Weekly novel reviews (Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer)

Novel info:

1945. The vote in the House of Lords as to who should inherit the Barrington family fortune has ended in a tie. The Lord Chancellor’s deciding vote will cast a long shadow on the lives of Harry Clifton and Giles Barrington.

Harry returns to America to promote his latest novel, while his beloved Emma goes in search of the little girl who was found abandoned in her father’s office on the night he was killed.

When the General Election is called, Giles Barrington has to defend his seat in the House of Commons and is horrified to discover who the Conservatives select to stand against him. But it is Sebastian Clifton, Harry and Emma’s son, who ultimately influences his uncle’s fate.

In 1957, Sebastian wins a scholarship to Cambridge, and a new generation of the Clifton family march onto the page. After Sebastian is expelled from school, he unwittingly becomes caught up in an international art fraud involving a Rodin statue that is worth far more than the sum it raises at auction. Does he become a millionaire? Does he go to Cambridge? Is his life in danger?

Novel review:

Based on the novel above, the writer takes the story of Harry Clifton, Giles and Emma Barrington forward. The plots is about revenge and sweeping through time, we can see Harry and Emma pursuing their new lives as they raise their son Sebastian and adopt Jessica, who is the love child of Emma's father, and follow Giles as he faces challenges as a Labour MP.

In this novel, the Cliftons and the Barringtons have to face enemies in the scheming Lady Virginia with eyes on Giles' wealth who troubles theirs lives.

One lesson that i had learnt from the novel above is we must not give up easily. Harry Clifton didn't give up in his life even though he was in a prison before. He started his new life by publishing novels and finally he was a well-known writer in America. He also faced a lot of challenges during his trip to London to sell his novel. Throughout the 3 weeks, he was restless where he had to travel a few big cities in London in order to make his novel one of the best selling novels in London. Finally, he managed to be on the 14 ranks. As a student, we must not always give up because when there is a way there is a will. We must face through all the challenges so that we can achieve what we want to be.

I particularly liked Sebastian because his rebellious but not arrogant, definitely not family disowning, loyal and intelligent, quite a charmer. We should take him as our role model where he is good in his studies. He also has a very good critical thinking where he can solve problems easily by himself. He enrolled in a top college and earned a scholarship to Cambridge.

I would recommend students to read this novel as it can enhance your English skills where the writer use some of the Latin words in this novel. It can improve our comprehensive towards the sentences too. Besides that, students get to learn a lot of lessons from the story. It might also help students improve general knowledge about the history of London and America. So, this novel is filled with action, drama and suspense earns a high rating too form the readers! Overall, its a great novel !

VOCABULARY:

DISGORGING (VERB)

DEFINITION: to eject, yield, or discharge something.

EXAMPLE :

His stomach disgorged all the food that he ate just now due to food poisoning. 

RAMIFICATION (NOUN)

DEFINITION: the act or process of ramifying or branching out.

EXAMPLE :

With future so uncertain, ramification so complex, the natural course of action isstatus quo.

SORDID (ADJECTIVE)
DEFINITION: something dirty, squalid or morally distasteful. 
EXAMPLE:
A morally objectionable pornographic film is an example of a sordid film.

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