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renardthefox's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
THEY WERE SISTERS is a Dorothy Whipple book, so you know it's good. (Read her if you haven't already!)
I know that THEY WERE SISTERS is considered one of her weaker novels - at least according to the Afterword in this edition - but I disagree. I think this novel of people trying and failing to be better people than they are is so, so compelling.
It's centred on Lucy, Charlotte, and Vera at first, and their children (particularly their daughters) in the second half. Lucy is, essentially, living happily ever after with her husband, her only worry her sisters. Charlotte is married to a domestic tyrant, Geoffrey. Vera is married to a nice-enough man, Brian, but only because he was rich and her elder sister had married.
You can see why Lucy worries.
The novel really comes into its own when Margaret, Judith, and Sarah grow up, however. Margaret's story is particularly sad, but, since it's a Dorothy Whipple novel, you know that things will be mostly all right for some of the characters. I won't spoil whom.
I really enjoyed THEY WERE SISTERS and I can't wait to get to the next Whipple book in Persephone's catalogue.
I know that THEY WERE SISTERS is considered one of her weaker novels - at least according to the Afterword in this edition - but I disagree. I think this novel of people trying and failing to be better people than they are is so, so compelling.
It's centred on Lucy, Charlotte, and Vera at first, and their children (particularly their daughters) in the second half. Lucy is, essentially, living happily ever after with her husband, her only worry her sisters. Charlotte is married to a domestic tyrant, Geoffrey. Vera is married to a nice-enough man, Brian, but only because he was rich and her elder sister had married.
You can see why Lucy worries.
The novel really comes into its own when Margaret, Judith, and Sarah grow up, however. Margaret's story is particularly sad, but, since it's a Dorothy Whipple novel, you know that things will be mostly all right for some of the characters. I won't spoil whom.
I really enjoyed THEY WERE SISTERS and I can't wait to get to the next Whipple book in Persephone's catalogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Infertility, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: War
veelaughtland's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: War