Four generations of women - all strong willed and all thrust under one roof almost to manage as best as they could.
Zoe and her daughter Isabel are returning to the home of Zoe's grandmother who is now ailing. Lillian the matriarch is a well published writer but who is now beginning to show the onset of dementia. Poppy her daughter abandoned her daughter Zoe at the age of seven and this wound has never healed for Zoe. Despite decades gone by Zoe does not want to have anything to do, or even see her mother. Living in the same small village, and knowing that Poppy has been a care giver for Lillian does not make it easier. Also realizing that she alone has held out against Poppy is gall, because even Isabel who is such a troubled spirit seems to find solace in Poppy.
The focus then shifts with the absence of Diana, a caregiver for Lillian who goes missing and who over a period of weeks is feared dead. The story of why and how this happened is a secondary story because it is the four women's story which is the primary one. It is an emotional, heart breaking one because the hurt caused by actions of abandonment and seemingly lack of love for a child is something that is seemingly un bridgeable.
It was not easy to keep track of four different stories - but the fact that they are divided into separate chapters helped.
Beautiful story.
Sent by Netgalley for an unbiased review, courtesy of Lake Union Publishing.
I haven't read this author in a while but I've always enjoyed her books. I'll keep this title in mind and perhaps keep paper and pen ready to keep the POVs straight.
ReplyDeleteA new author to me, Thanks for sharing your thoughts
ReplyDeleteI usually really enjoy this author and I did wonder about this book. I think I'd certainly like the four women's stories. Sometime when a lot is going on it can be difficult to keep track.
ReplyDeleteI haven’t read this author, thanks for sharing your review!
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