Audrey Matthews, 37, teaches an evening class for adults in “life drawing” – i.e., drawing the human body with the help of a live, nude model. Although Carrickbawn in Ireland is a small town, the students enrolled don’t appear to know one another and haven’t signed up with the intention of meeting anyone else. But by the last session, much has changed for the members of the group – even for Audrey, who, amusingly, is oblivious to the catalyzing effects of the class.
Discussion: This is such a lovely little story. At first, from the title and publisher’s plot summary, I feared it would just be a variation on the cooking school novels, in which disparate people come together for a class and then end up in various happy combinations as a result. But this book subverts that trope enough to add interest and gratification for jaded readers. Those taking the class already live lives which are quite intertwined, but they just aren’t aware of it. As the classes progress, they gradually discover the connections that were there all along. And not all of these linkages are positive, nor are all the endings happy. Some of the stories aren’t even wrapped up. Nevertheless, their resolutions seem right.
Evaluation: I liked all of the characters – even the ones who seemed unsympathetic at first. The unpleasant characters are working through pain, and we come to feel for them and their situations. The characters who are attractive are still realistic enough not to seem too saccharine. This is not just a simple beach read, although it goes quickly and enjoyably. I found it to be an entertaining way to pass the time.
Rating: 3.5/5
Published by Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, 2012
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: | Book Review
I’m curious as to how the characters are connected.
Are you a jaded reader? lol
Aren’t we all a little jaded? haha … I like it when authors aren’t afraid to stray from the happy ending. Of course, I always root for it but am not normally disappointed when there is a little edge or dismay or even tragedy.
My wife is a jaded reader so I love that you noted that — I cracked up. This sounds like a kind of cute book!
Aw this does sound kind of cute. I think the cover is really inviting as well!
I liked the cooking school novel, but the idea of this one is intriguing… kind of cool that the connections are already there just waiting to be discovered.
I’m sure in any small town, you’d find connections among any random group of people. Sounds kind of charming.
This does sound charming, as Jenners mentioned, and it certainly is different than most of the other books that I have been reading. It sounds like a fun and canny read. Nice review today!
In the small town I grew up in, it was like the soaps…everybody has been involved with everybody somehow. Sometimes you even forget the connections, but they are all there. But see, I don’t think that cover does much justice to the synopsis you gave. It kinda turned me off.
Sounds like good for a travel weekend. I agree with Sandy, the cover doesn’t attract me.
Set in Ireland? Cute cover? Interesting plot? I’m so there!
Hmm. A lukewarm recommendation, but I like the idea of unknown ties.
I’ve seen several reviews of this and it really does sound like an easy escape. Sometimes I just need one of those!
2 Kids and Tired Books
I like the sounds of this one. Always looking for books to add to my summer list!
So funny that you said that about cooking school books because I was thinking the exact same thing.