This is a the first book written by this author and she won the Commonwealth Writers Prize First Book Award in 1992. This is not surprising, as the story looks at the rise of feminism and the challenges faced by educated lesbian women to be accepted in 1960's New Zealand.The book tells the tale of Sally and her two daughters Isobel and Julia, as they face challenges and changes in their lives. Each seeks meaning and order in their own way. It comes across as a an accurate portrayal of societal attitudes to women's roles in the changing times and I suspect much of this story is based on the author's personal experience. Recommended although, be warned it contains a verbally challenging piece of writing which was at times uncomfortable to read. ( )