Elizabeth, a ten-year-old girl and an only child being raised in a loveless home is sent to her mother's friend in Ireland to get away from the London bombing in World War II. The family in Ireland is large, boisterous with great love for one another, shepherded by a caring mother who never questions the teachings of the Catholic Church. Aisling is a daughter in this family who is the same age as Elizabeth. They share a room, a kitten and become lifelong friends. The novel covers the twists and turns of their lives to age 30 including hopeless love affairs, marriages, and deaths. Maeve Binchy has a wonderful gift for dialog.
