1999 Dolors

a couple's life thrown into turmoil by remarriage of husband's father

Liza seems to be the main character. I am not sure who the "passionate man" is. MIght be her husband, Archie, who lives rather "larger than life". Archie is a doctor who cares about his patients. He cares enough to attend their funerals when he is unable to keep them from dying. He does seem to be pleased with himself and his place in the world.

Liza has some kind of awakening, when she realizes that Archie has been condescending to her all these years. She's determined to right the balance. Perhaps she overcompensates. I certainly thought so.

Archie has a blind spot. It is with his father Andrew. The two are very close, to the point where his wife and children seem to take a back seat. So when Andrew introduces Archie to Marina, the woman he wants to marry, Archie does not take it well. It's clear he is jealous of this new relationship.

I experienced a similar situation, only in the reverse. I too was an adult child, along with my siblings, when our father chose to marry his third wife. After the marriage, she became possessive to the point that when my father paid attention to his children she would fly into rages of jealousy. So I recognize that this kind of feeling can exist, even in otherwise mature adults.

Andrew's and Marina's marriage continues to irk Archie until there is a tragic event. By working through the aftermath of loss, Archie and Liza try to find their way back.

I found the story believable but the ending was perhaps a bit abrupt and too easy. ( )

There is no way I am ever disappointed with Joanna Trollope's books but I must admit that when I came to page 219 in the paperback copy I was reading, I said "OH!!"---I just did NOT see that coming!!! Trollope writes with such descriptive, yes, passion---her characters speak to each other and you can feel yourself listening to every word --- absorbed by the movements they make as they talk to each other. I am dreading the time when I have read every word of all of her books!!! ( )

Nice, entertaining read, albeit a little desperate at the end. ( )