The Winnipeg Humane Society had a book sale fundraiser pandemic style. I told them my reading interests and how many books I wanted and this morning I drove through their lot and picked up a box containing 12 books. All for the super low price of $11. This book was one but I've already read it so it will be a good wild release candidate. Here's what I said when I read it in 2016:
Another thought-provoking book from Sarah Waters in which she examines post-war London especially as regards lesbians. The war in this case is World War I and in 1922, when this book is set, the effects of it are still ever present.

Frances Wray and her mother live in a big old house that they cannot afford since Mr. Wray died and it was discovered he had lost most of the family fortune in bad investments. Hence the decision to take in paying guests. Lillian and Len Barber are a young married couple who have been living with Mr. Barber's parents and are very happy to get into rooms of their own. Len works in assurance. Lillian stays at home and thus she and Frances see quite a bit of each other. One day Lillian invites Frances to attend a party with her as Len is going to be busy that night. Lillian offers to redo Frances' hair and fix up a dress so Frances will look more up-to-date. While she is cutting and crimping, Frances tells her that she had a love affair with another woman during the war. At first Lillian is shocked and becomes distant but when the date for the party arrives she still wants Frances to go with her. They have a grand time but they arrive back home to Len in the kitchen with blood streaming from his nose. Len was attacked very close to the house as he made his way home. He refuses to call either the police or a doctor and goes to bed. Frances starts to clean up the kitchen and Lillian comes down to her. One kiss leads to more, much more. As the weeks and months go by Frances and Lillian fall more deeply in love. Frances proposes that Lillian leave Len and that they get rooms together. As they try to figure out how to make this work Lillian discovers she is pregnant. She decides to end the pregnancy by some pills that she knows of. Just as Frances is helping Lillian Len comes home and twigs to what Lillian has done. He accuses Lillian of having an affair but Frances tells him the affair is not with another man but with her. Len attacks Frances and Lillian hits him with a heavy ash tray. Len dies as a result and Frances and Lillian have to deal with the decisions they make that night.

Anyone who has every made a bad decision under stress will relate to this book. Both Frances and Lillian express the wish that they could go back to that night and do things differently. But, as adults, we have to learn to live with our mistakes and sometimes pay a price.

I left this book on a bench at the back of the garden. This release is for the 202152 Towns in 52 Weeks Release Challenge Town #16.

When you find a BookCrossing book it is yours to do with what you like. You can read it and keep it or pass it on or if you don't think it is your kind of book pass it on to someone who might like it or release it in a spot for someone else to find like you just did. Whatever you choose it would be great if you could write a short note letting us know what new adventures the book is on.