Book 87 - Reflections

Title: The Other's Gold Author: Elizabeth Ames Genre: contemporary fiction

Never have I read anything that quite captures the minute aspects of relationships among a group of young women as well as this novel does. Yes, it's long-winded at times and in my opinion there's way too much time spent on childbearing/birth and mom-ness, but besides that Ames really gets it. The women don't always have a whole lot in common, and there are so many layers of feelings among the different characters. She understands the contradictions. How, for example, a woman can feel disdain bordering on hate for someone, while also loving them with every bit of her heart and soul. Not just a woman - I shouldn't generalize. But relationships can be like that and, from what I understand, are more commonly that way among groups of women vs among groups of males.

In any case, easy and entertaining read, with a cast of characters diverse enough that I think anyone could find a piece of themselves in each of the characters. I would have liked to hear more from the one character who didn't want children, at least as much as the others...but that's just me.

Rating: 👶 👶 👶 👶 /5