This is vintage Joanna Trollope. I love the FEEL of her novels, so ordinary, yet so intriguingly English. The story is told from multiple points of view, so the reader has an advantage over any of the characters. Rachel Brinkley is the mother-in-law, a woman whose life for years has revolved around taking care of her three sons and her husband, Anthony, a noted painter of birds, plus hosting family gatherings, and dispensing welcome advice. Edward, a London-based businessman, is married to Sigrid, a Swedish beauty with whom he has an 8-year-old daughter, Matilda. Middle son Ralph, a socially awkward nonconformist is married to Petra, who was essentailly chosen for him by his parents. Ralph and Petra are the parents of two very young sons. Both Edward and Ralph have long viewed Rachel and Anthony's home as "home," and their wives have gone along with the idea.
When youngest brother Luke marries the beautiful and spoiled Charlotte, things begin to change. Charlotte feels that it is important to establish themselves as independent and self-sufficient, choosing to invite Rachel and Anthony to their home instead of running to theirs at every opportunity, upsetting the established balance and precipitating crises throughout the family. Rachel is one of those matriarchs who is used to being in charge and the changing dynamics of the family threaten her relationships with her husband, sons, and daughters-in-law.
Don't look for amazing plot twists and non-stop excitement here. No one is going to murder anyone or turn out to be hiding their true identity. Trollope is master at taking an ordinary family with ordinary feelings and making the reader care about what happens next. Enjoy it!
No comments:
Post a Comment