Anne Slater

I chose this book a LONG time ago, purely on the basis of its title. (Duh). Moi, college librarian, amateur of mysteries and memoirs, graduate in anthropology..... The brilliant writing engaged me and then simply sucked me in. I promise you a great experience. Morris's other books are charming and often engaging, but somehow not as strong as this one.

Psychological study of two women-- the lawyer-mother who wants to have it all-- and the older nanny- who just wants a place (family and residence) to call her own. Other characters less fully drawn. It is NOT a suspense thriller, rather a careful study. I've read it in English (good translation) and 2x in French and I am still talking about it to reading -group friends and to anyone who will listen! To really understand it, you MUST read from the beginning-- which is NOT the first page, but the epigraph (the quotations before the story opens)

First book I ever read in Italian.. Plays are lots easier than novels. Beautifully drawn characters. I think I was about 35 or 40 when I read it (77 now). It struck a chord! Primo libro che ho letto in italiano. Molto piu semplice che un romanzo ( come 'stage play'). I personaggi descritti bellissimi, Credo che avevo 35 o 40 anni (77 oggi): il testo portava un messaggio....