Set in a small town in the 1950s, Dr Jean Markham is already unusual as a female GP. When she befriends a troubled young boy, and then meets his mother, Lydia, a factory worker whose marriage is in trouble, tongues begin to wag. Well written and with great character development,  as the relationships between the parties shift. A good read.

Fiona Shaw is one of the authors who will speak at the Newcastle Unconvention. Get your ticket here: https://bc-unconuk2020.weebly.com/tickets--sales.html

This book will travel as a ray:

Poodlesister
earthcaroleanne
Flutterbies9
rahar109
penelopewanders
Icila
Billbooks

On its way to Poodlesister, first in the ray.

Thanks for the book and another Women in Science postcard, Jane Cook Wright, an Oncologist who developed new chemo techniques which saved millions of lives. I just sent the same card to a friend!

I really enjoyed the book, the writing style and the development of the characters. I felt myself getting more and more into the plot as the book progressed.

Sending to earthcaroleanne when I next go to the post office.

ETA sent 14/8/20

Join UK Bookcrossers at the Newcastle Unconvention from 9th to 11th October 2020

Arrived today. Thanks for all the extras in the parcel too.

I can't say I loved this book, but I made my way through it. I appreciate it is well thought out but it is not difficult to spot the storyline. The end disappointed a little.

Sending this on in the Bookray.

Received during the week and only just taken out of quarantine.

I will read this as soon as I have finished my present book, and get it on its way again.

**Added ** I did mean to say many thanks for the thoughtful extras in this parcel also.

**Added 4/12/20 ** Completed this book. Nicely written but I can't help thinking that the last few pages were an addition that did not really add to the story in any way except to perhaps highlight that some do achieve a 'happy ever after' despite all circumstances.
Will get this to the Post Office on Monday on its way to the next recipient.

Continuing on its journey ......
Happy travels little book.

Arrived in the post this morning.
Thank you, and for all the goodies in the parcel.

This book was just not my cup of tea. The story didn't grab my interest, and neither did the characters. I did finish it, but skimmed through parts of it.
PMing penelopewanders for her address. Hope she enjoys it more than I did.

Posted to penelopewanders.
Enjoy!

This actually was received in France, but as I have stayed on in Switzerland a bit longer than anticipated, my husband brought it to me when he arrived here on the weekend. Thanks for sending, I will try to get to it soon. Just saw all the lovely stickers and the card tucked into the book -thanks so much!

Here as a ring, this is a rather somber story. It is well-written, and the characters are credible and touching, in their way.
The main man in the story, Robert, is a pretty pathetic specimen who states his opinion on women clearly early on: "'That's the thing about girls. There's the ones that are good at sums and the ones that are pretty. You marry the first, and they get your dinner on the table and your children scrubbed and brought up. And you don't marry the second.'"
Their society is such that if the man is unfaithful, obviously it is the wife's fault. The relationship which grows (or almost explodes) between his wife and the town doctor is certainly not something to be accepted or tolerated. The saddest part really, is the son, as referenced in the title, who can only share his worries with the bees.
The final scene was surprisingly unsatisfying, with no resolution, and no real impression that Charlie had been able to step beyond his impotence as a child and was now in control of things.
This being said, the story was moving and in many ways quite beautiful.
This will continue its travels in France, but it may be a few weeks before it can continue its journey. Thanks so much for making it available and sending (and again, thanks for the cool stickers and labels!)

Read in Switzerland, my husband took this back to France this weekend and now it continues to the next reader... hopefully it will make it before the 18.00 curfew! Thanks so much for making this available and sending, and hope you are all well and healthy!

The mailman delivered it safely to me on my doorstep along with The Bed I made and Deplhi-Reader's book.
Thank you very much to you and to your husband.

I was very taken by Charlie. How a little boy, only child, brilliant, had no say over his life. I'm not sure that in present times things are so different, regardless of new laws. Feelings prevail, children suffer in silence.

Australia is reopening, I hope this book w'll reach Billbooks soon enough. Fingers crossed.

Just over a month not bad frrom continental Europe normally 2-3 weeks prepandemic just started a book yesterday so I'll put this next. It's so nice to receive a book that's done a little bit of travelling.