A Lovesome Thing: A Novel

By Prue Leith

Book Overview

Growing up in the outback of South Africa, sensible Poppy realized she would always have to look out for her younger sister, the beautiful, wild, and unreliable Carrie. Years later, in London, Poppy, a stage actress with three children and a charming, handsome husband, never imagines that Carrie, now a sexy and passionate caterer, would try to hurt her. But Carrie can't help herself. She's resentful that Poppy has everything she always wanted: a successful, fulfilling career, a gorgeous husband, a loving family, a house in the country, while Carrie has nothing but debts, one-night-stands, and an uncertain future. Carrie discovers the chink in Poppy's armor, her husband Eduardo, and she sets out to exploit it in the way she knows best. She provides Eduardo with danger, excitement, and great sex - all things that have faded in Eduardo and Poppy's marriage. But in destroying her sister's peace of mind, Carrie risks losing all those who love her. Prue Leith has written a poignant and moving story about the real choices siblings have to make once they grow up and start taking stock of their lives. Sisters is a brilliantly crafted portrait of sibling rivalry, love, and the ultimate betrayal.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312326173
• ISBN13: 9780312326173
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.9" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

And it will make a great film

Lotte's love: a spinning bottle. But where will it rest? If this were the sole engagement, then the resolution here, alone, would be intriguing, imaginative. But there is much more, and I can only recommend reading this book. Get an insight into working obsessively, from someone who has clearly observed it. Rises and falls, equally well displayed. Plenty of great observation, and then there is the central artery, running splendidly through the whole like a seaside town through rock. The star is old, and has had countless makeovers, but remains irresistible to the cast of the novel (almost without exception) and to the reader. She is, of course, a lovesome thing.

fine contemporary tale

Middle-aged Sam Warren leaves his fortyish wife Lotte and their three children for a younger babe. Instead of crying at her loss, Lotte makes a major career move; she ends her work as an architect to study horticulture. Not long after she qualifies as a horticulturist, wealthy Irish business mogul Brody Keegan hires Lotte to work at his fifteenth century estate, Maddon Park. Lotte and her three kids relocate there so that she can restore the place to its former splendor based on an old map. Originally only interested in the fame the property provides him, the married Brody soon finds Lotte's élan for life and the past hooks him. Lotte reciprocates though a college archivist likes her too. When Brody's empire collapses he heads to the states while the English Lotte continues to make Maddon park a place worth seeing. Though there is little in the way of major conflict or action, A LOVESOME THING is a fine contemporary tale that emphasizes the importance of enjoying what you do as life is too short otherwise. The story line contains a delightful cast, but clearly the tale belongs to the heroine. Besides the support cast motivated by Lotte's gusto, readers also will feel the spell of her upbeat look at the world especially her beautiful way of seeing the old country house and the gardens. Harriet Klausner