The pace of the book is deliberately slow. Maggie O’Farrell takes her time when setting the scenes and describing her characters. She uses vivid imagery and unravels the story gradually, revealing the journey of her characters bit by bit. Her descriptions of people, places and emotions are tangible and you end up being totally immersed in this book.
It tells the story of two women; separated by 50 years, whose lives are somehow linked. Lexie Sinclair is a strong willed and determined young woman who, against her family’s wishes, has moved to London from her rural home in Devon; where she believes her life will finally begin. Her story takes place in the 1950’s in Soho, where she starts this new life with Innes, a handsome and charismatic magazine editor and the love of her life.
In present day London, Ted and Elina are coming to terms with the changes in their lives after the birth of their first child. Elina can hardly remember who she once was, and her relationship with Ted seems strained as she struggles to regain what they once had. Ted is plagued with memories of his childhood that don’t seem to match up with his parents’ account of events, and his past is shrouded in mystery, with only broken glimpses of the truth.
It is a skillfully written account of these four characters lives. I felt that I was joining them in their journey of discovery as the story is slowly pieced together, finally revealing the entire picture. An excellent book that will keep you captive till the last page.
No comments:
Post a Comment