Next of Kin

Next of Kin is another strong offering from Trollope. Her ability to capture the large and small nuances of famiy dynamics and how they progress and change is wondrous.

Judy was adopted by Robin and Carolyn as a baby, and grew up on a farm surrounded by her grandparents and aunt and uncle.

As an adult she is hurting because of her mother's death from cancer and angry at her father. Robin is angry as well. After another family tragedy feelings are stretched taut and Robin needs to become the rock everyone counts on.

But it is Judy's roommate Zoe, a young photographer's assistant, who understanding sorrow because of her own loss, steps in and helps Judy's family. To me she is a kind of Mary Poppins who goes where needed and instinctively show more knows what to do and say.

Good read. show less

I am continually amazed at how much I love the way Trollope writes---in every single book. The stories are about people and emotions but, at least to me, they are all so different. Her characters are pictured completely with her words.

A book about a farming community, that opens with the funeral of Robin's wife Caro. It's the start of a difficult time for the rest of the family, particularly his daughter Judy.

Her friend Zoe - an uncomplicated, spontaneous kind of girl - wants to visit the farm, and then finds herself drawn back to the people and situations. She's the catalyst for a lot of changes.

There are complex relationships, and financial problems as well as some farming discussion which I mostly skimmed through. Pleasant light reading with believable people.

skimmed - not good

9.78043E 12