review by Babs Simpson live on show 7th Nov 2013
THIS IS THE STORY OF ELIZA - A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WORKS AS A PORCELAIN
RESTORER AND THE V&A IN LONDON.
SHE WAS MARRIED TO GABRIEL, A TALENTED AND VERY HANDSOME COTOR BUT NEVER
FELT HERSELF GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM SO THE MARRIAGE ENDED. SHE HAS HARBOURED A
TERRIBLE SECRET SINCE SCHOOLDAYS THAT HAS COLOURED THE WHOLE OF HER ADULT LIFE
AND THE STORY UNFOLDS WITH FLASHBACKS TO THOSE DAYS WHEN SHE WAS AT A POSH
BOARDING SCHOOL WITH HER RICH FRIENDS, ROSE & PORTIA, AS WELL AS THE
TROUBLED AND NOT AT ALL POPULAR SANDRA. GRADUALLY WE LEARN ABOUT THE MONTHS
LEADING UP TO A SPECTACULARLY TRAGIC EVENT THAT ELIZA HAS ALWAYS KNOWN HERSELF
TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND WHICH HAS FUELLED FEELINGS OF GUILT AND INADEQUACY
THAT CONTINUE TO THE PRESENT DAY.
WE ALSO MEET IAN, HER GODFATHER AND ROSE'S FATHER - WHO IS SERIOUSLY ILL AT
HIS HOME IN SWEDEN, CARED FOR BY HIS ENIGMATIC HOUSEKEEPER, KATARINA: ANNIE THE
DELIGHTFUL 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER OF A NEIGHBOUR AND RUTH, RELATED TO ELIZA BY
MARRIAGE - ALL OF WHOM ADD TO THE INTEREST AND QUALITY OF THE STORY.
THIS IS VERY GOOD INDEED. THE WRITING IS EXCELLENT, THE PLOT INTRIGUING
AND WELL FORMULATED. I HAVE READ ONE OTHER OF THIS AUTHOR AND SHALL CERTAINLY
LOOK OUT FOR MORE. WHILE READING THIS ONE, I WAS REMINDED OF THE 'PRIME OF MISS
JEAN BRODIE' AND I WOULD SAY THE STYLE AND QUALITY OF THE WRITING ARE ON A PAR
WITH THAT PARTICULAR BOOK
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