Good read and one of her best works, in my opinion. There
are four main characters bringing with them their respective history of
parental love, neglect, abandonment, self-importance, protective/sheltered life,
alcoholic fathers, driven agendas, and variances in-between. It clearly reminded me of what it’s like to
be a teenager, warts and all. There is
more than story going on and each adds value to their respective friendships:
before, during and after.
"Benny" is the only child of what some would call doting
parents. She is the kind of friend that
one would want to have, is loyal and forgiving. She is betrayed by those she
respects, loves, and those from whom she has learned so much about how to
dress, talk and act in situations.
"Eve Malone" was orphaned and raised by nuns. Her wealthy mother married beneath her
station in life according to her parents and dies shortly after giving
birth. The distraught father becomes depressed/enraged
with the family of his wife, speaks a curse (of sorts) on her family, then he dies
as well. Eve is forsaken and given to
the nuns to be raised. Her biological family
has one redeeming member, in my opinion, with which the adult Eve develops a
friendship. After meeting some of her family members, I personally believe that
Eve proved to be better off without them and as a result she developed strength
of will and a backbone that served her well.
She and Benny were the best friends from the age of ten and truly inseparable
until their college days where the story a turn (or twist).
"Nan" is beautiful and continues to hide her poor
background and drunken father. She knows
what to say, when to say it, how to dress and act to achieve her driven agenda. She doesn’t allow anyone to stand in her way
and when she is ditched by the target of her agenda, creates a divisive backup
plan with some devastating results.
However, it created what I see as a great ending to the book for each
character.
"Jack" is a doctor's son who has difficulty making up his
mind (at times) whose definition of commitment must also be a matter of
convenience. He expects to be forgiven
of anything and everything and to be accepted as the life of the party even
when not truly welcome. I initially liked
him but my opinion of him did change even though he did agree to do what’s “right”
by the “wrong (not wronged)” person.
This is the fourth book that I have read by this author,
who does not disappoint her many, many fans, including yours truly. There is a film version of the book which I
have not seen. With the history of films
destroying the integrity of most books, I will pass on seeing the film
version. However, I am willing to
reconsider after hearing from those who have experienced both the book and the
film.
Final comment and fortunately for me, I pre-ordered her
book “A Week in Winter” that was completed just days before her death last year
with reader ready for eReaders February 2013 and paperback in 2014.
