Instead of dividing the world into neat black-and-white lines, of moral absolutes, Giffin explores the vagaries of human behaviour. As a reader, it feels like a blow - we thought we were meant to be rooting for Rachel? The homely underdog, the good girl? Surely she wouldn’t act like this? And Darcy is meant to be selfish and attention-seeking - we’re not meant to be feeling sorry for her, the wronged woman! But that’s the skill of this book for me. At Rachel’s 30th birthday party, she and Dex end up going home together. For better or worse”Īnd so our stage is set. That’s the Dex that was Rachel’s friend first, at law school. Meanwhile PR-lovey Darcy is flitting from party to party, and has just got engaged to Dex - a handsome, successful lawyer.
She is single and hasn’t been on a date in months. Although Rachel has worked incredibly hard to qualify as a lawyer, she is is working huge amounts of hours in a job that will never love her back. But now, as the women turn 30, Rachel is beginning to get a little tired of coming second to Darcy all the time. Always more popular, better-dressed, and in the middle of anything that’s going on, Darcy is one of life’s golden people, with Rachel happy to tag along behind and enjoy the reflected gleam. Rachel has been in the shadow of her vivacious friend Darcy since childhood. But do not be fooled by the build-up! - this is no easy-read identikit romance. I’d liken it to wrapping myself up in the cosiest of quilts on a cold day, wearing cashmere socks, and drinking tea. It’s one I return to at least once a year or so, and every time it leaves me with a sense of satisfaction and well-being. Today’s book is one of my all-time favourite comfort books. A film that we can watch over and again without getting bored a favourite pyjama top that should have gone in the bin a long time ago and is more holes than fabric a piece of music that hits you straight in your gut no matter how often you hear it. Whether you identify with any of these or not, I’m certain that we all have some comfort items that we return to again and again. You may equally be grumbling under three blankets on your sofa, gutted that summer is over. Depending on your tastes, you may currently be indulging in pumpkin spice lattes, digging out some cute cosy knitwear, or pulling your boots on to go kicking leaves around in a golden sunlit park.
It’s definitely autumn, or fall now, assuming you’re in the northern hemisphere.
0 kommentar(er)
