Consequences


Author:  Penelope Lively
Publisher:  Viking
Publish Date:2007
Pages: 258
ISBN No.: 978-0-670-03856-5
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Sub Genre: Romance
Reader’s Annotation:  A penetrating look at how the major and minor events of the twentieth century changed the lives of three generations of women.
Summary: A chance meeting in St. James’s Park begins the intense relationship between young Lorna and Matt. Completely in love, they leave London for a cottage in a rural Somerset village. The arrival of World War II shatters their life together, Matt’s woodcarving, Lorna’s self-discovery, and their new baby, Molly. In 1960s London, Molly discovers a forgotten newspaper, a seemingly small moment that leads to her first job and, eventually, a pregnancy by a wealthy man who wants to marry her but whom she does not love. Thirty years later, Ruth, who has always questioned her existence as a peculiar accident, questions her own marriage, as she  journeys her back to 1941, redefining herself and her perception of love.  
Evaluation:
Overall, a terrific read although squeezing in the three generations makes the book at 258 pages a bit on the short side.  I would have preferred more pages and more character development. 
Why I Would lnclude It:
Good overall story that would appeal to a wide range of women readers.  There is nothing offensive in the story and it moves along at a nice pace so the reader does not get bored.
Rating: 4