Four women take a pledge of eternal friendship shortly before World War I as the world they have known descends into chaos and their different destinies, which include obsession, murder, and insanity,... This description may be from another edition of this product.
Most of the reviewers discuss the characters of this book and the romance, and I agree with their assessments that this book is excellent on that score. However, the main reason this book is good is that it artfully demonstrates how the characters were changed by World War I. As the book begins, the characters are interested in society, social conventions, getting married, etc. They expect WWI to be over quickly. It is not, and the way it affects the people and the society makes this book a real standout. I bought this book when it was first published and recently re-read it, which says a lot, because I rarely re-read fiction. This book delivers much more than its cover indicates.
Loved it
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
Wouldn't this make a great film? Who do other readers think could play the characters? I think Cate Blanchett (with short, redder hair) could be Rory, someone like Winona Ryder as Francesca, Keeley Hawes (from Our Mutual Friend) as Jenny and a plain looking actress as Eleanor. For the guys someone Daniel Day-Lewis-ish as Lorenzo and perhaps a Cary Elwes lookalike as Stevie. What do you think?
Unputdownable
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
I read this book in a day and have read it sveral times since. It has everything you could want in a historical novel. The characters were so well drawn too - Tertius was adorable. And the ending was extremely satisfying.
Perfect
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
This is a book filled with everything and anything that you may be looking for. It's has romantic momets as well as tragic ones. There are funny and serious parts too. But the best thing about this book is that it is done in a biografical form which starts from their chilhood until adulthood. This book is definitely a book worth reading.
Very engaging story and characters.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 28 years ago
Fascinating time period. Well rounded characters make the losses more tragic and the triumphs more sweet. Another good book set in this same time period and equally good - "Song of Songs" by Beverley Hughesdon. Hard to find (British) but worth the effort
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