This is a cult classic, beautifully reissued, with a foreword by Paul Bowles and memoir by Truman Capote. Few great writers produced less than Jane Bowles: one novel, one play and a dozen short stories. Yet hers is one of the most original, unique voices in twentieth century American literature. A novelist with an essentially tragic view, as Truman Capote concludes in his memoir, but also 'a very funny writer...with at [her] heart the subtlest comprehension of eccentricity and human apartness'. Here, then, is a novel unlike any other. A tale of two extraordinary heroines - Christina Goering, a wealthy spinster in pursuit of sainthood, and Frieda Copperfield, who finds a home from home in a Panama brothel. And a book whose lesbian themes were startling on its original publication in 1943.

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Even if this isn't your kind of book and you don't intend to read it I'd appreciate it if you would make a journal entry of some sort. Maybe you could say where you found it (they don't always stay where they were originally left!) or what you think of the idea of travelling books.

Then, leave it for someone else to find. And don't forget, if you make release notes (to say where you've left it, and when) next time it's journalled you'll hear from it too! If you decide to join please say that AngelFrouk sent you - many thanks and happy Bookcrossing!

Not an author I know, but Virago are selective in what they publish so have high hopes.

Well this was a pretty quirky storyline. First published in 1943, I can see why it was critically acclaimed at the time. Don't really think it has stood the test of time, but enjoyable nonetheless.

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Rescued from the book table at the end of the meeting. It has 2 points in its favour: published by Virago and set in Panama. I don't know if I will read it myself, but I will keep it for release in the wild.

I loved the beginning of this book, where a girl seems likely to be heading towards becoming a psychopath, attempting to drown her sister's friend. But nothing as logical as that was going to happen. It turns into one of those prickly, stilted mid-20th century novels, then everyone in it does as many illogical things as possible. Odd, disjointed; I think I may need to read it again.

I read this book in 2015 , but then got distracted reading up on the author and her husband, Paul Bowles and then wanted to read his novel, 'The Sheltering Sky'. Then, of course, I wanted to write decent reviews and they both got put on the 'to be reviewed' pile; I seem to have a backlog!

I've written a full review on my book blog. There's a somewhat shorter version on Goodreads.