Kathleen Rowntree

Laurie and Clare grow up almost as brother and sister in the strange atmosphere of a thriving music community. The book follows their lives as they learn about each other and about adult life. Thought-provoking and very enjoyable.

- On re-reading sixteen years after the first time, I found it a bit sordid in places. And while I liked Laurie very much, I felt Claire was rather cold; not someone I would have liked. It's a sign of good writing that I reacted like this, and it's a well-written show more novel, but I'd no longer class it as one of my favourites. show less

I suppose a Convent setting was essential so that males and their motives could be entirely excluded from this novel. The Convent depicted is clearly Anglican. Having known three Convents rather well, and a fair number of nuns, these women are in a class of their own. At times the closed society depicted reminds one of the Stalinist Soviet Union, at other times of a nonunionised company of the 40s in the USA. Nowhere do the authentic tensions of women living together under a strict rule, show more centered around charity and the Divine Office, emerge. An interesting 'comedy of manners', as the book jacket depicts it, but rather disppointing in its depiction of Convent life. show less

Three 11-year-old girls from very different backgrounds become close friends. As they grow up and become adults, they continue to be close. The 'present-day' part of the story involves a crisis for one of them, and a planned get-together with the other two, which happens later in the book.

The past is revealed in cleverly written flashbacks, which form the bulk of the story, and we gradually discover why the current crisis is causing such immense stress, and where the title of the book comes show more from. The central event, when it happens, is sensitively written and somehow manages to avoid being sordid.

Recommended if you like women's fiction with well-rounded characters and a hard-hitting storyline. show less

Sonia is an always immaculate perfectionist, Fran is a relaxed farm wife. The plot alternates between their different lives. Charming and believable people, with a plot that kept surprising me. All written in the present tense which seemed odd at first, but works well.