Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial![Cover Image for the book 'The 5 AM Club' by Robin Sharma](https://static.blinkist.com/wcl/phone-mockup/cover_en.webp)
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver is a gripping gothic novel set in the early 20th century. It follows the dark and haunting tale of a young girl named Maud, who uncovers sinister secrets within her family's ancestral home.
In the book Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver, we are taken back to 1906, where we meet Maud Stearne, a young and intelligent girl who lives with her father, Edmund Stearne, in a manor called Wake's End. From an early age, Maud's life is marked by her father's strict and oppressive nature. Her mother had died in childbirth, leaving Maud to be raised by a distant father and a series of strict governesses.
Edmund, a renowned scholar, is obsessed with the history of the Fen, a nearby marshland, and a mysterious painting of a doom in the local church that depicts the torments of hell. His obsession with the doom and his increasing paranoia about the supernatural lead him to become increasingly isolated from the rest of the village.
As Maud grows older, she becomes increasingly curious about her father's strange behavior and his obsession with the doom. Her curiosity leads her to discover a hidden diary kept by her father, which reveals his descent into madness. The diary chronicles Edmund's growing paranoia, his belief in supernatural forces, and his conviction that he is being haunted by a demonic presence from the Fen.
Through the diary, Maud learns about her father's cruel and abusive treatment of her mother, his obsession with a local folklore of a mythical creature called the Wakenhyrst, and his belief that he has to perform a series of rituals to keep the creature at bay. Shocked and frightened by her father's madness, Maud becomes determined to escape her oppressive life at Wake's End.
Maud's chance for escape comes when she meets a young artist, Clem, who is hired to restore the doom painting. The two quickly develop a romantic relationship, and Maud sees in Clem the possibility of a new life away from her father's madness. However, their happiness is short-lived when Edmund discovers their relationship and brutally attacks Clem, leaving him severely injured.
In the wake of this violent incident, Maud makes a daring escape from Wake's End and heads to London, where she begins a new life as a successful author. Yet, despite her physical distance from her father, Maud remains haunted by the dark secrets of her past, especially the truth about her mother's death.
Years later, Maud returns to Wake's End following news of her father's death. She is determined to confront the demons of her past and uncover the truth about her mother's mysterious demise. During her return, Maud pieces together the final, horrifying truth about her father's descent into madness, her mother's tragic fate, and the sinister secrets of Wake's End.
In the end, Maud finds solace in the revelation of her father's madness and the realization that the supernatural forces he feared were nothing more than the delusions of a tortured mind. With this newfound understanding, Maud is finally able to lay the ghosts of Wake's End to rest and move forward with her life.
In Wakenhyrst, Michelle Paver masterfully weaves a tale of psychological horror and gothic suspense, exploring the impact of madness and obsession on a family. Through Maud's journey, we are taken into the depths of a troubled mind and the haunting power of the past. The novel leaves us with a chilling reminder of the thin line between reality and delusion, and the devastating consequences of unchecked obsession.
Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver is a chilling gothic novel set in the early 20th century. It tells the story of a young girl named Maud who uncovers dark secrets within her family’s manor house, Wakenhyrst. As she delves into the history of the house and its previous inhabitants, Maud unravels a tale of madness, obsession, and supernatural forces.
Readers who enjoy atmospheric and chilling gothic novels
Those interested in historical fiction with a touch of mystery and psychological suspense
People who appreciate complex and well-developed characters in a dark and haunting setting
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trialBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma