Paperback, 192 pages
English language
Published Nov. 1, 1987 by Jove.
Absent in the Spring: Stranded between trains, Joan Scudamore finds herself reflecting upon her life, her family, and finally coming to grips with the uncomfortable truths about her life.
Racist and colonialist right out of the gate. The author tells us in clumsy, halting self-revelations that the protagonist is smug, controlling, and unable to think outside of conventions, that a man's vision of life ought to be prime, while her unloving and dishonest family is portrayed as hard done by. The premise was compelling and the epilogue befitting, true to life.
What a lovely surprise this book was. After a dreadful murder mystery I decided to finally read my way through Agatha Christie and by chance started with a book by her that's not a mystery at all. And yet it has beautifully orchestrated discoveries and revelations. It's wonderfully written and I highly recommend this book.
