to the charity pile as I knew I'd want to pick it back up. Pleased I did! A typical sweeping saga from Santa that spans generations and decades - I don't think a lot happened really (obviously in 500 pages a lot did happen...) but it was more for me a tale of life. Again, as ever with Santa's work, I disliked more characters than I liked, but it doesn't take away the enjoyment. I was disappointed not to learn more about Argentina, the setting just provided a snapshot of life there in the 40's really and I felt there was more to give on that front.
June 12, 2018
A really enjoyable read with good characters.
August 30, 2023
Another really great read from Santa Montefiore! A story of love and loss. The kind of a book you try to sit with whenever you have time. I highly recommend it!
July 9, 2017
Rating: 3.5 stars
October 16, 2019
It's probably worth noting that this is not really the genre of book I typically go for; I was lent it by my mum (probably as there is a minor theme of music?). I nearly gave up about 50 pages in but persevered.
My main issue with the book is mainly that it doesn't seem to be able to decide what it is. If it's about the love triangle between Audrey, Louis and Cecil, fair enough; but actually there is a lot in there about their children as well and their own particular love triangle, and the brothers' sister Cecily (uninventive parents, eh?), which distract from the main storyline.
My gripes with this book are, in no particular order:
- as pointed out by other reviewers, all the problems could have been solved by people TALKING to each other. Everyone seems to love each other, so keeping things secret seemed odd
- random, unexplained jumps of time. Occasionally a chapter would be subtitled with a date and place, so I don't see why this couldn't have been done consistently to avoid confusion
- an absolute obsession with beauty. At one point Nelly is described as 'eye-wateringly plain', and it's clear that this is meant to reflect her insipid personality. Every single female character is described according to how attractive they are, and their character is ALWAYS linked to this. The one exception is Leonora, but even she is increasingly described as 'beautiful', being made so by her personality (as if it were a blip of creation). Where are the average-looking but pleasant female characters who are also full of integrity?
- the spiritual/theological background is extremely uneven. God is mentioned continually, and references to orthodox Christian belief, but then Grace's 'spirits and fairies' are accepted as being totally fine and ordinary by these fairly standard C of E Christians.
- everything is so dramatic and over the top. Apparently the whole British community in Buenos Aires is distraught for months by Isla's death, and it takes them all ages to recover. Really?
- I'm just not a fan of an adultery plotline. And I don't think Cecil was particularly noble to still marry Audrey anyway, even though he knew Louis loved her. I think he was selfish. The noble thing would have been to bring them together.
- I'm not sure I actually liked any of the characters. Grace was annoyingly perfect, Audrey was indecisive and lacked the ability to speak out for herself (one might say that's typical of women at the time), Alicia is a cardboard-cut-out demon and Leonora a cardboard-cut-out saint.
- what on earth was the Cecily-Marcel subplot about?!
- why does Cecily dislike Florian to begin with? What did he do, and why does she change his mind?
- there were absolutely zero consequences to Florian for sleeping with his BRAND NEW FIANCEE'S SISTER immediately after getting engaged. Ooh, he felt bad for a bit. But then she gave birth and now he loves her properly and we've forgotten about that betrayal...
Other reviews suggest this is not one of Montefiore's best, but I'm not sure I would try another to be perfectly honest!
My main issue with the book is mainly that it doesn't seem to be able to decide what it is. If it's about the love triangle between Audrey, Louis and Cecil, fair enough; but actually there is a lot in there about their children as well and their own particular love triangle, and the brothers' sister Cecily (uninventive parents, eh?), which distract from the main storyline.
My gripes with this book are, in no particular order:
- as pointed out by other reviewers, all the problems could have been solved by people TALKING to each other. Everyone seems to love each other, so keeping things secret seemed odd
- random, unexplained jumps of time. Occasionally a chapter would be subtitled with a date and place, so I don't see why this couldn't have been done consistently to avoid confusion
- an absolute obsession with beauty. At one point Nelly is described as 'eye-wateringly plain', and it's clear that this is meant to reflect her insipid personality. Every single female character is described according to how attractive they are, and their character is ALWAYS linked to this. The one exception is Leonora, but even she is increasingly described as 'beautiful', being made so by her personality (as if it were a blip of creation). Where are the average-looking but pleasant female characters who are also full of integrity?
- the spiritual/theological background is extremely uneven. God is mentioned continually, and references to orthodox Christian belief, but then Grace's 'spirits and fairies' are accepted as being totally fine and ordinary by these fairly standard C of E Christians.
- everything is so dramatic and over the top. Apparently the whole British community in Buenos Aires is distraught for months by Isla's death, and it takes them all ages to recover. Really?
- I'm just not a fan of an adultery plotline. And I don't think Cecil was particularly noble to still marry Audrey anyway, even though he knew Louis loved her. I think he was selfish. The noble thing would have been to bring them together.
- I'm not sure I actually liked any of the characters. Grace was annoyingly perfect, Audrey was indecisive and lacked the ability to speak out for herself (one might say that's typical of women at the time), Alicia is a cardboard-cut-out demon and Leonora a cardboard-cut-out saint.
- what on earth was the Cecily-Marcel subplot about?!
- why does Cecily dislike Florian to begin with? What did he do, and why does she change his mind?
- there were absolutely zero consequences to Florian for sleeping with his BRAND NEW FIANCEE'S SISTER immediately after getting engaged. Ooh, he felt bad for a bit. But then she gave birth and now he loves her properly and we've forgotten about that betrayal...
Other reviews suggest this is not one of Montefiore's best, but I'm not sure I would try another to be perfectly honest!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2023
I loved the writing style of the author. This book touched me in my soul, a wonderful story about love.
December 16, 2022
I plodded my way through this and thought it would never end! I found it long, repetitive, predictable and tedious.
It was full of silly unbelievable women, weak love sick men and there was no substance. We would skip forward many years and the theme was still the same. Most of the characters irritated me (can you tell!!)
I didn’t like the style of writing where often it would explore different peoples thoughts in the same paragraphs.
I’m not entirely sure why I persevered to the end really, not my cup of tea at all
It was full of silly unbelievable women, weak love sick men and there was no substance. We would skip forward many years and the theme was still the same. Most of the characters irritated me (can you tell!!)
I didn’t like the style of writing where often it would explore different peoples thoughts in the same paragraphs.
I’m not entirely sure why I persevered to the end really, not my cup of tea at all
April 29, 2016
This book came into my life by accident, and I'm so glad it did. It was one of those old, yellowed novels my mom had left in the bookshelf for years, with 3 bookmarks from the 3 times she attempted to read it but couldn't finish it. I picked it up out of desperation, with pretty low expectations. I'd just finished reading a book I loved, which fueled this hunger for words inside of me, and I had nothing I hadn't already read on my shelves, so my options were pretty limited.
Let me tell you about the book now. I'd describe it as a Mexican soap opera very beautifully weaved into a book. I got so involved with the characters, at times I felt like I was the mother, the sister, and the wife. Also, let me tell you about the imagery. It is beyond amazing. It isn't just a bunch of words describing random things, it's more like a palette of words painting beautiful, vivid images. That's not all; the plot is just as complex and intricate as the images the words create. Obviously, I bawled over it. I cried over both the mind-bending plot twist at the end, and the heartbreaking ending of not only a book, but a part of my life. I'd recommend this to anyone with a heart, and a good word-to-picture translator. Peace out.
Let me tell you about the book now. I'd describe it as a Mexican soap opera very beautifully weaved into a book. I got so involved with the characters, at times I felt like I was the mother, the sister, and the wife. Also, let me tell you about the imagery. It is beyond amazing. It isn't just a bunch of words describing random things, it's more like a palette of words painting beautiful, vivid images. That's not all; the plot is just as complex and intricate as the images the words create. Obviously, I bawled over it. I cried over both the mind-bending plot twist at the end, and the heartbreaking ending of not only a book, but a part of my life. I'd recommend this to anyone with a heart, and a good word-to-picture translator. Peace out.
March 13, 2019
Absorbing story
Beautifully written and descriptive novel set mainly in Argentina and later in England. The characters were well crafted and I particularly enjoyed the twins and their totally different natures and characteristics. Story spanned several decades, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Beautifully written and descriptive novel set mainly in Argentina and later in England. The characters were well crafted and I particularly enjoyed the twins and their totally different natures and characteristics. Story spanned several decades, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
March 13, 2024
Not my usual genre but thoroughly enjoyed it and now I want to read more from this author
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews