I know I've asked this question before but I really do wonder how a big a factor our moods (or where we are at in our lives) have on whether we like or dislike a book. I picked this book up about three years ago, read the first page and was immediately disappointed with the depiction of the meeting and falling madly in love of the two main characters, Matt and Lorna. It was dealt with in such a perfunctuory fashion that I didn't want to read more. I felt cheated, put the book aside and picked up something else.
This time (admittedly in holiday mood) I picked the book up again and read further and decided I really enjoyed the understated style, realised that it was also probably a necessary device when you are covering around 75 years in one book and kept reading. Today I just couldn't put it down. Yes, the characters could be more clearly defined. They have different jobs, live in different times but their reactions to life's cruelties seemed to be accepted in the same philosophical and stoic manner. Somehow though, this didn't seem to matter.
Matt and Lorna really did live on and for me the great strength (and the five stars) is Lively's ability (and not many writers have this) is to depict beautifully how it feels to fall in love. How it can come on after a simple conversation and the realisation that your life would never be the same again. She is also very good at depicting the lack of real love (except for mother and child). How sometimes it just doesn't happen. Both situations and Lively's graceful passionless style made these revelations all the more powerful. Without giving anything away I absoutely loved the ending of this book. One of my favourite endings for quite some time of reading.

Very much enjoyed this story of a family through several generations.

given to a friend