Nathalie, adopted as an infant by her parents, and her brother David, adopted after tragically losing his adoptive parents in a car accident, have grown up in a loving family. Initially resentful of the new toddler David, Nathalie grows to love David and David grows to depend on Nathalie. As adults, with their own partners and children, their sibling bond remains tight and close.
Attempting to unravel the complex, multi-dimensional, and emotive relationships in Trollope’s novel would take as long as the book itself. Suffice it to say that the characters and their interactions are as marvelously done as in every other one of Trollope’s novels.
David and Nathalie are the central characters upon which the main plot point revolves, but they aren’t the only plot generators or even the only fleshed out characters. In fact, I hesitate to call them the main or central characters, although truthfully they are.
Their spouses get full voices. The supporting characters and the various parents in the novel get ample space with their point of view, as well.
As in every Trollope novel, the story works its way to the pivotal moment: in this case, Nathalie becomes interested in her birth mother. Her decision to find and meet her birth mother is the catalyst for the rest of the story, and the thing that prompts life changes for every character.
Moving, real, honest, and relateable, this novel is written with Trollope’s usual fluidity and poetry of language. She develops every character with multi-facets, creates believable dialogue, and manages the complex task of multiple viewpoints masterfully. From beginning to middle to end, I enjoyed this book.
I highly recommend it.
copyright 2007 Julie Pippert
1 response so far ↓
Callista // September 9, 2007 at 8:09 am
That sounds good, I’ve added it to my TBR list.