This novel frustrated me so much! It is about 2 sisters who get separated in the teens, and their lives after the separation. Because the sisters were so important to each other you expect all through the novel for them to reunite somewhere along the way. But they don't!! I thought the book was a big let down because of this. Which is kind of funny - because I normally like books that don't have a happy ending (because happy endings aren't real life). But this one - I was cheering so hard for the sisters to get back together and when they didn't, I was bummed out.
One of the things I liked about this book was that the author did a really good job of describing the hardships these sisters (Mabel and Bertie) faced as they grew up, married, had children and aged.
I do wish the book was longer though - the author brought in multiple children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren - it was hard to keep the various people straight. In some places I couldn't even remember if I was reading about Mabel's side of the family, or Bertie's side of the family. If the book had been longer, I think the the characters would have been more well-developed.
Rating: 6 / 10
ISBN: 9780312542702
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Edition: 1st Edition