Picked up from YWCA in Kyoto, Japan.

After lugging this book around in my suitcase last year, it finally made it home to Australia with me, only to languish on my bookshelf. But, thanks to Freelunch and his Virtual Book Box (where I entered this book), I was made to luck this book from tbr purgatory and read it.

"Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.
"
— Angela Carter

I've added this quote above, as it is one of my favourites, and it definitely came to bare when I was reading this book.
No, I'm not a young, single mother from 1960's Britain, but a heavily pregnant one in 21st century Australia. While I live in a different century and continent, many things still ring true.

The whole process of love, sex and marriage for 20 somethings, the national health service and class/educational backgrounds are something that we both have in common. While, the differences in health standards, hospitals and working conditions ("The BBC let you have two you know". "Two illegitimate children you mean?" "Yes. You can have as many of the other sort as you like, as you're not working then") are a great contrast and example of conditions of the day.

The part of the story in the hospital (I don't want to give too much away) made me so upset, that I put the book down for a week, before building up the guts to come back and read it. But, after that found the story well worth the effort.

This is the first Margaret Drabble that I've read, and I will definitely try some of her other books too (which I already have several of).

I think this book came into my hands at just the right time.

RELEASE NOTES:

Posted to Norfolk. Thank you for selecting this book from the VBB, and making me read it.

Received from Jubby,a selection from the virtual bookbag.Thank you!

A great read and lots I could personally relate to. I like Margaret Drabble's style and look forward to reading more of her.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

will be posted off tomorrow to Froggirlwendy, her request from Freelunch's VBB.

Arrived a few days back - many thanks norfolk :o)

Time to downsize with a charity bulk book donation