Pat D. (pat0814) reviewed on 7/3/2010 + 379 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Anita Brookner is such an accomplished author; however, her books leave me feeling sad because the subject matter is usually lonely women leading introspective lives. This novel is no exception. Elizabeth is a quiet woman married to a respectable (dull) man when she embarks on an affair with a man who is also married and experienced in clandestine affairs. When Elizabeth's husband dies, she concludes her affair with Edmund, only to see her long-time friend, Betsy, begin her own affair with Edmund. Elizabeth's inner dialogue is fascinating as she watches Betsy give herself wholeheartedly to Edmund and his children. Anita Brookner is a master at evoking characterizations of women who live on the outside while wistfully hoping for fulfillment "on the inside."

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