3,5/5
En fait, je crois que parmi les 3 romans que j’ai lu de cette autrice, c’est celui-ci que je préfère ! Elle a toujours cette facon très vivante de dépeindre des lieux et les thèmes qu’elle aborde sont intéressant. Pourtant, ses personnages me paraissent à chaque fois manquer de substance et de profondeur ce qui les rends caricaturaux et à la limite du désagréable ! Dommage car la plume m’emporte, c’est un véritable plaisir à lire !

Been meaning to read this for a LONG time, since Messud went to Kenyon as a visiting professor. The writing is amazingly well paced and the story well planned, with bits of humor, but I found the characters to be lacking -- the two sisters seemed too similar, to be honest -- and the conclusion unfulfilling. I felt that Virginia had changed, but not Emmy, and I still can't figure out why. The title has an awesome backstory, though.

Well, after Emperor's Children this was something of a disappointment, but I suppose it was destined to be, as I found that book spectacularly good. It was certainly engaging, and the pacing made it a quick read, but ultimately something less than satisfying. I never really felt as though I got to a place of resolution with any of the characters, and each of them got to a moment where you (I) simply wanted some kind of epiphany--but didn't get it.

I loved the detail and wry humour in this book. Also very much enjoyed her "The Emperor's Children"
One of her charms for me is that she appears to write like an English novelist although very much an American. You can take that comment as a compliment or not as the case may be!!